The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1923-03-15
HARDING URGES
WORLD Court
President WOuid Accept Member
ship in League TrIIlnaI While
Taking No Part in Parent Body.
SENATE'S CONSENT IS ASKED
Limitations Based on U. S. Principles
They Would Prevent Any Legal
Relation to League or Inequality
TO Help Pick Judges.

Observation-Disclosures is the text
Of President Harding's message to the
senate, urging consent to adhesion
by the United States to the protocol
establishing the Permanent Court of
International Justice at The Hague:
To the Senate:
There has been established at The
Hague a Permanent Court of Interna.
tlonal Justice for The trial and deci.
sion of international causes by judi.
cial methods, now effective through
the ratification by the signatory pow.
ers of special protocol 1t is organ
lied and functioning. The United
States is a competent sutton In the
court through provision of the statute
creating it, but that relation is not
sufficient for a nation long commit
ted to the peaceful settlement Of in
ternational controversies. Indeed
our nation had a conspicuous place
in the advocacy of such an agency
Of peace and International ADJUST
meut, and our deliberate public Opin-
ion Of today is overwhelmingly in ia
vor of our full participation, ana the
attending obligations of maintenance
and the furtherance Of its prestige. It
is for this reason that I am now ask
ing for the consent of the senate to
our adhesion to the protocol.
With this request I am sending to
the senate copy of the letter ad-
dressed to me by the secretary OF
Estate in which he presents in detail
the history Of the establishment of
the court, takes note of the objection
10 our adherence because OF the
courts organization under the aus
pieces Of the League Of Nations. and
its\ relation thereto, and indicates
how, with certain reservations, we
may fully adhere and participate and
remain wholly free from any legal
relation to the league. or assumption
Of obligation under the covenant of
the league.
forbear repeating the presentation
made by the secretary Of state, but
there is no phase of the matter not
covered in his letter with which !
choose frankly to acquaint the sen.
ate. For a long period, indeed ever
since the international conference or
the limitation Of armament, the con
sideration of plans under which we
might adhere to the protocol has been
under way. We We're unwilling 20 al.
here unless We coulu participate in
the selection Of the judges; We could
not hope to participate with an Amer
lean accord if adherence involved any
legal relation to the league. These
conditions, there is good reason 10 be
lieye, will be acceptable to the sigma
tory powers. though nothing definite.
ly can be done until the United States
tenders adhesion with these reserva.
tons. ManifestIy the Executive can
not make this tender until the senate
has spoken its approval. Therefore
must al ---2t4g IA - OIi Id ' Vi cBlG
advice and consent. I would rejoice
if some action could be taken even
in the short period which remains of
the present session.
1t is not a new problem in interna-
tional relationship; it is wholly a
question of accepting an established
institution of high character, and
making effective all the fine things
which have beer said by US in favor
Of such an agency of advancing civil
ization. 1t would be we'll worth the
while Of the senate to make such spe-
cial TT as is becoming tc record its
approval. Such action would ADD to
our own consciousness Of participa-
ton in the fortunate advancement OF
international relationship and remind
the world anew that we are ready for
our proper part in furthering peace
and adding to stability in world af.
fairs.
WARRF>, G. HARDING.
The White House.