February 14, 1933 (3)

Mr. WATSON. Mr. President--

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Does the Senator from Texas yield to the Senator from Indiana?

Mr. SHEPPARD. I yield if it does not take me from the floor.

Mr. WATSON. I would like to ask the Senator from Wisconsin, in order that Senators may be informed, as to how long he intends to try to hold the Senate in session to-night for the purpose of testing the strength of this filibuster, or getting a vote?

Mr. BLAINE. Mr. President, it is my hope that the Senate will stay in continuous session just so long as it is possible to hold a quorum in order that we may obtain a vote upon the pending motion; as the junior Senator from Utah (Mr. KING) has suggested to me, if it be necessary, that the Senate remain in session during the night.

Mr. TOWNSEND. Mr. President--

Mr. SHEPPARD. I yield to the Senator if it will not take me off the floor. ·

Mr. TOWNSEND. From the Committee to Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses of the Senate I desire to report--

Mr. BLAINE. I object.

Mr. KING and several other Senators demanded the regu .. lar order.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is made, and the regular order is demanded. The Senator from Texas will proceed.

During the ' delivery of Mr. SHEPPARD's speech­

Mr. BINGHAM. Mr. President--

Mr. SHEPPARD. I yield for a question.

Mr. BINGHAM. I desire to enter a privileged motion.

Mr. SHEPPARD. I yield with the understanding that it will not take me off the floor.

Mr. BINGHAM. It will not. - I have no desire to take the Senator off the floor. I submit the motion which I send to the desk.

The VICE PRESIDENT. The motion will be stated.

The Chief Clerk read as follows:

We , the undersigned Senators, hereby move to bring to a close the debate on the motion of the Senator from Wisconsin [Mr. BLAINE] that the Senate proceed to the consideration of the joint resolution (S. J. Res. 211) proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States:

HIRAM BINGHAM. JOHN B. KENDRICK. CARTER GLASS. KEY PrrrMAN. F. C. WALCOTT. WARREN R. AusTIN. W. WARREN BARBOUR. WALLACE H. WHITE, Jr. TASKER L. 0DDIE A. H. VANDENBERG.

HAMILTON F. :Jti:AN. RoBERT F. WAGNER. JAMES F. BYRNES. JOHN J. BLAINE. BENNETT C. CLARK. FREDERICK HALE.

Mr. SHEPPARD resumed his speech. After having spoken for some time-

Mr. MOSES. Mr. President-

The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. McGILL in the chair). Does the Senator from Texas yield to the Senator from New Hampshire? ·

Mr. SHEPPARD. I yield for a question, Mr. President.

Mr. MOSES. I am sorry to have missed any portion of the Senator's discussion; but I ask him if, in the progress of his study of the matter of the minorities, he has at all given attention in what he has said to the Senate this afternoon to the question of the minorities involved in that portion of central Europe which is concerned with Rumania and Hungary, let us say; that is to say, the Banat and Transylvania; and, if the Senator has attempted at all to criticize the action of the council of Versailles in the decisions which they made with reference to the minority peoples?

Mr. SHEPPARD. No; I have made no exhaustive study along that line. I should like to have the Senator's opinion regarding it.

Mr. MOSES. I am sorry that the Senator has not spent the wealth of his research and scholarship upon this question, because, if he will know, there is still existing a most acute problem, so far especially as Hungary is concerned, with reference to those territories which were taken into Rumania, let us say., wherein, for example, there were to be found-is the Senator yielding the floor?

Mr. SHEPPARD. Not at all.

Mr. MOSES. The Senator sat down and I wondered if he was yielding the floor-wherein, for example, there were found those acute questions which grew out of the treaty of Versailles with reference to the consideration of the interests and the rights of the minorities-linguistic, racial, and religious.

If the Senator will recall, there were certain provisions in the treaty of Versailles which undertook to set up certain commissions-international in their character, but, after all, American in their results, because the American member happened to be the umpire in each case-to determine the rights of these linguistic, racial, and religious minorities which were set up, and particularly in the section of the globe to which the Senator at this minute has been directing his attention; that is to say, in Central Europe, where in Transylvania, where in the Banat, where in all the interests of Hungary, let us say, without going beyond the confines of any other country, there arose these acute situations.

The Senator, having been here, will remember that I happened to be one of that small group who resisted the ratification of the treaty of Versailles, not with reference at all to the 26 articles which made up the Covenant of the League of Nations, but because of those things in the treaty itself which, as I then foresaw, would produce exactly these international controversies to which the Senator is now paying his attention.

The Senator at that time resisted me in what I had to say, in what I thought, in what I foresaw. Now he joins me apparently in demmciation of the injustices which grew out of the treaty; - and I am glad to weicome him now to the small, diminishing, but still resisting group of the irreconcilables. I want to ask him, as he discusses this particular question, Why it is that in the course of what he is having to say regarding these problems of which I have now spoken, which involve the rights and the interests of religions, of races, and of nationalities, he is not willing to point out a remedy?

