Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-06
CONFERENCE AT THE HAGUE
Realizes in Large Measure What This
Country Has Urged
for Years.

In response to the invitation OF his
majesty the emperor OF Russia, delegates
from twenty-siX countries were assembled
at The Hague on the 18th of May, as mem :
bers of conference in the interest Of peace.
The commission from the United States con-
sisted of Hon. Andrew D. White, Hon. Seth
+, Low, Hon. Stanford Newell Captain Alfred
D. Mahan OF the United States navy, Cap
tain William T. Crozier of the United State.
army and Hon. Frederick w. Hollis, secre-
tary. The occasion seemed to be opportune
for the serious consideration of a plan for
pacific adjustment of international differ
ences, a subject in which the AmericaL
people have been deeply interested for many
years, and definite project for a permanent
international tribunal was included in tho
instructions to the delegates of the United
States.
The final act of the conference includes
conventions upon the amelioration or the
laws and customs of war on land, the adap-
tation to maritime warfare of the prin-
ciples of the Geneva convention OF 1864, and
the extension of judicial methods to inter-
national cases. The convention for the pa
cific settlement OF international conflicts
embodies the leading features of the Ameri-
can plan, with such notifications as wero
rendered necessary by the great diversity OF
views and interests represented by the dele.
gates. The four titles OF the convention pro-
vide for the maintenance OF general peace,
the exercise OF good Offices and mediation,
the formation OF commissions of inquiry ana
international arbitration.
The mediation provided for by the con.
vention Is purely voluntary and advisory.
and is intended to avoid any invasion or
limitation OF the sovereign rights of tn.
adhering states. The commissions OF inquiry
proposed consist OF delegations TO be
specifically constituted for particular pur'
poses by means of conventions between tn.
contesting parties, having for their object
the clear understanding OF international DIFF
ferences before resorting to the use OF force
The provision for arbitration contemplstes
the formation OF permanent tribunal be-
fore which disputed cases may be brought
for settlement by the mutual consent OF the
Iitlgants in each separate case. The 40
vantages OF such a permanent tribunal over
impromptu commissions OF arbitration are
conceived to be the actual existence OF "a
competent court prepared to administer JUS
tice, the greater economy resulting from
we'll devised system, and the accumulated
judicial skill and experience which such a
tribunal would soon possess.
Guard American Position.
While earnestly promoting the success OF
establishing a permanent international
tribunal the delegation OF the United
States was not unmindful OF the incon-
venlences which might arise from an obtru-
siye exercise of mediation, and in signing the
convention carefully guarded the historic
position of the United States by the follow
ing declaration;
Nothing contained in this convention
shall be SO construed as to require the
United States OF America TO depart from ite
traditional policy OF not intrudlng upon, ia
terfering with, or entangling itself in the
political questions or policy or internal ad-
minlstration Of any foreign state; nor shall
anything contained in the said convention
be construed to imply a REIMBURSEMENT by
the United States OF America OF its ira