New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1925-10-03
MIND, NOT PAPERS,
Determines WARS
Root Says That Mere Agree,
= mentS Are Futile

mere agreements not 10 have these
things happen are fulfil" was sound
ed today In his paperon codhcation
OF international law presented by
Representative Theodore Burton TO
the interparliamenttry unions con-
ference here.
Tho papers auth,r, recognized by
the conferees as one of the world y
outstanding authorizes on internal
tional affairs, heli that codifcation
had a special importance at this time
because OF the necessity Of enlarg-
ing the services rendered by the per-
manent court Of international JUS
t!ce. The court vas one OF group
OF related institutions, with the
League Of Nations and the Hague
court of arbitration, which, the writ
ter asserted, promised ito facilitate
the preservation If peace to a de-
gree never beforr attained"
"These three Institutions for con-
ference, for judicial decision, and
for arbitration, re still in their in
fancy" Mr.. Rod said, but they
have made extraordinary develop
ment in the lat so years, and the
simple fact oftheir existence Is al
ready changing the way in which
mankind thins and feels about the
disposition international con-
froversy without war"
In a preceding message Mr.. Root
had stated Us conviction that wars
resulted from a state of mind and
"in these npdern times that has TO
be the stat OF mind of people"
He ampllfd that statement with
the assertion that 1--WE have reached
a point whre war cannot be success
fully CARED on unless 1t gratifies
the feelings Of the great body of
the peopb Of the country"
The onclusion," the paper con-
tinued. is that the most effective
method If dealing with the state OF
mind Waich leads to war Is not by
any mee negative but by a counter
affirmative. consisting Of a substi-
tute fc discussion by war in the
form # decision by proof and rea-
son.
Tip three institutions enunerat-
ed afprdod this substitute and they
affort it in such varied forms as to
be adaptable apparently to every
conceivable situation.
considering the extensive use of
thee three institutions in the dis
POSI- of International controversies
unter the troubled and excited con-
ditons Of Europe during the past
f1ye years and the beneficent results
witch have been accomplished, it is
apparent that these institutions are
Al evolution from the practical ne
cssities of International life worked
ont by the continuous effort of many
most competent and experienced
men approaching the subject from
d1e points Of view of all nations and
finally coming to agreement upon
what is at once practicable and USE
tul for the prevention of war.
thine out OF mind the world has
been negotiating for the prevention
Of war, and each negotiation, sue
cessful or unsuccessful, begins just
where all the others have begun.
Every case in court, however, begins
not where the last case begins, but
where the last case ended. The
Judgment Of the court may be bind
ing upon the parties, but the general
acceptance Of the courts decision
will be continually building up a
body OF agreement which narrows
the field Of controversy between ma
tons and prevents future contro-
VERSES. The court is an instrument
of international progress toward the
government of the world by law.
Most serious, in considering this
subject, is the mistake of those who
expect human institutions TO be
born full grown, who condemn the
Hague court Of arbitration and the
permanent court of international
justice and the league Of nations
within its own membership, and all
the international conferences Of the
postwar period. because they have
not already stopped all wars. These
people would have the clock begin
by striking II. Immediately after
planting an acorn they would dig it
up and throw it away because it is
not already an oak. They fail to
that all international
progress is the result never OF COM
pulsion. but always of a process, and
that the process has TO go on in the
minds and feelings of many widely
different nations. and therefore 1t
mus he slow.
although YOU cannot change hui
maa nature. you can change stand
aros of conduct, but always grad
usily, never violently. xxx
Already tho world is becoming
familiar with the idea Of judicial
decision upon International cues
lions, and already the world is be-
to think that way. Already
In many countries sensible people
are coming TO realize that here is
casonable alternative to the propos-
ais of the demagogue and the follies
Of hysteria."
The foot paper contained an ex-
haustive review OF various attempts
to codify International law and par
ticularly TO those initiated by the
PanAmerican union. through the
institute of international
law and by the League OF Nations
the appointment by it Of q
committee Of jurists. The author
urged. in conclusion, that the two
he made the opportunity
for an early and effective codifica-
ton.