Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-01-28
IMPRESSIONS FROM THE COURT
DISCUSSIONS

tWT nLSStStsS ttS"t IT, ~ O'ss
DISCUSSIONS
The attitude of the United States
Senate toward the World Court
should disillusion any Of those, abroad
or at home, who may have enter
tanned the idea that the American
people really desire to join the League
Of Nations. At time of writing this
it seems probable that among the
reservations adopted will be those
which will require acceptance of all
the other nations that are parties to
the Court. BY that time, If accept
ance be had, it ought to be apparent
to the people of those countries that
unless public sentiment in America
undergoes radical change 1t will not
be disposed to become involved in the
League Of Nations and would not
consent to remain so did 1t later ap-
pear that such an involvement was
coming to pass. This, notwithstand-
ing one reputable authority has adj
vised, 1T is quite useless to state
that we incur no obligations under
the treaty of Versailles" The reser-
walton not to assume any such obliga-
ton, however, does SO state en-
phatically.
Another reservation would have US
bear our fair share of the expenses of
the Court, with the proviso that Con-
yyf1I he fhn tn dot ofr,a
the obligation. Furthermore, though
the right to withdraw from participa-
ton in the Court is implied, a reser-
walton proclaims the right in black
and white, so there may be no mis-
understanding. Moreover we would
set a limit on advisory opinions by
the Court, requiring the utmost pub
licity, and restrict the use of such an
opinion respecting any matter in
which this country might be directly
concerned; a notable limitation by the
way and one that may incur opposi-
ton. At least, the extreme caution
manifested in the various reserva-
tions-not those offered with a view
TO killing the measure, but those to
satisfy honest and possibly well-ad-
Vised bjection-amounts to definite
announcement to the world that this
country wishes to attend to it's own
business in preference to that of
others and expects a. reciprocal atti-
tude on the part of others.
The suggestion of tmidity on our
part in no way suggests any feeling
of inability to manage our twn af-
fairs and permit none other to man.
age them for us. The sentiment that
has led us, aided undoubtedly by
skilful propaganda, which should
have been expected, is that which
would have this country contribute
its best to stabilizing the world to
removing causes of war, to sharing in
the efforts to that end, to demonstrate
ing disposition to abide by inter-
national law and to encourage the up
building of such a body of law. But
1t must be admitted that the first
step is a noticeably hesitant one.
Well. that is the method by which
learning to walk begins, though in
this instance it bespeaks no. child
like confidence in our neighbors
across the water. Indeed, about it all
there is little recognition of the fact
that confidence begets confidence.
This may come in due time, and con-
~-sI 10, alI l.A
well to proceed somewhat slowly. To
remain out of the Court would hardly
be consistent with our professions
nor helpful to our practices. Elbows
In the world of today, are rubbing too
closely to be ignored,
On the other hand it is but natural
to have more or less apprehension
that We are taking a step outside the
isolation we have maintained in
theory if not in practice. Uncertainty
is aggravated by the divergent con-
illusions of minds supposedly capable
of comprehending, minds like those of
Walsh and Borah, for instance. 1t
must be manifest that If we are to
participate in that which already is
functioning in, the role Of a World
Cortland it is evident we are not
to say just what there is to be for
a World Court-that time has been
sufficiently delayed.
The judges of that Court were cleo
ed in 1921. According to its statute
the jurisdiction Comprises all cases
which the parties refer to It," The
desirability Of this country being a
party to the Court with provisions
that we be not party to the League
OF Nations was recognized by both
the Harding and the Coolidge admin
istrations. by the Republican plat
form of 1924. The national House on
March expressed the opinion that
this country ought to participate in
SUCH a Court; the Senate voted to
make the World Court q special order