New-York tribune., 1920-01-28
World Tribunal
First Work of
League Council
Constitution of Permanent
Court To Be Taken Up
at Meeting Scheduled
in London February 10

WASHINGTON, Jan. 81 (By The As
sociated Press) The second meeting
Of the council of the league of nations.
which in reality will be the first actual
business meeting, will take place in
London, probably February 10, accord
ing to advices received here to day. At
this meeting the council plans to enter
upon consde ration of one of the most
important subjects with which it has
been charged under the treaty of peace
namely, the constitution of the perma-
nent court of international justice.
The first meeting of the council
held in Paris January 16, confined it.
self to matters of organization neces-
safy to meet contingencies that had
arisen under the treaty, such as the
appointment of the Saar Valley
Boundary Commission, which had to be
named within fifteen days after ratif-
cation of the treaty.
Court Suggested by United States
1t is learned that the launching of
the permanent court of international
justice has been decided upon after
great hesitation, because this was one
of the features of the peace program in
which the United States had taken the
greatest interest; in fact, having orig
mated the project as one Of the best
means of preventing wars by resort to
judicial processes. 1t WAS to have been
considered at the first meeting of the
council, but was postponed in order to
afford opportunity for the American
Senate to act upon the peace treaty and
for this nation to be in position to par
ticipate in the organization of the
court. The United States, it was stated
in the councils meeting, had given this
plan of settlement of international dis
putes it's original impetus at the first
and second Hague conferences and also
at the London Prize Court conference.
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, it is known that
they contemplate the approval by the
council of an organizing committee
of seven or eight of the most eminent
jurists in the world to amplify the
whole structure Of the court. The
of finding men not only familiar with
the evolution of the league itself, but
also representatives of the different
legal systems of the world, in order to
assure that the court may be acceptable
and available to all nations.
Root Slated for Membership
Elihu Root, former Secretary of State
of the United States, is known TO have
hoo bo f,or
Of the commission, but it is 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 now is under
nc Dtation, with the viewpoint eX-
r. ed by other nations that they very
is.en desire to name Mr.. Root if the
choice would not appear untimcly in
view of the treaty situation III this
country.
The organizing committee is ex
pected to have a most difficult and
complex task The plan for an in
most discussed of all of the league Of
nations provisions and suggestions for
its constitution have poured in from
all sides. Both the Germans and the
Austrians submitted a most detailed
program in their counter proposals to
the Allied and associated powers at the
peace conference.
The three scandinavian countries,
Norway, Sweden and Denmark, in long
meetings last summer agreed upon a
joint plan to be pressed before the
league, and Switzerland also has
worked out an elaborate mechanism,
which was presented at the confer
encc between representatives of the
rcutra1 statps opd of tho league of ma
tons commission in Paris last spring.
All these plans laid principal stress
upon the method of the appointment
of Judges. which proved to be the rock
on which The Hague conferences
broke. The small nations stand united
for the principle of the equality OF
states, and consequently of the cqua
voting power Of states IN the selection
of iudpes