Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1898-12-08
cams PEACE PROPOSAL.
An Assurance Given OF Our Readiness
to Take Part in the Convention.

An Assurance Given of Our Readiness
to Take Part in the Convention.
The proposal Of the car FOR a general re-
duction of the vast military establishments
that weigh so heavily upon many peoples
IN time Of peace, was communicated to this
government, with an earnest invitation to
be represented IN the conference which il
is contemplated to assemble with view
to discussing the means of accomplishing
so desirable a result. His majesty was at
once informed of the cordial sympathy Of
this government with the principle in
volyed in his exalted proposal. and of the
readiness of the United States to take part
in the conference. The active military
force of the United States as measured by
our population, territorial area, and tax
able wealth, is, and under any conceivable
prospective conditions must continue to be.
in time of peace so conspicuously less than
that of the armed powers to.svhom the
cars appeal is especially addressed, that
the question can have for US no practical
Importance save as marking an suspicious
step toward the betterment of the condition
of the modern peoples, and the cultivation
OF peace and good will among them: but in
this view il behooyes us as nation to lend
countenance and aid TO the beneficent
project.
Claims Against Turkey.
The newly accredited envoy of the United
States to the Ottoman porte carries in
struetions looking to the disposal of mat
tiers in controversy with Turkey for a num-
Der of years. He is especially charged 10
press for just settlement of our claims for
Indemnity by reason of the destruction of
the property of American missionaries
resident in that country during the Ar
menian troubles of 1885 well for the
recognition of older claims of equal just
ness. He is also instructed to seek an adj
justment of the dispute growing out of the
refusal of Turkey TO recognize the acquired
citizenship of Ottoman-born persons natur-
allied in the United States since 1869. with
out prior imperial consent; and in the same
to bring about a solution of the question
which has more or less acutely existed
since 1869 concerning the jurisdictional
rights of the United States in matters of
criminal procedure and punishment under
article ~ of the treaty Of 1885, This latter
difficulty grows out of a verbal difference
claimed by Turkey to be essential, between
the original Turkish text and the pro-
mulgated translation. After more than
two years from the appointment of consul
of this country to Erzeroum he has re-
ceived his eXequateur.
Great Britain and Venezuela.
The arbitral tribunal appointed under the
treaty of February, 1897, between Great
Britain and Venezuela to determine the
boundary line between the latter and the
colony of British Guiana is to convene at
Paris during the present month. 1t is a
source Of much qualification to this gov
eminent to see the friendly resort of arbi-
tration applied to the settlement of this
controversy not alone because of the earn
est part we have rad in bringing about the
result, but also lee ause the two mem bers
named on behalf OF venezuela, Mr.. Chief
Justice Fuller and MI. Justice Brewer
chosen from our highest court. appropri-
ately testify the continuing interest we feel
In the definitive adjustment of the ques-
ton according to the strictest rules of JUS
tice. The British members, Lord Herschen
and Sir Richard Collins are jurists of no
less exalted repute, while the fifth mem
Ter and president of the tribunal NJ. f. De
Martens, has earned a worldwide reputa-
ton as an authority upon International
law.
Burdens and Waste of War.
The experiences of the last year bring
forcibly nome to us a sense of the burdens
and the ste of war. We desire in COM
mon with most civilized nations, to reduce
to the lowest possible point the damage
sustained in time of war by peacea bic
trade and commerce. 1t is true we may suf-
fer in such cases less than other commu-
mites, but all nations are damaged more
or less by the state of uneasinesS and ap-
prehension into which an outbreak Of hos
tlittes throws the entire commercial world
IT should be our object, therefore, to min
lmlze, as far as practicable this inev-
liable loss and disturbance. This pur-
pose can probably be best accomplished
DX an international agreement to regard
an private property at sea as exempt from
capture or destruction by the forces of
belliserent powers The United States
government has for many years advocated
TINS humane and beneficent principle and
is now in position to recommend il to other
motives. 1 therefore suggest for your con-
Slderaton that the executive be author
lied to correspond with the governments
OF the principle maritime powers with a
law Of civilized nations the principle of
the exemption of all private property al
sea, not contraband of war from capture
or destruction by belligerent powers.