Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-09-30
NATIONS TOSUE !.
lNSTEADOF War
World League To Decide Issues,
League to Enforce Its
Judgments
BY NORRIS QUINN.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30.-How is
the new international court of the
League of Nations, which convenes
for the first time on June l 5 of next
year, going to operate.
James Brown Scott, secretary and
director of the division of interna-
tional law, Carnegie Endowment for
International Peace, answers that
question.
p Scott went to The Hague with
Elihu Root in 1920 when the coun-
Gil of the League of Nations called
together a body of advisory jurists
to draft plans for the permanent
international court that the League
has just put into effect
Suits Instead of War.
The new court means, Scott says,
that nations now can settle their diff
ferences by formal law suits, Just as
individuals in civilized countries have
done for years, instead of solving
their problems by war.
The court itself consists of II
justices and four associate justices,
who hold office nine years and may
be reelected. Justices are nom-
mated by members of the League of
Nations and elected by the League
assembly and council.
Nominating nations are directed to
nominate men occupying the highest
judicial positions in their countries
and recognized experts on interna.
tional law.
American on Bench.
The slate of justices just named
at the Geneva League session in.
cludes one Ameriean-John Bassett
Moore. Other countries represented
are Great Britain, France, Italy,
Japan, Spain, Brazil, Cuba, Switzer-
land Holland and Denmark.
Sessions of the court will be held
at The Hague. The court will con-
vene June Is of every year. Extra
sessions may be held whenever nee
essary, All deliberations will be inI
French but the court may authorize
any other language on special occa-
sons.
The court has jurisdiction over
any international matter affecting
members of the League of Nations
or other nations which may desire
to place their problems before it
These international matters include: 4
Interpretation of treaties.
Questions of international law.
Fixing Preparations or indemnities
Interpretation of sentences passed
by the court
Determining whether actions of ma
tions constitute breaches of their in.
MSnational obligations.
In reaching decisions the court will
he governed bv international conven.
tions, international customs. general
principles of law recognized bv civil
ized nations and judicial decisions of
The best jurists of the various ma.
tons.
Trial of Gases.
The court will hear cases in much
the same way as local courts in any
of the nations. Evidence will bel
submitted and questions will be ar
gued by lawyers representing the
powers involved.
Any lawyer who would be recog-
nized by the highest court in his
own country will be considered quail
fled to practice before the interna
tional court.
Cases will be decided by ma
iority vote of the judges present at
any hearing. Nine judges are a quo
rum. Appeals for a new hearing can
be made if new facts are brought
out after a decision has been handed
down.
Just what power the court will
invoke to enforce its decisions is not
quite clear. 1t is probable that the
courts will be able to call in the mill
tary power of all members of the
League of Nations if a litigant ma
ton refuses to abide by its decisions
Advisor to League.
The international court is more
than trial court. 1t is the judicial
organ of the League of Nations. The
League will call on it whenever it
wants legal advice on any interna-
tional question.
This court owes its existence to
Article IA of the League of Nations
covenant Article ID says:
"The council shall formulate and
submit to members of the League for
adoption plans for the establishment
OF permanent court of international
justice.
The court shall be competent to
hear and determine any dispute of
an international character which the
parties thereto sptnit to it.
The court may also give an adj
Vlsory opinion upon dispute or ques-
ton referred to it by the council or
assembly"
Total expense of the court is
borne by the League. Salaries of the
justices have not been announced