The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-04-28
KNOX Sees ERA
OF DISARMAMENT
Believes Ii Will Ultimately
Come About.
Secretary OF State Is OF The Opinion
That An international Court OF
Arbitral Justice Will Be Estab-
lished At The Hague In The Near
Future And That Such A Perma-
nent Tribunal Would Bring About
The Result.

Washington, d. c. Especially -
Ultimate disarmament of the nations
of the world is practicable in the
opinion of Secretary Knox. He be-
lieves the establishment of court
of arbitral justice to which nations
of the world may appeal for the
settlement of their controversies
will have the effect as it's own nat
ural consequence of not merely re-
ducing armament, but ultimately OF
rendering large armaments unnec-
essary.
His plan for the establishment Of
an international court of arbitral
justice which was outlined in an
identical note sent in the fall of last
year to various nations Is said to
be meeting with general favor, and
Mr.. Knox believes that such court
will be constituted at The Hague in
the near future.
By way of explanation of his plan
for the establishment of the court
the Secretary said that the existence
of permanent tribunal of arbitral
justice would make resort to 1t
very easy, as, being in permanent
session, 1t would not have to be con-
stituted anew for each case as II
arises; that the expenses of the
court would be borne by the ma
tions jointly, not as heretofore by
the parties In controversy, and that
the judgments of such a court
would bind all parties interested IN
the particular controversy. The
court would be composed of judges
representing various nations or sys-
TENS of law, and 1t is expected
would devclop international law Just
as the common law of England and
the United States has been developed
by judicial decision.
The Secretary also said that while
the court would be primarily intend
ed for the powers participating in
it's constitution, It would neverthe-
less be open to any power that might
wish to submit controversy to 1t,
thus making 1t in the fullest sense
international. 1t is not proposed in
signing convention for the estab-
lishment of such court that the ma
tions shall obligate themselves to
disarm or make any move toward
disarmament. The successful oper-
alton of the court, however, would
have for its consequence reduction
of armament, If not complete dis
armament.
The Secretary gave as a familiar
illustration of the successful oper-
alton of an international court the
conditions on the Pacific Coast fol-
lowing the discovery of gold. In
the absence of courts to protect the
citizens every man carried a pistol
and himself redressed his real or
fancied wrongs. Ultimately the es-
tablishment of courts rendered the
carrying of arms unnecessary, and
they were discarded. The Secretary
foresees a like result to the ma
tions from the establishment and
successful operation of a great in
ternational tribunal.
Secretary Knox is unwilling to 60
into details as TO the progress made
toward the establishment of such
court, but 1t Is known that reports
SO far received justify the expecta-
tion that court of arbitral justice
will be established before the meet
ing of the next conference at The
Hague in 1915.