The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-06-06
Draft Of the Scheme Of Mediation Adopted
Without Modification.
Provides for the Settlement Of In
transitional Disputes, Except
in Exceptional Circumstances,
Without Recourse to Force by
Reference to One or More
Friendly Powers.

THE HAGUE, June 5.-The Arbitra-
ton Committee of the Peace Confer
ence held a meeting to-day under the
Guardianship of NJ. Leon Bourgeois.
Andrew D. White, head of the United
States delegation; Sir Julian Paunce-
fote, head of the British delegation, and
NJ. de Staal, head of the Russian dele
cation, with all the members of the
committee, were present
The Secretary of the Drafting Com
mittee read the. draft of the scheme of
mediation it had under consideration.
Articles ! and 2 are declaratory-to
the effect that the signatory Powers in
order to prevent a recourse to force,
have agreed to effect pacific solutions of
differences and will, except in excep-
tional circumstances, before an appeal
to force, have recourse to the mediation
of one or more friendly Powers.
Article 3-Independently of a recourse
to such amicable means, the signatories
deem it expedient that one or more
Powers not concerned in the conflict
should offer of its, or their own initia-
tive, and SO far as circumstances will
permit, its good offices of mediation to
the States at variance The right to
offer good offices of mediation belongs
to Powers not concerned in the conflict,
even during the course of actual hostili-
ties; and the exercise of this right can
never be considered by the parties at
variance as an unfriendly act
Article 4 provides that the role of me-
diator shall consist in the reconciliation
of conflicting classes and the allaying
of hot
ance.
Article D, defining the Limitation of
the functions of mediator, says these
shall cease on the moment when it is
stated by one Of the parties to the dis
pute, or by the mediator, that the ar
rangements or the basis of friendly
understanding proposed by him is not
accepted.
Article 8 SAYS that the good offices
contemplated. either at the instance of
the parties at variance, or on the initia-
tive of uninvolved Powers. are exelu-
sively of the character of friendly coun-
sell
Article Z asserts: Acceptance of me-
citation cannot have the effect, except
by virtue of convention to the con-
trary, of the interrupting or retarding
or hampering mobiliza ton or other pre-
parations for war. If mediation inter-
'enes after the opening of hostilities, it
snail not interrupt, except by virtue of
convention to the contrary, military
operations in course of execution
Article S-"The signatories are in ac-
cord to recommend, in all circumstances
permitting 1t, special mediation in the
following form: In the event of grave
differences threatening peace, the States
at variance shall choose respectively a
Power to which each shall confide the
mission of entering into deliberations
with the Power chosen by the other side
in order to prevent rupture of friendly
relations During the currency of their
madndate, which, except in the event of
stipulation to the contrary, shall not
exceed thirty days. the question in dis
pute shall be considered as referred ex-
clusively to these Powers. They shall
apply all effects to settle the dispute.
and in the event of an actual rupture
of friendly relations shall remain
charged with the mission of taking ad-
vantage of every occasion to restore
peace"
The draft was adopted without modi-
fication, although the committee stipu-
lated that it should be subject to modi-
fications at the second reading.
The naval section of the Armaments
Committee has unanimously rejected
the Russian proposals.