Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-29
FREEDOM OF SEAS
STAND TO BE- ASKED
Congressional Spokesman
viii Seek International
Views on Question.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

| tional discussion of the worlds thorn
lest naval problem-the freedom of the
seas"-will be launched at London in
July by spokesman of the United States
Congress. Five members of the Senate
and twelve members of the House, con-
shutting the American delegation at
the twenty-sixth annual meeting of the
Interparliamentary Union, will sponsor
the proposal to come to grips with the
ancient question of neutral rights In
war time.
The Senators who are going to Lon
don are Messrs. Tydings Of Maryland,
Barley of Kentucky, Connally Of
Texas, Ashhurst Of Arizona, all Demo-
Gratis, and Shipstead Of Minnesota,
Farmer-Labor. The Rep ,sentatives on
the delegation are Mess. Montague,
Democrat, of Virginia. president Of the
American group; La Guardia, Republic
can, Of New York, Fitzgerald, Repub-
lican, of Ohio, Bloom, Democrat, of New
York. Hull, Republican, of Illinois,
Chindblom, Republican, of Illinois,
Stobbs, Republican, Of Massachusetts,,
Britten, Republican, of Illinois, Coch-
| ran, Democrat, of Missouri, (Mrs.)
| Owen, Democrat, of Florida. French,
| publican, of New York, Richard
Bartholdt, Republican. former Repre-
! sentative from Missouri. will go to Lon
don as life member of the American
interparliamentary group.
Personnel Is Significant.
The personnel of the American dele
CATION is significant In respect Of the
freedom of the seas" issue which 1t will
provoke at the London meeting. Al
| though Senator Shipstead Is the only
member of the Senate Foreign Rela-
| tons Committee who will attend the
] nterparliamentary Conference, the
neutral rights report to be submitted
by the American group is the result of
a study in which Senator Capper, Re-
publican. Of Kansas actively particle
pated. Capper is potent member Of
! the Foreign Relations Committee The
House representation at London will
| include Mr.. Smell, one of the ruling
powers in the lower branch of Con-
gress; Mr., French, chairman of the
subcommittee on naval appropriations;
Mr.. Britten, chairman Of the Naval At
! fairs Committee, and Messrs. Hull and
Bloom and Mrs. Owen of the House
Foreign Affairs Committee. Evidently
Representative Montague chose the
| London delegation with particular
view to the politico-naval questions
which it will sponsor.
| The report dealing with freedom Of
| the seas" is formally entitled Certain
Possible implications of the Paris Pact
for Remuneration of War" It proceeds
on the theory, Representative Hull, who
prepared the report, sets forth, that
| there must be some augmentation OF
the 56-power Kellogg BRAND pact if II
is to carry out its beneficent purpose OF
banishing war as an instrument for set
ting international disputes.
Issues Still Are Clouds.
1T would seem that the frank dis
cuSSion of these issues may begin now
| freedom Of the seas and of neutral
versus belligerent rights are still clouds
on the horizon until specifically dis
posed Of. There is a profound under
standing of human nature contained in
the remarks Of Ramsay Macdonald in
his recent Guildhall speech that such
| questions arouse at once old feelings
old cares, old points Of view, and once
| again public opinion takes the old posi-
ton This may have been reason
enough for emitting the subject of the
| freedom of the seas from the Londor
Naval Conference, but sooner or Later
the problem must be met. Doe,
the kellogg pact make necessary a re.
consideration of the former concep
OF neutrality? OF course, questions o.
the freedom of the seas and Of TIT
| rights Of neutral powers to trade with Z
billigerent present the same problem
approached from different directions
Under the circumstances ere.
ated by the pact Of Paris, it is cleal
that neutrality as previously defined ii
international law must be abandoned
altogether, or REDEEMED in terms tina
will be fitted to modern conditions IL
the associated life Of nations"
Demand to Be Set Forth.
The Interpsrliamentary Union will b.
informed at London that there is al
earnest demand in the United States
for Qualification of the neutral right
issue. AS evidence of American belle
that the doctrine of freedom of thu
seas" must be recast or abandoned at
tention will be called to the fact tina
almost Immediately after ratification o
the Paris pact by the Senate, thre,
resolutions were introduced in the Housl
and one in the Senate, ali dealing will
the proposition. The Burton resolution
reintroduced by Representative Fish o
New York. proposes more complete neu
trality, at least as applied to arms
munitions and implements Of war. Tit
late Representative Porter of Pennsyl
vania, chairman of the House foreign
af1airs committee, submitted a resolu
ton designed to control arms shipments
to States In which there is civil war
The third resolution originated witt
Representative Korell, Republican, o.
oregon, and became fourth resolu
ton. introduced in the Senate by Mr.
Capper, providing that whenever thu
President by proclamation declares thai
country has violated the Kellogt
Pact, it shall be unlawful to export
from this country to such aggressol
state arms, munitions and implement:
Of war, including "other articles fol-
use in war; The latter phase might
include food.
Talked Over by Pair.
The London Naval Conference LEFT
the freedom of the seas" problem O..
alone as If it were a red-hot poker
Messrs. Hoover and Macdonald, in theil
pipe-smoking confab on the Rapidan
talked 1t over last October, but only tt
the extent of agreeing not to let il
iness at London. Secretary Stimsor
had conversations" during the con.
ference on questions touching the i'm.
fermentation of the Kellogg Pact ant
disclosed that the French government
through its Ambassador at Washing.
ton, NJ. Claudel, had formally broachec
that question here. Now and then II
was mooted at London that implement
tation of the pact might be one means
Of getting the French to modify theil
warship tonnage demands. But thing:
never came to ANYTHING
The London Interparliamentary
Union conference has no official status
But in the past its deliberations and
decisions paved the way to govern.
mental action In more than one direc.
ton. The American group Is hope.
IL hal hickna.rr ikcA1A