Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-08
Ratify the Treaty.

Unexpectedly fifty-eight Senators turned
up yesterday to hear President Hoover's
plea for ratification of the London
naval pact. Doubtless this was dis
appointing to the opposition, who
would have rejoiced had the proponents
failed to muster a quorum. On the
other hand, thirty-eight Senators were
absent, a far too large number of alb
sentees when the Senate has been called
to act upon treaty of great Importance
Some Of these absentees, 1t is reported
are soon to return to Washington and
take up their duties in the Senate cham
Der. Those who for personal reasons de-
cline to attend the Senate session place
themselves In an unenviable position
which it will be difficult to explain in
the future
President Hoover's message to the
Senate urging prompt ratification of
the naval treaty quite clearly states
the situation. The message made it
plain that the defense needs of the
United States are amply cared for by
the terms of the treaty. That is one
claim which the opponents Of the treaty
have not been able to disprove, nor will
they be able to do so, If the figures
presented by the President and by the
other supporters of the pact are cor
rect. Having demonstrated that the
national defense needs have been taken
care of, Mr.. Hoover in his message
calls attention to the fact that re-
lection Of the treaty would be blow
to world peace and that it would throw
the naval powers back to the old situa-
ton where competitive building was
the order Of the day. Such competitive
of money, If the United States partici-
pated in the building race. If the
United States failed to participate IN
competitive building, then 1t would
have an inferior fleet. II past history
is any gauge of the probable course
of Congress in the future, the Ameri-
can Navy would be allowed to lag be-
hind both Great Britain and Japan in
the matter Of new construction.
Mr.. Hoover did not mince matters
when he discussed the opposition to
this treaty. He charged it with spread
ing misinformation broadly and with
misrepresenting the treaty. And fur
Their he charged that the opponents
for the most part are those who In
reality are opposed to all limitation and
reduction in naval arms"
And now the opposition in its FIRST
move in the Senate is seeking to draw
red herring across the trail. 1t de-
mands, forsooth, that the President
send to the Senate certain confidential
cables between the Government here
and the American Ambassador, Gen.
Dawes, in London, and other data bear
ing on the negotiations for the treaty,
which the President declined to give
to the members of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee. The opponents
have been offered the opportunity Of
reading all these documents, If they
will treat them as confidential. But
this, in the language Of Senator Hiram
johnson, the opponents scorn. They
have been assured that every fact Of
any moment regarding the negotiation
of the treaty is known not only to them
selves but to the whole American people
through the press, and that in the end
the treaty speaks for itself, with no
secret understanding In the background.
But this is not enough. 1t Is surely
enough for the American people to
make them understand that the object
Of the demand for these confidential
cables is only an effort to avoid the real
issue. which is the ratification of the
treaty.
President Hoover declares in his mes
sage that ut is important for many
reasons that it (the treaty. should be
dealt with at once" The subject, he
points out. has been under discussion
since the Geneva conference three years
ago and the lines Of the pending treaty
have been known and under discussion
since last Summer. The actual docu-
ment has been before the American
people and the Senate for nearly three
months. Yet the opposition still Graves
delay. The reason is Obvious.