AMERICAN POLICY

Evening Star, Issue 20051, 17 December 1928, Page 8

AMERICAN POLICY

CRUISER Bill AND THE KELLOGG PACT SUSPICIOUS OF BRITAIN Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. NEW YORK, December 10. (Received December 17, at 1.a.m.) A reflection from the Senate debate on the Cruiser Rill and the Kellogg Pact occurred to-day in a debate before the Foreign Policy Association, a private body which includes many well-known Americans. Admiral Plunkett arose and asked: “Against what nations is Britain building? She is building against some nation now. Which is it? ” Doctor John Martin (who is of British birth, but American citizenship) said: “England is not building against the United States. She is building slowly against an undefined enemy because she sees that her food lines are so vulnerable that another European nation may put her in jeopardy.” Admiral Plunkett then asked whether it would not “bo a good thing for Britain to come forward and offer the freedom of the seas.” Other Americans spoke against the Cruiser Bill, declaring that the United States, with her industrial and mechanical wealth, actually suffered from no naval disparity. Mr Gillette (who formerly opposed the Cruiser Bill) now declared that he would vote for it. Ho said that between Britain and the United States “ competition. ' and friction are sure to develop and increase.” From a trade point of view he commended the English statesman as far-seeing, and said he did not doubt the sincerity of their professions of friendship, but if they wore unwilling to accept naval equality with the United States ho could see no safe course “ except to increase our armaments.” Ho declared, however, that ho would vote for tho Kellogg Pact as u a substantial step towards universal peace.’ Dir Gillette expressed resentment at a statement by Doan Staples, and added; “When a high dignitary of the church and a professional follower of tho Prince of Peace parades such provocative and belligerent sentiments, we call hardly rely upon tho pacific and friendly attitude of all the rest of tho English people.”—Australian Press Association. RESERVATION PRO BOS Ah . Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. WASHINGTON, _ December If. A resolution declaring the rights of the United States with respect to tho Kellogg Treaty, which is proposed to be adopted with the ratification of the Pact, was offered at to-day’s meeting of tho Senate at to-day’s meeting of the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee by Senator Moses, who believes that ho has a majority of supporters in tho committee for tho resolution and will ask its adoption at tho same time as the vote is taken on Monday for ratification of tho treaty. Tho resolution sets out that the Senate declares that, in advising that consent be given to the multilateral treaty, it does so with the understanding that, first, the treaty does not impose any obligation on the United States to resort to coercive or punitive measures against any offending nation*, second, tho treaty does not impose any limitations on the Monroe Doctrine or the traditional policy or the United Stales; third, tho treaty does not impair the right of tho United States to defend its territory, possessions, trade, or interests; fourth, the Treaty does not bind the United States to the conditions of any Treaty to which the United States is not a party.—Australian Press Association. RATIFICATION PROBABLE Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. WASHINGTON, December 15. (Received December 1/, at 10 a.m.) A new complication arose to-day, to worry the advocates of ratification of the Kellogg Pact. It was found m an effort by the “ big navy men ” to keep the treaty in. the background until tho Senate acts on the pending Fifteen Cruiser Bill, but this movement has not assumed formidable proportions, and everything considered, the sponsors’ of the Kellogg Pact have every reason to feel encouraged over the prospect of its ratification without any change or the addition of embarrassing reservations. • , Mr Kellogg to-day interviewed Scmv tors M'Lean and Johnson,, of the Committee of Foreign Relations, and urged them to vote lor ratification ■ without any interpretative resolutions. Mr Kellogg was unsuccessful -in his .effort. President Coolidge then called for the senators, and made the same request, but it is believed that he was unsuccessful. • . ; Still another phase of the situation appeared in the speeches by Senators Bruce and Gillette. Senator Bruce criticised the Treaty as being virtually meaningless and futile in preventing nations from resorting to war.— Australian Press Association.