The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-04-13
Mr.. HOOVER OFFERS OATS

Republicans, oddly enough, are seek
ing to persuade one another rather
than the people. While Secretary
Hoover speaks for the administration
wing and in behalf of the league court
of international justice, Senator Be-
rah declares the league court all wrong
and substitutes another which would be
far more binding upon its members
and greatly transcend Borah's original
position with respect to our Foreign
relations. There is also a conservative
faction that is silently opposed to
either plan, and radical wing that
will probably have a great deal to say
later on, a great deal that will not
conform to any plan previously pro-
posed by other factions. While dis
gruntled elements in the past have
been composed long enough to tide
over an election, there Is in the pres
emit situation the distinction that the
Republican party in congress is COM
posed of factions that are fundamen-
tally in disagreement, and instinctively
out of sympathy with one another.
Secretary Hoover's argument in IA
vor of the international court is highly
persuasive In its tone, but will doubt
less fail to appeal to the irreconcilables
because of its revelation of the speak
er's underlying friendliness for the
league. Although he expressly states
that the court is not an integral part
of the league, it is apparent that he
would not consider it such bad thing
even if it were., In spite of the care
and precision of his utterances Mr..
Hoover is unable to conceal the fact
that he does not look upon the League
of Nations as monster with which
we cannot honorably ally ourselves.
Therefore, as an advocate of our men,
bership in the league court, he is both
a success and a failure. a success in
that he fairly and correctly states the
situation, and a failure because of his
evident willingness to go even farther
than he leads. The enemies of the
league will probably shy off because
of very fear of the ultimate destina-
ton to which argument in favor of the
court would lead them after they had
accepted and entered the court.
Mr.. Hoover endeavors to make It
clear that membership in the court
would involve US in no compulsory
agreement to submit to the courts
jurisdiction nor to be party to any
case in the court without our consent.
Then the secretary adds: "No other
nation can summon us into court ex-
cept with our consent. The court It
self cannot summon us in, nor in any
manner or degree exert upon us any
kind Of compulsion, not even moral.
Our proposal to enter the court ana
the act of adhesion to it which Presi-
dent Harding has asked, is based upon
the assumption that compulsion is not
necessary for peoples of good will and
sense of justice" Now it is more
than likely that the irreconcilables will
violently shy off from that, for,
though they perceive the oats Mr..
Hoover holds out in front of him, they
suspect slso a bride in the hand he
has hidden behind him. Even an ire
concilable knows that when there is
no physical compulsion to live up to
an agreement the moral compuIsion
becomes all the stronger. So if we en-
ter the court in all freedom from COM
pulsion, our moral obligation to ad-
here to the rules becomes well-nigh
inescapable. Of course, those in favor
of the court are willing so to bind
themselves, but the irreconcilables are
not, and therein lies much of the dis
tinction between them.
The Democrats naturally accept par
tic;pation in the court as a step in the
direction of league membership, and
therefore entirely in line with Demo-
cratic policy. The more pronounced
the Democratic viewpoint, the more
violently will the Republican irrecon-
cilables shy away from the oats. And
into the breach the Democrats may
march with every prospect of success.