Evening star., 1923-12-16
No Difference in Principle.

No Difference in Principle.
Senator Lodge, in a letter sent to
Massachusetts stating his position
with regard to the world court PROPOSE
ton, makes plain that he favors an
international tribunal of justice, but
that he is not in favor Of a court
which is the creature Of or connected
with the league of nations. There is
no essential difference, in principle
between his position and that of Presi-
dent Coolidge as stated in the annual
message.
The President, noting that our for.
eign policy has always been guided by
two principles, avoidance of political
alliances which would sacrifice our
proper independence and a peaceful
settlement of controversies between
nations, favors the establishment Of
a world court Of justice intended to
include the whole world" He there
fore commends to the favorable con-
sideration of the Senate, with the
proposed reservations clearly indicat-
ing our refusal to adhere to the league
OF nations" the proposal which has
already gone to the Senate for Ameri.
can support of the Permanent Court
Of International Justice.
Senator Lodge takes precisely the
same ground as the President in re-
spect to the fundamental policy Of the
United States in favor of the settle
ment of international differences by
arbitration and through the medium
OF arbitral tribunals. He urges that
the court should be a true world
court and not involved in any way in
the league of nations" The only point
at which he differs from the President
in the pending proposal in respect to
the established world court is that he
questions whether the reservations
suggested will separate that court
from the league and make it a genu-
inc world court Whether this can
be brought about" he says, Il do not
know and cannot tell at this time"
That question, however he gives as
surance, will be very thoroughly con-
sidered by the Senate.
In February last President Harding
transmitted to the Senate a letter
written by Secretary Hughes in which
certain reservations were proposed to
safeguard the United States from any
connection with the league of nations
in its adherence to the world court.
One was that such adhesion shall not
be taken to involve any legal relation
on the part of the United States to
the league of nations, or the assump-
ton of any obligations by the United
States under the covenant Of the
league of nations constituting part
one Of the treaty of Versailles" An
other was that the United States shall
be permitted to participate through
representatives designated for the
purpose and upon an equality with
the other states members, respective
ly, Of the council and assembly Of
the league of nations in any and all
proceedings Of either the council or
the assembly for the election of judges
or deputy judges of a Permanent
the filling Of vacancies.
It was contended at the time that
these reservations would, as far as
the United States was concerned,
separate the court from the league
sufficiently to keep the United States
out Of any participation in the latter.
But on the 21st of June last President
Harding, in his speech at st. Louis,
went beyond thi point and declared
his belief in further restrictions, pro
Of the world court should continue to
be nominated by the Permanent Court
Of Arbitration at The Hague, the
members Of the world court should
elect new members, instead Of having
them elected by the league, and. Sec
ond, that the financial direction Of
the court should be taken from the
league and given to the court Of arbi.
tration or to a commission set up by
nations adhering to the world court.
There is no essential difference,
therefore, between the proposals Of
by President Harding, and as repeated
in essence by President Coolidge, and
the position of the chairman Of the
committee on foreign relations of the
Senate. Both want American partici-
patton in a world court without any
connection with or responsibility to
the league. Both, in effect, want a
world court that includes the whole
world" that is independent in all re-
spects Of any other international body
Mr.. Lodge doubts whether the reserva-
;ions proposed effect that end. But
whether they do or not is a question
that. he says, will be given thorough
consideration by the Senate. In this
consideration the reservations con.
cerning the constitution Of the world
court proposed by Senator Lenroot
and designed to remove the creation
Of the court entirely from the league
win also doubtless receive due atten-
tion.