Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-21
WORLD COURT NAY
DISRUPT CONGRESS.
Senators Disagree on Bring
ing Up Issue in Short Ses-
sion Next Month.

That good ship Congressional Co
operation" launched by Democratic
and Republican leaders right after
election day, has run into stormy
weather on the big overseas issue now
before the country--American entry
into the World Court. Sharp differences
of opinion have cropped out In the
senate Foreign Relations Committee.
senator Thomas j. Walsh Of Montana,
a Democratic member of the commit
tee. urges President Hoover to ask the
Senate for immediate ratincation OF
the World Court protocol to which the
United States Signature was amx s9
last Summer Senator Arthur II.
Vandenberg of Michigan, 9 Republican
member of the foreign relations oody,
Is strongly opposed to injecting the
court controversy into the ponLlca1
situation at this time. He declares
that legislative chaos would result II
World Court action were sought curing
the coming brief session OF CONGRESS.
Mr. vandenDeT gr Is a s n,,aTS nsI With
Senator Allen of Kansas no longer on
deck. Senator Vandenberg may become
the captain of the guard. Inc luIlOI
Michiuan Senator made hurried VISIT
IN washington early in November. ana
was in conference at the Wnite aouse
on the eve of Mr. HooverS ArnIsylTCc
dav address. In that address, Wnle
reafirning his advocacy OF Lns Soa"
the President studiouSly omitted 70 m
dictate that he purposed seeking cary
senatorial advice and consent WIN
view to our actual entry.
Would Wreck Session.
"The important thing" says Senator
Uandenberg. "is the logic OF the SlEuas
forfr ~ IN me. Is III
vincible in its argument against forcing
the World Court into the December ses:
sion am absolutely convinced 1t could
not possibly be of the slightest advan-
tare to the World Court, but, on the
other hand, it could wreck the Decem-
her session, so far as the balance OF the
legislative program Is concerned. As
matter of fact, from the standpoint OF
the world Court. think it would be
most unfortunate If the issue should be
nrecipitated In the Senate before the
bending amendments to the constitution
Of the court become effective.
"The physical fact Is that 1t would pc
impossible to get a vote on the World
Court protocol in the impending short
session. This has nothing 10 90 WIN
the merits of the issue. 1t simply re-
fleets the reality that the time from De-
cember 2 to March 4 Is too short Tor any
major controversial issue to be settled.
Little can be done in this short session
until after the holiday recess. In other
words, the Senate has about so working
days before it expires by constitutional
limitation.
aAn opposition of only eight votes to
the London naval treaty held back Q
final Senate roll call for many weeks.
No roll call at all would have been per-
mitted by this opposition II there had
been fixed adjournment ahead, as in
the case of the approaching session.
There are many more than eight votes
in opposition to the World Court pro-
tocol. The conclusion Is inevitable
that there could be no possibility Of .
finality in the December session. The
only result would be further to COM
plicate an already difficult program and
jeopardize the completion Of the indis-
pensable appropriation program.
Wants Amendment Made.
"It was impossible to get Senate
cloture for the London treaty. Obvious
ly it would be impossible to get cloture
for the world Court protocols. There
fore, it would be impossible to get
decision before March 4. Friends Of
the Court would gain nothing. Friends
of other essential legislation would lose
everything. It is utterly impractical, In
my Judgment, for the President to SUBJ
NIT the issue in December.
When asked as to his own position
on the merits of the World Court entry,
Senator Vandenberg said: when the
World Court writes the proposed new
article SO into its own constitution
completely establishing the doctrine
that it takes jurisdiction only over vol
untary litigants-I believe that our adj
herence is safe and justified and UNI
related in any degree to the League Of
Nations.
This amendment to the Court con-
stitution is not yet effective. Until 1t
is, am opposed to adherence. When
1t is, expect to vote for adherence
under the so-called safeguarding Root
formula So far as actual and prac-
teal results are concerned, I think 1t
makes little difference, under such cir
cumstances, whether we 60 in or stay
out. The Importance of the action Is
purely one of psychology, but peace
mindedness In the world is vitality Inn
portant." F. w. w.
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