Evening star., 1923-04-28
All Other States.
Member Of fine Associafed Press
Court and League.


gave in a speech in New York his rea-
sons why the United States should,
on certain conditions, associate itself
with the Permanent Court Of Interna.
t1onal Justice. Last night, in this city,
Secretary Hughes speaking before the
Law, in session here, discussed, as he
said, in the simplest manner the pro.
posal Of the President With his usual
clarity of thought and statement, Mr..
Hughes sets forth precisely what the
proposal is and what it is not. As the
President has explicitly stated, he
notes, it is proposed to support the
court. and it is not proposed to enter
the league of nations
Those who desire that by this
method the United States shall become
member Of the league" says the
Secretary, indulge in vain hopes, and
those who are alarmed at such a pos
slbility are entertaining vain fears
Mr.. Hughes speech is, in effect, a
syllabus on the Permanent Court of
of precisely how it was created, how
1t is organized and the extent of its
jurisdiction. responsibility and power.
1t shows that it is not the creature
or the league. though it owes its
existence to d statute or constitution
adopted by the council and the as
sembly Of the league and submitted to
the nations for approval Forty-six
states have signed this special agree
ment, which is distinctly outside of
the covenant of the league, and of
these about thirty-four states have
ratified it.
Having thus been given its organic
existence by action of the league of
nations, the Permanent Court becomes
T. separate and distinct body, and is in
no wise responsible to the league 1t
IS true that the judges of the Per-
1nanent Court are chosen by the CON
current votes Of the council and as
sembly. Mr.. Hughes clearly points out
that for the purpose Of establishing
and continuing the court the league
has merely been utilized as the most
available and suitable agency Of inter
national agreement. Heretofore eff
forts to create an international court,
such as that at The Hague, have failed
for lack of a medium of choice. The
league of nations is thus merely a
means to the end of affording to the
nations of the world an opportunity in
this tribunal of international justice
TO submit and settle their differences
upon the principles of international
law.
On the point Of the relation between
the two Secretary Hughes say:
The fundamental question is whether
the league of nations controls the
court To this there is a ready an
Swer The league does not control the
court; that is an independent judicial
body. The league is composed of
states: they, of course. continue to
exist as states. When the lea que acts,
it's acts under the covenant which
creates the rights and obligations per-
tanning to the league. But when these
ffty-two members act in separate
groups to elect judges they are, as
have said. not acting under the cove
nant, but are following a course of
procedure defined by a special inter-
national agreement in order to secure
the Independent and impartial judicial
body for which the world has been
waiting.
Noting the repeated efforts of this
country, through its representatives,
TO secure the establishment of a per-
Inanent international tribunal to take
the place of occasional arbitral bodies
especially chosen to meet particular
issues between nations, the Secretary
urges that adoption of the Presidents
proposal will practically effect an ad-
vance toward that goal. There is no
departure from American principle in
thus seeking Identification with the
World Court. On the contrary, it is
an expression Of long-cherished
ideal and purpose. Secretary Hughes
closing words are directed to this
point:
Any successful effort to settle con-
froverSfes aids in the cultivation of
good Will and the desire for the ad-
Iustments of amity. The support of a
Permanent Court of Justice as an in
htttution of peace will be a powerful
influence in the development of the
VIII to peace. l hope that the United
States, in Difference to its own inter-
ests and in justice to it's ideals. will
do its part.