America has been one of the foremost nations in advocating tribune for the settlement of intern tional disputes ut a justifiable character. Our representatives took a leading part in those conferences which resulted in the establishment. Jot The Hague Tribunal, and: later providing for @ Permanent Court of International Justice. I believe it would be for the advantage of this country and helpful to. the stability of other nations for adhere to the protocol establishing: that court upon the conditions state ed in the recommendation which is now before the Senate, and further [that our country shall not be bound by advisory opinions which may be rendered by the court upon questions which we have not voluntarily submitted for its judgment. This cours would provide a practical and convenient tribunal before whith we could go voluntarily, but to which we could not be summoned, for a determination of justiciable ques tions when they fail to be resolved by diplomatic negotiations.
Many times I have expressed my, desire to see the work of the ashington Conference on Limitation of Armaments appropriately supplemented by further agreements for a further reduction and for the Purpose of diminishing the menace and waste of the competition in preparing instruments of international war. Tt has been and is my. expectation that we might hopefully approach other great powers for further conference on this subject coon as the carrying out of the resent reparation plan as the established and settled policy of Euroy has erated a favourable opp tunity. "But on account of prope which have already been made by. other governments for a European conference, it will be necessary to wait to see what the outcome of their actions may be. T should not wish to propose or have representatives attend n conference which would contemplate commitments op= posed to the freedom of action we desire to maintain unimpaired with respect to our purely domestic po-
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