Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-06-22
PRESIDENT AND WORLD COURT

PRESIDENT AND WORLD COURT
My mind is made up. My rosolu-
tion is fixed" Surely nothing in this
to indicate webbing on the part of
President Harding in his attitude to-
ward the World Court.
But he announces his consistent
purp3, shown in his attitude toward
the ship subsidy and other great
questions. not to attempt to coercc
the Senate, not to make demand on
the people, not to try to impose his
will on anybody.
From what already has appeared
respecting the attitude Of those OPP
posed to the World Court such scrup
llous regard for franllncss may hard
ly be expected. Moreover those in
tent on getting this country into the
League of Nations may be induced TO
join the irreconcilablcs in the belief
that the country will, in process Of
time, ultimately insist that we become
members of the World Court, and if
held bacl, at first may finally be
swept into the League.
President Harding leaves no ground
on which under any preteXt may he
based a claim that he intends to pave
the way for entrance to the League.
He explicitly states that this is not
for us, that the League is the same as
it was when the country refused to
IN . n in f,,Y,,
than these words:
There is no consequential dispute
among us concerning the League of
Nations. There are Yet its earnest
advocates, but the present admiuis-
tfation has said, repeatedly and de-
cisively, that the league is not for us.
There admittedly is a league conncc-
ton with the world court. We can
not hope to get anywhere except in
the frankeSt understanding Of facts.
The authors of the court protocol,
cooperating with brilliant Amer
lean leadership, turned to the LEAGUE
organization for the court electorate.
10 solve problem in choosing Judges
heretofore unSolYahl". Though |
firmly believe we could adhere to the
court protocol, with becoming rcscr-
walton and he free from every pos
- w
frankly prefer the courts complete
independence of the league.
Just as frankly let me say that I
have not held it scemly. in view of
oft-repeated declaration favorable to
the world court establishment, to say
to the nations which have established
very much what We have wished that
they must put aside their very COM
mendable creation because we do not
subscribe to its every detail. or fash
ion it all anew and to our liking. in
every specific detail before we rffer
our assistance in making it n perma-
nent agency of improved international
relationship.
Il can not doubt that YOU will ac-
cord, at least the merit of simplicity
and dircctness to what I have said.
Understand clearly, do not compro-
misc. / merely reiterato and stand
squarcly for every pledge 7 have
made. l still reject as unWiSc. I'M
foreign political alliance on cntan 1le-
ment. | still favor with all my heart
association of free nations, animated
by considerations of right and Justice,
instead of might and sclf-nterest, so
organized and so participated in as to
make the actual attainment of peace
reasonable possibility. / STRONGLY
Court of international Justice as the
one and only existing agency Of
peace. 10 which We can safely sub
scribe without violating the basic
principles of our national being.
The President puts this matter Of
World Court squarcly up to tho coun-
try. He has been frank and above
board and manifestlv intends to keep
go. He is not to make use Of the CO.
ercive powers which rest in the hands
of a chief executive. and which if not
capable of cocrcin~ the Senate could
Mt least make the situation very un-
comfortable for that distinguished
body. If the public will but keep def
nitely in mind what the President has
said, will appreciate the fact that he
and Secretary Hughes are in posi-
tions which afford them an insight in
to our relations with forcisn coun-
tries which even the learned senator's
may scarcely enjoy, we believe there
will grow in the public mind insist
ence that this country shall not with
hold its hand from helping to support
a proven successful method of inter-
national procedure. OF this Secretary
Hughes. speaking at Dartmouth Col
lege, had this to say:
- no pam TO the millennium
o'noi thail> the path of justice, and if
we discard the best attainable instrn-
inequalities of justice. to that extent
we invite the decisions of the sword
Theftrue methods of promoting intor.
national accord is to seek to avert tho
clash of interests by agreement and
10 nave agreements fairly INTERPRETED
and carried out. -