The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-28
SE IRE I AIRY. RETURNS FIRE. COURT CRITICS
Hughes Supports Presidents Plan To Enter International Tribunal, But Says League Issue Is Not
 Involved

WASHINGTON, April 27.-Pres- ident Harding's world court speech has let loose a torrent of discussion which has drawn in many party lead CTS.
 Fridays list of party utterances includes:
 Secretady of State Hughes de- tended court in address before American Society of International Law here.
 Chairman John T. Adams of re- publican national committee issued a statement that there is no serious division in the republican party upon fundamentals and that policies which have brought prosperity will be con- tinued.
 Senator James E. Watson. admin ' ist -tion leader. predicted in Pitts burg speech that seeming differ ences over the court will be ad justed
 Secretary of Labor Davis. speaking at Pittsburg emphasizes the effect of prosperity, rejoiced that the United States has been kept "out of the blundering international crimes of Europe" but was silent on the world court.
  of the Senate. is among the few who are conspicuous by their silence.
 Secretary of State Hughes has re turned the fire of Senate irreconcil- ables who are attacking the Harding world court plan as a covert attempt to enter the League of Nations. Both they and the friends of the league are indulging in vain surmises when they think that the United States is trying to break into the league, Hughes declared in an address to the American Society of International Law here Friday.
 "Those who desire that by this method the United States shall be- come a member of the league are in- dulging in vain hope. and those who are alarmed at such possibility . are entertaining vain fears." the secretary said.
 Taking note of the Senate criticizm of the court plan. Hughes went into great detail to answer these ob- iections He discussed the British Empires six votes at length to show that the United States would be fully safeguarded against any bloc influ- ence in the league when judges were selected. He also replied to Senator Borah's objection that the court rests on the league. Although the league devised the framework of the court, it could not put the plan into effect, he declared
 o O
 special Agreement.
 1t was necessary to have a spe- cial interest agreement on the part of the states who were willing to &C., cept it.. Hughes declared "Accord- ingly protocol, virtually a treaty, was drafted and signed by these ma tions desiring the support of the court It IS this protocol that the ciI ic c nor ic e n n to sign.
 The permanent cour: is thus an establishment separate from the league. having distinct legal status created by an independent or ganic act" Hughes added.
 The league covenant. he continued, invested it's members with no auth ority to select judges, That power was conferred by the co 't statute.
 "'rhe fundamental question" Hughes went on, lis whether the League of Nations controls the court. The league does not control the court: that is an independent judicial body
 Regarding Great Britain's six votes. Hughes said. Tt is practically impossible under the scheme that has been adopted, for the British empire, or for any combination, to secure an election of judges in aid of a particu- lar political interest.
 O O O
 Votes Really Equal.
 The admission to membership of the various parts, of the British em pire has been a recognition of the as- piration of the peoples composing them. and this has not been found an insuperable obstacle to the support of the court by other powers. It would be difficult to find a sound req son for objection on the part of the United States to this increase on ma tional grounds in the voting strength of the powers who have been devel-