Evening star., 1923-03-08
RECORD in WORLD
| COURT CASES HERE
First Fruits of Tribunal Re-
ported as Foes of U. S. En-
try Open Fire.
HUGHES STUDIES REPORT
First Controversy Argued One Be-
tween Britain and France.
Germany at Bar.
HUGHES STUDIES REPORT
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.


Almost at the moment the opposi-
tion Is opening fire on the project to
take the United States into the Per-
manent Court of International Justice.
Official reports reach Washington Of
the first active operations Of the
world tribunal. Tonight in New
York, before the Bronx Board OF
Trade. Senator Hiram w. johnson
expects to hurl a broadside at Presi-
don't Hardings proposal. Meantime.
Secretary Hughes has had opportu-
nifty to study the formal record Of the
first international dispute referred to
the court, consisting of the proceed
ings issued by the league of nations.
The record arrived in Wa ashington
this week. 1t covers the extraor-
dinary session of the court at The
hague, which was called in January
20 consider controversy between
Great Britain and France and a case
brought against Germany for having
refused passage through tho Kiel
canal to a British ship. The last
named case Is the first instance in
history In which a sovereign state
mas been 80 arraigned before an in
ternational tribunal.
Both Cases Important.
1t Is plain from the gravity of both
the Britfsh-Fre case and the pro-
ceedfngs against Germany that each
actlon concerns the sort of dispute
| that old-time diplomacy used to 20
TO war about. The British and French
are at loEgerheads over nationality
oecrees In Tunis and Morocco Their
respective contentious were urged
with the greatest tenacity. The uues-
tion mainly at issue is whether or
not the nationality DEGREES Of the
French government. the Bey of Tunis
application to British subjects are
! matters OF purely French domestic
| policy.
Both litigants presented their cases
TO the court in public sessions, and a
decision Is expected momentarily.
Great Britain was represented by Sir
Douglas Hogg, attorney general; Sir
Ernest Pollock, formerly attorney
general. and a law officer of the for
| efgn Office. France was represented
| by NJ Merillon, procurator general at
| the cour de cessation. and NJ. de
Lapradelle. professor Of international
| law at the University OF France. BY
common consent between representa-
| tlveS of the two governmen the
British point of view was stated first
| to the court. Then there was d reply
on behalf of France, followed by an
| other statement by representative
|
! word. There were four separate
hearings. AT the termination of the
last one the representatives of both
powers filed their final conclusions in
| writing.
kiel Canal Case.
| The case against Germany deals
., with that country's refusal to per-
nit the British steamship Wimbledon
| 70 go through the kiel canal Ger
many is arraigned by the four So
called principal allied powers"-
Great Britain, France, Italy and
Japan. These states claim that
| Germans refusal was contrary 10 the
provisions of the treaty OF Versailles
affecting the kiel canal. Under
authority given in the treaty, they
have brought proceedings before the
Permanent Court of international
| Justice.
Germany's offense in restraining
free access to the kiel canal was COM
mitted on March q, 1921. Diplo-
matte representatives at The Hague
Of the four arraigntng powers filed
an application inStitutlng proceed
inss with the registry of the court
through the intermediary or the
French minister. notice or tne ap-
plicat ton has been sent by the regis
| try to Germany and to other states
| which have ratified the treaty OF
Versailles and to all states which
are members of the league or
nations. The applicant powers take
their stand upon article $50 OF the
treaty of Versailles. according to
which "the Kiel canal and its ap-
proaches shall he maintained free
and open to the vessels Of commerce
| and OF war of all nations at peace
with Germany on terms of entire
equality"
Glad Blue Was Present.
The league record states that This
| 20 an event of very considerable I'M
nortance because it constitutes the
Hrst example in history OF the ar
raienment before an international
court of a sovereign state by one or
moro other sovereign states"
| The monthly summary OF the
league of nations, in which the pro-
ceedines of the world court are re-
ported. notes with qualification that
the United States for the first time
was represented officially at the meet
ling in January of the advisory COM
nlittee on opium. Our representative
Il MONEY!