The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-04

to menace the security of others,
 our honorable dealings with other
 nations whether great or small, has
 left us in the almost constant en-
 joyment of peace.
 It is not necessary to stress the gen. eral desire of all the people of this country for the promotion of peace. It is the leading principle of all our foreign relations. We have on every occasion tried to cooperate to this end in all ways that were consistent with our proper dependence and our tradi- tional policies. It will be my constant effort to maintain these principles, and to reinforce them by all appropriate agreements and treaties. While we de- sire always to cooperate and to help, we are equally determined to be in- dependent and free. Right and truth and justice and humanitarian efforts will have the moral support of this country all over the world. But we do not wish to become involved in the political controversies of others. Nor is the country disposed to become member of the League of Nations or to assume the obligations imposed by it's covenant.
 International Court
 America has been one of the fore most nations in advocating tribunals for the settlement of international dis putes of justiciable character. Our representatives took a leading part in those conferences which resulted in the establishment of the Hague tribunal, and later in providing for a permanent court of international justice. I be- lieve 1t would be for the advantage of this country and helpful to the stability of other nations for us to adhere to the protocol establishing that court upon the conditions stated in the rec ommendation which is now before the senate, and further that our country shall not be bound by advisory opinions which may be rendered by the court upon questions which we have not vol untarily submitted for it's judgment This court would provide a practical and convenient tribunal before which we could go voluntarily, but to which we could not be summoned, for a determi- nation of justiciable questions when negotiations.
 Disarmament Conference
 Many times I have expressed my de- sire to see the work of the Washington conference on limitation of armaments appropriately supplemented by further agreements for a further reduction and for the purpose of diminishing the menace and waste of the competition in preparing instruments of international war. It has been and is my expecta- tion that we might hopefully approach other great powers for further confer ence on this subject as soon as the carrying out of the present reparation plan as the established and settled pol icy of Europe has created a favorable opportunity. But on account of pro- posals which have already been made by other governments for a European con- ference, it will be necessary to wait to see what the outcome of their ac- 'tions may be. 1 should not wish to pro- pose or have representatives attend a conference which would contemplate commitments opposed to the freedom of action we desire to maintain unimpaired with respect to our purely domestic policies.
 International Law
 Our country should also support eff forts which are being made toward the qualification of international law. We can look more hopefully, in the first in stance, for research and studies that are likely to be productive of results, to a cooperation among representatives of the bar and members of international law institutes and societies, than to a conference of those who are technically representative of their respective gov ernments, although, when projects have been developed, they must go to the governments for their approval These expert professional studies are going on in certain quarters and should have our constant encouragement and approval. Outlaw Of War
 Much interest has of late been man. ifested in this country in the discussion of various proposals to outlaw aggres-