Evening star., 1945-07-19
Hoover Urges Charter
Ratification Despite
Many Weaknesses
BY the Associated Press.

bS the Associated Press.
SAN FRANCISCO, July 19.-
The San Francisco Charter
should be ratified by the Senate,
! in the opinion of former Presi-
dent Hoover. although he found
many weaknesses" in that for
mula for peace.
Mr.. Hoover expressed his ideas on
the Charter in broadcast over the
Columbia Network last night.
There are many weaknesses in
the Charter" he said, but he con-
ceded it probably was las good as
could be obtained under the existing
emotions, the present governments,
the conflicting ideals and ambi-
tions in the world"
Peace Rests on Big Three.
He emphasized that the powers of
the United States delegate to the
World Security Council should bel
defined by Congress; that. while
there need be little worry about our
representative using our military
forces for minor police incidents, yet
the Congress should never part with
its powers to declare war"
Among the many weaknesses,
the former President listed:
There is no positive bill of rights
for nations and men, but only mere
suggestion that they should be pro-
NOTED. - The Charter does
not recover the principles of the At
lantic Charter. While the
Security Council has the power to
stop military aggression among small
nations, yet this is not assured among
the great nations because of the
veto power. The Charter
fails to define aggression. u
1t does not even mention the new
distintegrating forms of aggression
of one nation upon another through
propaganda and fifth columns.
The regional organization, the meth
ods of review of outmoded treaties,
and the lack of commitment to-
relative reduction of armies and
navies leave much to be desired"
Text of Address.
The text of Mr.. Hoovers talk
follows:
1 have received multitude of re-
quests from members of Congress,
the press and individuals for my
sviews upon the San Francisco Char
ter and the progress of peace-mak- |
ing. Views are of value only If they
are specific and objective in analysis.
The San Francisco Charter is far
better than Dumbarton Oaks and is
probably as good as could be OBJ
tanned under the existing emotions,
the present governments and the
conflicting ideals and ambitions in
the world. 1t should be ratified by
the Senate.
The American people should be
under no illusions that the Char
ter assures lasting peace. The
Charter at best consists only of an
expression of desire and machinery
to preserve peace. The problem OF
enduring peace is far wider than the
Charter. The foundations of lasting
peace must also be laid in the eco
nomic and political settlements
among nations by which this war is
to be liquidated. The nature OF
these settlements will have more to
do with lasting peace than the
Charter.
Major Strength of Charter.
The major strength of the Char
ter is that it provides for continuous
meetings of the nations where peace
ko 5icnIlCSnH If Cfif11-
ulates the methods of peaceful set
tlement of controversies. 1t re-
establishes the world court and
creates trusteeship for dependent
countries. It provides for a linn
tied action to prevent military ag-
gression. 1t sets up machinery for
promotion OF social and economic
welfare.
There are many weaknesses in
the Charter. There is no positive
bill of rights for nations and men,
but only a mere suggestion that
they should be promoted. The
Charter doSs not recover the prin-
ciples Of the Atlantic Charter which
were whitfield away at Teheran and
after Yalta. The political, moral
and spiritual standards of conduct
of nations and of men are thus in
sufficiently defined for the tests by
which the conduct Of nations can
be judged by the Security Council.
While the Security Council has
the power to stop military aggression
among small nations, yet this is not
assured among the great military
nations because of the veto power.
The Charter fails to define aggreS-
sion even in the admirable terms .
settled by the Soviet government
for inclusion in its treaties of II
years ago. And it does not even
mention the new disintegrating
forms of aggression of one nation
upon another through propaganda
and fifth columns.
The regional organization, the
methods of review of outmoded
treaties and the lack of commit
ment to relative re-education of
armies and navies leave much to be
desired. Most of these vital ques-
tlons are referred to in terms of
hope or permission, not in terms of
positive undertakings or agree
ments. But these weaknesses point
the directions in which there should
be amendment over the years to
come.
From an American point of view,
Tatifying the Charter involves little
commitment beyond those that may
be entered into by our representa-
tive on the Security Council And
somewhere along the line there must
be a definition by the Congress of
the powers of this delegate.
While there need be little worry
about our representative using our
military forces for minor police in
cidents, yet the Congress should
never part with its powers to make
var.
It should be understood that the