Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1923-03-02
HARD|NGURGESU.S S.
JOIN WORLD COURT
Asks Senate to Authorize Con.
ditlOnaI Membership
WOULD AVOID LEAGUE
Hughes Explalns-senators Non-corf
initial And Action At
Present Session
Unlikely

present session
Unlikely.
Washington.--Co American
membership in the International Court
set up by the League of Nations was
proposed by President Harding.
In message to the Senate. asking
that II advise and consent to such a
step. the President declared partici
patton in the tribunal offered an op-
portunity through which the United
States could demonstrate its willing
ness to aid in preserving world sta
bility without in any manner assum-
ing ANY legal relation to the league. +"
Four reservations, the first of
which would specifically disclaim any
obligations under the league, were
suggested by Mr.. Harding as neces-
sary conditions to membership in the
court. The others would give this Gov
ernment a voice in selecting the
judges Of the court and in making
changes In its basic regulations and
would provide that Congress deter
mine what part Of the expenses Of
the tribunal are to be paid out Of the
American treasury.
Although there had been intimation
that American participation In the
court was favored in Administration
quarters. the Presidents message
came as a complete surprise to SEN
ators generally and all indications
pointed to a delay in Senate action
on the recommendation until the ses
sion OF Congress which meets in De
cember
Among the leaders Of the "Irrecon-
cilables" Of the League Of Nations
fight. in particular, there were pre-.
dictions that nothing would be done
until time had been given for mature
reflection and comprehensive debate
A special meeting of the Foreign Re
lstions Committee was called TO meet
Tuesday to take up the Presidents
proposal. but there seemed to be no
hope that final action would be pos
sible in the four days remaining there
after before the present Congress
goes out of existence.
Hughes Approves Plan.
In his letter accompanying the
Presidents message Secretary Hughes
recalled the traditional stand taken
by the United States for arbitration
of international disputes. pointed out
that Elihu Root advised with the
League representatives and others in
bringing the court into existence,
called attention that another distin-
guished American jurist. John Bassett
Moore, already has accepted place
as one of the judges on the new
tribunal, and declared that with the
reservations suggested the United
States could accept membership with
out deviating from recognized Ameri-
can principles.
Presidents Message.
The Presidents message follows:
There has been established at The
Hague permanent court of interna-
tional Justice for the trial and decision
of international causes by judicial
methods. now effective through the
ratification by the signatory powers of
a special protocol. It is organized and
functioning. The United States is a
competent suitor in the court, through
provision OF the statute creating 1t,
but that relation is not sufficient for
a nation long committed to the peace
full settlement of international con.
troyersies. Indeed, our nation had a
conspicuous place in the advocacy Of
such an agency Of peace and interna-
tional adjustment. and our deliberate
public opinion of today is overwheIm-
ingly in favor Of our full participation
and the attending obligations of main
tenance and the furtherance of its
prestige. 1t is for this reason that
am now asking for the consent of the
Senate to our adhesion to the protocol
with this request | am sending to
the Senate copy of the letter ad-
dressed to me by the Secretary Of
State, in which he presents in detail
the history of the establishment of
the court, takes note Of the objection
to our adherence because OF the courts
organization under the auspices Of
the League of Nations and its rela-
tion thereto, and indicates how, with
certain reservations, we may fully ad-
here and participate and remain
wholly free from any legal relation to
the League or assumption Of obliga-
tion under the covenant of the
League.
/ | forbear repeating the presentation
/ made by the Secretary of State, but
there is one phase of the matter not
covered in his letter with which
choose frankly to acduaint the Senate
For a long period, indeed. ever since
tho International conference on the
limitation OF armament, the considera-
tion of plans under which we might
adhere to the protocol has been under
way We were unwilling to adhere
unless we could participate in the
selection Of judges. we could not hope
to participate with an American ac-
cord If adherence involved any legal
relation to the League These condi-
tions, there is good reason to believe,
will be acceptable to the signatory
powers. though nothing definitely can