Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1920-12-14
WORLD COURT
DETAILS SOUGHT
Of EL|HU ROOT
War Referendum Pact
Among Nations Urged
by Colonel Harvey.
Referring Of Justiciable
Questions to Tribunal
Is Step Toward Peace.

Marion, Ohio, Dec. 13.-
President Elect Harding Monday
discussed the problems Of his
administration with Elihu Root,
former secretary of state, and
pne of the most notable Of the
nations elder statesmen.
International relations and the pros
pect for an acceptable world peace asso-
citation held the center of attention in
their four-hour talk, Mr.. Harding draw
ing upon the recent experience of his
visitor as an adviser abroad in the form
alton Of a world court. He asked many
questions about details of the court plan
and about the attitude Of European
statesmen toward the league.
Advice Not Revealed.
What advice Mr.. Root gave with re-
gard to league reservations was not
revealed, nor would either comment on
the results of the conference except to
say no conclusions were reached. 1t
was indicated Mr. Harding was attempt
ing to form no opinion for the present,
but was content to gather, information
and advice.
Coincident with Mr. Roots visit it be-
came known that Col. George Harvey.
New York editor, who has been the guest
of the president-elect since Saturday, is
urging MIR. Harding to advocate world
agreement that no nation would resort
to offensive warfare until its people had
80 decided by referendum. Colonel Har-
yey did not indicate to what degree his
proposal had been approved but he ex-
pressed hope that some such provision
~, 5v,tr ynrtI 10
ton sponsored by the coming administra-
ton.
The war referendum proposal has been
advanced many times during the peace
treaty fight and several reservations
embodying it were introduced in the
senate. One of its leading advocates has
been w. J. Bryan, who is to confer with
Mr. Harding Friday
War Referendum.
Mr.. Root would make no comment ex-
cept to say that the interview had been
very delightful and interesting" He
gave no indication whether domestic
BprobIems or cabinet appointments were
discussed. His visit threw no light on
reports that he might be asked to be-
come secretary of state.
In presenting details of the new world
court, which was unanimously adopted
of Nations, the former secretary is I'M
derstood to have suggested a consider
able step toward peace might be taken
BY amending arbitration treaties SO that
justiciable questions would all be refer
red to the tribunal for decision. There
are about 200 such treaties in existence,
but most Of them provide for decisions
by temperament commissions.
Policy Wars UnprofItabie
He added that the court as planned
bv the commissions of which he was
member probably would not prevent wars
of policy. such as the recent war, but
would go a long way toward removing
the element of danger from questions
arising from real difference of opinion.
The court, he explained. would have jur
isdiction only when both litigants agreed
to put their quarrels in its hands
In all Of his contemplation Of a world
association of nations, Mr. Harding has
had il mind some such international
court and in outlining his campaign
policy on the league he suggested that
the Hague tribunal might furnish basis
for such an institution. The Hague
court is not a permanent one, however,
and has more of the aspects Of diDlo-
matte conference than Of a legal estab-
lishment
Tuesday the president-elect will con-
fer with Governor w. G. Sproul, Of
Pennsylvania. and W. w, Atterbury. vice
president Of the Pennsylvania railway,
who was head of the American govern
ment's railroad system in France during
the war.