Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-05-10
HARDING S LETTER
To CLUB MEETING
URGES COURT PLAN

nlSnC' OIL the country CnaC IL we are W
unite with other nations in an epoch
marking effort to establish adjudica-
ton of international differences, we
should adhere to the court which is
already in being" President Harding
declared in a message to the. club
women Of America, which was read
Monday evening by Mrs. Thomas G.
Winter, national president, before
the mid-biennial Of the General Fed
Grafton of Woman's clubs.
Continuing, the president stated:
Tin short, the opinion of the coun-
try plainly is that if we have any
sincere. purpose of adhering to the
procedure of international adjudica-
ton, our only way to give convinc-
ing evidence of this disposition, is
to accept, under such restrictions as
may be found necessary, the tribun-
al already created"
Text of Letter
President Hardings letter follows:
my Dear Mrs. Winter:
81 am. writing to acknowledge my
appreciation of the invitation to adj
dress the convention of the General
Federation of Womens clubs, and
to express my regret that it is not
possible to accept. The broad and
intelligent interest which this great
organization has taken in public
affairs, and it's splendidly effective
effort to insure that the nation
shall derive the utmost advantage
from the full participation of wom-
anhood in the responsibility of pub
lie life, entitle the federation to be
ranked among the great construc-
tive and educating forces of the
land.
"It has been most enheartening
to learn of the attitude of this great
organization, SO long devoted to the
consideration of public problems
and so we'll trained in that field,
toward the proposal that our coun-
try signify it's adherence to the
world court of international justice.
You will, l am sure, be interested
to know that the evidence of ma
tion-Wide judgment upon this issue,
which come to me from every part
of the country and every element OF
our citizenship, are such as to leave
no doubt that the overwhelming
preponderance favors the step
which has been proposed.
Furthermore, there are multiplied
and increasing evidences that these
judgments are being reached as the
result of earnest, deliberate and
studious consideration of the sub
ject in all aspects. The assurances
which are received in increasing
number, day by day, leave no doubt
as to the community's mind. There
is a profound conviction that our
obligation to human society and
likewise our very material interest,
equally demand that this nation
shall give this sincere and effec-
tive proof of it's wish to cooperate
in eliminating the causes OF STRIFE
among the nations and peoples. L
have wanted you and your asso-
ciates of the federation to know OF
these accommodating evidences of u
firmly crystalizing opinion. The
national heart, conscience, and
Judgment are alike enlisted, and
against these we never need fear
Sentiment for World Court
Especially I am glad to be able
to tell you that there is evidence
of thoroughly practical attitude as
regards our adherence to the court
already created and functioning. 1t
is plainly the considered judgment
of the country that if we are to
unite with other nations in an epoch
marking effort to establish adjudica-
ton of international differences, we
should adhere to the court which is
already in being. That court, In
it's constitution, represents the ma
tured thought and purpose of men
who have given most expert con-
sideration to the subject. 1t is diff
ficult to believe that more repre-
sentative, more impartial, or more
able tribunal could be established
under any other plan. But in any
case, the present court is actually
in existence. It's jurisdiction, de-
fined by its protocol of foundation,
has been accepted by large num-
Der of nations. 1t may well be
doubted whether the nations, which
in good faith have given support to
this program, would esteem it either
a helpful or a friendly gesture on
our part, if we should indicate our
willingness to join in judicial es-
tablishment, but should insist that
it must be some other than one al
ready set up. To adopt that atti-
tude would seem unlikely to bring
us far on the road to effective par
ticipation in such a system. On the
contrary, it might be regarded as
implying our lack of faith in a tr1-
bunal which has the support and
confidence of a great group of ma
tons. In short, the opinion of the
country plainly is that if we have
any sincere purpose of adhering to
the procedure of international ad-
judication, our only way to give con-
vincing evidence of this disposition.
is to accept, under such restrictions
as may be found necessary, the tri-
bunal already created.
mot since I have been president
has there been, in connection with
any great question of public policy.
so impressive a demonstration of
substantially unified opinion. 1t
conVinces me that as the discussion
proceeds the evidence of this attl-
tude will become so overwhelming
that there will at least be no very
serious obstacle to attaining the end
sought. 1 am writing thus frankly
and fully my view of the situation,
because to do this is the best
acknowledgement can make of the
great obligation which I feel toward
the federation for its counsel and
support.
Most sincerely yours.
WARREN G.. HARDING"