The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-03-24
MILL FAVOR ARBITRATION.
Ambassadors white and Tswer
VIII Probably Ne This Cosntry's

NEW YORK, March "a dispatch to
the Herald from Washington says:
There ss reason TO believe that an fmpor-
tant proposition looking 10 the settlement
or international disputes by arbitration VIII
Be advanced at the coming conference BY
the American delegates.
II il learned on high authority that the
credentials for and instructions TO the
American delegates are row being prepared
by Secretary Hay and viii be ready for
submission 20 the president for his ap-
prevail when he returns TO Washington
from his Southern trip. These instrsie'
lions Will be complete exposition of the
position OF this government; on the ques'
ton of disarmament and arbitration
Sir Julian Pauncefote has been advised
OF his appointment as senior member OF
the British delegation.
The British minister 10 The Hague will
also be member. NJ de Staaei the Rus
Elan ambassador TO Great Br.tat1 and lead
ing representative OF the car at the con
ference. will be assisted by Pref. Martens.
professor OF international law in the uni
versify at ST. Petersburg and probably by
the Russian minister 10 The Hague.
Following the policy which 1t seems
likely that all the nations will adopt.
President Mckinley will aceredif the min
lister Of the Netherlands as one Of the
American delegates Ambassadors White
and Tower viii probably be the other
members OF the American delegation.
II was explained by a diplomat having
knowledge of the present programme of
the Russian government that upon the
assemblage OF the delegates a committee
VIII re appointed to determine the subjects
to come before the conference and the or
der In which they shall be considered.
So far as the proposition for a general
fiSI al ha m I.ff h.s De
concerned. IL Will be the duty OF the Amer
lean delegates 10 explain and TO show
that the United States, from a naval and
military standpoint, Is far below the arm
ament IL should have and besides IL was
explained 10 your correspondent that this
government does not intend TO hamper in
any way the inventive faculty of the PEG
pie OF this country.
Nor Is It expected that Great Britain
VIII do so In fact. the most important
result which the officials expect of the
conference will be the adoption of some
plan Tor the reference of disputes TO gem
eral arbitration. and the United States
will have plan OF this character as we'll
as other notions.
The administration is strongly In favor
OF arbitration as the means for the settle
ment OF disputes between nations, and
while II appreciates that there are a num-
Der or controversies that can only be set
tied by war. 1t Is still believed that many
questions which arise and are causes Of
much friction may be adjusted by arbi-
tration.
The president is committed to interua-
tsonal arbitration By his inaugural adj
dress and by subsequent declarations, but
his administration has not attempted to
negotiate arbitration treaties-for one rea
son because Of the mminence OF war with
Spain and the occurrence or the war In
view OF the assembling OF the conference
al Ihe Hague Z is thought by the Of
hctais that the time has come when the
administration can put itself on record
before the world as fayoring arbitration.