The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-06-22

l ment court of international Justice. continued Mir Harding. Two condi- tions may be considered iudispen- sable:
 First. That the tribunal may be constituted as to appear and to be, i-1n theory and practice in form and in substance, beyond the shadow of doubt, world court and not a league court.
 Second: That the United States shall occupy plane of perfect equality with every other power"
 Elaborating upon his pronounce ment that the court must not be league court. the chief executive asserted that the country had an op- portunity to indicate its desire to join the league in 1920 and it most emphatically refused" and Tit would refuse again, no less decisively to- day"
 There has been no change of con ditions." he added with respect to the league issue, 1t is the same league. Not a line in the rejected covenant has been altered. not a phrase modified, nor a word omitted or added Article \ still stands as the heart of the compact. Article NJ and all other stipulations ob- jected to and condemned by the American people remain untouched in full force in theory, however. cir cumspectly they are being ignored in practice.
 League Dead As Slavery"
 In the face of the overwhelming verdict of 1920, therefore the issue of the League of Nations is as dead as slavery. Is it not the part of wisdom and Common sense to let it rest in the deep grave to which it has been consigned, and turn out thoughts to living things?"
 Mr. Harding said he recognized iudlInents of good in the League or sanitation, however, and repeated his declaration of 1920 that he hoped to take and combine all that is good and excise all that is bad" from the League and the Hague tribunal
 The abstract principle of a world court found it's genesis in the Hague tribunal" he continued. the concrete application of that principle has been made by the league. Sound theory and admirable practice have been joined successfully. The court itself has clearly demonstrated it's utility and efficiency.
 Tt is a true judicial tribunal. It's composition is of the highest order None better, none freer from selfish, partisan, national, or racial preju- dices or influences could be ob- tained. That. to the best of my in formation and belief, is fact uni versally admitted and acclaimed. care not whence the court came. insist only that its integrity, it's in- dependence. its complete and con tnuine freedom be safeguarded ab- solutely.
 'The sole question Is whether the requirements which l have enNm- erated as essential to adherence by the United States can be met. My answer is that where there Is unanimous will, way can always be found I am mot welded irrevocably to any particular method. I would not assume for moment that the readjustment of the existing ar ranGement which appears to my mind IS feasible Is the best. much less the only one. But, such as it is, I sub init it. without excess of detail, as a basis for consideration, discussion and judgment.
 Presents New Propjosa1.
 The President then presented his proposal for self -perpetuating court and added:
 The fixing of compensation of the judges. the supervision of expendi- lures. the apportionment of contri- buttons, etc, could also be transfer red from the League to either the court of arbitration or a commission designated by the member nations. Thus, incidentally, would be averted the admitted unfairness of the pres ent system, which imposes tax upon members of the League who are not subscribers to the court.
 The exclusive privilege now held by the League to seek advisory legal guidance from the court might either be abolished, or, more wisely per group of member nations. Thus all would be served alike. subject as now to determination by the court itself of the kind of questions upon which it would render judgments.
 The disparity in voting as be- tween unit nation and an aggre-