Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-09-18

Sunk Without
Any Warning
q ew Ynfk M MnflfI

Senator fIardng's substitute for the
League of Nations has been sunk with
out warming by Elihu Root, who not
only torpedopd t but shelled the mirvI-
yors.
On Aug. 2s, Senator Harding, after
dcnouneing the League ne On offensive
and defensive alliance of the great powers
TO impose their will upon the helpless
peoples Of the world, declared TINT
he favored IN society Of free nations or
an association n of free nations" This
society. he aaid-"The Hague Tn
bunal. which, unlike the League Of
Versailles, is still fumctiOuing In that
body we have the teamwork Of really
effective fundamentally Of enduring
peace
While Senator Harding was thus
engaged in putting teeth" into The
Hague Tribunal, Elihu Root was occupied
with nine other distinguished Iurists,
in drafting plans for the Perm anent
Court of international Justice provided
for by the Covenant of the beaaie 0f
Nations. That report IS now published
and nothing IL left Of Senator lIarding's =
personally conducted association of free
nations except the floating debris.
The Root court upon which Republicans
have been stalking their foreign policy
is unreseryedly an appendage 70 the
League Of Nations IT can no more
be separated from the League than the
judiciary department Of the United
States can be separated from the rest
Of the government. The court has no
existence except as a part Of the League
Of Nations.
The first article Of the Root plan
provides that n Permanent Court oi
international Justice to which parties
shall have direct access, is hereby cstab-
Iished in accord dance with Article NV
Of the covenant Of the League of Nations
The Judges of this court shall be elected
by the Assembly and Council" of the
League. VACANCIES are 20 be filled by
the Assembly dH Council. THE Judges
shall receive sn annual salary 70 bc
determined by the Assembly Of the
League of Nations upon the proposal
Of the Council" /" "The expenses u
the court shall be borne BY the League
of Nations in nuch "A manner ~ shall
be decided by the Assembly upon the
proposal Of the Council.
The jurisdiction oT the 60 urt between
members Of the League i definitely
fixed "The conditions under which
the court shall be open u right or accessi-
bic ~ states when are hD@ TneMDtTs ~
the League Of Nations shall he deter
mined by the Council in accordance
with Article XVII Of The covenant I
'The court shall give an advisory opinion
upon any question or dispute Of an inter-
national nature referred to il BY the
/ Council or Assembly" /" This court hall
be in addition to the Court Of Arbitration
organized by The Hague Conventions Of
/ 1890 and 1907 and TO the special tribunals
Of arbitration 70 which states are al
ways at liberty to submit their disputes
! for settlement
! Instead Of substituting The Hague
/ Tribunal for the League Of Nations, Mr.
Root has relegated The Hague Tri-
btInal to the status Of al nondescr'p,
/ tribunals Of arbitration and made the
Permanent Court of international Justice
under the League Of Nations the au-
/ th0ritative Interpreter of international
/ law and treaty obligations.
/ Unless the United States loins the
| League Of Nations it can have nothing
| 10 saw about the court which Mr.. Root
and his associates have planned. II