The New York herald., 1922-02-16
PER RMANENT COURT
OPENS IN HOLLAND
Queen Wilhelmina Attends
and League Secretary Praises
Elihu Root.
NINE JUDGES TAKE OATH
DR.. Da FCunha of Brazil Deliv-
ers Address on Interna-
tiOnal Justice.
NINE JUDGES TAKE OATH


Press) The Permanent Court of In
ternational Justice was opened this af-
teraoon with fitting ceremonies. Queen
Wilhelmina and her consort. Prince
Henry. were present and the Peace Pal
ace, where the scene was laid. was
crowded with the representatives of
many nations. The business OF the court
to-day was confined largely to speeches,
in which the historic importance Of the
day was emphasized.
None of the council of the League of
Nations was able to attend, except DR..
Castoa de Cunha of Brazil. who was
present as the chairman of the league,
The Secretary General Sir Eric Drum
.nond. and the Financial Director, Sir
Herbert Ames. attended.
Taking the Oath.
At 3 80 o'clock the president. eight
judges and three deputy judges and the
registrar filed in bareheaded, in simple
black silk gowns. and seated themselves
at the long table. The president of the
court, Chief Justice Bernard Loder of
Holland, opened the proceedings and the
registrar read congratulations from
many of the European Governments.
after which all arose and took the oatE
successfully in the form OF Solemn
declaration in French or English, ac-
cording to nationality.
DR.. da Cunha. in his address, declared
that February Is was one of the great
days in the annals of human justice.
Among the peoples of the young Amer
lean continent" he said, 'the idea of
international justice is perhaps stronger
and more alive than elsewhere. Their
dearest ideal is accomplished here this
day"
Now that the task which seemed i'm
possible has been achieved" he said in
conclusion, do not fear that the coun-
ell of the league or the assembly intends
you, for henceforth the League of Ma
tons desires you to deliver the Judgment
in behalf of all mankind
Sir Eric Drummond paid tribute TO
Elihu Root for the important part he
played in the conception of the scheme
from which the court sprung. In his
opinion the permanent court was the
greatest and most creative act of the
league. 1t was an International body
entirely free from all political control,
whose judgments would in no wise be
subjected to advice or revision by the
council or TIE assembly.
Court HasNo Master.
NJ. Van Karnebeek. permanent presi-
dent of the League of Nations Assem-
bly,, after paying tribute to Mr.. Root. by
whose help difficulties were overcome,
addressed the judges, saying:
Your responsibility is the greater be-
cause States having recourse to you will
have renounced the right of freely
choosing the judges, which is a feature
OF the court of arbitration existing un-
der the same roof But against this you
must set the great ness of your position.
which entities you to the foremost place
among mankind
President Loder emphasized the COM
plete liberty of the court, which ac-
knowledged no master except the law it
was bound TO apply.
President Loder warned against ex-
aggeration and misinterpretation of the
significance of the new institution, lest
the world should be disillusioned. He
pointed out that international law was
not codified, that there was much uncer-
tainty and no means of forcing compli-
ance. The reason for this was that in
tcrnational relationship was still in It's
infancy. Statesmen had been found
preaching the maxim ehat treaties ceased
TO be binding when it was eXpedient to
disregard them, but States must evolve
the same as individuals
The members of the court represent
twelve nationalities and both the East
ern and Western worlds. The repre-
sentative of the United States is John
Bassett Moore, and the other members
present Were Bernard Cornelius
Johannes Loder of Holland, DR.. Rafael
Altamira Crevea of Spain. Commenda-
tore Dionisio Anzilotti of Italy. Wis.,
count Robert Finlay of Great Britain,
DR.. Max Huber of Switzerland, Didrik
Nyholm of Denmark, DR.. Yorozu Oda
of Japan and DR.. Andre Weiss Of
France. The other two judges. DR.. Ruy
Barbosa of Brazil and DIR. Antonio S. de
Bustamente of Cuba, were unable to
come to The Hague. Three of the deputy
judges, +. V. n. Beichmann of Norway,
Demetriu Negulesco OF Rumania and
Michailo Yovanovitch of Jugoslavia
were present, DIR. Wang Chrng-hui IF
China being absent.