INTERNATIONAL COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 101, 30 April 1923, Page 5

INTERNATIONAL COURT.

AMERICA'S ADHERENCE. NOT TRYING TO ENTER LEAGUE MR. HUGHES' SUPPORT. XEW YORK, April 2!>. Mr. C. X- Hughes (Secretary of State), addressing the American society of International Law at Washington, answered Senate criticisms of the President's plan lor the adherence of the United States to the International Court of Justice. He reiterated emphatically that the United States was not trying to enter the League of Nations. He demonstrated that the League was unable to control the Court. Regarding the British F.mpire's six votes. -Mr. Hughes stated that it was practically impossible for the British Empire or any combination to secure the election of judges in aid of any particular political interest. The admission of the various parts of the British Empire had been a recognition of the aspirations of the peoples composing them. This had not been found an insuperable obstacle to support of the Court by other Powers. Mr. Hughes went on to declare: "Whatever else we should have, we need at once a permanent Court of International Justice. No plan to promote peace can dispense with it. We shall make no progress toward the prevention of war if wo adopt a perfectionist policy." Mr. Hughes' address comprised an extraordinarily detailed legal argument proving that the Court is purely judicial. —■ (A. and N.Z. Cable.)