Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-05

a general recognition of the Interdepea-
dence of nations N trade and most graft
flying spirit of accommodation with re1er-
ence to the gradual removal of existing I'M
pediments to reciprocal relations without
injury to the industrial interests of either
party.
The Peace Conference.
In response to the invitation of His
Majesty the Emperor of Russia, delegates
from twenty-s:x countries were assembled
at The Hague on the 18th of May, as MEM
bers of a conference in the interest of
peace. The commission from the United
States consisted of the Hon. Andrew D.
White. the Hon. Seth Low. the Hon. STAN
ford Newell, Captain Alfred II. Mahan, OF
the United States Navy, Captain William
Grocer of the United States Army, and
the Hon. Frederick W. Hollis, secretary.
The occasion seemed 10 be oppOrtune for
the serious consideration of plan for the
pacific adjustment of international differ
enCes. a subject in which the American
people have been deeply interested for
many years. and a definite project for
permanent international tribunal was IN
Guided in the instructions to the delegates
of the United States.
The final act of the conference includes
conventions upon the ameioration OF the
Jaws and customs of war on land, the
adaptation to maritime warfare of the prln-
Cipies of the Geneva Convention OF lS64.
and the extension of judicial methods to
international cases. The Convention for
the Pacific Settlement of Interna tional Con-
h'Cts embodeS the leading features of the
American plan, with such notifications as
were rendered necessary by the great
diversity of views and interests represented
by the delegates The four titles of the
convention provide for the maintenance OF
general peace. the exercise OF good ofhceS
and mediation. the formation of commas
sions of inquiry. and international arbitra-
ton.
The mediation provided for by the con-
vention is purely voluntary and advisory,
and is intended to avoid any invasion or
limitation of the sovereign rights OF the adj
herring states. The commissions of inquire
proposed consist of delegations to be spe-
constituted for particular purposes
by means of conventions between the con-
testing parties, having for their object the
clear unders standing of international diff
ferences before resorting to the use of
force. The provision for arbitration con-
the formation of a permanent
tribunal before which disputed cases may
be brought for settlement by the mutual
consent of the litigants in each separate
case The advantages of such Il permanent
tribunal over imprOmptu commissions of
arbitration are conceived to be the actual
existence of a competent court prepared to
administer justice. the greater economy re-
Sulting from Il well-devlsed system. and the
accumulated judicial skill and experience
which such tribunal would soon possess.
While earnestly promoting the idea of
tabllshing permanent international tri-
bunal, the delegation of the United States
was not unmindful of the Inconvenience
which might arise from an obtrusive exer-
else of mediation. and in signing the con-
vention carefully guarded the historic posi-
ton of the United States by the following
declarations:
Nothing contained in this convention
shall be SO construed as to require the
United States of America to depart from
It's traditional policy of not intruding upon
q for vt-irh
political questions or policy or internal ad-
ministra Of any foreign state; nor shall
anything contained in the said convention
be construed to imply a REIMBURSEMENT by
the United States of America of its tradi-
tionai attitude toward purely American
questions"
Thus interpreted, the Convention for the
Pacific settlement of International Con-
hicts may be regarded as realizing the
earnest desire of great numbers of Ameri-
can citizens whose deep sense of justice
expressed in numerous resolutions and me-
MORALS, has urged them to labor for this
noble achievement The general character
Of this convention, already signed by the
delegates Of more than twenty sovereign
states, further cOmmends il to the favor
able action of the Senate of the United
States, whose ratification it still awaits.
THE ARMY.
Since my last Annual Message. and in
obedience to the acts of the Congress of
4 pril - and 26. 1898, the remaining volun-
teer force enlisted for the Spanish war
consisting of 34.s34 regulars and 11o2,,2
volunteers. with over 1000 volunteer off,
GERS. has been discharged from the mill
tary service. OF the volunteers. 6G7 Off
GERS and 1I.S1 men were serving in the
Philippines. and $50 of the regulars. who
We're entitled to b. mustered out after the
of the treaty Of peace They
voluntarily remained at the front until
their places could be filled by new troops
They were returned home in the order in
which they went to Manila. and are now all
of them out of the service and in the ranks
of citizenship. 1 recommend that the Con-
gress provide a special medal of honor for
the volunteers, regulars, sailors and ma
rlnes on duty in the Philippines VINO vol
unfairly remained in the service after their
terms of enlistment had expired.
BY the act of March >, I&9. Congress
gave authority to increase the Regular
Army to a maximum not exceeding $3.50
enlisted men. and to enlist force of $1,000
volunteers. to be recruited from the coun-
try at large. By virtue of this authority
the Regular Army has been increased to
the number of 81 $50 enlisted men and 224S
officers, and new volunteer regiments
have been organized aggregating $3.50 en-
listed men and LIZA officers. Two of these
volunteer regiments are made up of cOlorcd
troops to take the places of those returning
II ON the Philippines have been transported
to Manila to the number of ISL officers and
26.322 enlisted men of the Regular Army
and 59i officers and 15,3SS enlisted men of
the new volunteer force, while JO4 officers
and 1l.119 men of the volunteer force are
on the ocean en- route to Manila
The force now in Manila consists of 800
officers and 3O.5IS regulars, and 594 officers
and less Of the volunteers. making an
aggregate of 1.49J officers and 1896 men
When the troops now under orders shall
reach Mani the force In the archipelag go
Will comprise 2,UJl officers and *, 4s} men
The muster out of the great volunteer
army organized for the Spanish war and
the creation of a new army, the TRANSPORT
t&tion from Manila to San Francisco of
those entitled to discharge and the trans
p"rtation Of the new troops to take their
places have been a work of great magni.
tude well and ably DONE for which too
much credit can not be given the War De-
part ment.
During the past year we have reduced
our force In Cuba and Porto Rico. In Cuba
We now have 3}4 officers and 10 1876 enlisted
men: in Porto Rico, 81 officers and . $50 en-
listed men and battalion of 400 men
composed of native Porto Ricans; while
stationed throughout the United States are
9lu officers and 1877 men, and In Hawaii
l. officers and Abb enlisted men