Evening star., 1923-04-24
Text OF Harding
Appeal for u. S.
Entry Into Court
Continued from First Page.)

government of laws and one q gov
ernment of men,"
In that same address / COM
mended The Hague tribunal. One
paragraph is particularly appro-
pirate to quote afresh:
II believe humanity would well
come the creation of an interna-
tional association for conference
and world court whose verdictS
on justiciable Questions this coun-
try, in common with all nations,
would be willing and able to up
hold. The decision of such a court
or the recommendations Of such
conference could be accepted with
out sacrificing on our part or ask
ing any other power to sacrifice
one iota of its nationality"
Must Keep Faith.
So much for political party his
tory. l have quoted it, because I
believe in keeping the faith If
political parties do not mean what
mean what they say. then our form
OF popular government is based on
fraud, and cannot hope TO endure.
In compliance with its pledges
the new administration. which came
into power in March, 1921, definite
ly and decisively put aside all
thought of the United States en-
doesn't propose to enter now, by
the side door, the back door or the
cellar door. | have no unseemly
comment to offer on the league. If
IT is serving the Old world help
fully. more power TO it. But II is
not for us. The Senate has so de-
clared. the executive has so de-
clared, the people have so declared.
Nothing could be more decisively
stamped with finality
In further Keeping of the faith
the administration made Il treaty
of peace with Germany. a just
treaty. which so impressed our
wartime enemy that when we
came, later on, to set up a mixed
claims commission to settle the
claims of American nationals
against Germany that nation
named one commissioner, we
named one. and then. for the first
time in the history of internation-
al relationships, Germany asked
us. as q contending nation. to
name the umpire. the third MEM
ber. whose vote would decide all
differences. know of no like
tribute to a nations fairness in
all the records Of history.
Praises Arms Farley.
Then in the fultillment Of the
pledge of free conference. the in
ternational conference on the limi-
tation OF armament was called, not
in haste. not because some one
was prodding. but as early as the
barriers to success could be re-
moved. The spirit of that confer
ence and the achievement wrought
have been written into history, and
Will grow immeasurably beyond
the almost universal popular favor
already accorded. There was not
alone the triumph in reducing
naval armamentS and ending COM
petition which was leading to op-
pressive naval strength and add
ing staggering burdens to the
treasures of competing powers;
not alone the removal of every
war cloud and every reason for
conflict in the Pacific. SO that now
accord and concord abide. where
suspicion and fear had previously
dWelt: but we gave an example to
the world of the conference way
to peace, which time will appraise
as the supreme accomplishment.
Removed Election Problem.
Hardly had this gratifying work
been accomplished before the ad-
miniStration began its endeavors
lpl VI liti iuiuI iIltHl. MtdnWn nlic
an International Court of Justice
had been established. 1t was an
agency of peaceful settlement
which had long been sought. Its
establishment previously had fail
ed because no agreement had heen
possible over the method of elct--
ing Judges. The existence of the
league of nations offered a solu-
tion. Almost all the member ma
CT
fishing the court. The members of
the council. in which the larger
powers have permanent represen-
tatlon, afforded one voting BODY
with veto on the members of the
assembly consisting of representa-
tives of all the nations. and mem
her nations of the assembly could
have veto on the larger powers
represented in the council. Here
wa sa device for electing Judges
which removed the heretofore un-
BILE problem of a satisfactory
means of selecting them. Not the
council. but the nation members
thereof, must vote in majority for
the same candidates for which
members of the assembly voted in
Il majority, else the election is
%otd until a conference points the
way to agreement.
functioning. An American judge
Sits on the court. though we had
10 part in choosing him.
Under the provisions of its es-
tablishment the United States can
apply for a court decision on any
jasttciable question, even az any
nation participating in it's estab-
liShment. Perhaps the court is not
all that some advocates of the
court plan would have it. but il is
in large measure the fulfillment
of an aspiration we long have
boasted. SO / ought. and I still
think. we ought to be a party to
the agreement, assume our part in
it, maintenance and give to it the
benefit such influence as our size
AMI wealth and ideals may prove
to, he.
For mere eligibility to appeal to
the court, nothing was needed.
Bug it didn't seem fair to seek it's
advantages without accepting all
becoming responsibilities. and here
developed the stumbling block.
Naturally we should wish to par
ticEpate in selecting the judges,
anG the electors designated were
members of the league. We had
no Thought of joining the league,
we sought none of its offerings
tioEs. The President could pro-
pos: no solution to the signatory
powers, because the world has wit
messed in disappointment the spec
tarls of the executive proposing
and: the Senate disposing 1t was
not desirable TO make some pro-
pos&l abroad that could not be car
ried! out: indeed none would be
considered. and it was not pleas
ing to think of asking the Sem
ateS consent to Il program to
which the nations concerned would
not agree. So. very informally
and very discreetly, the situation
was felt out, over a considerable
period of time, and when satisfied
that there was an appropriate
course of action without connec-
tion with the league, provided the
Senate consented, l proposed ad-
hereEce to the court protocol, and
askeG the Senate's consent.
Negotiations Involved.
The documents speak for them
selves. 1t was pointed out that no
rights under the league and no OBJ
legations of the league would ba