Inasmuch as the Senator yielded to me only for a question, I now come to the question:

Does the Senator join with me in declaring that the injustices of the treaty of Versailles are of such a character that the Senate of the United States should now denounce them?

Mr. SHEPPARD. Has the Senator concluded?

Mr. MOSES. No; I am waiting for the answer to the question, which may be "yes" or "no.~'

Mr. SHEPPARD. The treaty of Versailles provided the machinery for the settlement of all these questions--

Mr. MOSES. 0 Mr. President-

Mr. SHEPPARD. The Senator asked me a question, and he will no_t permit me to answer it.

Mr. MOSES. I pause for a reply.

Mr. SHEPPARD. The treaty of Versailles set up machinery for the settlement of all these questions when it created the League of Nations; and I suggest that the Senator join with me in joining the League of Nations, so that we can aid in remedying whatever wrongs exist.

Mr. MOSES. Mr. President, if the Senator will permit me, the League of Nations has been adequately described as being an instrumentality for settling small disputes among great nations, and as utterly useless in settling great disputes among any nations. I will join with the Senator if he will join with me in a declaration on the part of the United States Senate that the League of Nations, for example, should now ~ake absolute steps for determining what is going to take place in the Far East; whether we and the League of Nations shall permit the Japanese to go forward in Jehol and Manchukuo, and set up there these wholly irresponsible governments under the regis of the Japanese flag. - Will the Senator join me in making the protest of the United States effective, in connection with the League of Nations, or any other body, . that is to say, to the extent of sending the boys from Texas over there to see to it that the Japanese may not overrun Manchuria?

Mr. SHEPPARD. The Senator has leaped from Rumania to Japan.

Mr. MOSES. And I will cover the whole globe, because that is what the Senator has done~ - Mr. SHEPPARD. No; I have confined myself to these minorities, for the present.

Mr. MOSES. I beg the Senator's pardon; the Senator began at Saloniki.

Mr. SHEPPARD. The Senator is not asking me a question

Mr. MOSES. All right; · I will when I finish.

Mr. SHEPPARD. Go ahead.

Mr. MOSES. The Senator has leaped from Saloniki into the middle East, and his next step, of course, will be into the Far East, and does he intend to take the United States with him? That is my question.

Mr. SHEPPARD. The League of Nations is amply able to settle all those questions.

Mr. BARKLEY. Mr. President, will the Senator yield?

Mr. SHEPPARD. Does the Senator want to ask the Senator from New Hampshire a question?

Mr. BARKLEY. I want to ask the Senator from Texas whether the League of Nations has under consideration now the repeal of the eighteenth amendment? [Laughter.]

Mr. SHEPPA-.~D. . The League of Nations?

:Mr. BARKLEY. Yes.

Mr. SHEPPARD. The League of Nations has a strong organization for the stuty and control of the liquor traffic; and that organization, I am sure, would be against the repeal of the eighteenth amendment. · Mr. BARKLEY. Has the League of Nations the repeal of the eighteenth amendment under consideration at this time? ·

Mr. SHEPPARD. It has the eighteenth amendment under ' consideration at times, because it has the effects of the liquor traffic in all countries under consideration. · Mr. BARKLEY. When will the League of Nations vote on the repeal of the eighteenth amendment? Will it vote on it as soon as we vote on it?

Mr. MOSES ." Mr. President, will the Senator from Texas yield to me?

Mr. SHEPPARD. No; the Senator may answer in a moment. . _

Mr . TYDINGS. Mr. President, · will the Senator yield?

Mr. SHEPPARD. In just a moment. I hope Senators will not all ask me questions at once.

Mr. TYDINGS. I will not; I am going to be fair. Will the Senator yield? . · .

Mr. SHEPPARD. The League of Nations, through one of its organizations, as I have said, has the prohibition question under constant consideration.

Now I yield to the Senator from Maryland. .

Mr. TYDINGS. Does not my friend the Senator from Texas know that in that pink cup which I lately deposited hibition. on his desk there is nothing but water, without even the slightest trace of alcohol in it?

Mr. SHEPPARD. I am afraid the Senator put half of one per cent in it. [Laughter.]

Mr. MOSES. Mr. President, in reference to what the Senator from Kentucky has said, if he had been here, and had followed with as close attention as I have---

1\lf_r. SHEPPARD. Is the Senator asking me a question?

Mr. MOSES. I am going to.

Mr. SHEPPARD. I wish the Senator would, because I want to finish this address by 10 o'clock.

Mr. MOSES. Mr. President, if I conclude with a question I am within the rules. If the Senator from Texas wishes to take me off my feet, all right. [Laughter.]

