Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-02-09
PRINCE BISMARCK
Gives His Opinion of Arbitration
in General.
1T WILL NOT ABOLISH FIGHTING

Says the Iron Chancellor, Eecause I'm En-
feet, Human Nature IL Human Nature
Declines to Give Uis View OF the Treaty.
Pending ut Washington. Except To Say
That IL Il an Advance OF Humanity
When War Will Cease.
New York. Feb. "a dispatch to The
World from London says: Prince Bis
marck has received a representative of
The World at his castle at Friedrichs-
ruhe. The World had requested an ex-
preston OF opinion from Prince Bis
marck on International arbitration. The
great diplomatist's view was especially
desired by The World in a purely ac-
ademic or theoretic sense. IL Prince Bis
marck wished II to be considered so. on
the ultimate success of such n peace
treaty between two great nations as
tain and the United States. and speciii-
cally, If ne would consent to express
himself. whether such a treaty. IL rati-
fled, would be likely to bear the strain
of grave International rupture-in
short. whether serious differences be-
tween nations might not in future be
The Prince Says He Detests War.
Prince Bismarcks answer was made
through Count Rantzau yesterday in
these words: 'On the merits of the ar
bitration treaty now pending in the
United States senate the prince has not
a word to say. He wishes to be under
stood that the opinion he now expresses
is purely theoretical or academical in
I~s< 30 a he
tween nations. not as an expression up
on the merits of the peace treaty agreed
upon but not yet ratified between Great
Britain and the United States. Upon
that he expresses no opinion. Prince
Bismarck declares emphatically that he
detests war, though he has been driven
to advocate it where there has been no
other means of settling disputes and
where the fate of the vaterland was in
volved.
But Remembers Some Arbitration.
Arbitration he would certainly have
preferred could be have expected
that the decision would have been such
as he considered to be just. 1t is only
necessary to remember, however, the
Caroline Islands and ne pope's decision
against Germany and in behalf of Spain.
In private life the value of any agreement
between different persons however. pre-
else of wording, depends entirely or
the character of the contracting parties.
and even then there are the law courts
to appeal to whenever differences arise.
But where Is the law court-any law
court in fact-which could eventually
enforce its sentences in the case of two
great nations entering into a treaty of
arbitration?
Voice of the People Makes War.
mo statesman in this world is SO
powerful as to be able to command the
voice of the people in certain emer-
gencies. No arbitration treaties will
ever succeed in abolishing war as the
| sole means of settlement of a dispute
when the whole future of a nation is
believed by its people to depend on the
| way the issue Is settled.
THE terrors of modern warfare CON
tinued the Iron Chancellor's statement.
1.-The uncertainty as to what the end
| would be. will do more, at present at
| least. to prevent war than any treaties
| could do. Once the people are educated
| enough to comprehend that war is a
double-edged sword. the aggressors often
being the losers, then war will cease
The present agitation in Great Britain
and the United States in favor Of inter-
national arbitration proves how hui
| manity has advanced. 1t is to be ap-
plauded for that reason, IL not for any
Il al