The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-03-27
FAVORS EXCHANGE
OF VIEWS EVEN IF
AGREEMENT FAILS
Continued from Page onc)

Continued from Page Onc)
bination-there must be an exchange
of duties and rights by the associates
So If Americans desire to form COM
bination, the question is how will they
form an association without commit
ting themselves to anything, or with
out receiving mmitments in return7
t-ITES HAGUE COURT
s. Some persons complain that the
league is a political organism which
should be replaced by judicial organ
ism. We already have had The Hague
court composed of eminent jurists.
In the past they have done their best
but they never have been obeyed.
.. The league in September last, cre-
ated a court of Justice which was ac-
cepted by all of its members; by soma
instantly. by others in accordance with
the procedure required by their con-
stitution.
10. If court is established nations
must not bring before it merely their
commercial, industrial and economic
interests. Indeed no. for we are strlv-
ing toward the time when conflicts
of national pride. which are of the
gravest sort because they stir up en-
tire population, thereby becoming ir-
remediable, will likewise be settled
judicially. Unless these conflicts are
brought lInHleuldlely DelOTe the court,
the most profound and most poisonous
causes of war would be beyond it's
Jurisdiction.
IL. Even those who desire only a
court restricted in it's consideration
and authority to purely economic ques
tions must realize that membership in
such a court diminishes to some ex-
tent national independence, Whenever
a man or nation, instead of taking JUS
tice in it's own hands, defers to the de-
cision of another, there may be said to
have been a certain abdication of SOW
ereignty.
ONLY TWO COURSES
IL. Since no international organiza-
ton, whether it be called league or
court, can be joined without some sac
rifice of individual initiative. a nation
must be logical and straightforward,
and either refuse adhesion so as to rs-
main completely Independent, or gain
through the collective strength of as
ISOLATION, greater power than woul.i
be possible for one to possess alone.
10. When the court is through DELHI
Grating what is to become OF its de-
cisions. viii they be theoretical de-
cisions, the enforcement of which will
depend on the good faith of the parties
in the cause? In that case We may 5
we'll say that the fruits of the war
have not been gathered. If. after that
great calamity, we are not further adj
vanced than The Hague court. whose
decisions even when unanimous con-
corning the laws of war, were tram
pied derisively, truly the war has
taught us nothing. The court OF JUS
tice-whatever its form--will either
beN laughing stock or power 1t
cannot be a power unless it is armed
with means to enforce international
sentences against refractory nations.
IA. The idea of a court Of Justice,
even IL the court Is separated from the
league, cannot avail much unless peo-
pies form an association i whose door
they will lay aside, in appearance az
least their sovereignty. i say in app
pearance for wheni1 join any associa-
ton I don't abandon my Independence
but do add IT, TO the independence of
Others