Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-27
HOPES
PACT WILL EXPAND
German Ambassador Speaks
to American Society of
International Law.

Expressing the hope that results OBJ
tanned In the London Naval Confer
ence will be followed by general agree
ments on a broader basis" Friedrich w.
Won Prittwitz, German Ambassador,
told the American Society of Interna-
tional Law at its annual dinner last
many "is sincerely trusting that the
reduction and limitation of ornaments
solemnly promised to the world at the
end of the war will become a reality
in the near future"
Concerning the London results, how
ever, the Ambassador added: I'VE know
the existing difficulties, and we under
stand that any development Of this
kind cannot take place overnight"
Cites Markets as Example.
"Just as normal market conditions
have been adversely Influenced by over
production of raw materials and goods"
he declared, "the international politi-
cal atmosphere remains oppressed by an
overproduction of arms. Very logically,
M. Clemenceau stated as early as 1909
that disarmament is one of the most
fruitful preventives of war;
eft has rightly been said that dis
armament Is not only technical QueS-
ton, but just as much O problem OF
mental attitude" he said, adding that
every international progress depends
indeed not only upon the conclusion of
governmental agreements, but to very
large extent upon the popular spirit
which is behind them"
Referring to the treaty of renuncia-
ton of war, the Ambassador said It
was certainly due to the courageous
initiative of Mr.. Kellogg and M. BRAND,
but it was only rendered possible by the
mental attitude of the people the world
over.
practically all Europe is now COW
cred by a network of arbitration and
Cancellation pacts," said the speaker,
among them the treaties of Locarno.
The German republic has concluded
altogether II treaties of this kind,
among them the first treaty Of con-
Citation and arbitration ever concluded
between the United States and Ger
many"
Urges Removal Of War Cause.
Reiterating the policy of his country
that war cannot be prevented by pre-
pairing for war against war, but by re-
moving the causes Of war;" the ambaS-
sador asserted: "Only the perfection of
existing instrumentalities for the peace
full settlement of international disputes
will create among the people of the
strument so long represented by war is
replaced by pacific adjustments and
that recourse to war, therefore, becomes
SenSelesS."
George w. Wickersham, In q discus
sion of the movement for codiflcation OF
international law, warned that the
United States should come to state of
mind where it would be willing to yield
on some points, as well as to push for
IN
international conferences Is to be ex-
pected.
DR.. George W. Kirchwey, former
dean of the Columbia University Law
School, related the development of the
Society of International Law. Some
laws, he declared we're claws only in
name" when they were against COM
mon sense, against the level OF intel
ligence." Sometimes attempts were
made to enforce laws without any ex-
pectation Of success, he said.
The dinner closed the annual ses-
sions of the society. Prominent on the
program yesterday at the Willard Hotel
were discussions by Americans attend
in The Hague conference on codihca-
ton of international law. Those who
spoke were David Hunter Miller OF the
State Department chief delegate from
the United States to the conference;
Manley o. Hudson, professor Of inter-
national law at Harvard University,
and Prof. Edwin M. Borchard OF Yale
University, both technical advisers.
James Brown Scott yesterday was re-
elected president of the society at the
closing business meeting, and DR.. Leo
S. Rowe was elected vice president.
Only two changes were made in the
list of honorary vice presidents. Chief
Justice Charles Evans Hughes, who was
president of the society two years ago,
was elected an honorary vice president
in place of the late Chief Justice
Taft, and George w. Wickersham,
former Attorney General and chairman
of the national commission on law
observance and law enforcement, was
elected in the place of the late Judge
Edwin B. Parker.
Charles Henry Butler was elected
chairman of the executive council, a
position formerly held by Judge Parker.
The society voted to combine the
Offices of recording and corresponding
secretary and named George A. Finch,
the recording secretary, to that position.
The society heard reports from the
chief American delegate to The Hague
conference on codif1cation of interna-
tional law, David Hunter Miller, and
from the two advisers to the delegation,
Edwin M Borchard, Yale University,
and Manley s. D. Hudson, Harvard
University.
The sixth honorary membership to be
voted by the society was conferred upon
DR.. Walter Simons, former President
and chief justice of Germany, the first
German to be so honored.