Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-07
FOR WORLDS PEACE
New Society to Advocate Ju-
diciaI Settlements.
PRESIDENT SENDS LETTER
Knox and Root Also Encourage the
Movement.
A CAMPAIGN OF EDUCATION
Society Will Issue Articles by Lead
ing Men on the Subject of
Arbitration.
CAMPAIGN OF EDUCATION

BALTIMORE, February 7.-There was
organized Saturday night at the residence
of Theodore Marburg the American Society
for the Judicial Settlement of International
disputes, which will devote itself prin-
cipally to issuing articles by leading men
of all countries on subjects indicated by
the title of the organization, and to or
sanize meetings of national scope in varf-
Gus parts of this country, from time to
time. with view to educating the people
as to the desirability of promoting the
peace Of the world by settling points OF
international controversy In the same
general way in which differences between
individuals are now settled.
During the meeting letters by Mr.. Mar
burg were read from President Taft, Sec
rotary Knox, Senator Root and Senator
Burton.
The President said: II have learned
with interest of the plans to found an
American Society for the Judicial Settle
ment Of International Disputes.
No Other Way to Peace.
THE leaflets which you propose to pub
fish. together with the meetings of ma
tional scope which you are planning to
hold from time to time, may have a very
great influence on the develop ment of
public opinion on this important subject.
If the proposed court of arbitral justice
at The Hague bcomes an accomplished
fact there will still remain the task of
securing the adhesion Of q number of
powers to the court, and the very i'm
portant task of so cultivating opinion in
various countries as to incline govern
ments to resort to the court when occa-
sion calls for It,
There Is no other single way in which
be so effectively promoted as by the firm
establishment of a permanent interna-
tional court Of justice"
Secretary Knox's Letter.
Secretary Knox said: "You are quite
right in assuming that I take not only a
keen personal but official interest in the
movement for which your society is to be
organized, for, as you are doubtless
aware, l have in an identic circular note.
dated October Is, 1909, urged the powers
to invest the International prize court
with the jurisdiction and functions OF a
court of arbitral justice thus completing
the work of the second Hague peace con-
ference by carrying into effect its recon-
mendation that the court Of arbitral JUS
tice be constituted through diplomatic
channels.
Should the identic note be favorably
received and should the court of arbitral
justice be thus constituted. the consenting
nations would have permanent interna-
tionai tribunal for the judicial deterrni-
nation Of controversies arising out OF
peace as we'll as war, and 1t cannot be
doubted that such tribunal would, in
large measure render to nations the serv-
ices which national courts have perform
ed for private litigants. BY the settle
ment of controversies susceptible Of
judicial determination before they have
reached an acute stage, the causes of war
taken toward the gradual decrease OF
armament"
For Judicial Attitude.
Senator Root said:
Il wish 20 say to your guests that I
sympathize very strongly with their OBJ
ject and believe that the proposed or
ganization is adapted to render a great
public service. I assume that the new
organization is to have a definite specific
object which may be indicated by en-
phasizing the word judicial In its title
to indicate a distinction between that
kind of settlement of international dis
putes and the ordinary arbitration as 1t
has been understood in the past and is
generally understood now. l assume that
you are going to urge that disputes be-
tween nations shall be settled by judges
acting under the judicial sense of hon
orable obligation with judicial idea OF
impartiality rather than by diplomats act
ing under the diplomatic ideas OF honor
able obligation and feeling bound to me-
gotiate settlement rather than to pass
without fear or favor upon questions OF
fact and law.
ut seems to be that such change in
the fundamental idea of what an arbi-
tration should be is essential to any very
great further extension OF the idea or ar
bitration. 1 have been much surprised,
however. to see how many people there
are Of ability and force who do not agree
with this idea at all. particularly people
on the other side of the Atlantic.
The extraordinary scope or judicial
mower in this country has accustomed
us to see the operations of government
and questions arising between sovereign
states submitted to judges who apply the
test of conformity to established princi-
pies and rules OF conduct embodied in
our constitutions.
Natural to Americans.
TT seems natural and proper to US that
the conduct of government affecting sub
stantial rights, and not depending upon
questions of policy. should be passed
upon by the courts when occasion arises.
1t is easy, therefore. for Americans to
grasp the idea that the same method of
settlement should be applied to ques-
tions growing out of the conduct of ma
tons and not involving questions of
policy.
In countries, however, where the
courts exercise no such power, the idea
Is quite a new one to most people, and
if 1t is to prevail, there must be proc
ess of education. Such a process win
| naturally receive it's chief impulse in the
United Staes, and I hope your new So
ciety will give such an impulse with
yigor and accurate direction
Senator Burton said: Il have the
strongest desire that your proposed So
ciety for the judicial settlement of inter-