Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-08-24
FORMER PRESIDENT
PRESENTS PEACE PLAN
William H. Taft Would Have
League Of Nations To Set
tie Questions

Portland, Ore, Aug. 23.-The forma-
tion of a league between nations 60 set
tie questions of judicial nature aris-
ing between nations and thus do,away
with practically all of the necessity for
armed combat, was advocated here this
afternoon by former President w. H.
Taft, in an address delivered before
the joint meeting of the Washington
and Oregon Bar associations and the
general public, which heard the dis
tinguished speaker by invitation.
The former president reviewed in de-
tail the conditions which led to the org.
anization of the United States supreme
court, and pointed out the similarity of
the questions and controversies which
arise between states to those which
arise between Independent nations, with
this difference in their settlement: the
stntes, in adopting the federal constitu-
ton. gave up the right to make indie
pendent agreement between themselves
or to declare war on one another. The
controversies must be settled without
war.
In describing the fundamental plan
of the proposed league, the former presi-
dent stated that it seemed to him it
ought to contain four provisions.
"First," he said, "it ought to pro-
vide for the formation of court which
would be given jurisdiction by the con-
sent of all the members of the league
to consider and decide iusticiable ques-
tions between them which have not
xy,alAal 30 t,n4 ooanrJ;nor %
principles of international law and
equity and that the court should be
vested with power, upon the application
of any member of the league, to decide
the issue as to whether the question
arising is iusticiable.
"Second, committee of conciliatiOn
for the consideration and recOmmenda.
tion of solution of all non-justiable
questions that might arise before the
members of the league should be Great.
ed and this commission should have
power to hear evidence, investigate the
causes of difference and mediate be.
tween the parties and then make its
recommendation for settlement.
"Third conferences should be- held
from time to time to agree upon princi'
pies of international law, not already
established as their necessity shall sug
gest themselves. When the conclusions
of the commission shall have been sub
mitted to the various parties to the
league for reasonable view, say q
year, without calling forth objections
it shall be deemed that they acquiesce
in the principles thus declared.
"Fourth, the members of the league
shall agree that if any member of the
| league shall bring war against anJ
other member of the league without
first having submitted the question il
found iusticiable to the arbitral court
provided in the fundamental compact
or without having submitted the ques
tion if found non-justiciable to the com
mission of Cancellation for its examina
ton, consideration and recommendation
then the remaining members of tht
league agree to join in the forcible de
Tense of the member thus prematurely
attacked
In making these recommendations the
former president pointed to the terrible
loss of life and devastation due to Eu
rOpean war.
"Will not the exhaustion in whicl
all the belligerents, whether victors o.
vanquished, find themselves after thi,
awful sacrifice of life and wealth max,
them wish to make the recurrence o.
such war less probableS" he asked
"Will they not be in a mood to enter
tain any reasonable plan for the settle
ment of international disputes by peace
able meansf Now can we not devils,
sucl q plant l think we car"