Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-20
Sentiment Voiced Here Backs
RobinSon'S Views Given
in Address.
mediterranean ISSUE
FINDS BORAH IN SADDLE
Security Proposal Would Get Hard
Fight From Members of Or
reconcilable" Group.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

any pOntlcal commitments entered
into at the London Naval Conference
involving the United States would be
seriously resisted in the Senate, it was
declared here today emphatically.
If such commitments, no matter in
what terms they might be couched, are
to be the price of naval limitation
and reduction agreement, that agree
ment would have a rough time If it
were offered for ratification to the
Senate. This clearly is the attitude Of
Senator Borah of Idaho, chairman of
the foreign relations committee, and
Of the other members of the "irrecon-
cilable group" which fought the League
of Nations covenant, and the Versailles
treaty and later American adherence
to the World Court.
Discussion of the subject here has
followed reports that France would de-
mand some security agreement before
she would agree to reduce the claim
which she has advanced for naval ton
mage at the present conference.
This claim by France, which calls for
q Navy of 724.42s tons by 1886. raises
itself as a bar to the plans of Great
Britain and America for keeping down
their tonnage. The British, it is ex-
pected. will insist upon an increase in
the tonnage Of the British Navy If
Frances claims are maintained
Big Program Opposed Here.
The United States, on the other hand
Is demanding parity with Great Britain.
Even under the tonnage figures worked
out as a possible basis of agreement
between the United States and Britain,
this country will be compelled to build
a considerable number of naval vessels
to reach parity. A building program
that will cost many millions of dollars
will be frowned upon here in the very
circles which are opposing any and all
political commitments. On the other
hand such a program viii not be ouch
as TO hurt the sensibilities Of those who
believe IN big navy.
The address of Senator Joseph T.
Robinson, Democratic leader of the
Senate. and a member of the American
delegation to the naval conference de-
livered IN London yesterday, was the
subject of much favorable comment at
the Capitol today. In his statement of
the American position regarding the
conference, Senator Robinson had this
to say:
My understanding Is that the people
OF the United States quite generally
adhere to the traditional policy of our
government to avoid, if possible, involve
ment in European politics. They would
repudiate emphatically any treaty ex-
pressly or implicitly obligating our
government to employ the Army or
the Navy for the enforcement of OBJ
legations assumed by other nations. 1t
Is for this reason that they do not
encourage their delegates to this con-
ference to join in guarantees of security
respecting areas remote from territory
or possessions of the United States
Americans realize that no power will
deliberately violate its undertaking for
the limitation or reduction of arma-
ments. They believe that no sanction
is necessary to assure the good-faith
performance of any treaty for that pur-
pose. This attitude does not imply in
difference or lack of sympathy for the
problems of others. 1t is grounded on
the American conception f sound policy
and constitutional limitations"
Robinson Knows Senate.
It was designed for foreign consump-
spondents in London before whom he
made his speech. The text of his adj
dress was made public here by the State
Department, which adds to its signifl-
canoe.
Senator Robinson not only knows the
sentiment of the American people, but
he knows his Senate. It is noticeable
that the address was delivered by the
Democratic leader of the Senate. A
decade ago the Democrats Of the Sen
ate, under the leadership Of the late
President Woodrow Wilson, were, with
few exceptions, supporting the entry of
the United States into the League of
Nations. Today, however, Democratic
Senators are giving support to the po-
Sition taken by Senator Robinson.
Suggestions have come from abroad
that an effort would be made to i'm
plement" the Kellogg multilateral
treaty renouncing war, during the pro-
ceedings of the Naval Conference, so as
to provide some method of calling the
Kellogg treaty to the attention of any
nation or nations which might be about
to violate it. Senator Borah made it
clear today that an effort of that kind
would be resisted here to the utmost.
He supported the Kellogg treaty when
1t was before the Senate. The argu-
k1ent made at that time was that it
0Dmmitted the United States to no joint
action with any other nation, in case of
a violation of the treaty.
Senator Borah is equally emphatic in
his reputation of a suggestion that the
United States enter into any four or
i've power treaty whose Signatories
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