Evening star., 1935-01-29
ROBINSON PLEADS
FOR WORLD COURT
Democrat Leader RidiCuleS
Gag Rule" Charge in
Forum Talk.


After ridiculing the charge made by
opponents Of American adherence to
the World Court that the Senate Is
proceeding under gag rule" with its
consideration of the protocols now be-
fore it, Senator Robinson Of Arkansas,
the Democratic leader, last night made
a strong argument in support OF the
Court. He spoke in the National Ra-
dio Forum, arranged by The Star and
broadcast over the network of the
National Broadcasting Co.
The charges that the Senate has
been proceeding under gag rule,
Senator Robinson said, are "either the
outgrowth of misinformation or mis-
representation. He pointed out that
the limitation of debate in the Sen
ate was granted by unanimous con-
sent" Any member Of the Senate
opposed to the Court could have
blocked it by raising his voice in op-
position to the agreement for debate
limitation. Furthermore, he pointed
out, the Senate has recessed or ad-
journed day after day because no one
either wished to debate the World
Court or was prepared to 60 on.
The Arkansas Senator declared the
charge of a gag" rule had been raised
by some of the Court opponents for
the purpose of arousing prejudice and
Of preventing calm determination
of the issue.
The World Court is the outgrowth
OF American opinion and American
effort, Senator Robinson pointed out.
The United States, he said, should
not retreat.
Many Allusions Irrelevant.
The text Of Senator Robinson's ad-
dress follows:
The Senate probably will vote to-
morrow on whether the United States
shall support the World Court. The
subject matter has been before the
Senate for two weeks during the
present session, and almost every phase
Of our international relations has
been touched upon. Many of the al
lusions appear to me irrelevant and
misleading.
Notwithstanding the glaring head
lines in certain newspapers that the
Senate has arbitrarily imposed gag
rule" which stiles the expression of
their views by Senators, to those IA
miliar with the facts such statements
are both amusing and amazing. They
are either the outgrowth of misinfor-
nation or misrepresentation.
There are only two ways in which
debate in the Senate may be limited:
IN IN, I'm a y,i,,ont,c oNpcapt and 10Y hU
the filing of a petition signed by 16
Senators and supported on final vote
by two-thirds of the Senators present
and voting The latter is the process
by which the Senate may end a fill
buster if two-thirds of the members
desire to do so. There has been no
filibuster on the resolution of adher-
ence to the World Court. There has
been nothing to suggest the necessity
for a cloture. That has not been
thought of. BY unanimous consent on
last Thursday the Senate entered into
an agreement that after ! o'clock to-
day no Senator should speak more
than once or longer than 80 minutes
on the resolution of adherence, nor
more than once or longer than is
minutes on any reservation or reso-
luton. This arrangement was express
ly aSsented to by the Senators in
charge Of the opposition. Any member
of the Senate by objecting could have
prevented it. 1t was made with the
consent of all Senators. Those who
have taken note of the debate must
understand that the contest has pro-
, ceeded in leisurely fashion, ample
opportunity being afforded every one
to speak who desired to do so. The
Senate has been compelled to adjourn
almost every day at an early hour,
because the debate for the time being
appeared TO be exhausted, no Sena-
tor being ready to proceed.
Seek to Arouse Prejudice.
, The claim that a gag rule has been
adopted is characteristic Of the efforts
of some opponents of the World Court
, to arouse prejudice, and through it to
prevent that calm determination of
' the issue which its nature and i'm
portance requires.
The five reservations incorporated
by the Senate are in substance as
follows: Cd That adherence shall not
be taken to involve any legal rela-
tionship between the United States
and the League of Nations or the as
sumption of any obligation by our
Government under the Treaty Of Ver-
sailles. (2) That the United States
shall participate in the election of
judges on terms of equality with other
states. 90 That our Government
shall pay fair share Of the expenses
OF the court as determined and ap-
propriated from time to time by the
Congress. 90 That the United States
may withdraw from the Permanent
Court of International Justice at any
time, and that the statute Of the court
shall not be amended without the con-
sent Of the United States. (5) That
public hearings shall be held after no
tice to all states members Of the court |
and to ell states interested respecting
requests for advisory opinions, and
that the court shall not without the
consent Of the United States entertain
any requests for an advisory opinion
touching any dispute or question in
which the United States has or claims
an interest.
The first four were Internationally
accepted. As to the fifth. the necessity
became apparent for some method of
acquainting the council and assembly
as also the court with the interest or
claim Of interest by the United States,
in order to avoid making or entertain
81 Suffered 10 Years