PPAST EFFORTS AT JOINDER

LEGAL

One of the ideals of World Unity is a standard, reasonable, efficient, and workable set of laws to guide and direct our world.  Laws should be just; but they should also be kindly--that is to say, human nature and human shortcomings should always be considered when codes are drafted.  Moreover, laws should be helpful, not restrictive or punitive (except where necessary as a deterrent to present or future crime or other such problems).  However, the most important goal to be sought under the legal system that shoulld guide our world is uniformity--of principle and application.  That is to say, said legal system should apply to all, and assist everyone to enjoy a peaceful and fruitful life.

Uniformity as an ideal has long been in the minds of legislators.  For example, in the Chinese Empire, as long ago as the third century B.C., statutes were passed standardizing currencies, weights, measures, and even the distance between cart wheels.  The benefit of such standardization can be readily appreciatedeven for a country constituting but a fraction of the world; and even for a period in history when much of society operated on a somewhat less advanced level than today.  How much additional benefit could be had by the entire contemporary world, comprising so many entities and activities that would profit from uniformity of standards and procedures.  Of course this uniformity would need to be accomplished over an appropriate period of time, so as, among other things, to avoid waste of existing facilities and arrangements.

Another ideal of, and benefit arising from, World Unity is a uniform worldwide system of tribunals to mediate, arbitrate, and adjudicate the world's affairs, and particularly such conflicts and disputes as should arise in regard to them, in a uniformly just, logical, and sensible fashion.

In fact, a worldwide court has existed for over a hundred years; but its functions and efficacy have long been in need of a good deal of expansion and improvement .  Founded in 1899, the World Court (then called the Permanent Court of Arbitration) was established at The Hague, Netherlands.  Its jurisdiction was basically limited to disputes between nations; and it was resorted to rather infrequently.  As an example, in 1902, President Castro of Venezuela sought the Court's assistance, and consequently agreed to abide by the tribunal's determination concerning a monetary dispute it then had with Britain and Germany, a dispute which had led to the blockade of Venezuela's ports by ships from these nations.  And, in 1909, the Court was looked to by Norway and Sweden for the resolution of a boundary dispute between these two countries.