The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1921-10-06
WORLD COURT
DECIDES ISSUE
League of Nations VIII Use
It's Machinery to En-
force Judgments.
SUITS INSTEAD OF WAR
Bv N. E. A. Service

Washington-How is the new inter.
national court of the League of Ma.
tions, which convenes for the first time
on June Is of next year, going to Op.
crate?
James Brown Scott, secreatry and di.
rector of the division of internationa,
law, Carnegie Endowment for Interas
tional Peace, answers that question.
Scott went to The Hague with Elihu
Root in 1920 when the council of the
League of Nations called together
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 differences
by formal law suits, just as individuals
in civilized countries have done for
years, instead of solving their prob
lens by war.
The court itself consists of II just
ices and four associate justices, who
hold Office nine years and may be re-
elected. Justices are nominated by
members of the League of Nations and
elected by the league assembly and
council. r
Nominating nations are directed to
nominate men occupying the highest
judicial positions in their countries
and recognized experts on international
law.
American on Bench.
The slate of justices just named at
the Geneva League session includes one
American-John Bassett Moore. Other
countries represented are Great Brit
ain, France, Italy, Japan, Spain, Brazil,
Cuba, Switzerland, Holland and Den
mark.
Sessions of the court will be held at
The Hague. The court viii convene
June Is of every year. Extra sessions
may be held whenever necessary. All
deliberation will be in French but the
court may authorize any other language
on special occasions.
The court has jurisdiction over any
international matter affecting mem
bers of the League of Nations or other
nations which may desire to place their
problems before it. These interna-
tional matters include:
Interpretation of treaties.
Questions of international law. .
Fizing PREPARATIONS or indemnities.
Interpretation Of sentences passed BY
the court.
Determining whether actions of ma
tions constitute breaches of their inter- {
national obligations.
In reaching decisions the court viii
be governed by international conven-5
tions, international customs, general
principles of law recognized by civilized
nations and judicial decisions of the
best jurists of the various nations.
Trial of Cases.
The court will hear cases in much
the same way as local courts in any of
the nations. Evidence will be submit 4,
ted and questions will be argued by
lawyers representing the powers in
volved.
Any lawyer who would be recognizeda
by the highest court in his own coun~4
try will be considered qualified to prac-i
tice before the international court.
Cases will be decided by majority
vote Of the judges present at any hear-|
ing. Nine judges are quorum. APP !
peals for a new hearing can be made if
new facts are brought out after a De-
cision has been handed down. ec
Just what power the court will in
woke to enforce its decisions is not
quite clear. 1t is probable that the
courts will be able to call in the mill
ta~y power of all members Of the
League of Nations if litigant nation
refuses to abide by its decisions.
Advisor to League.
The international court is more than
a 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 international question.
This court owes its existence to ar
ticle IA of the League of Nations COW
enant 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 inter
national character which The parties
thereto submit to it.
"The court may also give an advisory
opinion upon any dispute or question
referred to it by the council or assem-
bly,"
Total expense of the court is borne !
bv the League. Salaries of the justices
have not been announced.