Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-23
The Treaty Is Signed.

The treaty is signed.
It's laborious task as nearly completed
as human ingenuity and the insuperable
snags of world politics made possible,
the American delegation to the London
Naval Conference is homeward bound.
The f1ve-power treaty, which in essential
respects is a three-power treaty, was
signed at st. James Palace yesterday
Thus ended, not as gloriously as was
hoped. ninety-two days of resolute eff
fort to advance the cause of disarma-
ment at sea among the quintet of
powers which rule the waves. The
scene now shifts to three different
arenas, in London, Toxic and Washing
ton, for until the governments of Great
Britain, Japan and the United States
ratify the resultS of the conference,
these are without effect.
President Hoover, within an hour of
the treaty's consummation, announced
that he would submit it to the Senate
at the earliest possible moment. Sena-
tor Borah, chairman Of the foreign re-
lations committee, followed with the
pledge that, to the extent of his ability
consideration of the pact at the Capitol
would be expedited. Congress had
planned to adjourn in June, but If the
naval treaty is to be disposed Of be-
forehand, the session will probably have
to be protracted beyond that date.
The country will rejoice to see the
Senate remaining on its responsible job
longer than anticipated, If the conse-
Quence is early ratification of the Lon
don agreement. The President Of the
United States instigated the confer
ence which gives birth to it. Our CO.
signatories have right to expect that
we shall similarly take the lead in
clothing it with final and formal SUBJ
stance. The determination Of various
senatorial groups to subject the treaty
to rigid scrutiny before ratification is
sane and reasonable plan. It is Q
complicated and confusing document at
best. international accords In which
professional protocol experts have had
q hand are seldom conspicuous for clar-
fly. There is special need for elucida-
ton, In terms which the common man
may. understand, in the case Of q pact
affecting the vital issue Of national de-
tense.
It will not be difdcult TO turn the
searchlight on the essentials. The
treaty gives America full combat
parity" with the British Navy-the
great sine qua non with which we en-
tered the conference. It fixes our naval
status with respect to Japan on basis
of security for American interests in the
Pacific. &c postpones for at least six
years the expenditure Of $400, 100000 on
battleship requirements. 1t has done In
1880 what the naval powers failed to do
in 1922 and again in 1927, viz, brought
about, at last, the limitation of warship
classes left unlimited at the Washing
ton Conference of eight years ago. It
arrests absolutely, until 1885, the race in
naval rivalry among Great Britain,
Japan and the United States COM
petition which carried the seeds of war
breeding mistrust and the burdens of in.
calculable cost to the taxpayers of those
countries.
These are real accomplishments.
Flaws can and will be picked in them,
when professional naval experts do
their stuff" at Senate committee hear
ings and amateur sea strategists per-
form on the Senate floor itself. Doubt
less much will be heard of the safe
guarding" or "escalator'' clause of the
treaty, whereby any power-Great Brit
ain Is mainly in mind-n1ay build be-
yond prescribed limits in case any nom
treaty country-France is here chiefly
meant-makes 1t necessary.
Prime Minister Macdonald, after sign
ing for his government, went as far as
he could in giving the world reassure-
ances that the safeguarding" preroga-
tive will not be invoked to the destruc-
ton of the limitation principle. Il hope
It will never be used" he said, "but If 1t
has to be, that will only happen after
every effort has been made to avoid it.
The British government is ready now,
and always will be, to strive with might
and main to prevent this arising"
Whether the "escalator" clause ever
comes into operation or not, it cannot
be gainsaid that the London treaty is
the great accomplishment for peace, u
which President Hoover calls it. 1t is
O new and bright feather in the cap of
American craftsmanship. 1t does not
dethrone the war mentality of the
world, but it is constructive, concrete
step in that direction. 1t deserves, as
such, the prompt and ungrudging ap-
proval Of the Senate and the cordial
support of the country.
In earlier days Of English literature