Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-01-21
LORDSALEBURY SPEAKS
The British Premier Discusses the
Arbitration Treaty.
IT WILL NOT AVERT WARFARE

But It WIN Prove an Invaluable Bulwark
to Protect Executive Oficers Against.
Jingoes, and VIII Load to Other Im-
proved Methods Of Arbitration.
LONDON. JAN 20.-After the reading Of
the queens speech in the house of lords
yesterday, and the usual opening exer-
cises,- the Marquis Of Salisbury delivered
his address on the policy of the govern
ment. Regarding the arbitration treaty
with the United States the premier said:
4 cannot speak as freely as desire on
the arbitration treaty, because it has not
een ratified. But do not think there is
need to expend much effort in convincing
Lord Kimberley on that subject. He prob
ably agreed with me as heartily as any
body concerning the advantages such a
treaty may confer, and am bound to say
I am picking up the thread which fell
from his hands about two years ago. can
only observe that you must not think we
are indulging in millenial anticipations II
we hope that something will be done by
the treaty of arbitration to diminish the
risks of war. do not say it will restrain
a Napoleon or a Bismarck. But, diplo-
macy is full of an infinite number of small
differences which are caught by the peo-
Die and press of both countries, and IL they
are written upon, exaggerated and en-
larged, they tend to diminish the friend
ship between the countries and give birth
to feeling of alienation and resentment
'The power of going Immediately to a
tribunal to settle those things will pre-
vent q process SO injurious to the good
will of nations. especially between two
nations who understand each other un-
fortunately too we'll, that If we are not
friends we should be enemies
"But there is still greater advanta ge
in the existence of the arbitration system,
and that arises from the prevalence of
popular institutions in most of the coun-
tries Of the world, where there are minis
tiers who govern and members of parli-
ment and others who criticize them, and
this body generally contains one class OF
whom desire to speak with all respect
They are known popularity as iingoes
They are very patriotic, and their
warmth of patriotism sometimes clouds
their appreciation of details. But they
exist in all countries, and you will always
find that one of the principal subjects
which preoccupied the minister is how
to furnish an account of the matter which
is soothing to this very excitable portion
of his critics.
'sIt is my belief that a well working ar
bitration system will prove an invaluable
bulwark to defend the minister from such
criticism. 1t would be impossible to ac-
cuse him of triding with the honor of the
country or surrendering substantial adj
vantage If he could say that he had sub
mitted the matter to an impartial trib-
unal, and, unfortunately, the decision had
been against him. 1t is impossible not to
feel that the ministers could negotiate
with freer hand and more determination
if they were absolutely secure from danger
of such interference l do not say this
with reference to our country, because
here, less than elsewhere, is minister's
hand forced by such. I"
Lord Salisbury then dwelt upon the in
creasing military burdens of the countries
of the world, and the danger that the ma
tions would rush into war in order to end
their sufferings. He concluded by saying :
IT do not say that an arbitration system
will end this, but while the coil is grow
ing it is our duty to make an effort to de-
wise system which will in some degree be
a subject for this ruinous necessity, and
which will apply to public law that rem
edy which was applied to private war CEN
turies ago.
81 believe that the measures which we
have taken will be principally of value in
this, and will lead to other measures Of
the same kind. And we, or those who
come after us, will have the advantage Of
seeing the necessity of. vast ornaments
gradually disappear before the growth of
that which we have come to consider a me-
cessity of civilized life, namely, the sub
stitution of judicial decisions for the
dread of the arbitrament Of the sword. !
hope this effort, small as 1t is, will be suo-
cessful, and that those who come after us
will have the happiness of carrying SIM
liar effort to an equally successful conclu-
sion in future days"
In the house of commons Sir William
Vernon Harcourt criticized the advance of
the Anglo-Egyptian expedition up the
Nile, and asked for an explanation from
the government of its Egyptian policy.
He dwelt upon the non-success of the
British policy in the east, and urged that
the government should frankly cooperate
with Russia.