, 1923-03-22
Q. 8. PAYS UNJUST JUDGMENT

WaD08SVQs ASrCu -. INC
honorable and generous standard
that governs the conduct OF Alneri-
q foreign relations was strikingly
demonstrated In the payment to the
soverpment Of Norway on February
- OF . check for $12,239,862 in
full settlement Of the Norwegian
shipping claims against the United
States" declares the Republican
Publicity Association. through its
President. Hon. Jonathan Bourne Jr.
1.-THE amount was decided upon BY
The Hague court Of arbitration, be-
fore which the controversy had been
argued BY the respective govern
ments. In spite Of the tact that the
decision was contrary to- accepted
principles Of international law. In
violation OF part of the convention
establishing the court, and discrim-
inatory against the United States.
the damages were paid without quib-
bling, because Of the American de-
sire to respect arbitral awards.
The claim arose out of the re-
questioning Of Norwegian ships I'M
der construction in this country dur
ing the val. It was held by the
United States that such alien proper
~ should be considered the same as
requisitioned property by our own
nationals, and payment for both made
on the same basis. The court under
took to say that damages for requisi-
toned alien property should be de-
termined by the extent OF the emer-
gency and its termination, and in
creased accordingly.
I'm his note to the Norwegian
SntnfctAA 4~41~o~- "a I-~ o. ---
ment in full. Secretary Hughes prop
erly took occasion to say that no
such duty to discriminate in favor
Of neutral aliens is believed to be
imposed upon a state by information
al law. with respect to property such
as Is concerned in the present case.'
Mr.. Hughes further pointed out hat
while the award purported to make
fair compensation based n the mar
ket value of the ships taken, the
court omitted all discussion OF the
claims, the methods Of calculation,
and the eason for de termining
the amounts in each case. The
claimants were entitled to interest
but did not disclose why some claim
ants should get higher interest than
poAA 0Au AOe A0vS0A NA0 bos0D
of interest, the interest period. or the
claimants were entitled to interest
but did not disclose why some
amounts awarded as principal and
interest. respectively. Secretary
Hughes emphasised the fact that
those Omissions are in direct con-
PREVENTION Of Article 70 OF The
Hague Convention Of 1907, under
which the Norwegian claims were
arbitrated, which directs that awards
must give the eason upon which
they are based. For the above rea-
sons Mr.. Hughes declares that the
decision of the court cannot be ac-
cepted a. . precedent by the United
States.
Nevertheless. because we had
agreed to abide by the award Of the
court, II was paid in full. although
It was . violation Of international
Law and The Hague Convention. No
criticism could have attached to the
ment until the eason for the courts
United States II It had refused pay
decisions had been furnished in &C.
eordance with The Hague treaty.
but. a. Mr.. Hughes wrote. this gov
eminent has NO desire to be con-
t%roversial,' and the check was de-
1ivered.
Let US hope that this incident
will not escape the attention Of our
International friends who r always
20 concerned lest We fail to do our
full duty to Europe. Let them COM
pare our adherence to treaty in this
inhtance with the disregard of treat
les In Europe, notably the Versailles
pact with Its league OF nations COW
enant. II dealings among European
nations were according to the Ameri-
can conception Of International hon.
or. permanent peace would 500
come to that distracted part Of the
world"