, 1923-04-24
WORLD COURT RCE IN
ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT

/ voted in a majority. else the election
is void until a conference points the
way to agreement.
"Thc court WIS established. and is
f~unctloning. An American judge sits
on the court. though We had no part
in choosing him.
Under the provisions OF its estab-
lishment the United States can apply
for a court decision on any justicianle
question. wen as any nation partic-
.pating In its establishment. Perhaps
the court is not all that some advo-
Gates of the court plan would have
1t. but It is in a large measure the
fulfiIiment OF ar aspiration we long
have boosted. So I thought. and /
still think. we ought to be n party
to the agreement, assume IA part
in It's maintenance, and give to It the
benefit such influence rs our size and
wealth and ideals may prove to be.
FOR more eligibility to appeal to
the court, nothing was needed. ESit
It didn't seem fair TO seek its advan-
taEes without accepting all becoming
responsibilities, and here developed
tho Stumbling block. Naturally we
should wish TO participate in select
ing the Judges. and the electors des-
ignated were members OF the league.
we had no Thought of Joining the
league, We sought mont Of its offer
ings anc will accept mono Of its oh
llRat.ons. Tho president could pro
pose no solution to the ~signatory pow.
ers, because the world has Witnessed
In isnppolntmcnt the spectacle of
tho executive proposing and the sen
ate d~isposinE. II was not desirable TO
make stme propoesls abroad that
could not be carried; indeed none
would be considered md II was not
pleasing to think OF asking the SEN
ate's consent to a program 10 which
tho nations concerned would not
agree. No, very Informally and very
discreetly, the situation was felt out.
over a considerable period OF time.
nnd when satisfied that there was an
approximate COURSE OF action without
connection with the league, provided
the senate consented. I proposed ad
herenoe t the court protocol. and
asked the senate's consent.
1.-THE documents speak for them
solves. 1t was pointed out that no
rights under the league and no obli'
cations of the league would be In
CURED. but TO make certain that We
would not be involved h letter OF
the secretary of state suggested suit
able reservations to afford ample
guaranty.
This Is the complete recital. II IS
In harmony with platform pledges.
candidatorial promises. and. l believe
with American aspirations. The SEN
nte's decision was hardly to be ex-
pected amid the enormous pressure
of business incident 10 the closing
weeks of the short session. But I felt
thnt the senate, the country and the
friendly nations whose counsel We
had sought were entitled to know that
our gestures abroad were sincere, and
our own people should know there
arc no secrets about u purposes at
home, once they are matured-
EXCESSIVE friends Of the league
have bec,oudcd the situation by their
unwarrantec assumption that II is a
move toward league membership. Let
them disabuse their minds. a
there is no such thought amonS us
who must make our commitments
abroad. and the situation is likewise
beclouded by those who shudder ex-
ccssively when tho league Is men
toned and who assume ENHANCEMENT
unavoidable. Any ENHANCEMENT would
first require assent OF the senate
which is scarcely to be apprehendeu'
and IL by any chance the senate APP
proved of any ,entanglenenft. M
present administration would not
complete the ratification. II in spite
OF these statements utteres with full
elaboration. there are excessive and
unfounded hopes on h one hand. or
utterly unjustifiabie approximations
on the other. I know OF no word ut
tiagly to apply.
.Frnnkiy. there is n political huE
hear. When we discussed the league