The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-06-01
AT THE HAGUE.

peace of the nations that, as the G o b Q
anticipated might be the case, the three
great nations at The Hague. America,
Russia and England, have shown a
marked disposition to act together in the
formulation Of plan of International ar
bitration. The representatives of the
United States bear relationship toward
the conference which in it's Importance
may be said to be incommensurate with
our relative position toward the great In
ternational problems of the time. Until
our advent In the Philippines, and by
sheer force of our adherence to the Mon
roe doctrine, we had been etfectually ex-
Guided from all substantial concern in
European disputes Even today. notwith-
standing our position in the Philippines,
we are in comparison with any other ma
ton represented a the conference an is
elated national force. The territorial
claims of the other conferecs in the
continents of Asia, Africa and America
render their interest in the outcome of the
gathering infinitely larger than any which
we can possess. We are pure and simple
commercial nation. We come Ill touch
only with other nations through questions
OF dispute which have their origin In
matters of commerce. We as a nation
are committed to the policy OF peace as
the underlying principle Of the social
and national compact. That a race so sit
uated should find it's influence so far
reaching on such a momentous occasion
Is at once an extraordinary and, for the
purpose of the conference, a most fortun-
ate circumstance.
AS against the joint influence of the
three great nations mentioned we may
have to count on the more or less I'M
friendly interest of Germany. France or
Austria. The amendments offered by
Count Nigra, the head of the Italian del
egation at The Hague to the Russian
scheme Of mediation and arbitration, will.
however, doubtless have the strongest in
f!uence on at least the other members of
the Triple Alliance, and may ultimately
nu!lify any serious opposition that ex-
lists to the adoption of the great general
principle for which England, Russia and
the United States stand The powers or
some of them may be able to prevent
any Immediate gain such as will! result in
the immediate enforcement of mediation
and arbitration as practical agency for
appeal in case of International disagree
ment. But they cannot, either separate
" or combined, prevent the voice of hui
mainly being heard in favor of the de-
world. Even if no more is done than the
destruction Of privateering, and the APP
plication of the same general rules to
maritime warfare which now apply to
military strife; the enumeration of many
Of the minor difficulties which usually
arise between nations as subjects Of
peaceful settlement, and a provision for
the future calling of corresponding
conference, the advance made will be
great and noteworthy. But with the
prospect of the establishment of a perma-
nent arbitration tribunal, as designed by
Russia, England and the United States,
even should the conclusion be reached
that nothing short of the spontaneous
desire of the nations in disagreement is
necessary to the operation Of the tribunal,
the result will be a blessing to civilized
peoples.
With the many examples which the
United States and England have already
set of the adjustment by arbitration of
the most serious international disagree
ments, and with the tremendous power
which the worlds fnanciers have exerted
during the present generation to prevent
unnecessary resort to war, the prospect
of great accomplished results is not at
all remote.