Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-06
Closing the Loopholes.

| An exchange of notes between the
United States, Great Britain and Japan
! dealing with the so-called "loophole'
in the London Naval Treaty through
which it was contended by the General
Board of the Navy Britain might, in its
requirements, construct greater num-
Der of 8-inch gun cruisers than the
eighteen allotted to the United States,
has been effected by this Government.
The understanding reached is said to
be entirely satisfactory and to have eff
fectualIy sealed the "loophole." The
clariflcation of the agreement in regard
| to the requirements was necessary, in
the opinion of treaty supporters. The
exchange of notes in all probability will
make unnecessary now a reservation
dealing with this point.
President Hoover has made it entirely
clear that the naval treaty should be
acted upon by the Senate without I'M
due delay. Treaty opponents have
played for delay ever since the treaty
was first sent to the Senate. The
cards have been played shrewdly.
Under the guise Of demand for
more and more information regard
ing the treaty, the action Of the
Senate foreign relations committee on
the pact has been postponed. The
fullest information should be given to
the Senate and to the country regard
ing the naval treaty. There should be
ample time for debate when the treaty
is taken up for consideration in the
Senate. But an effort to delay con-
sideration of the treaty merely for the
purpose of defeating the treaty in the
end may be good tactics for those who
wish its defeat, but scarcely for those
who are in favor of ratification.
Senator Borah, chairman of the for
eign relations committee and in charge
of the treaty, believes that now the
treaty has been sent to his committee
it should be disposed of before the
Senate finally leaves washington for
the Summer holiday and for the COM
ing campaign. That has been his posi-
ton from the start. 1t is inmaterial
to him, he says, whether the treaty be
considered in the present regular ses-
sion or in q special session called by
the President Immediately upon the adj
journment of Congress after it has
completed its legislative work. The
Republican members Of the Senate ap-
pear to be divided over the question
Of taking the treaty up in a special
session or tackling it at the present
session. AS O matter of fact, IL makes
little difference, as Senator Borah says,
whether the treaty is disposed Of dur
ing the regular session or at special
session, just 80 1t is acted upon.
No one has the slightest doubt that
more than the necessary two-thirds Of
the Senate will vote ratification OF the
treaty. The fact that the treaty has
more than enough votes for ratification
Is what is making the opposition strive
so desperately to postpone action until
next Fall. If the postponement can be
achieved, the opposition, like Mr.. Mi
cawber, will hope that something will
turn up" which can be used to advan-
tage against the treaty next December.
1t remains to be seen whether "the tail
will be permitted to wag the dog" in
this matter of postponing the treaty
action.
The hope has been expressed in
treaty opposition quarters that If q
special session be called the Senators
will not stick, and that a quorum will
not remain in Washington. One thing
appears certain, however, and that is that
the opponents Of the treaty will have
to remain on the job. It does not ap-
pear possible, however, that members
of the Senate, charged with performing
an important duty, will undertake to
absent themselves, as has been sug-
gested. The proof Of the pudding is in
the eating. Let the President call a
special session and the country will see
whether the Senators can be relied upon
to attend to their duties here or not.