U.S. FOREIGN POLICY.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17702, 2 March 1923, Page 7

U.S. FOREIGN POLICY.

WORLD COURT PROPOSAL. SENATE,DEFERS CONSIDERATION. (BI CABLE—PBE6B ASSOCIATION—COPTBIGBT.) (AttSTBALIAK AKD S.Z. CABLB ASSOCIATION.) (Received March Ist, 11.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, February 2 s - After a conference, President Harding and Mr H. C. Lodge definitely decided not to bring up the world court proposal for debate by Senate this session. (Received March Ist, 11.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, February 28. The Washington correspondent of the "New York Times" says it is understood that what occurred at the conference to-day was that Senator Lodge informed President "Harding that even if the Senate began immediate consideration of the Court proposal there was no hope of its passage during the present session, and in the nrtanwhile necessary delayed legislation would never be passed, owing to the shortness of the available time. Senator King, in deference to the wishes of many Senators, refrained from calling up his resolution for ratification of the President's proposals for a day an least. It "is now undetermined whether he will attempt this to-morrow. It is understood that in that event either Senator Lodge will move to liavo the resolution tabled, or the Republican Senators will vote to refer it to the Committee on Foreign Relations. In either case the result will be the some—the Senato will not consider the proposal during this session. President Harding informed Senator Lodge that the preparation of answers to the questions asked by the Foreign Relation? Committer will take some time. Mr Harding told Senator Lodgo that the Committee would be supplied with the desired information in duo rime. The correspondent understands that President Harding gracefully accepted Senator Lodge's explanation of the, situation that the proposal would remain in abeyance until tho next session of Congress, but was somewhat taken back by Senator Borah's request for information. [The Foreign Relations Committee instructed Senator H. C. Lodge to obtain a statement from tho Administration dealing up the following points regarding President Harding' b proposal to join the Permanent Court of International Justice:—(l) Whether the Court is to be a Court in fact or merely an arbitration tribunal. (2) What reservation lias been made by other nations ratifying the protocol. (3) Whether American adhesion would involve the United States under the labour clauses of the Treaty _ of Versailles. The Foreign Relations Committee adopted Senator W. E. Borah's resolution requesting President Harding to declare whether he favours an agreement making it obligatory that members of the Court shall submit to it •all questions which diplomacy cannot settle, and whether he deems it advisable to first ascertain the willingness of the other Powers thus to bind themselves.]