The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1920-10-01
SUNK WITHOUT WARNING

out warning by Elihu Root. who not
only torpedoed IL but shelIed the sur.
vivors.
On Aug. rs. Senator Harding, after
announcing the League as a defensive
alliance OF the great powers to i'm.
pose their will upon the helpless peo.
pie Of the world" declared that he
favored society OF free nations or
an association of free nations" "This
country Is already a member of such
a society" he said-"That Hague
ibvnal. which unlike the League of
NefA&iIles, is still functioning." 'In
that body we have the framework OF
really effective instrumentality of
enduring peace"
While Senator Harding was thus en-.
gagged In putting teeth into The
Hague Tribunal" Elihu Root was oc.
MED, with nine other distinguished
Iafs4sb In drafting plans for the Per-
manent Court OF international Justice
provided for by the covenant of the
League Of Nations. That report Is
now published. and nothing is left of
senator Harding's personally conduct.
ed association OF free nations except
the floating debris.
The Root court upon which Republic.
cans have been stalking their foreign
policy d unreservedly an appendage
90 the League OF Nations. II can no
more be separated from the League
than the judiciary department of the
Nnited States can be separated from
the rest of the Government The court
has no existence except as a part of
tha League of Nations.
TIE first article OF the Root plan
provides that "a Permanent Court of
International Justice. TO which parties
shall have direct access. Is hereby es.
tabiiahed IN accordance with Article
xfv. ~ the covenant OF the League of
Nations" The Judges OF this court
shall BE- elected by the Assembly and
Coancil' of the League. Vacancies are
a. b. filled BY the Assembly and Coun-
ca The Judges shall receive an
annuai salary 20 be determined by the
Assembly ct the League of Nations
upon TIE proposal OF the Council"
TIE expenses Of the court shall be
Fbofns BY the League OF Nations IN
nuch . manner as shall be decided by
re Assembly upon the proposal OF
ths Council"
The Jurisdiction OF the court be.
tween members OF the League is def
nitely fixed. "The conditions under
~nlNsa ~ court shall be open of right
~ aetesalble 60 states which are not
members 81 the League Of Nations
shall be- determined by the Council in
aecoFdance with Article XVII. OF the
covenant" THE court shall give an
adxiaoFy opinion upon any question or
dispute Of an international nature re-
tsrred 20 q BY the Council or Assemb-
b. This court shall be i'm addition
ne Court Of Arbitration organized
~ The Hague Conventions of 1899 and
1897 and to the special tribunals of
arbitration 70 which states are al.
ways az liberty TO submit Tor settle
ment."
Instead Of substituting The Hague
Tribunal for the League of Nations,
Mr. Root has relegated The Hague
Tribunal 10 the status of all monde
script tribunals OF arbitration and
made the Permanent Court of Inter.
national Justice under the League of
Nations the authoritative interpreter
81 international law and treaty obliga.
fions.
Unless the United States joins the
League Of Nations II can have nothing
60 say about the court which Mr.. Root
and his associates have planned: II
will remain an outsider with Turkey
and Mexico. But IL will be subject
20 the decisions that this court hands
down and Il must abide by information
al law as the court interprets it.
Mr.. Root. according to dispatches
from London. was "dumfounded" when
he read the Harding speech of August
Is. He might well have BEEN Moth
ing could have been further from the
irresponsible prattle of that speech