Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-09-30
NATIONS TOSUE
INSTEADOF WAR
World League To Decide Issues,
League to Enforce It's
Judgments
BY NORRIS QUINN.

WASH1NGION, Sept. 3O.-HoW IS
the new international court of the
League of Nations, which convenes
for the first time on June / 5 of next
year, going to operate.
James Brown Scott, secretary and
director of the division of internal
tional law, Carnegie Endowment for
international Peace, answers that
question.
Scott went TO The Hague with
Elihu Root in 1920 when the coun-
ell 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,
I 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 nomi-
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-
tiona1 law.
American on Bench.
The slate of justices just named
at the Geneva League session in
cludes one American-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 nec-
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:
Interpretation of treaties.
Questions of international law
Fixing Preparations or indemnities
Interpretation of sentences passed
by the court.
Determining whether actions of ma
ions constitute breaches of their in.
ternational obligations.
In reaching decisions the court will
be governed by international conven.
tons, international customs. genera
principles of law recopnized by civil
ized nations and judicial decisions OF
the best jurists of the various ma.
tions.
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 quail
fled to practice before the interna
iional court.
Cases will be decided by a ma.
iority vote of the Judges present at
any hearing. Nine judges are quo
rum. Appeals for 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 viii be able to call in the mill
tary power of all members of the
League of Nations if 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
i submit to members of the League for
adoption plans for the establishment
of a permanent court of international
! justice.
The court shall be competent to
hear and determine any DISPUTE of
an international character which the
parties thereto submit to it.
''The court may also give an adj