, 1923-02-25
HARDING TAKES
STEP TO REVIVE
LEAGUE BODY IN
J.. S. CONGRESS
President Requests Body
To Ratify Treaty Of In
ternational Tribunal.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 24.-Presl.
dent Harding today asked the senate
to approve American participation in
the permanent court of international
justice.
Taking tho senate. occupied as It
was with the ship subsidy filibuster.
completely by surprise, Mr.. Harding
requested consent, before tho md Of
the present session. to ratification or
the protocol Of the international tri.
bunal set up by the League of Ma
tons to settle disputes between ma
tons.
The presidents message, with an
accompanying letter from Secretary
of State Hughes, was read to the sen.
ate in an exclusive seIsion behind
closed doors and was referred to the
foreign relations committee.
Apparently realizing this step
might revive the old League of Ma
Mons fight inasmuch as the court OBJ
tains its power from the Woodrow
Wilson league which the
senate failed to ratify, Mr.. Harding
and Mr.. Hughes both stressed that
senatorial approval of the tribunals
protocol would not involve any legal
relation or assumption of obligation
towards the league. They expressed
their willingness to have this stated
in ono of four suggested reservations
to the ratification of the protocol.
At an early hour tonight it appear
!, cd doubtful if administration leaders
could force action by the senate in the
one week of the present session re-
manning. The general opinion seemed
to be that the question of full fledged
American participation wao one OF
too great Importance to be passed
upon in such a short time. 1t was
apparent tina the request was not
acceptable to some of the bitter foes
message came as such a surprise that
leading senator's withheld comment
until they could study 1t more fully.
sSome Democrats who supported WI
son claimed 1t vas a definite step
toward entrance in the league.
Some Of the 'ir~reconcilables" in the
league fight indicated privately they
would oppose the request.
Senator Henry Cabot Lodge. leader
of the fight against the league in
1919, is understood to have assured
the president of his support. The
foreign relations committee Is ex.
pected to consider the matter tues
day.
What has happened behind the
scenes in recent months to cause the
president TO take today's step was not
revealed.
The court has a peculiar relation to
the league.
It's judges are elected by the
leagues council and assembly. In
participating officially in the inter
national court, Mr.. Hardig and Mr..
Hughes stated II would be highly ad-
Visable for the United States to have
a voice in the judges election. This.
they admitted, can be done only by
appointing special American dele.
gates TO the leagues council n as.
sembly for that purpose.
1t was this point that caused for.
MGR opponents of the league in the
b senate to ponder. The United States
thus technically would have repre-.
sentatives in both bodies of this
league. 1t is virtually certain that
the senate will make It Enthusiastically
clear that these delegates to the
league can perform no other func-
tons. 1t may insist on the right to
confirm them.
The text Of the reservation sug-
sested follows:
/. ''That such adhesion shall not
be taken to involve any legal re,ation
on the part of the United States TO
h League Of Nations or the assump'
ton OF any obligations by the United
States under the covenant OF the
League of Nations.
2. THAT the United States shall be
Permitted to participate through rep.
resentatives designated for tho pur.
pose and upon an equality with the
other states members respectively of
the council and assembly of tho
League of Nations In any and
all proceedings Of either the
council or the assembly for the cleo.
ton Of Judges or deputy judges of the
permanent court of international
Justice. or for the filling of vacancies.
., That the United States will
pay n fair share of the expenses of
the court as determined and appro'
priated from time to time by the con
gress of the United States.
4. That the statute for the perm
nnent court Of International justice
adjoined to tlt protocol shall not be
amended without the consent Of the
United States"
Both Harding and Hughes praised
Tho work OF the court. stating that It