Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-25
Checkmatinr Delay.

| President Hoover has turned o deaf
ear to proposals that the Senate defer
consideration Of the London naval
treaty until next December. In order
to make his position perfectly clear, the
President has declared that he will call a
diately following the present session of
Congress unless the treaty be disposed
Of before adjournment. Opponents of
the treaty. who have been sparring for
time, look upon such measures as
coercion. The President, however, is
within his full rights when he calls q
special session Of the Senate to deal
with international relations. The Sen
ate is now on notice of his plans and
should not be in position to criticize
the President in the event special
session is finally called to deal with the
treaty.
Senator Hiram johnson Of California,
leading the opposition to the naval
agreement in the Senate finance COM
mittee, has replied to the Presidents
declaration that special session will
be called II the treaty is not dealt with
before adjournment Of the present regu-
lar session Of Congress. The California
Senator insists that If time be given
the American people to understand
the treaty thoroughly It would be over
whelmingly repudiated. That is Senator
Johnson's own idea, however, and not
the thought Of the majority Of the COM
mittee or the President. They believe
that the more thoroughly the treaty is
understood the more popular 1t win
become. They do not, however, believe
that delay and more delay Is advan-
tageous or helpful In International rela-
tions. The treaty and its terms have
been thoroughly discussed through the
Nations press ever since the London
Conference began. It's terms have been
stated again and again in the news
papers. Reports Of the proceedings
before the Senate foreign relations COM
mittee and before the Senate naval
affairs committee with regard to the
treaty have been given wide publicity.
Many Of the opponents Of the treaty
are opposed to any limitation Of naval
construction. They would be opposing
the treaty If that pact provided for the
construction Of twenty-one instead Of
eighteen cruisers armed with e-inch
guns for the United States Navy. They
have ciutched ut every straw 10 bolster
their attack on the treaty.
The treaty comes before the foreign
relations committee with the unanimous
backing Of the American delegation to
the London Conference. The delegation
Is q strong one, and its members are
just as much interested in protecting
the Nation as are, for example, Senator
Hiram johnson or Eenaor Hale, the
latter the chairman Of the naval affairs
committee. No one viii undertake to
belittle either the patriotism or the UNI
Outstanding Of Senator David A. Reed,
chairman Of the Senate military affairs
committee and O veteran Of the World
War, or Of Senator Joseph r. Robin
son, the Democratic leader Of the Sen
ate. Yet they are among the most
earnest advocates of the treaty and
were important members Of the Ameri-
can delegation in London. The terms
OF the treaty were published more than
month ago. Hearings before the for
eign relations committee were begun
more than ten days ago and the hear.
inss before the naval affairs committee
began only one day later. There Is no
disposition on the part Of the friends
OF the treaty 10 prevent the fullest
presentation Of the case for or asainst
the treaty, nor any disposition 10 cut
on debate on the treaty once IL reaches
the Senate floor. There Is disposition.
however, on their part. to oppose vigor-
ously efforts to sidetrack the treaty
and to let It lie over for six months.
when 1t can properly be dealt with now.
A rejection Of the treaty by the Sen
ate, which would mean its ultimate
failure, would be serious blow to the
cause OF armament limitation and in
ternational peace. Despite the argu-
ments advanced by opponents of the
treaty, 1t does provide for parity in
naval strength with Great Britain and
for superiority in naval strength over
Japan In the ratio of 10--6 plus. II
does provide for well rounded Ameri-
can Navy Of greater strength than this
country has ever before had afioat. It
lays down an intelligent plan of con-
struction which is to be followed out
by this country. The time to deal with
this treaty is now, not next December
The explanation is made to the Inter-