The record-union., 1899-07-26
Wm. 7. Stead Thinks II Achieved
a Great Success.
The Magnitude Of the Gains Accomplished
lmperfeciIy Understood
Even by the Delegates Who At
tended the Congress-The Es-
.tab1ishment Of Permanent
Court Of Arbitration Repre-
sents Vast Progress in the Evo-
luton Of Human Society.

Copyrighted, 1899, by Associated Press.)
THE HAGUE, July 25.-"I have seen
the American delegates, and they
talked freely about the conference, but
refused to make a statement about the
results before the conference rises The
following, however, may be accepted
as a fairly accurate summary of the
views they entertain:
THE conference achieved a great
success, much greater than the dele
gates anticipated, and the results was
achieved largely by the amour propre
of capable men from all parts of the
world, determined to accomplish some
thing worth their assembling together.
The result surprised all of them, and
the magnitude of the gains is imper-
fectly understood even by the confer
ence.
The establishment of a permanent
Court Of Arbitration on the Ameri-
can principle of revision, plus the
French declaration of the duty of neu
trails, to recommend disputing powers
to resort to the arbitration court, rather
than to war, represents vast progress
in the evolution of human society. The
recognition of the duty to represent to
disputants the desirability of resorting
to the arbitration court entails no op-
ligation on the Americans inconsistent
with their traditional policy. This is
made absolutely clear by the declara-
ton signed by the American delega-
ton, read in full at the conference to-
day and entered on the records.
Mr.. Low was busily engaged to-
day upon the elaboration of the final
act recording the work of the confer
ence. Mr.. Hollis has achieved a posi-
ton of influence much greater than
many of the first delegates, and
Captain Crozier is much admired for
his plucky fight in support of his
amendment to the Russian resolution
of the dumdum bullet.
THE relations between American and
other delegates notably the English,
German and Russian, has been eX-
tremely friendly. The Englishmen and
Americans acted throughout almost
like joint delegation. This was due
to no arrangement or direction, but
solely because both nations found COM
mon ground of defense, common inter-
ests, civilization and humanity.
THE only point on which the Eng
lish delegates failed to support the
Americans was the resolution forbid .
ding the capture of private property at
sea. To this the English delegates were
not opposed but British opinion being
divided, the delegates had no instruc
tions regarding the matter and abb
stained from taking action.
After the arbitration convention is
signed it will probably be opened to
the adhesion of all other powers not
represented at the conference, on con-
dition that no original signatory of the
convention object. This right to black
ball any power wishing to join the con-
vention was insisted upon by Italy, in
order to prevent the adhesion of the
Pope, and by England, on account Of
the Transvaal. 1t is hoped that all
the South American States will come
in.
1T is the unanimous opinion of all
the American delegates that the con-
ference begins new epoch and the
good seed now sown will bear a rich
harvest hereafter
civilian T. STEAD"
An arrangement has been agreed TO
the American delegates to the Inter
national Peace Conference to the use
of the word duty" in Article % of
the general act, in a way that would
imply any obligation on the part of
the United States to interfere in dis
putes between European governments
and vice versa. The word duty" is
retained, but on the motion of the
American delegation definite declara-
ton is asserted that nothing in the ar
bitration convention shall impose an
obligation upon the United States to
interfere in European affairs or vice
versa. This arrangement will be pre-
sented to the plenary conference this
evening.
1t has been decided that the various
conventions shall remain open for sig
nature by the several powers until
December 81 1899.
The third committee met this after
noon to read the report upon the ar
bitration scheme proposed by Cheva-
1ier Deschamps. the Belgian advocate,
whio1 the committee approved, and the
plens1-y conference adopted without
modification.
The committee also approved the
final act and then proceeded to con-
slider the preambles and appendices OF
the conventions and declarations
The question whether governments
not represented at the conference may,
by accepting the terms of the Arbitra-
ton Board. secure the advances there
of without first obtaining the consent
Of all the signatory powers occasioned
a long discussion. 1t is said the Vati-
can has such a right, but the Trans
vaal has not.
The conference arose without decid-
ing the question.
Eastbound Business From Alaska.
CHICAGO, July 25.-It is now certain
that the application of reduced basing
rates on eastbound business from
Alaska, through the Missouri River
gateway, will become general. An