Felix Frankfurter

“ On examining the arbitration clause, the court may conclude that it commits to arbitration any 'dispute, difference, disagreement, or controversy of any nature or character.' With that finding the court will have exhausted its function, except to order the reluctant party to arbitration. Similarly, although the arbitrator may be empowered only to interpret and apply the contract, the parties may have provided that any dispute as to whether a particular claim is within the arbitration clause is itself for the arbitrator. ”

“ To be sure, since arbitration is a creature of contract, a court must always inquire, when a party seeks to invoke its aid to force a reluctant party to the arbitration table, whether the parties have agreed to arbitrate the particular dispute. ”

“ In American, the Court deals with a request to enforce the 'standard' form of arbitration clause, one that provides for the arbitration of ' (a) ny disputes, misunderstandings, differences or grievances arising between the parties as to the meaning, interpretation and application of * * * this agreement * * *.' Since the arbitration clause itself is part of the agreement, it might be argued that a dispute as to the meaning of that clause is for the arbitrator. ”