Evening journal., 1922-01-19
udge Moore, Representing
u. S., Tells How Body
Will Run
OBJECT is TO
ACHIEVE PEACE
BY JOHN BASSETT MOORE,
Former Delawarcan and Judge OF
the Permanent Court OF Inter
national Justice, The Hague


a special and ideal sense.
No matter by what means war
may be ended. there is one thing
certain, and that is that no peace
that depends mainly on force for
its continuance can ever endure.
II is only when the minds Of men
can be brought into a common ac-
cord that peace is definitely assured.
To this end the permanent court
OF international justice has been
ordained in the effort TO create an
institution which should embody the
highest human ideal. that OF peace
through justice. and particularly
justice based on law.
The court, although constituted
under a statute prepared by the
council and passed by the assembly
OF the League OF Nations, represents
the fruitition OF efforts with which
the international activities Of the
United Statu have been closely and
distinctively identified.
The court consists OF IL judges.
called ordinary judges, and four
deputy-judges. The statute provides
that these numbers may hereafter
be increased by the assembly. on
the proposal OF the council. TO a
total Of is judges and six deputy
judges.
Judges Hear Gases
Deputy-judges are intended to
take the place OF judges who may
be absent or unable 10 act Eleven
judges constitute the actual trial
court. but nine may constitute a
quorum.
The court sits in all disputes be-
tween members OF tbs league as
well as in disputes between other
states. Among these other states
In the United States.
II is provided that the protocol.
by which the statute IS accepted.
may be signed by all states men
toned in the annex to the covenant.
Il thus appears that all those
states. among which is the United
States. may accept and support. as
well as use. the court. even though
they may not have accepted the
political responsibilities Of the
league.
The question has been asked how
citizen OF a country which is
neither a member Of the league nor
yet a party to the statute can be
elected or can sit as a Judge In the
court.
The answer is: The judges are
not elected nor do they sit as citi-
zens or representatives of any par
ticular country As far as human
nature will permit they are ex-
pected 10 decide impartiaily be.
ali
or antipathy to any.
The seat OF the court is not. as
often supposed. at Geneva. but at
The Hague. Members are elected
for nine years and may be re-
elected.
The court must hold in each year
at least one session. whick. unless
the court itself otherwise provides
must begin on June / and continue
until the cases on the list are dis
posed Of.
The president OF the court. elected
by the members for term OF three
years. is required to reside contin.
uously at The Hague and may sum.
mon an extraordinary session when
ever necessary.
Seek Full Impartiality
Each member Of the court Is re-
quired before taking up his dutiei
TO make a solemn declaration ir
open court that he will exercise hi
powers impartially and conscien
fiously. The members. when engage,
p IN the business Of the court, enjo,
diplomatic privileges and immuni
. tics.
Tho official languages OF the cour
are French and English. Hearing
are 10 be public. unless the cour
shall otherwise decide
All questions are 20 be decided b,
majority Of the judges present a
: the hearing. and in the event Of al
even division. the president or hi
deputy Las a casting vote.
The full court is required TO sit
except where IL is expressly provid
ed otherwise. In cases under the la
- Dor clauses OF the treaty OF Yer
sailles and the other peac
treaties the court is required to ap
point every three years a specia
chamber Of five judges.
In cases relating to transit an
communications. provision is mad
-.r the appointment OF a simila
special chamber. The court is Z
form annually chamber Of thre
judges who may az the request o
the disputants, hear and determin
cases by summary procedure.
To Attend First Session
As one OF the eleven judges.
haze been invited to appear at tn
D.. Pease Palace. The Hague. at IL 4
NJ. January 80, to take part in tn
organ yation of the court.
=. rhe court. II II is TO fulfl Il
high mission, must have the supper
the governments OF the worl
-and OF public opinion.
1 shall not be discouraged II a
the outset the court is not overbui
ydened with business.
= Tie Supreme Court Of the Unite
States at its first regular sessio
had. / believe. no cases on 81
docket. Nor later. when busine,
slowly increased were its decision
always effectual.