The record-union., 1899-07-08
The Third Committee Of the Peace
Congress at The Hague
Discusses The Scheme for the Pacific Set
Element Of Disputes.
Consist Of Not More Than Four
Representative Of Each sigma
tory Power, to Whom Questions
in Dispute May be Submitted.

THE HAGUE, July THE third
committee, sitting this morning at the
Huis Tenbosch, discussed the scheme
for the mediation and arbitration in
convention by the Comite dExamin.
Many of the delegates have only been
acquainted with the proposals since
yesterday, and they have not had time
to consult their Governments. Conse-
quently it was decided that when the
committee adjourned to-day it would
be until Monday, July 18th, in order
to allow the delegates a week in which
to consult with their Governments and
receive final instructions.
The scheme is headed Draft of Con-
vention for the. Pacific Settlement of
International Conflicts" The first
part deals with the maintenance of
general peace; the second part with ar
bitration.
The reporter of the committee ex-
planned lengthily the motives which
inspired the Drafting Committee in
celebrating the scheme
M. Bourgeois, head of the French
delegation, thanked the reporter in
warm terms, and congratulated him
upon his remarkable exposition.
The sitting was then adjourned until
July 18th
The review of the troops this morn
ing was attended by the military dele
gates to the conference, who were
specially invited to be present.
The proposed convention, without
the changes adoped to-day, is as fol-
lows:
Article with the object of pre-
venting, as far as possible, recourse
to force in International relations, the
signatory powers agree to use all en-
beavers to effect, by pacific means,
the settlement of differences which
may arise among them.
Article 2-The signatory powers de-
eide that in cases of serious difference
or conflict, they will, before appealing
to arms, have recourse, SO far as cir
cumstances permit, to the good Offices
or mediation of one or several friendly
powers.
Article independently of this, the
signatory powers deem it useful that
several of the powers not committed
to the arbitration scheme shall, on
their initiative, offer as far as circum-
stances permit, their good offices for
mediation to the contending States
The right Of offering their good offices
belongs to powers not connected with
the conflict even during the course of
hostilities, which act can never be re-
garded as an unfriendly act
Article 1.-The part of mediator con-
s1sts in reconciling conflicting claims
and appeasing resentment which may
have arisen between contending States.
Article 1The functions of mediators
cease from the moment it may be stat
ed by one of the contending parties or
by the mediator himself that the COM
promise or basis of an amicable UNI
Outstanding proposed by him has not
been accepted.
Article Good offices and mediation
have the exclusion character of coun-
sci, and are devoid of obligatory
power.
Article THE acceptance of media
ton, unless otherwise stipulated, may
have the effect of interrupting the OBJ
legation OF preparing for war. If the
acceptance supervenes after the open
ing of hostilities, it shall not interrupt,
except by a convention of contrary
tenor, military operations that may be
proceeding.
Article S-The signatory powers
agree in recommending the applica-
ton of special mediation in the event
of threatened interruption of peace
between members. Contending States
may each choose a power to which
they will intrust the mission of enter
ing into a negotiation with a power
chosen by the other side, with the OBJ
ject of preventing rupture of pa
cific relations, or in the event of hos
tilities, or restoring peace
Articles 9 to Il provide for the in
stitution of an International commits
sion of inquiry for the verification of
facts in cases of minor disputes not
affecting the vital interest or honor of
States, but impossible of settlement by
ordinary diplomacy. The report of an
inquiry commission will not force an
arbitral judgment, leaving the con-
tending parties full liberty to either
conclude an amicable arrangement on
the basis OF the report, or have re-
course ulteriorly to mediation or ar
bitration.
Articles IA to 10 set forth the gem
eral objects of and benefits it is hoped
to derive from the arbitration court,
and declare that signing the conven-
ton implies an understanding to SUBJ
NIT in good faith to arbitral Judgment
Article 2O-With the object of facil-
itating an immediate recourse to arbi-
tration for international differences
not regulated by diplomatic means,
the signatory powers undertake to or
ganize in the following manner a per-
manent Court of Arbitration, accessi-
BILE at all times and exercising its
functions, unless otherwise stipulated
between the contending parties in con-
formity with the rules of procedure
inserted in the present convention.
Article 21-This court is to have COM
potency in all arbitration cases, unless
the .contending parties come to an UNI
Outstanding for the establishment of q
special arbitration Jurisdiction.
Article pam International bureau
established at The Hague, and placed
under the direction of a permanent
Secretary General, will serve as the
officer Of the court It will be the in
termediary for communications con-
corning meetings. The court is to have
the custody Of archives and the mani