The Washington herald., 1915-12-31
.PAN-AllERICAN NATIONS
ASKED TO ADOPT PLAN
CONTINUED Fsoir fAoD oxn

opinion and general conviction both in
their views and In their conduct, but the
great the overwhelming body Of the
American people love liberty, not In the
restricted sense Of desiring. II Tor them.
selves alone. but IN the broader sense Of
desiring It for all mankind. The great
body Of the people Of these United States
love Justice. not merely ~ they demand
It for themselves, but In being willing
to render Il to others. We believe In the
Independence and the dignity Of nations.
I'VE seek for no control that We are
unwilling to concede to others. and %
long - the spirit Of American freedom
shall continue. II win range US side BY
side with you (the Latin-Amsrican re-
publics) great and small. in the mainte-
nance Of the rights Of nations. the rights
which exist a. against US and as against
all the rest Of the world
Mr.. Root discussed the question wheth-.
er or not international law should be
codifed.
IF that means should we undertake
to put the law of nations into q single
body which shall be the rule and guide
for international relations. I think" said
he. I'VE must answer no. that II Is Inn
possible at the present time.
CodiAcation as Process.
oH tUt OlHeF HaHus COuluCdtIOH SoH-
sidered not as a result but as a process
seems to me plainly should be attempted
and pressed forward and urged with all
possible force.
Recent events, or rather the realiza-
ton Of the truth, which comes from a
great war in Europe, compels US to con-
slider the great shortcomings of what
we think of as international law. to con-
slider how narrow the field which II COW
ers. how vague and uncertain 1t is within
its own field. and how difIicult II is to
compel In any way a recognition OF its
rules OF right conduct. There is but one
way In which that weakness Of interna-
tionai law can be cured and that Is
by the process of codifcation, a process
which must be extended through long
periods. which has been going on very
gradually for many years.
II can go a step further than that.
The changes In the conditions Of the
earth. the changes In international re-
lations which have been SO rapid in re-
cent years. have outstripped the growth
OF international law. The pressing for
ward of codification Of international law
is made necessary by the swift moving
Of events among nations. We cannot
wait for custom to lag behind the ac-
ton to which the law should be applied.
IT want to express entire harmony
with what Governor Baldwin said few
moments ago upon the other branch of
this question. as to whether ii should
be by government or by private societies.
1t is not practicable that governments
should do the threshing out OF questions
necessary to reach a definite statement
Of a conclusion"
Referring to the organization of the
Pan-American Institute of Interna-
tinpal in address af
the banquet rendered the international
law section OF the congress by the
Carnegie Endowment for International
Peace declared that il marked the
first step toward a very useful and i'm
portant organization for the united ef-
fort on the part OF all American ma
tions."
Declaring that one OF its purposes
was to educate the people in the law
OF nations, he said:
For il democracies are to take
charge of their governments in inter
national affairs. as they have in na-
tional affairs. II is Of primary Inn
portance that the people OF every de-
mocracy shall learn their duties as
well as their rights in the affairs Of
nations" This. he said. could be ac-
complished only by the creation OF a
great number OF competent leaders of
public opinion who shall direct the i'm
pulses and actions of their fellow citi-
zens in the performance of duty gov
erning affairs OF nations by the rule
Of international justice.
United Voice Needed.
Peace We all love: good will We all
want: friendship we all feel. The ma
ture of man is kindly: all peoples or
the earth prefer to be friends. But
~ ~ and Onnh n
dcrstanding stand rowerless before sin
lister designs and schenls for aSgran-
dizement and lust for power. because
they have no united voice and ef-
fectiveness Here in the Pan-American
Institute Of International Law stands
the power in which the good will and
friendliness Of the American republics
shall have voice and effect
Ernesto Quesada. chairman of the
Argentine delegation to the congress.
declared that the United states would
be expected to lead the way in recon-
structing International law: that the
eyes Of all the Americas are upon the
White House. watching its every move
in the difficult channels of neutrality.
but that Iatin-America would expect
to he called into the councils which
reconstruct international law.
south America Wants Say.
I'VE in South America" he said. only
ask to be called upon to participate
Union is always force. II you are a giant
today, We will be a giant tomorrow. Let
us proceed as nations that have kindred
problems"
Looking rather like an exceptionally
well-groomed preparatory school senior
than a distinguished diplomat. Wellington
Koo. the Chinese Minister. dispite his
youth, yielded nothing Of the high stan
dard as an after-dinner wit set by his
famous predecessor. Minister WI. Speak
ing with the prefect command OF English
acquired through an American educa'
tion. he rolled the diners from one laugh
to another.
Charles II. Sheriff.. former United
States Minister to Argentine. offered 8
complete solution of all American foreign
problems in the form of trade by the
United States of the Philippine Island:
plus a big cash bonus for all European
possessions In the Western Hemisphere
plus the abrogation by Great Britain Of
l the Hay-Pauncefote treaty.
Root Refers to Sheriff..
| Commenting on Mr.. Sherrill's sugges
Itjons which were received with polite