Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-01-01
|ELIHU ROOT PICKED
TO HELP LAUNCHING
LEAGUE OF nations SHIP

washington. Dec. 31-(I3y The AS
sociated Press)-Elihu Root, former
secretary of state, will be called upon
to give his assistance and advice in
the launching Of the great interna-
tlonal supreme court provided under,
the League of Nations
Or the instrumentalities which are
to be put in motion almost imnedi-
ately upon the proclamation Of the
peace, the international court of JUS
tice is regarded by the supreme coun-
Gil as of ranking Importance. Conse-
quently that body through It's ser1e-
tariat in London already has gone
as far as possible in advance of the
actual declaration Of peace towards
the creation of the court.
information now has come to hand
that the plans have been so far per-
fected as to permit of the extension
to certain jurists Of international rep.
utationc of institutions to form a
managerial committee to plan the de-
tails of the permanent court of inter-
national justice and to define the
scope Of it's activities.
In the beginning at least, only men
of wide reputation from a few of the
Entent nations and the United States
have been selected but it is prspa pIe
that additions will be made TO rne
list. even to the point of admission of
great jurists from late enemy states,
provided their governments have ad-
hered meantime to the league. The
iS to
the committee, not with reference TO
their nationality. but solely upon the
basis Of reputation as great interna-
tional lawyers and judges, which
would make it possible to include
some Latin-American names. regard
less of the political Importance of
their nations.
Mr.. Roots name has been consid-
cred favorably in the selection of
these managers in full recognition of
the fact that the United States has
not vet finally approved the peace
treaty. The reason was to be found
IN the unremitting efforts Of the Cor
mer secretary of state TO bring sch
q tribunal as the international court
into exercise, beginning when he was
one OF President Roosevelt's cabinet.
Through the American Society of in
ternational Law. he has urged the pro-
Ject and it is stated that in the nego-
tiations in London accompanying the
ultimately futile attempt to organize an
international prize court. former Score
tary Root virtually nearly succeeded in
Transforming that limited tribunal into
vt fny y1,a li,,1;
sues between nations that might threat
en- to involve them in war.
The great difficulty in finding a sat
isfactory plan for such a court always
has been the adjustment of the claims
Of the smaller nations to evual repre-
sentation in membership with the great
powers, and it was Mr.. Root who finally
proposed what 1t was believed would
be solution of the problem. had the
whole project not been abandoned
therefore, the persons who are making
the plans for the meeting Of the man
ayers. which is to take place in the near
future in London, have felt assured
that they could count upon the active
assistance Of Mr.. Root even in the
absence of final action by his govern
ment upon the peace treaty.
The invitations are being extended
through the LONDON secretariat with the
design TO give life Immediately upon
the PRONUNCIATION of the treaty to arti-
Gle H. which reads:
"The council shall formulate and sub
init to the members of the league for
adoption plans for the esta blishment OF
a permanent court of International JUS
tice. The court shall be compelled %
hear and determine any dispute of an
international character which the par
ties thereto submit to it. The court
also may give an advisory opinion upon
any dispute or question referred to it
by the council or by the assembly"