Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-21
JOHNSON WARNS
OF COURT MYTH"
u. S. Entry Would Be Sub
mission to Old World Politics,
Says Senator in Forum.

Branding the World Court as q
missioner" and myth" backed by
''internationalists" who wish to see the
United States drawn into the League
of Nations, Senator Hiram w. john
son of California delivered a caustic
attack on the proposal for American
entry in the court during a radio adj
dress last night in the National Radio
Forum, arranged by The Washington
Star and broadcast over the coast to
coast network Of the Columbia Broad
casting System.
Joining the court means ultimate
membership in the League Of Nations, y
Senator johnson declared. "And then,
God help us, well be subject to Old
World diplomacy and in the maelstrom
Of European politics.
Play our part in the world? Yes.
But do 1t in our way, under our meth
ods, with American leadership and
guidance, pursuing our own unhamper-
ed course. always. with justice, fair
ness, amity and generosity to all ma
tons. but preserving inviolate our own
CneIASneu poHcy.
President Is Criticized.
The outspoken Californian criticized
President Hoover for reviving the World
Court issue in the Senate at a time
OF national depression and disaster,
when there are want and suffering in
our land, and the energies Of those in
authority, high and low, are devoted
to aiding and relieving our people,"
The Foreign Relations Committee of
the Senate, he pointed out, has seen
Mt to postpone consideration of the
court until next December.
The time of consideration Is one
OF relative Importance" he stated. "Is
it more important for the Senate to
devote itself to a highly contentious
proposition of taking America into a
european organism, or is 1t more i'm
portant Immediately to direct our
energies to our grave crisis, wherein is
not only unemployment but dire dis
tress OF our own people?
Some OF us believe we should first
remedy our own ills and relieve our own
people before undertaking to become a
part of an international machine whose
aid to humanity thus far has been
wholly illusory."
Sway of Propaganda.
Senator johnson charged that "highly
financed international ORGANIZATIONS
with ford and extravagant propa-
ganda" are again in full cry, bludgeon-
ing the Senate and demanding the i'm
mediate ratification of the present
protocols, which would make us q mem
Der of the court"
He said it is IAN amazing intellectual
qualification" to assert that the World
Court is not part of the League of
Nations. He quoted League officials as
declaring the court was part of the
League
The provision which gives the court
the right to render advisory opinions at
the request of member nations, he said,
"transmutes this so-called court from
the category of judicial tribunals into
diplomatic pawn of European politics"
The proposed American reservation in
connection with these advisory opin-
ions" would be ineffective, the Senator
claimed. The reservation would give the
United States authority to protest
against a proposed advisory opinion af-
fecttng American interests, and to with
draw entirely from the court, if thought
advisable. johnson argued that, once in
the court, 1t would be almost impossible
to withdraw.
Joining the court would not con-
tribute to world peace or better under
standing among nations of the world"
Senator johnson asserted. "On the con-
trary, misunderstanding would be GER
tain to result and strained relations
would follow"
The complete text of Senator john
sons address will be found in the edi-
tnrial aacti0n 0f fodav'S Ctor