Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-05-02
This Months Peace Congress.

ure of a preliminary conference or
ambassadors from the leading nations
of the world with reference to remov-
ing the greater brutalities OF war anu
also some of wars causes. In no sense
is the congress empowered to bind
the nations, and its findings will have
no more effect than simple recommen-
dations. The topics for discussion
have been agreed on as follows:
First-An agreement not to increase
naval or military forces and the cor
responding budgets for fixed period.
Second-An endeavor to find means
of reducing the forces and budgets in
the future. 2
Third-Interdiction of the use of any
new weapon or explosive OF a power
fuller than now made.
Fourth-Restriction Of the use of the
most terrible of existing explosives and
forbiddng the throwing of explosives
from balloons or similarly.
Fifth-Forbidding the employment of
submarine torpedoes and similar cor
trivances.
notwithstanding not to construct
vessels with rams.
Observation-Disclosures of the Geneva
convention to naval warfare.
Eighth-NeutraliZa of vessels
saving those wrecked in naval battles.
Ninth-Revision of the declaration
concerning the laws and customs OF
war elaborated at Brussels in 1874.
Tenth-Acceptance of the principle OF
mediation and arbitration in such
cases as lend themselves thereto.
Those who have anticipated some
thing sweeping from THIS congress may
see readily that they are doomed to
disappointment. The list of topics is in
itself sufficient to show that the con-
ference has no intention of striving for
universal peace, for they take up the
details of war in a manner which
shows plainly that there is little hope
of making war impossible or even i'm
probable. There is no proposal to dis
band the great standing armies, or to
retire the fleets that swim upon the
waters, and the most that can be ex-
pected in this direction is the recon-
mendatton that present fighting forces
be made no larger.
Important as is each one of the
topics, the most important of all the
ten suggested is the last one which
embraces arbitration. The United
40 ;,,-
tional arbitration. Our best statesmen
have always looked upon it as a force
and congresses have quickly
responded to every proposal for the
establishment of such a system be
tween the governments. In a dozen
instances we have demonstrated the
wisdom and practica bility Of an arb-
tration court, not only in cases where
our own interests were concerned, but
also in cases where we used our friend
" influence to bring other nations into
accord.
The American plan Of arbitration has
never involved any sacrifice of nation
al honor or integrity. 1t embraces no
more than a limited confederacy
among the nations whereby the smaller
disputes and frictions may be settled
by an international court. Its great
value becomes conspicuous when by
perusing history we find that in many
instances the smallest disputes have
caused the most colossal wars. Half
a century ago we came near to a war
with England over the Oregon bound
airy. and one of our political parties
campaigned on the issue of declaring
hostilities Today such a conflict
would not be thought Of until we had
exhausted an attempt at fair arbitra-
ton. showing how rapid has been the
growth of the meditatory spirit-a
spirit which finds its best modern in
stance in the settlement now being
made by England with Venezuela. 1t
is with the settlement of disputes over
boundaries and for the adjustment of
injuries inflicted unofficially upon the
citizen. together with the smaller
questions of commerce, trade privileges
or determinations. that international
! arbitration must seek to deal, ana
when by universal consent such "a
| tribunal is agreed to many of the
causes which lead to war will have
been eliminated. 49,. ..... .,..,..s--.s,....s
! Officially the United States has. nexei
| gone further than to advocate the
| principle Of arbitration. 1t is said
however, that at the coming peace
congress our commissioners will sub
nit plan for the formation of a per.
manent court with power for the ad
| justment of all internationa questions
incapable of amicahle settlement. re.