WORLD COURT

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 108, 31 January 1935, Page 9

WORLD COURT

Adherence By America Not Sanctioned SENATE MAJORITY TOO SMALL Issue May Be Killed For Generation REVERSE FOR ROOSEVELT By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received January 30, 7 p.m.) Washington, January 29. President Roosevelt suffered perhaps the most serious reversal in his Presidential career when the Senate, by a vote of 52 to 36 failed to sanction American adherence to tlie Permanent Court of International Justice, which has been recommended iby every President since President Wilson. Under the constitution a two-thirds vote was necessary to ratify the treaties, and a determined opposition bloc, led by Senators Johnson and Borah, the last survivors of the "irreconcilables” who defeated President Wilson’s, project to join the League of Nations, succeeded in splitting party lines to defeat the nation’s co-opera-tion in; the world’s peace machinery. Twenty Democrats defied the President and voted against adherence to the court. Up till the last minute Administration leaders insisted that they had sufficient votes, but seven Democrats wavered and the issue was lost. Observers declare that the advocates of the proposal lost through poor strategy in allowing the issue to be debated too long. Victory seemed secure a week ago. but over the weekend opponents staged a terrific propaganda drive that was responsible for to-day’s defeat. It is unlikely that the measure will be called up again during the present Congress, and in all probability the issue is .dead for the present generation.