Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-28
The World Court Decision.

The United States today Is. to all
intents and purposes. MEMBER Oh
the World Court. 1t requires only the
assent of the member nations To the
reservations and conditions laid down
bv the Senate in its resolution advls-
inc and consenting to the signature
OF the United States to the World
Court protocol.
The sun still shines. The earth has
not turned upside down. astonishing
as this may appear in view of the
prophecies of dire happenings should
the United states take this step. Nor
is anything so untoward likely to
occur.
The step taken by the United States
Senate. and the President. who urged
upon the Senate this action. is step
in the direction of the judicial settle
ment of international disputes. a step
toward the peaceful adjustments of
differences between nations and step
away from war. Entry of the United
? States into the World Court yields no
jot of the independence of this
country. On the other hand, 1t does
rot mean the end Of all war or danger
of war. Because this step has been
taken is no good reason for ScrappinG
the Army or the Navy. though doubt
less some of those who see in the
court a panacea for all international
Ills will demand it.
The essence of opposition to Amer
lean entry into the World Court has
been the parentage of the court. The
covenant of the League of Nations
made provision for the establishment
of such a court. To some OF those
who opposed American entry into the
league. nothing emanating in any way
from the league is good and all Is
bad, varying only in degree Of
badness.
Reservations and conditions laid
down in the resolution of ratification
maintain the right of independent &C
ton by the United States. NO case
involving the United States may be
taken TO the court without the con
opinion may be asked of the court
in any matter III which the United
States has or claims TO have an in
terest. The traditional policy of the
United states to refrain from foreign
acknowledgements IS reasserted. There
Is to be no REIMBURSEMENT of the Mon
roe Doctrine. And above all there Is
TO be no legal responsibility to the
League Of Nations growing out OF the
entry of the United States into the
court. With these reservations and
conditions agreed to by the other ma
tons which are members of the court,
it appears that the most humorous
souls should be satisfied.
What is this World Court which
we now propose to join? 1t consists oil
eleven Judges, nominated by the pan
els of The Hague Tribunal in the Vari-
Gus countries and elected by the
council and assembly of the League Of
Nations. Hereafter the United states
will participate in the election of the
Judges on an equality with the other
member nations. Hereafter the United
States will pay it's share of the eX-
penses of the court. Already the
United States is represented on the
World Court bench itself in the per
son of John Bassett Moore. an enl-
nent American authority on interna-
tional law and former counselor OF
Iio n1n Nf n
TO the court was the act of the for
eign nations voting. The first panel
of the court was chosen in 1921. and
the court soon thereafter began to
function in Geneva. 1t has handed
down nearly a score of decisions anu
advisory opinions, and its DEGREES
have been honored without recourse
to arms to enforce them.
The court has two kinds of jurisdic-
ton. compulsory and voluntary. Com
puIsory only in case nations have as
scented TO that character of jurisdic-
ton. The United States makes no
such assent Opponents of the court
have urged as a reason for the United
States remaining aloof that the power
of the league was back of the court,
that it's decisions would be enforced
BY arms, and that the court would
lead to war instead of peace. SO far
the power Of public opinion has been
effective in the enforcement of the de
crees, and it is upon that power which
the friends of the court rely when
they proclaim the court an agency OF
peace.
The argument is made that an in
ternational court whose DEGREES are to
he enforced by power and arms must
inevitably lead to war. and that the
United States will be called upon to
aid in enforcing the DEGREES. Back of
every court in the United States stands
at first the force of public opinion,
the power. force, call it what you
will. Of the Government of the United
States.
The entry of the United States into
the World Court is in line with the
century-old efforts of leading Amer
leans to bring about judicial and
peaceful settlement of international
disputes. The vote taken in the Sen.
ate yesterday, which showed Is Sen
ators favoring the entry Of this coun-
try Into the court and only Is against
1