The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-06-05
DIRECT NEGOTIATIONS p. DI
PLOMACY:
A SUBSTITUTE FOR OFFICIAL DIPLo

DIRECT NEGOTIATIONS y. DI.
PLOMACY:
A SUBSTITUTE FOR OFFICIAL DIPLo-
MACY.
The article below is from Concord,
the journal of the International Arbi-
tratiOn and Peace Association. Lon
don.
1t must occasion deep regret to all
friends of European peace to learn
how much want of harmony and
goodwill marks the relations between
Italy and France for some time past.
States, which seem destined by geog-
raphical situation and by race afhni-
ties, as these are, to be firm and useful
allies, ought surely to make every effort
to arrive at a better understanding.
Yet one unfriendly incident after an
other occurs in quick succession, of a
kind to deeply wound national feelings
on both sides of the Alps. When we
see eminent statesmen of both coun-
tries employing their brilliant talents
in writing dispatches which seem in
tended rather to exasperate than to
conciliate, We feel how little can minis.
ters and diplomats be trusted with the
most sacred interests of the people.
We are often inclined to ask ourselves
If some eminent citizens on both sides
could not, in such cases of mutual es-
arrangement, more efectually settle
dangeous and difficult questions be-
tween the two nations than diplomats
and Secretaries of State, often irritated
by long-pending correspondence,
hampered by personal vanity, preju-
dice and traditional conventionalitles.
AS we have said before, our great
teacher of internationalamity, Richard
Golden, suggested that almost any in
ternational dispute could be very
quickly settled, if half a dozen able
and well.informed commercial men of
the two countries would meet for the
purpose of finding a basis of agree
ment. We must confess that we great
ly desire to see All effort made to turn
this suggestion to practical account |;
and it might we'll be tried by French
men and italians at the present time.
We are sure that the Peace Societies
of the two countries would make AN
excellent selection of councillors, con-
sisting of intelligent and truly patriot.
ic men, guided by sincere desire for
equal justic and hearty union between
the two peoples. Let our friends and
fellow-workers take the necessary
steps, and at once place themselves in
communication with few trusted pub
lie men, Frenchmen and Italians, who
should meet for the consideration of
the several circumstances which create
the present unfriendliness. Each set
of delegates would learn much from
the other, and would discover that
they had been mistaken on many
points, each having more to urge on
their behalf than the others had sup
posed. A desire for mutual concession
would follow such a conference, togeth-
er with arrangements based on fair play
and sense of equity to both countries
alike. Animated by such purposes, the
eminent citizens engaged In 30 great
all undertaking would carry large
majority of their fellow.citizens with
them. The best men in both countries
would demand that their respective
Governments should follow suit and,
in case of success, the course advocat-
ed by our great free-trader would be
universally adopted.
Both during this year and last, our
Association has endeavoured TO BRING
about a similar meeting between En-
glish M. sP.'s and French Deputies,
with q view to consider the causes OF
alienation which have occurred during
the last few years, and which have
been unhappily fomented by the Press
of both countries. Several members
of the French and of the English
Legislatures have replied most favour
ably to our suggestions, and but for a
difficulty in arranging a date for the
proposed Conference, it would have
taken place ere this. We should add
that our view was that the interchange
of views aud opinions should, in the
first instance at least, be strictly prl-
vate, so that there might be perfectly
independent expression of opinion on
both sides.
This idea was heartily taken up by
our friend, NJ. Jules Siegfrled, the
eminent and distinguished Mayor OF
Havre, and q man whose social ana
political position marks him out as
specially fitted for taking the lead IN
such a proposal. He wrote to US sew
eral weeks ago expressing his strong
approval of it, and his desire that we
should cooperate with him in carry
ing it out; and this was reported at
our Annual Meeting. We observe
that since then, Mr.. w. r. Cremer,
NJ. p, Secretary of the International
Arbitration League Qate the Working,
mems Peace Society, has advocated
the same course of proceeding! and has
been in communication with several OF
our friends in the French capital.
1t does not much matter who carries
out such q great work as this, and our
hope is that the good ides may bare
good fruit. No two nations are more
fitted by political habits and training
to try this important and practical ex-
pertinent, for the promotion OF inter,
national concord, than the French and
English.
H. P.
Success In SelECulture.
W. .so oo,,, mn ~ daI hu tho manfred