, 1923-04-24


favor the establishment OF a world
court for hat purpose"
In 1920 the question of our foreign
relationship was very acute. The
senate had rejected the Versailles
treaty and the League OF Nations
pact. The convention voiced its APP
Droval of the rejection but was un-
willing to pledge a~loofness from the
world. Therefore It AID in its plat
form pronouncement I'VE pledge
the coming Republican ahministra-
tion to such agreements with other
nations OF the world rs shall meet
the full duty of America TO coviliza-
ton and humanity. in accordance
with American ideals, without sur
rendering the right of the American
people to exercise its judgment and
its power in favor OF Justice and
peace"
As a participant in tho making OF
some of these platforms and as the
banner-bearer of one campaign, L
have a right to believe they spoke
the party conscience so plainly that
Il is not easy to m~isconstrue.
But there are other utterances
which II rs seemly to recall. / allude
to the Interpretation OF the platform
by the candidate in 1920. On August
rs. 1890, speaking on the League of
Nations proposal. I said frankly and
very definitely 1 did not favor the
United States entering Tho Lea of
Nations 1t was declared then that
the Issue. as defined by the candi-
dates involved the disparity between
n world court of Justice, supplemented
by world association for conference,
on the n hand. and the council II
the league on the other quoting fur
Their from the same address, I said,
Tho II Is a judicial tribunal to
be governed by fixed and definite
principles Of law. administered with.
out passion or prejudice. The other
IL an association OF diplomats and
politicians whose determinations are
sure to be influenced by considera-
tons of ex~pedtency and national self.
shness . " one a government of
laws and one a government OF men,
I'm hat same address 1 COM
mendod The Hague tribunal. Ono
paragraph is particularly appropriate
to quote afresh:
81 believe humanity would well
NSs NAS Va oi
association for conference and a
world court whose verdicts on 1us-
ticiablc questions this country, in
common with all nations. would be
willing and able to uphold. Tho dc.
clsIon of such a court or the recon.
mendations of such a conference
could be accepted without sncrincing
on our part or asking any other
nCr-Hr fO aarrtArn NM. gota t.
nationality
so much for political party his
tory. I have quoted It because I be-
lleve in keeping tho faith. II po-
litical parties do not mean what they
say and candidates do not 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
n power in March, 1921, definitely
and decisively put nsid. all thought
OF he United States entering tho
League Of Nations. II does not pro-
pose to enter now by the side door.
the back door. or the cellar door. 1
have no unseemly comment to offer
on the league. If IL is serving the
old world helpfuliy. more power t.
t. But II is not for us. The senate
has so declared, the executive has so
declared. the people have SO declared.
Nothing could be more dec.siveiy
stamped with fnnlity,
In further keeping of the faith
The administration made a treaty OF
peace with Germany. a Just treaty.
which 70 impressed our war time
enemy that when we came, later on.
TO set up n mixed claims commission
to settle the claims OF American
nationals against Germany. that ma
tlon named one commissioner, we
named one, and then for the f<st
time in the history OF international
relationship. Germany asked us. as a
~contending nation. TO name tho
umpire. the third member. whose
vote would decide all difficulties. I
know OF no like tribute 10 n nations
fairness IN nll the records OF history,
Then in tho fulhllment of the
pledges of FREQ conference. the inter.
national conference on the limitation
Of armament was called. not In haste,
not because some one wns prodd!nS
but as early MS the barriers to sue.
cess could be removed. Tho spirit
OF mat conIerenct hnu the achieve
ment wrought have been written into
history and will grow ~immeasurably
beyond the almost universal popular
favor already accorded. There was
not alone tho triumph in reducing
naval ornaments and ending com
petition which was loading 10 oppres-
slve nava strength and adding stag,
gering burdens to the ~treasuries of
competing powers; not alone the re-
moval of every war cloud and every
reason for conflict in the Pacific, 30
that now accord and concord abide,
where suspicion and fear had pro
viously dwelt; but we gave an ex.
ample to the world OF the conference
way to peace. which time will mp
praise as the suprrmo accomplish.
ment.
Hardly had this gratifying work
been accomplished bofors rae admins
trstion began It's endeavorG for fur.
Their fulnllnent. Meanwhile m In.
ternationAi our OF justice had been
established. II was an agency Of
peaceful ssttiement which had long
been sought. Its establishment pre-.
viously had failed because now agree.
ment had been possible over the
rdothod of eloctton fudrps Tha Await,