Evening star., 1923-05-05
STAND
ON WORLD COURT
UnWiIIingness to Make a
"Campaign" Does Not Mean
He Has Dropped Proposal.

According to the view at the White
House there is no occasion for mis-
understanding the Presidents posi-
ton with respect 10 American adher-
ence TO the protocol establishing the
Permanent Court Of International JUS
tice. But such Misunderstanding ap
parently having arisen. it is the desire
Of Mr.. Harding that it should be so
cleared UP that in the future there
to where he stands.
a White House spokesman yester-
day afternoon outlined the Presidents
position substantially as follows:
In submitting 70 the Senate a pro-
posaf that the United States adhere
to the protocol. with certain reserva-
tfons intended to safeguard this coun-
try from entaglement with the league
of nations. the President made mem
berShip in the court a definite policy
of his administration.
In his subsequent speech at the AS
sociated Press luncheon in New York
he elaborated his arguments in favor
of court membership, showing that
both himself and the republican party
were une1uivocally pledged to the
theory upon which the court is found
ed: declared belief that his own good
faith and that of the party was in
regard court membership as para
mount issue or superior in impor-
tance to questions of domestic con-
Germ.
President Has Not Weakened.
More recently White House
spokesman said that the President did
not intend to Campaign" for the
court issue between now and the re-
converting of Congress, and it was
made known that he was not seeking
indorsement of the court by organiza-
tions, such as the Federation of Wom-
ems Clubs This was made the basis
for assertions that the President had
weakened on the court. that he had
yielded to opponents among repub-
}ican leaders and did not intend to
press the matter farther before the
people.
Yesterdays statement was intend
ed to make clear the difference be-
tween dropping the proposal for court
mem bership and refraining from
making a campaign in support of it.
With the reconvening of Congress
eight months away, the President be-
lieves 1T would be unseemly for him
end beneath the dignity of his office
TO enter upon a speaking campaign
intended to influence action of the
Senate which cannot be taken before
next December. but that will not
prevent him. upon suitable occasions,
from reaffirming his belief in court
membership and the further elucida-
ton OF arguments in support of his
position. In other words, while not
making a campaign" he Will un-
doubtedly find suitable occasion to
let the people know that he has not
changed his mind. He stands today
Just where he stood when he sent
the proposal to the Senate. The
issue and the arguments are before
pie VIII reach an intelligent and
right conclusion without him in any
way 1mpairing the dignity of his
cffice by making it personal mater.
Cannot Remain Isolated.
An interesting feature of yesterdays
White House statement was the asser-
ton that in the opinion Of President
Harding there never will be President
of the United States who when he leaves
Office will believe that this country
can remain aloof from other nations
of the world.
The problems that arise almost
each day relative to international
intercourse would readily convince
any President after he had been in
ONCE any length of time that close
contact and association with the
u.
the President was represented as be-
lieving.
The views of the executive were
further explained to the extent that
In this great age, with all the peo-
piles of the world in close cont; ct.
this country has naturally assumed
an obligation, If it is to maintain
commercial, moral and educational
Importance, and it is ridiculous to
believe the United States can re-
main isolated.
At the same time it was pointed
out that the mistake should not be
made that the President is in any
wise advocating or suggesting this
country's entrance into the league of
nations, and he has no intention of
carrying on an organized propaganda
for the so-called petty campaign in
support of his advocacy of the world
court