Evening star., 1926-10-31


institutions with their opinions as to
the relation the United States should
bear to the respective movements for
world peace.
Charles E. HILL Phi. D., professor of
political science in George Washing
ton University, and Herbert f. Wright.
Phi. D., professor of political science
in Georgetown University, went
abroad in July with a party of about
SO professors from the leading uni
jVersities in America, as guests of the
Carnegie Endowment for Interna-
tional Peace, whose Washington head
quarters is at Jackson place. The
party returned late in September.
This opportunity to study the
| League and court at first hand was
given by the Carnegie Endowment.
! among other reasons, as a means of
| bringing to the student body of the
United States, through their instruc-
tors, the most accurate and compre-
hensive knowledge of the two organi-
cations. No effort was made to intiu-
ence the professors for or against the
| League or court Some returned
more favorably impressed. while 9th
ers came back strengthened in their
convictions that the United States
should remain aloof.
Want America to Stay Out.
Both Drs. Hill and Wright are in
! the latter class, broadly speaking.
Each went to Europe feeling that this
country could advantageously CO.
operate with the League on questions
and undertakings in which the United
States clearly has q direct interest
| without actually becoming a member
and thereby having to take an inter-
ncf tn, L
Each returned confirmed in this view,
yet having much praise for what the
League has done and can do, now that
Germany is a member.
AS for the World Court, they had
the privilege of attending all the
public sessions of the 48 nation
members of the court which delib-
Grated upon the five reservations at
tached by the United States to it's
proposed adherence. AT The Hague,
also, they had the functions of the
court explained by experts in the
room where it's sittings are held.
DR.. Wright of Georgetown Univer-
sity, taking up first 1.-The court
reservations, says:
THE conference had not been in
session many minutes before it be-
came evident that there was no
4
an organ of the League and inti-
mately connected with it. 1t early
became apparent likewise that, al
| though the SignatOrieS might not be
entirely satisfied with the United
! States observations, they had come
prepared to accept them at any cost.
The first four reservations, DR.
Wright continues, were not for
midable stumbling blocks, although
the fourth, in which the United
States reserves the right to with
! draw from the court and to block
amendment to the court statute un-
less our consent for amendment is
given, was deemed to create a spe-
Cially privileged position for the
United States, and was resented by
some nations.
Fifth Reservation Debated.
ut was the fifth reservation, how
;, ever. that caused the most discus
, SION" says DIR. Wright. The first
part, providing for publicity of the
rendering of advisory opinions, was
quickly disposed of, as a recent
amendment to the rules of the court
makes this the regular practice. But
the second part, that the court shall
not without the consent of the
United States, entertain any request
for an advisory opinion touching any
dispute or question on which the
United States has, or claims, an in
terest,' involved lengthy discussion
as to whether unanimity or mere ma
. jority was required in the Council ir
the matter of asking for advisory
, opinions and, consequently. whether
+ the United States desired equality
with the other signatories or an alb
| solute veto regardless of the queS-
ton of unanimity or majority.
"In the course of the discussion
T the delegate from Canada, Sill
; George Foster, made some remark:
which are well worth repeating, be
, cause they reflect the general atti
tude of many of the delegates. The
United States he said, in the ex'
, ercise of it's own national rights
came to the conclusion that 1
could not enter the League Of Ma
tions Seven years have passed
and the attitude of the United State!
. nationally toward the League o
. Nations has not altered. My owl
, | idea, and l think the idea Of ever!
| one here, is this: If it is possible
t to accept these reservations, and, by
D accepting them, to get the power
: full adherence to the court of a grea
: country like the United States, thel
y we ought to do So
Especial Privilege" Attacked.
l. "Sir Francis Bell, the delegate from
l. New Zealand, contended that the sec
:, ond part of this reservation conferred
exceptional privilege and superiorlt.
V upon the United States and priv
u lege which is not possessed, and will
l = l., IL 9Th inro
adhering to the court The majorit.
= of the conference. however, seeme'
u disposed to admit that the second par
: had been dictated by the desire of tn
United States to be placed on tn
same footing as the other states sig
- natory to the protocol and Represented
:. on the Council.
= Having agreed, therefore, to &C
4 cept all of the reservations in sub
:. stance, the next question was, HoV
n should that acceptance be indicated
Il The upshot of the matter was the ap
pointment of a committee of IA t
!. draft the formula of acceptance.
I'm view of the committees repor
!. for a qualified acceptance, it may b.
!. that the gesture of the United State
Y toward the court will be merely tina
f and nothing more. The United State
" has lost nothing. 1t still may hav
e access to the court in specific cas-
r and must pay it's share of the ex
Y penses involved therein. Moreover
it participates in the nomination o
d the judges, even If It does not partici
:, pate in their election, and in spe
e cific case would be entitled to nam'
an American judge to sit in on th'
q case. if one is not already on th'
n court.
: 1T was foregone conclusion tina
z the signatories could not accept tn
r United States reservations if literall,
G interpreted. l hazard the opinion tina
f perhaps more effectiveness and NOR
dignity would have been added to tn
Ar,arioa ~ tract11ra If cnn1a SIcb pIa,