Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-09

REFUSAL OF the OCnef naClOnS TO abide
by this reservation seemed to have
blocked permanently any prospect of
American entry into the Court In the
closing days of his administration, how
ever, Calvin Coolidge authorized Elihu
Root to represent this country on a
committee of jurists seeking to draft a
new and modified reservation to that
proposed by the Senate. This was done
Assembly Ratified Protocol.
The Assembly of the League OF Ma.
tions, Including most Of the ether na-,
tions of the world, formally ratified the
revised protocol, putting the issue up to
this country again. Today, on behalf
OF President Hoover the signature of
this country was affixed to the revised
protocol. Now, however, the Senate
must approve it.
There have been indications from the
White House that Mr.. Hoover would
wait until each nation had ratified the
proposition individually before he would
send 1t to the Senate. That will re-
quire about year.
The Senate still has many weeks of
work ahead on the tariff controversy.
and few in the Senate believe the World
Court issue will be injected into the sit
uatlon there, at least until the tariff
Is out of the way.
Chairman Porter Of the House foreign
affairs committee today said he seri-
ously doubted the wisdom of the United
States IN joining the World Court un-
less reservations previously proposed by
the Senate were adhered to-
Prime Minister Macdonald of Eng
land, the Pennsylvania said, in a re-
cent speech expressed the opinion of
the majority of the. American people
that they have no desire or intention
to become entangled in the political
mess Of Europe"
Doubts Wisdom of Move.
''I seriously doubt the wisdom of the
United States joining the World Court"
Porter said, unless the reservation of
the Senate providing that the court
snail not render any advisory opinion
to the League of Nations on any uues-
ton in which the United States has or
claims to have any interest is recognized
by the League.
"The present proposal that our Gov
ernment waive this reservation In con-
Sideration O. the right to withdraw
from the court is a very poor substi-
tute. We would have the right to with
draw without this provision.
Prime Minister Macdol- Id, In a re-
cent speech, expressed the opinion of
the overwhelming majority of the Amer
ican people when he said, in substance,
1t is perfectly obvious to any one who
visits the United States that they have
no desire nor do they intend to become
entangled In the political mess of Eu-
rope"
Correspondence between President
Hoover and Mr.. StimSon on the uues-
tion of the World Court was published
today In which the cabinet officer sum-
med up the present situation and ex-
pressed this understanding of the new
for advisory opinions.
Under the new scheme America will
be notified OF pending requests for ad-
vlSory opinions and conversations be-
tween Geneva and Washington will fol-
low. Should America object and the
council insist upon court action on the
subject in question, then the United
States may withdraw from the court
with no consequent imputations of un-
friendliness or lack of a desire to ad-
vance world peace.
Some Objection Expected.
eff the United States is involved in
any dispute or controversy, to whatever
degree, with another country" Mr..
Stimson said, that matter cannot be
the consent of the United States. even
for the purpose of obtaining an advisory
opinion"
The Secretary Of State ANTICIPATED
some objection to the scheme on the
ground that withdrawal from the court
would place the United States In an
and embarrassing situation.
and declared that actually the ''reai
was mere likely to be the other
way.
"The influence of the United STATES
Is so great" he said. "the effect NJ itS
mere suggestion Of withdrawal would
be so embarrassing to other nations that
there is far more likelihood of their
to an ill-founded objection
On our part than of their forcing us to
withdraw when we really had legitimate
reason for opposition to question"
Jay Pierrepont- Moffat. American