No provision of the statute seems to me to give this court any authority to be a political rather than a judicial court.  We have brought cases in this country before our courts which, when they have been adjudged to be political, have been thereby dismissed.  It is not improbable that political questions will be submitted to this court, but again up to the present time the court has refused to pass on political questions and our support would undoubtedly have a tendency to strengthen it in that refusal.

We are not proposing to subject ourselves to any compulsory jurisdiction.  If we support the court, we can never be obliged to submit any case which involves our interests for its decision.  Our appearance before it would always be voluntary, for the purpose of presenting a case which we had agreed might be presented.  There is no more danger that others might bring cases before the court involving our interests which we did not wish to have brought, after we have adhered, and probably not so much, than there would be of bringing such cases if we do not adhere.  I think that we would have the same legal or moral right to disregard such a finding in the one case that we would in the other.

If we are going to support any court, it will not be one that we have set up alone or which reflects only our ideals.  Other nations have their customs and their institutions, their thoughts and their methods of life.  If a court is going to be international, its composition will have to yield to what is good in all these various elements.  Neither will it be possible to support a court which is exactly perfect, or under which we assume absolutely no obligations.  If we are seeking that opportunity, we might as well declare that we are opposed to supporting any court.  If any agreement is made, it will be because it undertakes to set up a tribunal which can do some of the things that other nations wish to have done.  We shall not find ourselves bearing a disproportionate share of the world’s burdens by our adherence, and we may as well remember that there is absolutely no escape for our country from bearing its share of the world’s burdens in any case.  We shall do far better service to ourselves and to others if we admit this and discharge our duties voluntarily, than if we deny it and are forced to meet the same obligations unwillingly.

It is difficult to imagine anything that would be more helpful to the world than stability, tranquility and international justice.  We may say that we are contributing to these factors independently, but others less fortunately located do not and can not make a like contribution except through mutual cooperation.  The old balance of power, mutual alliances, and great military forces were not brought bout by any mutual dislike for independence, but resulted from the domination of circumstances.  Ultimately they were forced on us.  Like all others engaged in the war whatever we said as a matter of fact we joined an alliance, we became a military power, we impaired our independence.  We have more at stake than any one else in avoiding a repetition of that calamity.  Wars do not, spring into existence.  They arise from small incidents and trifling irritations which can be adjusted by an international court.  We can contribute greatly to the advancement of our ideals by joining with other nations in maintaining such a tribunal.