Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-01-28
LEAGUE COUNCIL
. SOON To CREATE
INTERNATIONAL
JUSTICE COURT
Some HeSitancy About Co.
ing Ahead at London
Meeting Because Of u, S,
Attitude Toward Treaty.
ELIHU ROOT SLATED
FOR AMERICAN MEMBER
Former Secretary Of State
Regarded In Europe As
One of Worlds Greatest
International JuriStS,
tsv MORNING JoussAl spsc,.l LEASED wrssl


tsN MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wlRsl
Washington, Jan. 81 (by the AS
sociated Press. The second meet
ing of the council of the league of
nations, which in reality win be the
first actual business meeting, will
be held in London probably Feb
ruary 10, according to advices re-
ceiyed here today. AT this meet
ing the council plans to enter upon
consideration of one of the most
important subjects with which it
has been charged under the treaty
OF peace. namely the constitution
ofthe permanent court of inlerna-
tional justice.
The first meeting of the council
held In Paris, January l6, confined
Itself to matters of organization
necessary to meet contingencies that
had arisen under the treaty, such
as the appointment of the Saal
valley boundary commission, winch
had to be named within fifteen
days after the ratification Of the
treaty
Sought BY America.
1t is learned tnat the launching
of the permanent court of interna-
tional justice has been decided
upon after great hesitation because
this was one Oh the features of the
peace program il which the United
States had taken the greatest in
tcrest, in fact having originated
the project as one of the best means
of preventing wars by resort to ju-
dlcial processes. II was to hay c
been considered at the first meet
ing of the council but was post
poned in order to afford opportu-
nifty for the American senate to
act upon tSe peace treaty and for
this nation to be in position to par
ticipate in the organization of the
court. The United States, 1t was
pf3ated out In the councils meet
ing, had given this plan OF settle
ment of international disputes its
original impetus at the first and
second Hague conferences and also
at the london prize court confer
ence.
The council, it is now learned,
has finally decided to go ahead
with the plans already made by
the secretariat of the league for
launching the court. While these
plans are not understood TO be at
all detailed, 1t is known that they
the approval by the
council of an organizing committee
of seven or eight of the most em-
inent jurists In the world to ampli-
fly the whole structure>of the court.
The choices have been made with
a view of finding men not only fa-
miliar with the evolution of the
league itself. but also representa-
tive o fthe different legal systems
of the world in order to assure that
the court may be acceptable and
available to all nations
Root Decided Upon.
Elihu Root, former secretary Of
state of the United States, Is known
to have been selected as the Amer
lean member of the commission,
but ii not yet certain that the
council will feel free to offer him
the actual appointment in advance
Of Americas ratification OF the
treaty. This subject is now under
with the viewpoint
by the other nations
that they very much desire to.
name Mr.. Root if the choice would
not appear untimely In view of the
treaty situation in this country.
Mr. Root has been recognized in
Europe as in the very forefront OF
international jurists.
quite apart from all else that he
has done in stressing the need OF
an international court, his instruc-
iions to the American delegates TO
the second Hague conference in
1907 are accepted as a landmark
in the history of the subject After
a detailed analysis of the posi-
bilities of arbitration, he conclud-
ed
1T should be your effort %
bring about in the second confer
ence a development of The Hague
tribunal into a permanent tribunal
of judges who are judi
2ial officers and nothing else; who
are paid adequate salaries; who
nave no other occupation and who
will devote their entire time to the
rial and decision of international
,ases by judicial methods and un-
Ter a sense of judicial response
DiIity."