Evening star., 1935-01-16
PRESIDENT URGES
SENATE TO
COURT PROTOCOL
Message Seeks Quick Ap.
provaI Without Modifying
Reservations.
JOHNSON OPENS FIRE
ON PROPOSAL AT ONCE
Opponents Prepare for Vigorous
Battle Against Adherence.
Long Debate Seen.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.
President Roosevelt today called on
the Senate to ratify United States ad-
herence to the World Court and "once
more to throw its weight into the scale
in favor of peace"
The Presidents plea was made in
a special message to the Senate which
has before it the protocols that, if
ratified. will place this country finally
as a member of the World Court. The
message was read soon after the Sen
ate assembled.
Less than an hour after Mr.. Roose-
velts message was read, a slashing
attack on the World Court was made
by Senator Hiram Johnson, Repub-
ican, Of California, one of the group
of ''irreconcilableS" johnson told the
Senate I'VE enter the Court, not for
the benefit of America, but to meddle
and muddle in the hysterical inter-
nationalism that Europe has and that
Europe never will get rid off,
Calls Court Foreign"
The fiery Californian, a supporter
of Mr.. Roosevelt on most issues, de-
clared:
DO we enter this sacrosanct tribunal
for the preservation of peace? Not so.
Not so. Do we enter it for the de-
termination Of any American question?
Not so. Not so. Do we enter it for
determination Of questions involving
America with any other country? Not
so. Not So
Then why do we enter it? Not for
America, our beloved republic, but to
NEEDLE and muddle in European af-
fairs and in court that is foreign
to our people and the genesis of our
institutions"
In his message the President ex-
pressed a firm conviction that the
sovereignty of the United States would
in no way be diminished or jeopardized
by ratiflcation Of the protocols and
membership in the court.
Opposes Reservations.
He advised strongly against adoption
OF further amendments or reservations
which might defeat or delay admis-
sion of this country into the court as
a member.
I urge" said the President, that
the Senate's consent be given in such
form as not to defeat or delay the OBJ
jective of adherence"
Opening his attack Senator john
son said:
This is a day of singular signifi-
canoe to me. 1t is the 21St birthday
anniversary of my Oldest grandson.
can not do better by him and to
those other Americans situated as he
is than to dedicate my whole effort
for the preservation of our traditional
policy of remaining out of European
entanglements; to keep this country
really independent in regard to its
dealings with other nations.
Il speak not as a citizen of the
world. I speak as a citizen of the
United States. With that I am con-
tent,
Recalls His Stand.
Il stand as I stood in 1918, 1919.
and 1920 I stand where I have al
ways stood. feel little lonely now"
He referred to the fact many of the
old irreconcilables who were opposed
to American entry into the League of
Nations and later the World Court,
have since left the Senate.
johnson said he resented attacks
made on the Senate on the ground it
had held up so long American entry
into the World Court.
1.-The Senate needs no defense at nv
hands," said Senator johnson. 1T
stands as bulwark of American lib
critics, say of it what you will. So I
resent criticism of this body by citi-
zens of the world who are not content
to be just Americans"
The text of the Presidents message
follows:
"The movement to make interna-
tional justice practicable and service
able is not subject to partisan con-
siderations. For years, Republican
and Democratic administrations and
party platforms alike have advocated
a court of justice to which nations
might voluntarily bring their disputes
for judicial decision.
Early Decision Asked.
ITO give concrete realization to this
obviously sound and thoroughly Amer
ican policy, I hope that at an early
date the Senate will advise and con-
sent to the adherence by the United
States to the protocol of signature of
the statute of the Permanent Court
of International Justice, dated Decem-
ber 16, 1920; the protocol for the re-
vision of the statute Of the Permanent
Court of International Justice. dated
September IA, 1929, and the protocol
for the accession of the United States
of America to the protocol of sigma
ture of the statute Of the Permanent
Court of International Justice, dated
September II, 1929, all of which were
submitted to the Senate December 10,
1880.
"I urge that the Senate's consent
be given in such form as not to de-
feat or delay the objective of ad-
herence.
"The sovereignty Of the United
States will be In no way diminished
or jeopardized by such action. In this
period OF international relationships,
when every act Is Of moment to the
future of world peace, the United
States has an opportunity once more
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