WORLD COURT.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 May 1924, Page 2

WORLD COURT.

IUBTIIAI.IAN ANT) N.Z. CAIII.E ASSOCIATION. AVASHINGTON, May 22. On behalf of the Senate’ll Irroeoncilahles. Senator Pen] or laboured over night, and drafted a compromise plan for American adhesion to the AA'orld Court.

Yesterday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee appointed Senator Pepper to draft a resolution embodying a [ lan for American adhesion to the Court of Justice, which shall include President Coolidge's and Secretary Hughes’s reservations, while conniving tn disavow relationship with the League.

The Democratic .members jof the Committee sought to get votes on Senator Sivanson's resolution, seeking adoption of the Coolidge (plan, but the Republican irreeoncilahles blocked the effort. eMaiitime, the Democrats denounce the dilatory tactics bv the Republican members of the Committee.

Senator Pepper’s plan would anioiitj the Statute, leaving the Court to place the election of Judges in the hands of two now bodies, to he known as the Council Assembly and Council Signatories, whi'oa* personnel would he identical with the League of Nations Council and Assembly, with the addition <.f America’s representatives. The plan retains a provision in Senator Pepper's original lesoliltion (cabled April 7) calling for an international conference to draft a code Avherenpon the AA’orld Court would operate. Senator Pepper to-night issued an explanatory statement, declaring “The new resolution contemplates adherence to the existing Court, pursuant to Presidents Harding's and C'ooliiLe’s recommendations, and reconciles, as far as possible, all the divergent views. My resolution, however, gives effect to. the determination of both Presidents to avoid all legal relationship to the Lnigue of Nations. Thus ■ the new court would become actually a World Court, and all American’ interests would he safe-guarded. Anybody who opposed this proposal, must he moved by concern for the League of Nations rather than interest in tlio Court.”

The plan also stipulates that theUnited States disclaim in advance, all the responsibility for purely advisory* opinions, rendered by the AA’orld Court jurisdiction, this apparently was inserted as a result of the Japanese Privy Council’s intention of asking the Court to pass an advisory view upon America's abrogation of tlie “Gentlemen’s Agreement.” The Foreign Relations Committee discussed the various proposals. the debate indicating the Democrats would bitterly oppose the Pepper plan as an attempt to side-track American cooperation l.v the multiplicity of the proposals.