The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 1930. THE WORLD COURT.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 January 1930, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 1930. THE WORLD COURT.

One of the first special pronouncements of Mr Hoover, when lie became President of the- United States, was that of his intention to resume negotiations for American membership of the Permanent Court of International Justide. 1 he reference by him to the subject in his address to Congress recently, and a later message from Washington, indicate, according to the Otago Finies, that this membership may uow lie regarded as an accomplished fact through the attachment of the signature of the United States to the protocol of adherence, The United States lias been a long time in coming into line with other nations in this matter. Her Government reached the point in 192 b of notifying the other nations of the ratification of the court protocol by the Senate at Washington subject to certain reservations. A special conference of signatory States gave consideration to these reservations and formulated an agreement which was satisfactory toi Che United States in all but the point of advissory opinion except publicly after due notice to all States adhering to the court, and to all interested States, and after public hearing or opportunity for hearing given to any State concerned; nor shall it. without the consent of the United States, entertain any request for an advisory opinion touchiny any dispute or question in which the United States has or claims an interest.” The stnttjnont issued by the conference was regarded unfavourably at Washington, and there the matter rested till last March when Mr Kellogg, Secretary of Stale, revived it in a communication in which negotiations were suggested for the removal of tills remaining difficulty. This com-

municaiion was referred to a committee of jurists then about to consider amendments to the ( protocol, and an agreement was reached by them on a formula submitted by Mr Eliim Root, who mid been a member of the original ommittee, which drafted the court ,-tatute, and was also a member of tins ne'w committee When lire formula came before a second conference or signatory States it was accepted and received the signature of forty-eight nations. The logical sequence was the fulfilment—now effected—of the American Government’s engagement. There is certainly an anomaly in the United States giving allegiance to the World Court while sedulously holding; aloof from the League of Nations. “Our adherence to the International Court,” said President Hoover in his address to Congress, “is not the slightest step towards entry into the League.” In that relation some pertinent comment was offered by Mr Herbert Brookes, chief trade commissioner for Australia in the United States, in a. speech at the annual luncheon of the United States English-speaking Union. It seems to he a matter for satisfaction none the less that the American nation has joined tlie company of other countries which, by their membership, support the World Court-as an instrument for the establishment of international justice.