The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-07-27
WHITE ON ARBITRATION
The Ambassadors Pleasant View of
Results at The Hague.
The Conference Has Furnished
Means of Escape From War Tint
VIII BE Welcomed by the People
of Differing Nations - Americas
stand Agninst European Alliance.

London. July 26-The Times" this
morning prints an interview had by its
correspondent at The Hague with Ambas-
sador White. the head of the American
delegation. Mr.. White predicts that the
arbitration treaty will be serviceable from
the outset, and that it will be the germ
from which a more complete system will
be evolved by future conferences. He says
that public opinion in any nation that is
drifting toward war will generally see in
the arbitration tribunals means of escape.
and will insist that the questions at issue
be referred to it. AS time passes such a
reference will seem mere natural and more
normal. Thus it might be hoped that ev-
cry advantage which is claimed for obli-
gatory arbitration would be obtained with
out the overwhelming disadvantages at
tached thereto.
Mr.. White explained the grounds on
which the American delegates insisted that
the United States should not be forced to
interfere in European affairs. or vice versa.
He said that if any modification was ever
made in the policy that the United States
had so long observed 1t must be after the
fullest opportunity to study the subject in
all its bearings had been given to the
American people. in whose hsarts tn IRE
was deep, even religious feeling against
the nation entangling itself in the internal
affairs of foreign nations. Nevertheless.
this attitude did not imply the slightest
withdrawal from full cooperation in the
judicial settlement of international diff
culties. No power would more gladly well
come the machinery of the arbitration con-
vention than the United States and none
would more faithfully adhere to it. The
past history of the United States abun-
dantly showed this and the future would
be interpreted by the past.
MIR. White added: Il am convinced that
the arbitration plan will be of vast value
to my own country and to mankind. Future
conferences will ripen the good fruit it
will bring forth. The American people
will, l believe. recognize these facts heart
lily and Tuesdays declaration having besn
made. Will accept our work readily, will
make use of it Loyalty, and will gladly join
in any future measures for perfecting it."
The Hague. July 26.-At the session of
the Peace Conference yesterday Sir Julian
Pauncefote. of the British delegation, OPP
posed clause in the convention concern
ing the laws and customs OF war on land.
specifying that the destruction of cable
terminals was permissible in war On the
understanding that indemnity therefor
should be settled on the restoration of
peace. He said that Great Britain attached
great Importance to the stipulation re-
garding the right to demand indemnity.
The destruction of terminal might rem
der useless thousands of miles of cable.
Who. he asked, could estimate the .gigan-
tic sum that might be claimed for indirect
damages? Great Britain could not possibly
accept a clause SO gravely restricting her
liberty of action in time of war. He added
that if the clause was maintained he could
not sign the convention. The Conference
accordingly decided to eliminate the clause.