Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-07-31
FROM
OFFICIAL SOURCES
EVIDENCE Of MOVE
Full Machinery of Tribunal
Called Into Action in Dis
pute Between Sweden and
Finland
By DAVID LAWRENCE


WASHINGTON, July S0.-Both tn,
Republican and Democratic candi
dates for the presidency may talk a:
they like concerning the League Of
Nations as an issue in the present
campaign, but evidences are multi
plying that the United States will
within a year, be a member of the
League of Nations as provided fol
by the treaty of Versailles.
Senator Harding may keep his
position ambiguous in order to keel
the votes of the Hiram Johnson fol
lowing and Governor Cox may talk
about reservations in order not tc
ALLEVIATE the people who didn't like
Mr.. Wilson's insistence on an un-
s qualified treaty, but the presence OF
! Elihu Root and DR.. James Brown
Scott in the meetings now taxing
/ place abroad to form a court OF inter-
4 national justice is looked upon both
in Washington by international law
years, and abroad by diplomats and
statesmen, as the forerunner of Re-
publican policy in the event that Mr..
Harding is elected.
Documents Give Details
Documents which have just come
to the writer from official sources
abroad describe in great detail the
part that Messrs. Root and Scott are
taking in the meetings of the ad-
visory commission of jurists VINO
were appointed by the council OF the
League of Nations to establish
permanent court Of international JUS
&tice. ..,,s
"That the United States, says one
oe these -4lccuplc.its.~ Tho ugh not a
member of the League of Nations
should have dominating influence In
the formation of the permanent court
of international justice which is. 10
he the cornerstone of the league, is
the great anomaly of the meetings
being held at The Hague. 1t IS potn
unexnected and unusual that ma
J tion which has so seriously damaged
the idea of the League of Nations
should nevertheless see It's own
viawnofnt and experience largely pre-
dominant in one of the most vital
fields of activity of the league.
"The reason is not far to seek. II
lies in the personality OF TWO NELL
Elibu Root former secretary OIL
state, and James Brown Scott FORMER
solicitor of the state department anu
NOW head of the Carnegie endowment
> for international peace at Nashlhs
ton.
Presence significant
"To their tact and judgment is Que
much of the direction which the
whole committee is taking as well
as the fact that the court WHICH
Eventually evolves from the delloera-
tions here will be a court wholly III
1ine with American ideals and expe-
rience.
"These two men hold in the minds
NJ European jurists a unique posi-
+,op TT cannot be too strongly en-
phasized that they do not represent
the United States government IN any
sense. for they have been appointed
directly by the council of the League
of Nations on the basis of their very
high standing among the leading
iurists of the world. They are
therefore, on the same footing az
he other members of the commit
tee. namely, eminent jurists sum
noned by an international organlza
ton to perfect plans for Worlt
court.
Nevertheless their position as
Americans adds significance to then
presence, for the statesmen OF Eu
rope are only too willing to recog
hize the bigness of spirit and view
boint which allowed Mr. Root, espe
ially. with his well-known politica
alignments in the United States II
hccept an appointment of an organl
kation (the league of Nations) tt
which his own country and even hi:
bwn poiitica1 party has expressed
such vehement opposition. Of course
the fact that he has been willing
10 serve is taken, whether rightly
r wrongly. as an indication that this
oremost of American statesmen &C
epts at least the broad lines of the
xisting League OF Nations.
Interesting Excerpt
"The committee had not been sit
ing a week before it was possible
o forecast that the court would fol
ovid exactly the lines of the supreme
curt of tho United States. Thl:
esult followed not only from Tho
ogic of the situation but also from
he presentation Of the analogy Of
America's court by Mr. Root. 1t /:
ossiblc that the same results woulc
ave been reached without the pres
nee of MIR. Root but it cannot bt
oubted that they we're greatly eX
edited"
1t is a curious commentary on the
ituation that only by the failure OF
he Lodge reservations in the las
congress was it possible for Mr.
Root to go abroad For one of the
reservations forbids any American
rom accepting any position under
he League Of Nations without Inc
onsent of the. senate and made ne
revision for recess appointments IN
he event that the senate was no
n Session.
Perhaps tie most interesting eX
erpt from documents discussing tn<
meetings. now taking place in tnC
ouncil of the league and its sub
1itttees is The folIoWin%:
''Tne League of Nations is building
ron..'y. hut not at all s;pectacularly
(cont;="cG on PcG2 6, Column 81