The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-05-17

~ 1Mn HAGUE T000n10W.
While the discussion which has been
cazssse On n I'll parts u b. world for
ths past half ysas Or more has tended to
minSmise IN Ne public estimate the I'M
portancs Of the peace congress which
assemblies as TIE Hague tomorrow. the
chngrsss viii Inevitably become one Of
the greater incidants Of history. II II the
nrst thing Of the kind since potentates
were wont 70 assemble In Rome 1t ths
bshsst Of the pops. and it, contribution
20 tha end fes which 1t IL called can but
b proportionatsly large
The magnitude Of the interest In
VOWED should really be the determining
factor In fixing the popular judgment as
to the event, rather than the magnitude
Of results likely to be achieved. Peace
between Ill nations has never been and
psobably never can BE- more than vision
ary. bat improving ententes between
nations srs directly in the line Of cur
rsat progress. and In this regard the
csAx'e pfopoeal 10 timely and fortu-
nate conception.
The Angio-rrench conventions In
West Africa and In the soudan. the
Anglo German convention with refer
snoe 70 Dsiasoa bay and other African
and general matters. the several Anglo
Russian agreements. including the most
recent one deaning the spheres Of iniu-
sncs In China. the Internal and entirely
spontaneous Anglo-Americaa alliance.
the appointment Of . new Joint comma
sion FOR the adjustment Of the samoan
dispute. the suggested rapprochemen.
of France and Germany. the mysterious
agreement between Turkey and Ger
msny--ali OF which have occurred with
In the past fifteen months--would In
themselves be sufncIent 10 justify the
assembling Of representatives Of vari-
Gus nations to propose more extensive
and systematic international conven-
tiuna IN calling general peace con-
sress the exar appears merely 10 have
anticipated these numerous movements
ana 20 have prepared 4 plan whereby
their results can be mere widely applied
Disarmament II 10 be the central
theme Of the congress. but very little
that viii be Immediately applicable to
European conditions can BE- expected to
be evolved from the deliberations The
vast plans which the various princirali-
tee have In hand for Increasing the
naval ami military equipment look for
ward for more than decade. and II
viii be impossible So ressnqnish them
II n not 20 be doubted, however. that
tina casr has fully fnreseen this and an
sicspAtes no other rssnis from the con-
Ssr~ncc than an influence In reducing
the scope al plans which In the ordinary
nature of things will succeed those now
IN contemplation. Russians are no,ed
Ter the ksennsss at their perceptions -
20 the future. and II IN 10 hs presumed
tfiAt w tstfS tT~&t$A TIT CEAf has NMtkded
far wi1er than his critics know.
The American anA Brisish a~sess tee
are understood 90 have been inssrscse "A
te direct their special astsnsian 20 the
san3ecs of tasernatsnna, ARBITRATION aud
- the extension Of certain recognized
principles az warfare TO additional, Au.
nani,srian limits. Including the apalscA.
tier q the exemption 81 tAe Red croM
tc The SEA- wA.ie International arhssra.
lion h tn Some rsspeSts ~ vsssonary ~
The saea % International reare. Anasrios
and Great Britain are rTscssasng wisely
Ia censcrime their interests thereon. Ma
tsens Will net aaw&ys arefsrass. nsr asS
thew likely ever - entirely sixArsr; Nas
arbitration ara termination 81 arnaa.
meat ~ rational limiss arr ssen<nta
sAas vii make materially sor the cne