Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-27
New Political Situation.

NeN
THE invitation of the government of
Washington to the conference of The
Hague, he writes. reveals a new political
situation in the world 1t is certainly not
the military Importance Of America which
has secured for it this Invitation. For some
years past the Monroe doctrine seems to
have been neglected and forgotten, and the
attitude Of Americans toward Europe has
been strangely altered. The Spanish-Am er-
lean war shows that a new power has en-
tered the list of the arbiters of European
affairs. The conflicts for cuba and the
Philippines raise the suspicion that Euro
peans will ultimately he expelled from the
few colonies which they still retain. What
will happen next? The new world will make
Its action felt in all that concerns the old
continent"
He says: 'On August so. 1877, I was in
Paris and saw Gambetta, who discussed
with me serious questions and considera-
tions connected with the politics of that
moment, which were singularly difficult for
France. Marshal MacMahon was then pres
ident, and many liberals Were fearing a
coup d etat / observed 70 Ciambetta that
the army and the clergy were a danger for
the popular regime. He agreed: but OBJ
Jected that the only remedy for such a
state of things would be universal disa rma-
ment- Since / was on the point of starting
and was to have seen Bismarck few DAYS
later, he charged me to touch on the deli
cate question In Germany. On the nth of
ctpIeutpet lutloWuS was IN CIaSteln. |
saw the great chancellor and spoke 10 him.
redeenfng thus the promise made to Leon
Gambetta. Bismarck replied with these
words. which reproduce from my memoirs
of that day: Disarmament is not possible
in practice. Words have not yet been
found in the dictionary to fix the limits of
disarmament or of ornaments Military
institutions are different in various coun-
tries, and when you have put armies on
peace footing you will not be able to say
that the nations which agree to disarm are
in equal conditions of offense or defense.
Let us leave the question to the Societies
of the Friends of Peace
What May BE Hoped For.
Nevertheless, adds Siguor Crispi, Il
| hope that by accurate study something may
be done, and that II 1t is vain to hope now
adays for the abolition of permanent
| armies, at least reduction of the terrible
| and constantly growing ornaments may be
secured. 1t will be piece OF good fortune
| If the conference of The Hague establishes
that every question must be submitted to
arbitration. Thus war might be avoided
| or at least the number OF wars might be
| notably diminished. The other measures
proposed by the congress might make them
/ less destructive If they became Inevitable
| There Is no harm in hoping" Sgnor
| Crispi concludes, and l hope that the con-
! ference of The Hague will have a happy
/ result. Humanity will gain by It, but it
| Will not be enough to assure the peace Of
| the world The Hague conference places
causes for quarrel on one, side, but does not
| eliminate them. Ii neglects the seeds of
| war and revolution, but does not destroy
| them. Wars and revolutions may be de-
| layed, but they will break out the day that
| nations think mature and opportune Old
/ Europe has only one road to lasting saliva
| tOn-the substitution OF united states to
| the old division of states. Thus the from
| tiers raised here by geography and there by
| diplomacy will not be destroyed, but CEN
| turtles of hatred. luminosity and prejudice
| will be destroyed by work of civil pro-
gress directed toward the happiness Of the