Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-29
CHURCHES LAUNCH
WORLD COURT PLEA
FOR EARLY ACTION
Vote in Present or Special
Senate Session Urged
by ProteStantS.
DELAY SEEN IMPERILING
FA0VEMENT FOR PEACE
Result Held to Depend on Way
People Rally to Support
of President.
BY REX COLLIER.

The federated protestant churches
of the United States today launched a
Nationwide campaign intended to
arouse the people Ito the support OF
President Hoover's request to the Senate
for prompt action" on the World Court.
The Federal Council of Churches of
Christ in America, through its Com
mission on International Justice and
Good Will, today sent throughout af-
filiated church circles of the United
States a petition urging the Senate,
either in present or special session, to
approve American entry in the World
Court.
To delay action for another year, the
petition declares, would lead to at
tempts to postpone indefinitely and
would result in a serious setback to the
movement for world justice and endur-
ing peace
Believe Action Possible.
Disclaiming any intention of inter-
fering with current legislation before
CONGRESS, the petition states that IF
the Senate functions efficiently other
legislation can be disposed of in time
to take up the court protocols
The Commission on international
Justice and Good Will is headed by
Alanson B. Houghton, former Ambas-
sador to Great Britain, and George W..
Wickersham, who also is chairman of
the Presidents National Commission on
Law Observance and Enforcement.
Pointing out that .great haste is
vital" Rev. Sidney L. Gulick, secretary
of the commission, mailed the petitions
over the week end to all members Of
the Federal Council of Churches and
of the councils associated organizations.
The members are asked to sign the
petitions promptly and return them to
the commission in New York by the
end Of this week, so that they may be
given to the Senate Foreign Affairs
Committee on January Z.
Decide to Go Ahead.
1t is hoped to obtain at least $500
signatures to the petition.
The decision to go vigorously ahead
on this campaign was reached by the
National World Court Committee on
Tuesday, December %, in the light OF
very full information from Washing
ton" Mr.. Gulick announced.
This commission is seeking the
active cooperation of church members
generally and of State and city coun-
els of churches. We are hopeful that
the program Of the peace forces, OF
which this petition is only the first
step. will be able to secure early action
on the World Court.
THE issue now largely depends on
the earneStneSs with which the country
rallies to the support of President Hoo
ver's request to the Senate for prompt
action"
Recipients of the petition also are
urged to write personal letters to their
Senators IN support of the proposal
The petition follows:
Believing that the United States
should ioin the World Court without
further delay, we, the undersigned
United States citizens, petition the
Senate of the United States to take
favorable action on the three protocols
submitted to 1t by the President, either
during the present session OF Congress
or, if necessary, at special session OF
the Senate alone.
THE question of United States men,
bership in the Permanent Cour of Inter-
national Justice has been before the
country for many years. The Senate &C
copied the principal that this country
should join in the work Of the court when
on January 81, 1926, by rs to II, it voted
in favor of ratification of the World
Court treaty, subject TO five reserva-
tions. These reservations have been
met by the protocols submitted to the
Senate by the President on December
10, $780, This is the view of the Presi-
dent, the Secretary of State and OF
leading legal authorities in the United
States.
Late Kellogg Pact.
IF action thus taken by the Senate
after careful and thorough deliberation
is now to be repudiated, the foreign re-
lations of the United States cannot bl
carried on Since the action of the
Senate in 1926, the United States has
become a party to the Kellogg BRAND
peace pact, which implies and requires
such a court for its fulflllment.
I'VE believe that to delay action or
the court protocols for another year
would lead to attempts TO postpone such
action indefinitely and would result in
a serious setback TO the movement fol
world justice and enduring peace.
While We appreciate the pressure oil
essential legislation during this session
and have no desire to interfere with
such legislation, we are convinced thai
the Senate, If it functions efficiently
can dispose of this business and also
bring the question of United States
membership in the court 10 an early
vote. We therefore call upon our re.
spective Senators TO lend their supper
to prompt and favorable action on thu
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