Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-14
THE ARBITRATION QUESTION.
Chile's stand Taken Before the Pan, Amer
lean Commission.

her CSwnIrSaSEss TO ACCEPT IT As uScoS-
OPTIONAL AND OBLIGATORY IN THE SETTLE
NESr OF DIsPUTEs BETWEEN HERSELF AND
orHER coUSTRIEs-PREsIpESr HARRIsoS's
VIEWS ON THE SUBJECT.
Frequent reference has been made during
the progress of this controversy with Chile to
the subject of arbitration, and il has been al
legged that this country should, in honor to its
own attitude upon that subject as expressed
by its action before the Pan-Ameriean confer
ence, insist upon the submission of the ques-
tions in issue to arbitration The history OF
the conference, however, furnishes ground for
asserting that Of all countries to the south OF
thisChle is least entitled to such consideration
1t is 9 matter of record that the delegates from
Chile in that body, acting under instructions
from their government, refused to take part
In the discussions over the scheme Of general
arbitration proposed, and made statement OF
their beliefs and views through Senior Veras,
one Of the two delegates from Chile, on the
sixty-ffth day of the session Of the conference,
April IA. 1880. who said:
WILL NOT ACCEPT ARBITRATION AS OBLIGATORY.
I'VE, the delegates from Chile, do therefore
declare that while We fully recognize the vsfue
Of the principle of arbitration we do not accept
IL as METEOROLOGICAL anu ODupdtOEN lAc bO'-
eminent OF the republic will In the future. as 1t
has done in the past, resort to arbitration for
the settlement OF international conflicts or dlifi-
culties in which IL may be involved whenever
In Its Judgment the controversy or question
may admit of such settlement.
I'VE, the delegates OF Chile, are unwilling to
entertain the illusion that any conflict which
may directly affect the dignity or the honor of
o nation shall ever be submitted to the decision
of third party. Judges shall not be looked
HOr air in that casa N other OF anal
ogous nature, to decide whether a nation has
the right to maintain her dignity or preserve
her honor. For the defense OF both, all the
elements Of strength and resistance which may
be counted upon viii be called forth; and there
Is no temerity in asserting that a country ready
to submit this class of questions to the decision
Of an arbitrator would lack its raison detre.
s.Noved by these considerations the delega-
ton from Chile thinks itself in the right when
asserting that the principle of absolute arbitra-
tion, applicable to all cases which may occur,
may, Notwithstanding its good purposes, be-
come Of doubtful application IN serious inter-
national crises.
ave must insist in this affirmation. nation
whose dignity has been wounded, or whose
honor has been attacked, will never seek IN ar
bitration the remedy for the offense.
TIE POSSIBLE HAS HAPPENED.
'The main ground o: Chile's objection to the
scheme" said an official. twas based or the
possibility of the happening of just such an in
ternational dispute as the present one. in which
the honor Of the United States is at stake. Ac-
cording to Chile's own platform, therefore,
there can be no arbitration in this case"
WHAT WILL PRESERVE PEACE.
Later in the speech the following language
occurs:
Theconclusion to be drawn from the forego-
ing statements is that the preservation of peace
and tranquility among the nations OF America,
which so legitimately preoccupies the confer
ence, must be found rather in the seriousness
of the governments, in the correctness of their
action and in their subsection to principles of
Justice and equity than in purely moral en-
gagements entered into by them. The dele
CATION of Chile believes itself authorized to
state in this respect, that il represents nation
and government which afford all necessary
guaranty.
THE POINT OF NATIONAL HONOR
In another portion Senior Veras said: 1t is
In keeping with human nature, collectively or
individually, not to be free from controversies
or disputes. either because party wishes to
assert a right which the other party refuses to
recognize or because a claim Is made which Is
deemed to be excessive or which is rejected,
although it may be founded on facts which
constitute a wrong or are deemed to be such,
or for other reasons And II Is not unfrequent
to see discussions on these subjects become en-
FILTERED and aggravated by susceptibilities of
amour propre. many time complicated with
questions of national honor, the result being
that differences admitting of an easy arrange
ment suddenly assume the character of insu le-
able difficulties, which cannot be settled by
peaceful means, and consequently bring about
bloody conflicts
At other times these conflicts are due to I'M
justifable aggressions, which are to be resisted
by force.
NOT INCLINED TO PROMOTE QUARRELs.
And again: 1t may not be out of place to re-
rnark have IN this that Chila uhich
owes to fatiguing and unceasing labor the
cultivation of its soil and the formation of an
essentially Industrious, energetic and vigorous
people, cannot but consider all external con-
fiicts as an injurious disturbance Of its habits.
No effort, indeed. is necessary to convince one
that . people which owes its living and its well
fare to the daily labor does not feel inclined to
promote quarrels, the results Of which. always
lamentable, are logically to be felt more keenly
upon itself
As a consequence of the spirit of its civiliza-
toa, Chile entertains the most earnest desire
to find always in peaceful methods the ade-
qua.e settlement of the conflicts which might
lead 70 the disastrous results Of war.
PRESIDENT HARRISON on ARBITRATION.
Now, when the two countries are engaged in
o most serious diplomatic dispute, these re-
marks ara considered peculiarly significant
History, however, furnishes other than
Chilean material as to this matter of arbitra-
tlon- President Harrison, In his address de-
Evered October IL, 1891, before the ecumeni-
cal Methodist conference, which met in this
city during last October. said:
II is known TO yon all that in the recent con-
ference Of the American states at Washington
the proposition was distinctly made and
adopted by the representatives Of all or nearly
al Of the governments of America. as applied
TO this hemisphere, that all international dis
putes should be settled by arbitration
OF course there are limitations as vet in the
nature Of things, to the complete and general
adoption Of such q scheme. 1t is quite possible
to apply arbitration TO dispute as to a bound
airy line; 1t Is quite impossible, il seems to me-
TO apply it TO n case of international feud. II
there is present disposition to subjugate an
aggressive spirit to seize territory, a spirit of
national sggrandizement that does not stop to
consider the rights of other men and other peo-
pie, to such a case and to such a spirit interna-
tional arbitration has none or if any a remote
and difficult application.
AMERICAS DESIRE FOR PEACE
II is for Christian sentiment, manifesting
itself in nation. TO remove forever such causes
of dispute and then what remains will be the
easy subject Of adjustment by fair international
arbitration But l had not intended to enter
into discussion Of this great theme. for the
setting forth Of which you have appointed
those who have given 1t special attention. Let
me, therefore, say simply this that it is for my
self, temporarily In place of influence in this