Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-12
The Presidents AM yer.

President Hoover has Dc lined the re-
quest of the Senate for the confidential
correspondence leading up to the ne
gotiation of the London naval treaty,
His message to the Senate was digni-
fed and at the same time set forth the
reason why the Chief Executive does not
choose to send to the Senate this con-
fidential correspondence. The President
gives assurance to the Senate and to
the American people in his message
that there are no secret agreements
relating to the naval treaty, that every
agreement has. been made public and
that the treaty means exactly what it
says it means.
Opponents of the treaty have sought
TO make it appear that the Presidents
declination to accede to the request of
the Senate is an attack upon the Senate,
an insult. 1t is nothing of the kind.
Other Presidents of the United States
called upon by the Senate for informa-
ton have replied in the past that they
declined to transmit to the Senate in
formation desired because to do so would
be incompatible with the public in
terest." This is Just what Mr. Hoover
has done. The President, not the SEN
ate. is charged with the duty of ne
gotiating treaties. 1t is quite true that
the Senate is entitled to the fullest in
formation regarding the negotiations of
treaties, information which would in any
I,rvl,% =
of the treaties Such information the
Senate already has. The attempt to
make it appear that the President is
seeking TO cover up or conceal some
thing and that secret agreements have
been entered into in connection with the
treaty is scarcely worthy of the Sem
ators who are putting forth these sug-
gestions in the face of what they know
to be the fact
According to press reports, two Sena-
tors have decided to vote against the
treaty because of the refusal of the
President to send the confidential cor
respondence to the Senate. The treaty
is no different from what it was yes
terday, or before the President sent his
message to the Senate. 1t is good, or
it is bad. There is nothing in the treaty
beyond what the treaty says for itself
Decision of Senators to vote against the
pact because of the stand taken by the
President will scarcely commend itself
70 the country
Senator Norris of Nebraska has Of
tered a reservation to the treaty which.
in effect, says that since the President
has declined to send the confidential
correspondence to the Senate the SEN
ate shall ratify the treaty only with
the understanding that no secret un-
agreement has been entered into. This
Is the Nebraska Senator's quaint way
OF challenging the good faith of the
President and of Senator Robinson Of
Arkansas, the Democratic leader. and
Senator Reed Of Pennsylvania, both of
whom were members of the American
delegation at London and both of whom
have assured the Senate that there is
nothing beyond the treaty itself and
that there are no secret understand
1ngs.
Since there are no secret understand
tngs in regard to the treaty and what
shall be done under its terms, it seems
10 be immaterial whether the Norris
resolution be adopted or not, except
that it undertakes to reflect upon the
integrity of the President and the sena-
torial members of the delegation which
negotiated the treaty.