AMERICA AND THE WORLD COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 21931, 18 January 1935, Page 8

AMERICA AND THE WORLD COURT.

Before the last Presidential ■. election Mr Franklin Roosevelt was regarded as a “yes-noman, who would temporise on any and every issue. How wide of the mark this estimate was is proved by the developments in the United States since he .took office., Instead of being the creature of a party he has been its commander, and has exhibited amazing driving force. It is too soon yet to estimate the effects of his policies, but in prosecuting them he has shown rare energy, decision, and lesource in home affairs. Now he is turning his attention to the outside world, and is embarking on a course that will meet with fiery opposition from the insular “die-hards.” He has sent a message to the Senate urging American adherence to the World Court. The • Permanent Court of International Justice, consisting of judges chosen for their high legal and moral authority, sits, at The, Hague and deals by means of opinions and judgments with ail disputes referred to it regarding international law, breaches of inteinational obligations, and the interpretation of treaties. It? work is done quietly and' unobtrusively, but it has already won a great reputation both in the foreign offices and the legal professions of the world. Numerous disputes have been effectively dealt with by the court, some of them of great importance. Its impartiality has never been impugned, and it has proved a valuable accessory to the League of Nations under whose authority its constitution was framed.

In the main the American Republicans have been wedded to the Monroe doctrine, the root idea of which was America for the Americans, but which was gradually interpreted to mean, as well, an injunction to keep out of world affairs. Thus arose a superior attitude of aloofness —that the United States Was a world in itself, self-sufficient and independent of events in Europe and Asia. That tradition was .broken by President Wilson, who not only brought his country into the Great War, but when he went to France to help in framing the Peace Treaty enthusiastically advocated. the formation of the League of Nations, which was to be, he fondly hoped, an instrument to end war. President Wilson’s greatest mistake was that he disregarded Republican opinion in his own country, which resolutely refused to accept membership of the League. Now another Democrat rules the Administration in Washington, and events are moving favourably towards American co-opera-tion in world affairs. The Democratic platform, issued before the election of 1932, was clear and concise in its plank referring to foreign policy. It expressed the conviction of • the leaders of the party that isolation from world affairs under modern conditions was no longer practicable. It advocated peace with all the world and the settlement of international disputes by arbitration; no interference in the internal affairs of other nations; the sanctity of treaties, and the maintenance of good faith and of goodwill in financial obligations ; and adherence to the World Court with certain reservations. Other clauses dealt with the limitation of arinaments and' cognate subjects. The endorsement so emphatically by the people of Mr Roosevelt’s policy indicates a new train of thought in the United States, which may have highly important results. . One thing that may assist the President in his world policy is .the depression, which has hit America as hard as any other country, and Jins helped to demonstrate that it cannot stand outside the economic currents'that 1 affect the nations every-, where. The' President, in his message to the Senate,'says: “At this period of international- relationships, when every act is of moment to future world peace, the United States has an opportunity once more to throw her weight into the scale in favour of peace.” The implications of this statement are obvious. It is hoped that America’s adherence to the World Court will be announced soon. There will be strong opposition, of course, but as the President says it is a movement far above party considerations. Once accomplished, it might pave the way for the entry of the United States into the League, which would add immensely .to the strength and prestige of the great peace organisation at Geneva.