The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-01-12
Several Of the Principal Powers Of Europe
Are Considering Fayorably the American
Plans for Permanent Arbitration Court

Washington. Jan. 12-State depart
ment officials have received with
much satisfaction during the last few
days tidInes leading them TO believe
that several of the principal powers OF
Europe are considering favorably Sec
retary Knox's proposal TO the nations
looking to the establishment of per-
manent court OF international arbltral
Justice While no formal or definite
answers have been received TO joint
note addressed to vthe powers. diplo-
mats here and abroad recognize the
great Importance of the proposition
from an internal peace standpoint
In discussing the scope and juris-
diction of the proposed court. a state
department official, familiar with the
plan, explained today that II was not
the intention directly to supplant the
international prize court established
as result OF the second Hague con.
ference; nevertheless be made it
clear that had the court been thor
oughly satisfactory in It's operation a
new court would not have been suG-
gested
The so-called permanent court as at
present constituted is merely panel
Of judges, and experience Is held to
have shown that the selection of these
judges Is a difficult task.
Besides that. the tribunal. when
constituted. decides only the particu-
decision passes out of existence.
new case requires a new tribunal.
This temporary character of the
court results In lack OF continuity
in policy Because OF tho delays in
cidental 10 the erection of each bench
and the enormous expense of its op-
Grafton. only six cases have been sub
mitted mp TO the present time for its
adjudication.
The present prize court is OF limit
ed jurisdiction and Its very existence
presupposes the existence OF war for
1t is only in the time of war that
neutral property may be captured and
coDfscated The acceptance by the
nations OF Secretary KnoX's proposal
would, It is urged. endow the world
with Its first truly permanent inter
national tribunal, sitting permanently
and adequate to the controversies
arising in the circumstances either of
peace or OF war
Secretary KnoX's proposal is simply
to enlarge the scope and character OF
the prize court He considers Its COM
position satisfactory. II not ideal, and
he proposes to invest IL with the ju-
risdiction and functions OF arbitral
justice. thus securing the adoption Of
the conrt as a champion OF prize
court by a single negotiation. Al
though the court would have no pow
er TO enforce It's decision, experience
Is cited showing that international
awards have always been
accepted by the parties. and il Is
urged that a permanent court of ar
bitration would surely have the sup
port of the public opinion of the
world
In the event of war the proprlety
of actions affecting neutral rights
would be determined In tribunal.
the overwhelming majority OF which
would represent neutral nations. ncu-
raj interests would no longer be at
The mercy of belligerent privilege.
The state department official who
presented these considerations In ia
yor OF the court went on to say.
ut acceptance VI lIlo pN
Vice would. at stroke, II would
seem. realize the hopes and aspira-
dons Of centuries by the establish
nent at The Hague OF tribunal per
In session. prepared to re-
ceive and adJudicate all cases sub
nitted TO it's arbltrament, without the
]ificulties and delays and without eX-
oense to the ltigatIng nations, be-
cause the new court had been sus-
aimed by the nations party TO its es
ablishmcnt.
The members of the court would
nc fitted by training to sit as judges;
here would grow up an accumulation
IF coherent and continuous prece-
ients to establish compact. enlight-
ened and self-consistent body of In
.ernational law.
THE court, therefore, would In the
highest and best sense OF the word
DO a conrt OF peace and its establish
nent would not merely convert arbi-
ration Into a judicial proceeding, but
he Justice and reasonableness OF It's
decisions would incline nations TO
make frequent use OF II, II would not
abolish war, but would settle by jul
licial means controversies which, If
Unsettled, might lead TO war. It's Gre
,tIon would, therefore. mark an epoch
n international relations. and the
United States, which. by Jays treaty.
lns practically created modern arbi-
ration. would endow tho world with
IN institution calculated TO make tho
.esort TO arbitration easy, inexpensive
and julicial.'