New Britain herald., 1915-05-13
TAf I OUTLINES PLAN
 FOR PEACE COURT Former President Urges League Of
 Powers of World.

Cleveland, O., May 13.--With the
 opening of the World Court Congress,
 movement was formally launched
 which it's advocates claim is the
 greatest advance yet taken toward
 lasting peace among the world pow
 CTS.
 Prominent men from all over the
 country, including William H. Taft,
 Alton B. Parker, Henry Clews and many others, were present. The congress plans an international court of justice founded on an agreement to which all the great powers would
 be signatory. All signatory nations would submit their disputes to the court. One not so doing would be subiseted to the combined pressure of the others. Each speaker at the opening session dwelt on the stable character of the congress's plans.
 Taft Outlines Plan.
 Last night former President Taft outlined his plan for the establish ment of a league of peace and an ar bitral court, with the object of settl- ine by arbitration differences between the nations of the world and prevent ing further wars.Such a league should include all the great nations MT. Taft explained, with an agreement that should any signatory power begin war against another member without first submitting it's grievance to the court, all the other signatories would be- bound to join in a "forcible defence of the member thus prematurely at tackled"
 That this idea of an international tribunal is practical and feasible, MT. Taft said, is shown by the successful operation of the constitutional, courts of arbitration in this country which have settled controversies between the states, and the so-called General Arbi- tration Treaties. negotiated by Phil- ander c. Knox, while secretary of state, with France and England, to submit justiciable disputes to arbitra- tion. MT. Taft explained at length the methods employed in adjusting in- terstate differences, asserting that the procedure is analogous to that of the court which he proposes.
 Obligation on U. IS.
 { TT am aware that membership in this league would involve on the part of the United States an obligation to take part in European and Asiatic wars, ' he said "and that in this re- spect 1t would be departure from the traditional policy of the United States in avoiding entangling alliances with European or Asiatic countries But conceive that the interest of he United States in the close rela- ions it has of a business and social Character with the otherscountries of he world, much closer now than ever before. would justify 1t, if such a league could be formed, running the risk that there might be of such a war in making more probable the se- curing of the inestimable boon of peace of the world that now seems 50 far away
 $ MT. Taft also pointed out in sup port of his plan the amicable settle ment of issues between the people of the United States and Canada, '.that because of their nature might have led to. war.
 Two Permanent Commissions.
 Tt is not too much to say" he added, that the habit of arbitration Is so fixed that a treaty to secure such settlement in future issues could not make it more certain than It is. It is interesting, to note that we now have two permanent arbitral commissions settl- ing questions. Having thus reached what is practically the institution Of ] league and arbitral court with Eng land and Canada for the preservation of peace between us may we not. hope to enlarge it's scope and membership and give it's benefits to the world?
 s'Wfll not the exhaustion in which all the belIigerents. whether victor Ious or vanquished, find tImeslves after this awful sacrifice of life and wealth, make them wish to make the recurrence of such a war less pro- bable? Will they not be in a mood to entertain any reasonable plan for the settlement of international dis. putes by peaceable means? Now can we not devise such a plan? I think we can.
 All Nations Not Needed. 2 ITO constitute an effective league of peace we do not need all the na- tions. Such an agreement between eight or nine of the great powers of Europe, Asia, and America, would furnish a useful restraint upon pos sible war. The successful establish ment of a peace league between the great powers would draw into it very quickly the less powerful nations.
 What should be the Fundamental plan of the league? Tn the first place 1t. ought to provide for the formation of court which would be given Jurisdiction by the consent of all the members of the league to consider and decide justifiable questions between them or any of them which have not yielded to negotiations according to the principles of international law and equity so that the court should be vested with power. upon the applica- ton of any member of the league, to decide the issue as to whether the