The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1920-08-14
THE COURT OF INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE.

Elihu Root, the distinguished American jur-
ist, has returned from Europe. where he has
been collaborating with eminent Europeans and
Asiatics In constructing the court of internation-
nj justice provided for in the league of nations
covenant.
Pro-ieague editors and statesmen hall the
achievement as of even greater value than the
league itself, but insist that It can be enjoyed
only through acceptance OF the league. 1t is
significant of the serious division Of opinion in
the ranks OF the international theorists that
. President Wilson has never looked on the court
idea with much favor incnng to the view that
the league assembly and council would be the
bodies from whence must emanate the supreme
tdooisions concerning world government.
- As we understand the matter. the world now
has a league OF nations and a court OF intorna-
ttonal Justice. All that Ia needed Is for some
body to make the league work. Iitigants for the
court Yet there is ample work Tor both
There's the Russian government--if any
thing ever needed league and a court 1t ls that
same Russian cabal that is defylng the uni.
verse.
The explanation Is, OF course, that neither
the league or the court will work unless Uncle
Sam Joins Tho very explanation arousos the
keenest apprehensions. Young Mr.. Roosevelt
has just explained to a curious public that IL
the United States had not been kept out OF the
league by the little narrow men In the United
States senate" the thing would he working per-
fectly.
Russia would have stopped short in her wild
career, the Armenans would have been man
dated, Germany disciplined properly and the
whole world reduced to Il state of happy and
helpless peace through the sheer moral force Of
the United States presence in the league And
the Un..c. states would nJt have been called on
20 furnish dollar"
Which inevitably reminds one that Henry
Ford was also going TO stop the war by moral
force.
But II the league and court cannot function
without the United States, may we not say
that the Uned States is, for some reason or
Tother which has not been carefully explained
Tho entire league and court? And n that Is
true, would it not be safer for the United states
TO go leaguIng and counting on its own rcsponsi.
bhy in order 10 be the complete master Of It's
decisions?
Il is not true that the establishment Of a
court Of international Justice depends on tho
covenant u the league Nor ls Il approximately
true that such a court can be given arbitrary
and forced jurisdiction over International rcIa-
tions without IN deed and In fact creating A
sup"rstate with war-power sufficient to enforce
Its Jurisdiction and decisions
Because there would always lay the appeal
TO the next highest court--armed opposition 10
Its decsions,--and that Is war. Utterly absurd
Is the contention that nations would cease TO
war II nations were disarmed. In all ages men
have fought with the weapons at hand. II
there are no weapons they will fight just the
came, for their women. TO resent an inSult. 70
redress q manifest wrong; against oppression
and for conquest
In the four thousand years Of recorded hts
tory the nature of man has not changed. The
outstanding lesson OF that period of history is
that when government ceases 10 reflect the
racial ambitions, pride OF being and national
spirit Of its subjects It ceases to exist A super
state could with comparative ease dictate 10
EoverRmeat& Through sxerled and supasiOr