Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-09-15
PLANS FOR WORLD
COURT OF JUSTICE
ARE MADE PUBLIC
Indorsed by Hague Com
mittee of Which Elihu
Root Was Member.
LEAGUE OF NATIONS
INVITES ALL TO JOIN
Council Would Regard Rejec-
ton Of Scheme as an Inter
national Misfortune.
COURT IS WILSON'S IDEA
Designed to Substitute Civilized
Litigation for tho Arbitramcnt
of the Sword.
LEAGUE OF NATIONS
INVITES ALL TO JOIN
COURT IS WILSON'S IDEA
Designed to Substitute Civilized
Litigation for tho Arbitramcnt
OF the Sword.

LONDON. Sept. 14.-The headquar-
ters OF the league OF nations today
made public the text OF the project
for permanent court OF interna-
iional justice. as adopted by The
Hague committee OF jurists OF which
l-iihu Root was 4 member. together
with letter from the council OF the
league 10 all governments which have
entered the league OF nations.
The council in it's letter TO the gov
ernment says:
The council do not propose 20 cx-
pect any opinion on the merits OF
The scheme until they have had full
opportunity of considering it,
|, states. however. that the project
was prepared by Il mos. competent
tribunal representing widely differ
cnt national points OF view and adds:
The council would regard az ire
concilablc difference OF opinion on
i The merits OF the scheme Az an In
,ernational misfortune OF the gravest
H!nd. II would mean that the league
was publicly compelled TO admit it's
ncarac!ty 10 carry out one OF the
most important OF the tasks which
It was invited to perform. The failure
would be great and probably irrcpair-
"oie: Tor, II the agreement proves
impossible under circumstances ap-
parently 80 favorable. II is hard TO
see how and when the task OF secur-
ng II Will be successfully resumed"
The council states 1t will later sub
init its recommendations to the as
sembly Of the league of nations.
Some OF the features of the pro-
posed world court already have been
summarized from The Hague, but the
draft given out today gives the exact
terms OF the entire project. consist
ing OF sixty-two articles divided into
three chapters on organization. COM
Detcnce OF court. and procedure. A
preamble states the general purposes
Of the court rs follows:
To Dispense International Justice
~ permanent court OF international
Justice, 10 which parties shall have
iirect access. IS hereby established in
accordance with article fourteen OF
he covenant OF the league or nations.
rms court shall be In addition TO the
court OF arbitration organized by The
plague convention in 1899 and 1907.
and 10 the special tribunals OF ar
,ltration TO which states are ALWAYS
II liberty TO submit their disputes for
7ettlement."
Scope of fts JurisdIctIon.
The questions which the court Is
competent TO determine between
members of the league, are given as
follows:
The Interpretation OF a treaty
ANY question of international law.
The existence OF any fact which.
established. would constitute a
breach OF international obligation.
The nature or extent OF repara-
ION 10 oe made for the breach Of an
International obligation.
The Interpretation OF u sentence
y! 'assed by the court"
E3 Ihc court also shall take cog
lI%ance OF all disputes OF any kind
which may be submitted to il by
- General or particular convention be-
wcen the parties.
The court in considering questions
pplies international conventions. in
ernational customs. general prin-
ples of law recognized by civilized
1ations. and decisions and teachings
,t the most highly qualified publicists
II various nations.
Hearings VIII lie Public.
\ State desiring to have recourse
the court makes application TO
lie registrar, who notifies the court
md the members of the league. IL
he dispute concerns an act which is
imminent. the court has power to
uggest provisional measures to pre-
erye the rights of the parties. The
earrings in court will be public and
he decisions of the court shall oe
" majority Of the judges present at
he hearing. In case of n tie, the
resident casts the deciding vote
rhe official language of the court is
french, but another language may be
authorized at the request of parties
0 case.
The draft also provides extended
'rovisions for the recording and re-
'ision of judgments.
Articles and 3 give the member
nip of the court as follows:
The permanent court OF interna-
ional Justice shall be composed of a
'ody OF Independent judges, elected
egardless of their nationality, from
mongst persons OF high moral char
cter, who possess the qualifications
eauired. In their respective coun-
ries. for appointment to the highest
judicial offices, or are jurisconsuls of
ecognized competence in interna-
ional law.
The court shall consist of fifteen
,embers: eleven judges and four
equity judges. The number OF judges
nd deputy judges may be hereafter
ncrensed by the assembly, upon the
roposai Of the council of the league