The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-14

has been here there may be further
outgiving and then it can be deteTminea
how far the President elect is willing
20 go on the world association reSren-
dunn idea.
rlihu Root Secretary OF war or 81 9
rotary OF State under three Presidena'
arrived here this morning early enough
TO take breakfast with President-eleet
Harding. Immediately after the meal
-1.s.the two walked across the flint covered
.saaAvn 10 senator Hardings little office
in the headquarters building. There
the two remained for three hours IN
absorbed conversation. After leaVhs
senator Harding Mr.. Root walked PACK
To the press headquarters, found an
~ hair and entered into chat Win
~ correspondents He said at the
outset that he was not at iperty
repeat what Senator Harding had sald.
~ "a discuss In detail the topics OF
t..e.r conference. Questioned Often ne
44ase :, be known that the world court
ntr had been q main topic, and he
f-E<.nslse NJ length of his work as mem
,,or ~ the commission of expert inter
retfntsal lawyers and statesmen at The
SIC in framing the plan for world
.f~f o deal with international dItter-
Az. root sought to clear up in his tax
xg}tb tie newspaper men some or the
ssscd- rect ideas that have been iorIheu
nbe.f he proposed world court and 10
il,u~airate the general vagueness con-
err.fn. IN In the first place, he holds,
ano presumably so Informed senator
-. Harding, that the proposed world court
could function upon the basis or tie
numerous arbitration treaties that al
4Nrssready exist between the United states
and other nations. There are between
twentv-hve and thirty such treaties,
many of which Mr.. Bryan negotiated;
An of these treaties provide for arol-
tration, but fail TO set up the ma
chinery or TO provide for a court. In
every instance 1t would be necessary 10
provide a court If differences arose be-
tween the United States and any one OF
the many nations with which treaty
exists.
M poot's purpose at The Hague was
"a set I'm one great world court to which
S,all questions under all suen treauss
could be carried for adjudication. IL
would be necessary, Mr.. Root pointed
out to amend every existing arbltratloh
treaty TO insure the acceptance or the
world court by every nation involved OF
concerned as the only tribunal author
ICED to decide differences arising among
-as.sssshem- -, ,,,.
the world court an actual judicial body
instead Of a tribunal OF arbitrator AS
planned the court is formed upon the
ssrrffofel of the United States supreme
Court.
* now before a committee OF the assem-
biz Of the League OF Nations. TO whlch
II went from the league council
eAnd frorn that time on nave iost
track of it." Mr.. Root added VI,
ut was evident from the general attf-
f1ide taken by Mr.. Root that the world
court idea, With or without the League
Mutations, Is close to his heart WIN
Mr.. Root r~emlngy IL worio Cur
rather than referendum IS .ne li ms
done his best to impress. Senator dar--
ding with the possibilities and poten'
tialties of the world court idea here
tofore it is known the President-eiect
has regarded the world court plan as
: much too closely interviewer with the
es objectionable structure OF the League OF
Nations.
would Mn Disputes In the BUD
y ur. Root discussed at some length the
Possibilities OF a fully empowered. active
~ world court lie pointed out that us
,sreatest service might be 10 nip In the
t,na.small differences apt to expand INTO
big and bitter disputes
1.-THE issues that arise between ma
ffpsfs" Mr. Root said, ARE commonly
NOT so important in themselves as 1t is
70 have them settled
He pointed out that in their Inception
M these differences are apt % involve mat
rers of minor moment. hut that as issues
hir Is aroused heat Is generated and
ultimately feeling develops on both sides
that in somewise national honor lis IN
yolved This progressively makes settle
lneut more difficult. hence the impor-
n lance OF having means provided for con-
-.--slSicration and determination, without re-
sort 10 force, before feeling shall have
become so high as to increase difficulty
Of composition.
Mr.. Root indicated that questions OF
4,.en atah moi al
monty were excepted in arbitration trea-
ties; observing that former President
Taft had been Of opinion that there
was no particular reason for excepting
questions of national honor. Mr. Root
added that he himself was disposed to
agree with this view
IN n world In which there are many
dynastic governments. he explained,
many wars are of the sort that may be
described as incidents Of dynastic policy.
IL Is not at present obvious how wars
of this sort can be prevented. A gov
eminent determined 20 have a war at a
particular time and for a particular pur-
pose cannot well be prevented from
doing so. But with the increasing demo-
tratization OF the world governments
are compelled more and more TO consider
The attitude OF the people toward pro-
sposal TO go to war.
Being responsible TO the people gov
aernments realize that wars are very ex-
bensive and that II they are not sup
ported by popular opinion they may be-
come the occasion OF turning the existing
Govepmcnt out Of office or overturning
the existing regime This increasing
democra tization connotes an Increasing
possibility OF avoiding war ~ ways can
be provided for settling International
difficulties by other means than force.
For Non-Me mberS as Wei.
rs there any provision ny which ma
lions not members Of the League of Ma
tons can be compelled to submit cases
70 this court7' was asked
hr. Root replied that there was not
but that there was 10 he provision
whereby nations not members Of the
league could take advantage OF the tri-
bunal IL they agreed In a controversy
between two states one a member Of the
league and the other not "a member the
case could be- taken TO the international