Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-16
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

possibly foresee. It is as easy as 1t Is
dreadful to forecast new World War
in the making, with millions Of fighting
men and rivers Of gore.
But, next week, the diplomats VIII
dine at the White House to celebrate
the lending of war" And the govern
ments are reproached because they have
not yet scrapped all means Of defense.
X y y X
The members of the League Of
Nations have all pledged themselves to
the five principles Of that organization,
planned to meet just this sort of crisis
as exists in the Orient.
"1st. Binding themselves to use
peaceful methods for dealing with all
disputes arising among them.
"2nd. (a) All disputes arising out OF
questions of international law or the
Interpretation Of treaties shall be re-
ferred to The Hague Court of Arbitra-
ton, or some other judicial tribunal,
whose decisions shall be final and shall
be carried into edect by the parties
concerned"
That covers all 'ssjusticiable questions"
Il e., disputes over matters OF contract,
which can be definitely decided by a
Judge or other kind of court, accord
ing to fixed laws or treaties.
Whether the present dispute over the
control of the Eastern Railway Is "Just1-
ciable" under definite contracts may not
yet be clearly known to the observers
halfway around the world.
There are also mon juSticiable" queS-
tons, not reached by any definite law,
yet very important to the parties; these
may include questions Of honor, or
sovereignty within the national juris-
diction. If, for example, Europe were
to undertake to dictate to the United
States what tariff rate would be per-
mitted on importations of competitive
manufacturers. that would constitute
mon justiciable" dispute, for that's our
business and not Europes.
The League of Nations covenant even
undertakes to handle non-justiciable
questions for its member nations, for in
the same clause above quoted appears:
CD "Au other disputes shall be re-
ferred to, and investigated and reported
upon by, a council of inquiry and con-
Citation, the council to be representa-
tive of the states which form the
League"
Has such a council interviewed in
Manchuria?
From pamphlet printed by the
League itself is quoted the following
explanation of the Leagues functions
and obligations in connection with nom
justiciable questions, identical with the
dispute now threatening war between
China and Russia:
1.-TWO states may be hostile through
some rivalry or prejudice OF race,
through conflicting ambitions as to
trade, finance, concessions Of territory,
or any other matters as to which there
is no actual right depending on treaty
or international law; or. again, dis
pute may arise through one of them de-
string that some treaty or some right
should be varied. In such case, dis
putes Of very serious and possibly
irreconcilable character may result, and
no decision by a judicial tribunal Is
practicable, because even when the
facts are ascertained, no treaty or law
exists to decide the matter. Each,
therefore, Is unwilling to give way; to
do so Is represented as puslllanimity,
sacrifice of honor, an abandonment OF
the vital interests of the state, and of
its claim to be great nation.
I'm such case, the best hope Of a
peaceful settlement lies in Cancellation,
and In allowing time for passions to cool
down. Clause 2(b) of the objects,
therefore. suggests that all 'non-justici-
able questions should be referred to
and investigated and reported on by q
council of Cancellation"
Today's dispatches indicate. ais ex-
pected. that China will refuse the con-
cessions demanded by Russia's ulti-
matum. Hints are given that China
will propose that the controversy be re-
ferred to the United States for arbi-
tration-a proposal almost sure to be
rejected by Russia because this coun--
try counts Russia as an outlaw amongst
nations, and refuses diplomatic rela-
tions of any kind. It Is further in
| timated that both Russia and China
consider the non-action up to this
point by the League of Nations as fatal
to its usefulness Gin the present ex-
tremity. More reliance is given to the
| fact that both nations have signed
the Kellogg peace pact than to any
possible influence now Of the somnolent
! League of Nations.
3copyright 1893. hy Paul '. coliins3