The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-05-10
70 URGE ARBITRATION.
English and American Peace Debates viii
Work Together.
EXTENSION OF RED CROSS RULES TO WAR
This VIII be Advocated mt the Ha que
Conference, Also AmeIiora-
sion of wars Horrors.

Washington, May 9.--The United States
and Great Britain will stand to-
gether In the advocacy OF the
adoption OF a scheme for the set
Element OF international disputes by ar
btration, which will be presented to the
disarmament conference at It's meeting in
The Hague on the 18th of the present
month. The American delegates headed
by Ambassador White, are equipped with a
fairly well digested plan for the execution
OF this long cherished project, while the
British delegates are prepared with plan
which is almost identical with the Ameri-
can project.
The details can not be procured for pub
LEGATION in advance OF the presentation OF
the projects of the conference. 1t Is known.
however, that there are essential differ
ences between this last plan and that en-
bodied in the treaty drafted by Secretary
Olney and Sir Julian Pauncefote, which
failed OF action In the senate when sub
mitted for ratification. The differences are
rather In the methods provided for secur-
ing an impartial adjudication than in the
principles OF the former convention and it
is believed that on these points the British
and American propositions are not precise
ly similar. 1t can nsS be said that the
American delegates go to the conference
with any strong expectations that their
own scheme for securing the adjustment
of disputes by arbitration or, indeed, any
project of the kind will secure the adhesion
OF the entire conference or even a MAORI
ty of the delegates. But they are content
TO plant the seed and make a beginning
which 1t Is hoped by the president and
Secretary Hay will in the end have sub
stantial effects.
The American delegates 60 committed To
this arbitration project much more strongly
than to anything likely to figure before
the conference
Regarding disarmament their instruction
is to tell the conference that the present
armament of the United States, and with
In the possibilities Of the future is so far
below the present minimum ornaments
with which any of the great powers OF
Europe are likely TO be content that there
is really no reason why the United States
should be called into the agreement.
Other points upon which the delegates
have been instructed are correctly referred
to in the cable dispatches this morning
namely the exemption from seizure OF in
dividual property and the extension OF the
Red Cross rules to war, like operations at
sea. AS to the former. the president ex-
pressed himself very strongly in his last
message to congress, and the delegates GO
charged to give practical effect to these
views. As to the Red Cross extension
both the United States and Spain during
the recent war agreed to apply the Red
Cross rules at sea. But another point In
the instructions which Is not mentioned in
the cable dispatches is that relating to the
amelioration of the horrors Of war aud
with this. too. the American delegates are
deeply concerned IT was because Of tho
presidents interest in this subject, as much
as for any other reason that the twn tech
meal experts, Captain Hahan and Captain
crozier, are Included in the American dele
CATION and the state department hopes that
something in this direction will be ac-
compllshed at the approaching conference.