San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-03-09
TOO MUCH IN A NAME

Politicians, both Republican and
Democratic, and not a few partisan COM
mentators, have made more out of
President Harding's international-court
proposal than an unbiased citizen can
accept But that was to have been ex-
pected, for partisans are prone to go
to extremes and to rush from one eX-
IRENE to its opposite is a human ten
dency. Apparently one of Mr.. Hard
ings reasons for recommending that the
United States become member of the
world tribunal was to dissipate two eX-
IRENE ideas concerning the attitude Of
this country toward Europe It would
be ironical if his proposal should react
adversely TO his own political interests,
as some observers think it has done al
ready
Democrats took an extreme view Of
the situation when, immediately upon
the announcement of Mr. Harding's rec
ommendation that the United States be-
come member of the court. they de-
Shared that he had finally been con-
strained by developments TO come
round to the views of his predecessor,
President Wilson.
Republicans likewise exaggerated the
significance OF their chiefs action bv
undertaking to nullify it as quickly and
noiselessly as possible.
Members Ct both parties had read
into Nr. Hardings previous statements
concerning International relations more
than he seems y have meant. Whereas
he had Actually said only that he was
opposed II e--z-giing alliances, mem
beTs q ms cw- party assumed that he
world stand absolutely aloof from Euro
Pezn problems. and some Democrats
prepared = herald as a victory for
Wilson'S any otier which the present
adInin;strztio- might make toward the
end q establishing world peace through
the agency Of permanent international
organization, particularly one in any,
wise connected with the League of Ma
tons.
No doubt the fatal feature of the
Presidents plan appeared in the small
circumstance that the international court
had been created under the auspices of
the league. Sometimes there is too
much in name. Although the court
is entirely apart from the league. and.
will have nothing TO do with enforcing
the Versailles treaty, and although
President Harding, to make assurance
doubly sure, proposed that the United
States become a member of the court
only on the specific condition that such
membership in no way obligate this
country TO mix in European politics. the
name League of Nations" so remotely
connected with the enterprise under con-
slderation, was as a scarecrow frighten-
ing the Republican senators.
In his public speeches Mr.. Harding
had never given the members of either
party any reason to draw the conclu-
sion that he would practice a hard
boiled attitude toward foreign nations
On the contrary, both before and after
his election he spoke often of under.
taking to establish and maintain an in.
ternational understanding through tho
medium of a world court. Moreover
the tribunal that was actually created
under the sponsorship of the league owes
ITS nature partly to the counsel Of such
men as Elhu Root.
Nevertheless, it may prove to have
been political misstep for President
Harding TO propose American member.
ship in the court, especially just be-
fore the close OF session of Congress