Evening star., 1923-10-12
CHURCHES COUNCIL
FANS COURT ISSUE
Presidents Wish to Side
track World Plan Hit by
Discussion Program.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Politicians may propose, but parti-
sans dispose. President Coolidge
would like to sidetrack the world
court issue till after the 1924 cam
paign, but the champions Of the
world court will not let him.
World court week has been pro-
claimed, for example, by the Federal
! Council of Churches of America. to
be given over to study of the issue
by all Christian organizations thar
hold regular meetings from Novem-
Der to IL, such as church prayer
groups; home and foreign mission
societies. Young Mems Christian as
sociations, Young Women's Christian
associations. Student Volunteer Move
ment classes. Christian Endeavor So
cieties and Epworth leagues.
The federal council will also ask
that chambers of commerce, labor or
ganizations, oranges. Rotary. XII
wants. Civitan, advertising and other
clubs. American Legion posts, all
women's organizations and all peace
societies provide programs for dis
eussion of the proposal that Amer
! International justice now sitting at
The Hague.
!, Mr.. Coolidge has not said word
publicly about the world court SINCE
he took the oath of office.
The organizations friendly to the
proposition still hope he will, but
they plan an agitation of the subject
anyhow to present the pro and con.
Since the death of President Harding
friends of the new President have
been telling him that 1t would be po-
litically disastrous for him to say
anything about the world court, as
it would divide the republican party
and injure Mr.. Coolidges own
chances of winning the presidential
! nomination. Communications have
gone to the Pre- Sident himself asking
for his views. but they have not been
revealed to the public
The political argument made is that
M Coolidge can wait TIL after the
1924 nominating convention is over be-
fore committing himself on the issue.
There is. of course. no urgent need for
action SO far as selecting new judges
or giving financial support to the
court. Also any nation may appeal
, to the world court whether MEM
Der of that body or not
Views Issue Non-Partisnn.
But the Federal Council of Churches
considers the issue non-partisan and
is insisting on campaign of educa-
tion.
Five weary years have passed
council in a formal statement today.
1T has become clear to most that
! the final establishment of permanent
! peace between nations will not come
at a bound. Come il will. but only
through long and patient processes
, of national and international educa-
I ton. through willingness of nations
! to make/concessions one to another,
, through desire for helpful interna-
/ tional cooperation. and through the
{ creating by constructive statesman
| ship of the instruments and agencies
AT the coming session of Congress
: the Senate will have to decide
whether or not the United States shall
accept that proposition (that OF the
late President Harding and Secretary
; Hughes) and become one or the sup
porting member nations of the court.
On that decision will depend to a
; large degree the future relations or
the United States to the other ma.
tions of the world. The question OF
; American membership Is NOT par
This commission on international jus
tice and good will of the federal coun-
Gil Of churches Of America believes tnat
the churches heartily approve OF Ameri,
can membership In the world court, and
earnestly desire the Senate to accept
without mutilation or substantial mod
! ification the proposals of the late Presi-
| dent as formulated in his message to
| the Senate February "a. 1928
! Nothing is said IN the statement
! about President Coolidge's attitude.
+. The campaign will be conducted on the
!: basis of what his predecessor and the
| present Secretary Of State say, though
/ an effort no doubt will be made to. get
ian expression from Mr.. Coolidge for
fuse during world court week.
| The democrats In the United states
Senate will not let the issue slumber
{. If Mr. Coolidge does not come Out
/ squarely for the world court in his
| address, to Congress in December
| they will assume he is against the
4, MEASURE and carry on their cam.
| paign accordingly. The issue viii
not be allowed to get sidetracked
F, even though favorable action may
| not be secured till after the 1924
/ Copyright, 1928.