Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-09
A Non. Partisan Question,

The London treaty limiting naval
armament has commercially been con-
side,ed up to the present time outside of
the realm of partisan politics. Demo-
cratic support for the treaty has been
given as cordially as Republican. PreSi-
dent Hoover sent to the London Con-
ference the Democratic leader of the
Senate, Senator Joseph It. Robinson of
Arkansas, and Senator David A. Reed
of Pennsylvania. The services of Sena-
tor Robinson in London were of very
great value to the American delegation
and aided materially in bringing about
an agreement on naval limitation with
Great Britain and Japan. 1t is proper
that the treaty should be considered as
a national policy rather than the policy
of one political party within the Nation
Democrats and Republicans alike are
intensely interested in the welfare Of
the Nation and in proper measures Of
defense.
There is every reason why the Re-
publicans should take pride in the fact
that under the leadership OF President
Hoover the London treaty, regarded as
a great step forward for the cause of
international peace, has been negotiated.
But it would be quite another thing for
them to claim all the credit for this
treaty, which obviously has had and Is
receiving the earnest support of Demo-
Gratis. Chairman Temple of the House
Foreign Affairs COMMITTEES in state
ment issued through the Republican
National Committee, however, has put
forward a list of achievements OF the
Hoover administration in the field OF
foreign affairs, and heading the list Is
the negotiation of the London Naval
Treaty. Quite naturally the Democrats
have interpreted the statement-put
forward through the national organiza-
ton of the Republican party for pub
LEGATION throughout the country-as
campaign document. Probably no more
impolitic move could have been made
by the Republican national organization.
The London treaty is now before the
Senate. Such opposition as has de-
veloped in the Senate is found among
the Republicans rather than among the
Democrats. The treaty must be ratified
by q two-thirds vote in the Senate, and
obviously it will require many Demo-
cratic votes for ratification. Further
more, the presence of the Democrats in
washington at this time is essential If
a quorum is to be maintained. Yet along
comes the Republican National Com
mittee with a statement which has al
ready been taken up by Senator Walsh
of Montana and answered through the
Press Bureau of the Democratic Ma
tional Committee. In his interview
Senator Walsh says, referring to the
Temple statement:
From this statement it is reasonably
to be inferred by the worldly-minded
that President Hoover'S insistence upon
keeping Senators here to act on the
treaty, Notwithstanding the devastating
heat of Washington in the dog days, is
not so much concern for the peace OF
the world as it is to furnish campaign
material for the congressional elections.
Senator Walsh also charges that the
Temple statement, if left jinrefuted, will
do more ito defeat the treaty than any
thing that may be said by Johnson,
Moses or the Indiana Robinson" The
Montana Senator says that it is not
conceivable that the inference to be
drawn from the Temple statement re-
garding the Presidents plan to obtain
action on the treaty now 'is justihable. -
But Senator Walsh adds that the Presi-
dent Should hasten to remove the
unfortunate impression that some Of
his indiscreet friends are creating"
To have the London treaty fail be-
cause of partisan politics would indeed
be a>ref1ection on the intelligence of the
Republican leaders.