Evening journal., 1921-09-30
WORLD Court TO
! DECIDE ISSUES
League of Nations Will Use
Its Machinery to Enforce
Judgments
HOPE FOR SUITS
INSTEAD OF WAR
BY NORRIS QUINN

BY NORItIS QUINN
WASHINGTON-How is the new
international court OF the League Of
Nations. which convenes Tor the first
time on June is of next year. going
to operate?
James Brown Scott, Sc sretary and
director OF the division OF interna-
tional law, Carnegie Endowment for
International Peace. answers that
: question.
Scott went to The Hague with
Elihu Root in 1920 when the coun-
cil Of the League of Nations called
together a body OF advisory jurists
Ito draft plans FOR the permanent
international court that the League
has just put into effect.
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 solv-
ing their problems by war.
/ The court itself consists OF IL
Justices and four associate justices.
who hold office nine years and may
be reelected. Justices are nomi-
mated by members OF the League OF
Nations and elected by the league
assembly and council.
Nominating nations are directed
20 nominate men OCCUPYING the high
est judicial POSITIONS in their coun-
tries and recognized experts on in
ternational law.
The slate OF justices just named
at the Geneva League session in
cludes one American-John Bassett
Moore other countries represent
. ed 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 in
French but the court may authorize
any other language on special occa-
sions.
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:
/ 49, 4 In NJ LaA4LCaN VI NlGdLltca
QUESTIONS Of international law.
FIXING reparauons or indem-
mites.
passed by the court.
DETERMINING whether actions
OF nations constitute breaches Of
their International obligations.
In reaching decisions the court
mmaHN - =
conventions, international customs.
general principles of law recognized
by civilized nations and judicial de-
cisions Of the best jurists of the va
rious 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
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
qualified to practice before the in
ternational court.
Cases viii be decided by a ma
jority vote OF the judges present at
any hearing. Nine judges are a
quorum. Appeals for a new hear
ing can be made II 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 II is probable that the
courts will be able TO call in the
military power of all members OF
the League OF Nations II a iitigani
nation refuses to abide by its deci-
sions.
Advisor TO League
The international court Is more
than trial court II is the judicial
organ OF the League of Nations. The
League will call on IL whenever Il
wants legal advice on any interna-
tional question.
This court owes its existence tc
article IA OF the Laegue OF Nations
covenant Article II says:
The council shall formulate and
submit TO members of the League
for adoption plans for the estab.
lishment OF a permanent court OF
International justice.
The court shall be competent Il
hear and determine any dispute OF
an International character which the
parties thereto submit 10 it.
The court may also give an ad.
Visory opinion upon any dispute OF
question referred to II by the coun-
icil or assembly"
J> Total expense OF the court is borne
oy the League. Salaries OF the
Justices have not been announced.