New Britain herald., 1916-05-26
TAFT URGES U. s.
 TD ENTER LEAGUE
 TO ENFORCE PEACE
Denies Such Action Would Cur tail Power of President and
 Congress to Declare War
INTERNATIONAL POLICE
 IS ORGANIZATIONS PLAN

Takes Issue With Bryan's Contention
 That Constitutional Amendment F~ Would Be Necessary-Powers Sub-
 scribing to Court Would Use Armed
 and Economic Force to Enforce
 Their Decrees.
 Washington, May 6.-Acceptance of membership by the United States in a world court in which the joint economic forces to enforce it's de- crees in the interest of international peace was urged today by former President Taft before the League to Enforce Peace, to which he is presi- dent.
 MT. Taft'S address was closely con- fined to the technical, legal questions involved in joinder by the United States in such an international tri- bunal. He denied hat such action would curtain the power and author ity of either the president or con- gress by limiting the constitutional discretion of the latter body to de- clare war.
 MT. Taft explained that the leagues platform proposes compul sory submission to the world court of an international dispute not settled by diplomatic negotiation and which are "justifable questions.'
 English and French Treaties.
 Referring to the so-cal1ed Bryan peace treaties with England and France, Mr. Jssft said it was argued that the arbitration stipulation in them was a delegation of the author ity of the president and senate over our foreign relations.
 But upon reason and authority this objection is untenab1e'' said Mr. Taft. Since the Jay treaty of 17s4, MT Taft said, some American nation had been party to eightyfour in- ternational treaties of which the United States was involved in two- thirds
 s'In ten of these, which were boun- Gary treaties,' MT. Taft continued, 'it was never suggested that the government was delegating any power at all to the tribunal sub- mission of a judicial question is not a delegation of power to an agent it is a submission of an issue to a judge, and it is a misnomer to call such a submission delegation.
 "The queston whether a court has Jurisdiction is nothing but a question of law The senate has consented from time to time to arbitrate on issues both arising and defined by language of thetreaty of submission. The last notable instance. and the one which involves a really perma- nent court, as the advice and con- sent by our senate to The Hague in- ternationa1 prize court convention in which a permanent international prize court was established
 Takes Issue With Bryan
 Turning to the question of the duty Of a nation belonging to the pro- posed world court to use its army and navy in enforcing it's. decrees upon other mem bers that should go to war in defiance of the courts de- crees, MT. Taft took issue with for mer Secretary of State Bryan regard Ing MT. Bryans contention that a constitutional amendment would be necessary before the United States could obligate itself in this respect.
 MT. Bryan declared that In order to carry out the provision we must have joint council of the powers to determine whether the time had ar rived for military action and war" said Mr. Taft, "and that this would substitute the action of the council for the discretion of congress I venture to think that this view is xyoa yxyifh 1at Q was is a foreign war it could not be begun under the constitution until congress had declared war. To i'm pose in a constitutional way by treaty an obligation of congress does not take away its power to discharge 1t or to refuse to discharge it.
 Referring to this nations treaty with Panama, guaranteeing Panama's s independence, MT. Taft stated it meant the United States is under ob- ugation to make war to defend Panama.
 ''This duty can only be discharged through the action of congress in de- claring war; he asserted Does that deprive congress of it's power to declare war? It seems to me the question answers itself"
 With Cuba similar situation is presented, said the former president
 Prevents War Almost
 Speakers referred only inciden- tally to methods of ending the pres ent war, since the leagues program includes only the minimizing of future conflicts over questions which might be adjudicated by an interna- Ntional court. All urged that the United States become a party to the
 (Continued On Eleventh PGge.)