Mr. SHEPPARD. No, Mr. President; I am not trying to take the Senator off his feet.

Mr. MOSES. Is the Senator from Texas going to let me ask a question or is he not?

Mr. SHEPPARD. My friend the Senator from New Hampshire knows that I want to be fair with him. He did not seem to be asking a question, and I simply called that to his attention. Now, let him ask me a question.

Mr. MOSES. All right; I thank the Senator very much. The Senator from Kentucky made a reference with re gard to the pendency of the question. If the Senator from Kentucky had been here as continuously as I have, either in the chair or on the floor, and had listened to the argument made by the Senator from Texas, . the Senator from Kentucky would have known that I this afternoon opened my discussion by referring to the intimate relationship of the question before the Senate to the argument which the Senator from Texas was presenting; and, having called attention to that, I now join with the Senator from Kentucky in asking the Senator from Texas just where does he connect any portion of what he has said, aside from that which related to Macedonia, to the question immediately before the Senate?

Mr. SHEPPARD. Through the bureau of the league for the control of the traffic in intoxicating liquors.

Mr. MOSES. May I ask another question?

Mr. SHEPPARD. Certainly.

Mr. MOSES. Has the United States a representative in that bureau, either as an observer or as a member?

Mr. SHEPPARD. It may have an unofficial observer, because it has been the practice of the Republican adminis­ request. tration to haunt the back door of the league and have unofficial observers present on all occasions.

Mr. MOSES. May I ask the Senator another question?

Mr. SHEPPARD. We were a backdoor member of the League of Nations. I know we became so over the Senator's protest.

Mr. MOSES. Why does the Senator say "was "? . Does the Senator regard the Republican administration as already in the past tense? . Mr. SHEPPARD. Yes, it is already dead.

Mr. MOSES. Without question, that is true, Mr. President, if the Senator will permit me to say so; the Republican Party is no longer in control . of this branch of the Congress or the one at the other end of the Capitol.

Mr. SHEPPARD. I thank the Senator for his illuminating contribution to the debate.

Mr. MOSES. That . was shown by the vote we had here the other day on the question of going into executive session.

Mr. SHEPPARD. I am always glad to have the Senator interrupt.

Mr. BARKLEY. Mr. President, I have no desire to delay the Senator from Texas, because . I know how anxious he _ is to draw his remarks to an . immediate conclusion, in which all of us join, I may say; but what I wanted to know was, when will the League of Nations vote on the Blaine resolution?

Mr. SHEPPARD. I can - not give the Senator that information. It will not vote on it but it is interested in pro­

Mr. BYRNES. Mr. President, will the Senator yield to

Mr. SHEPPARD. I yield.

Mr. BYRNES. Could the Senator tell us when the United States Senate will vote on the Blaine resolution?

Mr. SHEPPARD. I think it will vote some time tomorrow.

Mr. BYRNES. That is comforting.

Mr. MOSES. Mr. President, may I ask the Senator another question? .

Mr. SHEPPARD. I will state to the Senator from South Carolina that I am making a connected legitimate speech on an important subject. I have not asked for a quorum call. I have attempted no undue delay, and I intend to finish shortly. To say that one is engaged in a filibuster when he speaks - one day at the beginning of a debate, and does not speak any more, is entirely unjustified, and I do not think the Senator from South Carolina would join any one else in saying I am filibustering.

Mr. BYRNES. I simply asked the Senator if he . could give us some indication as to when the United States Senate would vote on the Blaine resolution, and the Senator has said to-morrow. As far as the Senator from Texas is concerned, will he say that he will not seek to prevent a vote on the resolution to-morrow?

Mr. SHEPPARD. I am not seeking to prevent a vote.

Mr. BYRNES. And that after this night he will do nothing to prevent a vote?

Mr. SHEPPARD. I am not making an effort now to prevent a vote. I am simply making a speech on a very important subject.

Mr. MOSES. Mr. President, I would like to present a unanimous-consent request.

Mr. SHEPPARD. I would like to finish now.

Mr. MOSES. I ask unanimous consent--

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Does the Senator from Texas yield for that purpose?

Mr. SHEPPARD. No; I do not yield for that purpose.

Mr. SHEPPARD resumed his speech. After having spoken for some time-

Mr. LEWIS. Mr. President, may I call the attention of my able and learned friend to the fact that Lord · d Robert Cecil was representing England? It was Smuts who represented South Africa.

Mr. SHEPPARD. Lord Cecil represented South Africa by

Mr. LEWIS. That is a matter of which I was not cognizant. I was present at some of the conferences, but was not acquainted with that detail.

Mr. TYDINGS. Mr. President, will the · Senator yield to me?

Mr. SHEPPARD. I yield.

Mr. TYDINGS. Did I understand the Senator to say that Mr. Smuts was not representing anybody?

Mr. SHEPPARD. ~ He was representing South Africa, too.

