The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1878-10-05
IN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES.

1t the decisions arrived at by international
Conferences could be made binding upon the
Powers participating, there would be no bette,
way Of arranging national misunderstanding.
1t would, certainly, be an improvement to hold
these conferences for the settlement of conaictino
interests before the sword is drawn. and thus
spare mankind the sad spectacle of vast and
desolating wars, with their consequent burden of
national debt; to which must be added the
aggregate load of human misery which ALWAYS
follows great and glorious" appeals to the
sword as a means of settling a national dispute.
Conferences for the settlement of questions of
an international character are as numerous and
important IN European history as are the wars
themselves. At the Conference of Vienna. in
1915, the principle of legitimacy was in general
adopted as the basis for the restoration of the
political system. We quote from "a recent
American paper: OIL +..t..t
1.-The congress of Laybach in 1921, admitted into
the international code Of Europe the right of inter-
fering in the internal affairs of other nations, a
principle that was applied in the case of Turkey
and Greece. The French revolution of 1880 again
disturbed the European system, and at a later date
a BOnapartist so firmly established himself on the
French throne as to make his influence felt in
shaping new treaties, and particularly that formu-
lated by the congress at Paris in 1856. From the
date of the congress at Vienna, Russian influence
was felt in European politics. Much the same spirit
that united the allies against France in 1915 united
the western powers against Russia in 1856. Under
the pretense Of maintaining the balance of power.
they put every possible humiliation upon her."
SIN 1886 Austria was called upon to mediate
between Russia and Turkey, but instead Of acting
as mediator she went over to the side Of Russia and
declared war against the porte. In the war of
Russia with Turkey. from 176S to IVA, Austrian
and Prussian ministers appeared at the conference,
but they were not recognised. The conference
amounted to nothing, and u year after the Turkish
grand yizier, cut of from Adrianople, accepted the
Russian conditions of peace, signing the treaty in
the Russian camp. In 1871 a conference was pre-
pairing to mediate between Turkey and Russia, when
the grand vizier and the Russian commander nut
their heads together at Galatz and settled the whole
question themselves. In 1912 Russia, threatened bv
French invasion, accepted the mediation of England
and Sweden in settling difficulties with Turkey.
After the congress of Vienna she was less exclusive
N her war settlements. although in 1929 she die.
.ated her own terms. In 1856 she was dictated to
" France and England, and accepted their terms,
Austria and Prussia entering the conference and
igning the treaty by invitation. In 1870 England,
Austria and Germany Joined with her in modifying
he treaty Of 1856. In 1876 the car invited the
overs to mediate between Russia and Turkey, and
agreed with her as to the terms that should be l
to Turkey !
The conclusions of conferences and congresses, it T
i'll be observed, are not absolute nor final. o
IL THE Sydney Morning Herald of September :
2, in an account of the proceedings Of the Legisla- I
We Council on the preceding day, we read that :
Mr.. Marks laid on the table papers relating to the
treaty with the Sandwich Islands" =.
e are considerably at a loss to understand this >,
lnouncezent. In the first place, as we are in :;
rmed, members of this government are net aware .
any commercial treaty with New South Wales; 4
I'd moreover, if We are not mistaken, the Colonies ~
uld not make a treaty of that description without al
e permission of the home government. th