The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-01-28
tOnictal City, State and County Newspaper)
Entry Into World Court

Entry of the United States INTO the WOfiI Nour'
is complete. For the information Of Tribune
readers, it might mt be amss to give
compact explanation of what the World
Court is.
This court was constituted by action Of the
League of Nations in 1920. The intention was to
take certain agencies engaged in the work OF
international Cancellation and arbitration. Many
Of these agencies suffered during the Most
Of them had headquarters at The Hague, so it was
natural that the World Court should be located by
the League Of Nations at The Hague.
It's membership consists of eleven judges elected
by the Council and Assembly Of the League of Ma
tons. There several deputy judges who func
tion when regular judges cannot act. Judges
for nine years but may be reelected However, only
one judge be chosen from any country.
Sessions of the court held annually on June
Is but special sessions in Of emergency may be
called Jurisdiction is any submitted to
it by mutual agreement of nations concerned. Ma
tons having membership in the League must sub
nit their either to this court to the Council
OF the League. In addition the World Court has
jurisdiction over cases referred to it by provision,
of international treaties. This court can also be
called upon to give advisory opinions upon inter-
national law interpret treaties for the League
of Nations.
Mr.. John Bassett Moore, distinguished Amer
al law is of the eleven judges. Elihu Root, an
other American, took prominent part in estab-
fishing the court through his service upon the adj
vsory committee that drew up the plan Of the
World Court
Presidents Harding and Coolidge have both adj
vocated entry into the World Court. The platform
of the Republican party endorsed entry with res
eryaticns.
The Senate in approving the scheme has also
made certain reservations repudiating any endorse
ment Of or connection with the League of Nations.
Those favorng American participation in the World
Court urge that it is necessary step to promote
world peace and to assist in the sterilization CT
conditions in Europe. With equal logic and en-
phasis, the opposition to endorsement of the court
holds that such action is violation of the trad
tons OF the Republic as best expressed in George
Washingtons papers and addresses and in the Mon
roe doctrine. Those who oppose the World Court
declare endorsement opens up the way for foreign
entanglements and that such action is really entry
into the League of Nations by the back dor.
Those who have been most insistent that the
United States recognize the court and submit in
ternational cases to it declare that the World Court
while founded by the League Of Nations is not an
organ ef the League but an independent institution
On the surface such statement is open to chal-
lenge. The judges named by the Council and
Assembly of the League Of Nations In fact the
whole machinery of the court is set up by the
League Of Nations.
There is this feature about the court, however:
ANY nation can become attached to it without being
member of the League of Nations.
At this writing many reservations have
been added to the World Court measure in the
senate no analysis is possible. President Cooldges
plan. however, contemplated some reservations.
Ills position is that the United States shall be
bound by an advisory opinion On any question it
has not itself submitted and it is understood that
the United States retains it's freedom to decide
whether or not it shall submit to the court any case
in which the Monroe Doctrine is involved