Mr. TYDINGS. Lord Robert Cecil and Mr. Smuts both were representing South Africa?

Mr. SHEPPARD. That is true, if I am correctly advised.

Mr. TYDINGS. That was rather a complete representation.

Mr. SHEPPARD. I think so myself.

Mr. SHEPPARD continued his speech. After having spoken some time he said:

Mr. President, I ask that the statement under the title "Armenian and Greek Refugees" may be printed in the REcORD without reading.

The VICE PRESIDENT. Is there objection?

Mr. MOSES. Mr. President, I would like to ask the Senator to state briefly what is set forth under that heading.

Mr. SHEPPARD. Would the Senator like to hear it read?

Mr. MOSES. I would like to have a summary in the Senator's own words.

Mr. SHEPPARD. I shall read it for the Senator.

Mr. MOSES. If it means what was done by Doctor Nansen and by the League of Nations, association, or whatever they call it, in Athens, which seized the palace of Prince Nicholas and lived in it without rent and tried to charge up the expense to the United States-if that is what the Senator has in mind, I want it read and I want to discuss it with

Mr. SHEPPARD. I shall read it, but the Senator did not ask me a question. ·

Mr. MOSES. Very well. Will the Senator read it and say whether it has to do with what I have just mentioned?

Mr. SHEPPARD. I shall read it.

Mr. MOSES. Just a minute. Mr. SHEPPARD. I decline to yield further. Mr. MOSES. May I finish-- Mr. SHEPPARD. I decline to yield further. Mr. MOSES. May I not finish my question? Mr. SHEPPARD. I decline to yield further. Mr. MOSES. I submit to the inevitable. Mr. SHEPPARD. I decline to yield further. The VICE PRESIDENT. The Senator from Texas decline~ to yield further.

Mr. SHEPPARD. I shall read it to the Senator.

After the conclusion of Mr. SHEPPARD's speech-

Mr. MOSES. Mr. President, will the Senator yield to me for a question?

Mr. SHEPPARD. I yield.

Mr. MOSES. The Senator was speaking just now, was he not, of that period when the League of Nations arranged for a loan to Austria, at the tnne when the Abbe Seipel was the Chancellor of Austria? Is not that so?

Mr. SHEPPARD. I take it the Senator is familiar with that matter.

Mr. MOSES. The Senator has just been talking about it Mr. McNARY. at length.

Mr. SHEPPARD. Yes; but I have not gone completely into the history of Austria.

Mr. MOSES. This is not the history of Austria, Mr. President; it is the history of the League of Nations in connection with the Austrian Government, and I am asking the Senator whether he has not been speaking of that period when the League of Nations arranged for a loan to the Austrian Government.

Mr. SHEPPARD. It began its arrangements for the loan then; yes.

Mr. MOSES. It was about 1923, was it not?

Mr. SHEPPARD. Yes; it began to make the arrangements then.

Mr. MOSES. Does the Senator know the history of that loan?

Mr. SHEPPARD. I know something about it.

Mr. MOSES. Will the Senator be good - enoUgh to tell the Senate the history of that loan-how much of it was paid, how often the interest was paid, how often they had to readjust it?

Mr. ROBINSON of Arkansas. I object, Mr. President. [Laughter.]

Mr. SHEPPARD. That would require a speech of almost the same length as the one I have made. I respectfully decline to answer to that extent.

Mr. MOSES. I am entirely willing to listen. Will the Senator permit still further questions? Does the Senator still yield to me for further questions?

Mr. SHEPPARD. I surrender the floor.

Mr. MOSES. I do not want the Senator to surrender the . ' floor. I am seeking information.

Mr. McNARY. Mr. President--

The VICE PRESIDENT. The Senator from Oregon is recognized.

Mr. McNARY. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate shall vote on the pending motion at 1 o'clock to-morrow afternoon.

The VICE PRESIDENT. Is there objection? The Chair hears none, and it is so ordered.

Mr. BROOKHART. Mr. President, in view of the agreement to vote at 1 o'clock, it occurs to me that we should modify the agreement previously entered into to meet at 11 o'clock. Some of us want to attend committee meetings in the morning.

The VICE PRESIDENT. The unanimous-consent agreement previously entered into is to recess until 11 o'clock to-morrow morning.

Mr. BROOKHART. I am wondering if the Senator from Oregon will not agree to modify that agreement?

Mr. McNARY. Mr. President, in view of the fact that we have a unanimous-consent agreement to vote at 1 o'clock to-morrow, and in order to accommodate the Senator from Iowa and others, I ask unanimous consent that the order by which we agreed to meet at 11 o'clock to-morrow morning be vacated, and that when the Senate takes a recess to-night it shall be until 12 o'clock noon to-morrow.

The VICE PRESIDENT. Is there objection? The Chair hears none, and it is so ordered.