The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-07
THE BOX PRIZE PEACE PLAN

The long-discussed award of the Box Peace Prize is now offered for public consideration. As might have been expected, the plan that appealed to the judgment of the committee oc- cupies midway position between re- jection of the League of Nations and full membership in it. It is quite sig nificant that the plan selected as the best, however, employs the league as the basis of worldwide peace and the medium through which it shall be es- tablished. The United States is to adhere to the Permanent Court of International Justice for the reasons and under the conditions stated by Secretary Hughes and President Hard. ing in February, 1923." It is prob able that the majority of people will accept this provision, some as a substi- tute for league membership, and others because it marks a step in the direction of ultimate league member ship.
 As to the league, the plan provides that, without becoming a member of the League of Nations as at present constituted, the United States govern ment should extend its present CO., operation with the league and propose participation in the work of it's as- sembly and council" under conditions later set forth under five main heads. The authors prospectus considers the alternative plan of an association of nations, as provided in the 1920 plat form of the Republican party, and oc- casionally mentioned by President Harding and others, but rejects the plan as impracticable, in these words "Five-sixths of all nations, including about four-fifths of mankind, have already created a world organization, the purpose of which is to promote in- ternational cooperation and to achieve international peace and security These nations cannot and will not abandon this system which has now been actively operating for three and half years. 2. |. The states outside the organized world are not of such character that the United States could hopefully cooperate with them for the purposes named" The same reasons apply with similar force to The Hague tribunal, and seem prop erly to answer those who would estab- fish new court or a new league.
 In entering upon program of CO., operation with the League of Nations, the United States would "assume no obligation to interfere with political questions of policy or internal admin istration of any foreign state," and in turn would insist upon "that safe guarding of the Monroe Doctrine and does not abandon its traditional atti- tude concerning American independ- ence of the Old World and does not consent to submit it's long-established policy concerning questions regarded by it as purely American to the rec ommendation or decision of other powers" This government would as- sume no obligation as to the treaty of Versailles, except as specifically authorized by the act of congress. The situation is further made that all na- tions shall be eligible to membership in the league and shall be elected by a two-thirds vote of the membership. The consideration of the development and extension of international law is given a prominent position in the plan.
 There will be some difference of opinion regarding the, stipulation that there be rejected the power of the league of enforce its authority by military and economic force, as pro- vided and implied in Articles X and XVI of the covenant. The Box plan would substitute moral force and pub lie opinion for military or economic pressure. This Is placing the leagues authority on high plane, to be sure. It would do away with the idea of a super-state, concerning which the ir- reconcilables have professed so much dread and apprehension. If the leagues authority can be made to pre- vail without ever any recourse to com pulsion, so much the better. The plan has evidently been worked out by some person or group of persons of high in- telligence and a good grasp of the problem to be solved and the world conditions to which the solution is to be applied. The decision of the seven judges was prompt and unanimous, according to the statement, and the public is assured that it was fair and impartial. Perhaps it affords the best basis vet offered on which the ma jority of the opposing elements in this country may meet on a more or less common ground.
 THE MUNICIPAL MARKET
 The appointment of an advisory ax,I ofs A1 .nk l.