The Washington times., 1931-09-10
CLEAN UP POLICE OR CONGRESS WILL REP GIBSON WARNS
FOREIGN POLICY
WILL KEYNOTE
G.O.P.F|GHT

Forthcoming Battle to Invoke
International Issue for First
Time in Twelve Years
BY WILLIAM c. MURPHY, JR.
Questions Of foreign policy will
figure prominently in the 1882
presidential campaign for the
first time since the Republicans
rode into power on their anti
League Of Nations platform of
1920.
The revolving stage Of politics
has reversed the positions of the
two major parties in the 12-year
interim which will have elapsed
before the voters go to the polls
year from now.
Fundamentally, however, the
issue will be much the same as
in 1920, with one party emphasiz-
ing its services or anticipated serv-
ices to the world at large and the
other insisting upon more atten-
ton to domestic affairs.
Whether by accident or design
nearly all of the achievements Of
the Hoover administration to
which campaign orators are likely
to point with pride next year ale
in the international field. The
Kellogg peace pact (consummated
after Mr.. Hoover'S inauguration,
though really a product of the
Coolidge regime), the London
naval treaty and the war debts
reparations moratorium, are the
outstanding examples so far.
Other Credits
American adherence to the pro
tOcOl of the World Court-the
League of Nations Court, accord
ing to its OppOnents-is scheduled
to come up for decision in the
Senate early in the coming SeS-
sion Of Congress. Mr.. Hoover il
committed to adherence with the
SO-called Root formula. If the
Senate supports the President on
this issue that can be cited by
the Republican campaign spell
binders.
Moreover. early next year the
Disarmament Conference will as
semble under the aegis of the
League of Nations and with the
blessing of the Hoover admins
tration. Should that conference
bring forth tangible progeny they
can be advertised as additional
proofs Of Mr.. Hoover's labors on
behalf of world peace.
It is anticipated that Repub-
lican orators will prefer to ex-
patiate upon these international
issues rather than upon problems
like farm relief, unemployment
legislation, prohibition, and the
tariff. These domestic questions
are likely to receive enough ad-
vertising from Democratic sources
to make up for probable Repub-
lican silence.
While Mr.. Hoover has received
substantial Democratic support on
the Kellogg pact, the London
treaty, and his moratorium pro-
pOsal, and is likely to have sim.
liar support on the World Court
and disarmament projects, that
does not render any Of these
issues immune from Democratic
attack.
1nternatiOnaliSm Issue
The Republican party's progress
toward internationalism has been
brought to attention by the pres
sure of the world economic de,
preston, but that progress has
been apparent ever since Presi.
dent Harding called his Wash.
ington arms conference in 1921.
In 1924 there was no need for
a Republican issue after the
Democratic suicidal convention in
Madison Square Garden, and the
Democrats failed to arouse much
interest in their denunciations of
the Teapot Dome and Elk Hills
oil scandals. In 1928 the issue
was prohibition tinctured with
prosperity and religion. But in
1873" every indication points to a
Republican drive to popularize
Mr.. Hoover's exploits in the in.
ternational field; and in political
campaigns it is safe to assume
that whatever one party boasts of
the other will denounce.