Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-07-26
DatIp 11ennebcc 3op--1al.
AGREAT SUCCESS.
VIM. 7. Stead on Work OF
the Peace Conference.
Magnitude Of Gains lmperfectIy Un-
derstood Even by Conference"
Highly Compliments the americans in Success
OF Their Endeavors.

Copyright. 1899 The Associated PrcssO
The Hague. July Psi have seen the
American delegates and they talked
freely about the conference, but re-
fused to make statement about the
results before the conference rises. The
following. however, may be accepted
as fairly accurate summary of the
views they entertain:
The conference achieved a great
success-much greater than the dele
gates anticipated-and the result was
achieved largely by the amour propre
of capable men from all parts of the
world, determined to accomplish some
thing worth their assembling together.
The result surprised all of them and
the magnitude of the gains is imper-
fectly understood even by the confer
ence.
The establishment of a permanent
court of arbitration on the American
principle of revision. plus the French
declaration of the duty of neutrals to
recommend disputing powers to resort
to the arbitration court rather than to
war, represents vast progress in the
evolution of human society. The recog
milton of the duty to represent to dis
putants the desirability of resorting
to the arbitration court entails no
obligation on the Americans inconSiS-
tent with their traditional policy. This
is made absolutely clear by the declara-
ton signed by the American delega-
ton. read in full at the conference, to-
day, and entered on the records.
MIR Low was busily engaged, today
upon the elaboration Of the final act re
cording the work OF the conference. Mir
Hollis has achieved position of influence
much greater than that of many OF thC
first delegates; and Capt. Crozier :
much admired for his plucky fight in SUP
port of his amendment to the Russian
resolution on the dum-dum bullet.
The relations between the American
and other delegates. notably the English,
German and Russian. has been extremely
friendly. The Englishmen and Americans
acted throughout almost like Il joint dele
CATION This was due to no arrangement
or direction but solely because both ma
tions found common ground of defence
common interests. civilization ana hu
mainly.
The only point on which the English
delegates failed To support the Americans
was the resolution forbiddng the capnlr'
of private property at sea. 70 this the
English representatives were not opposed,
but. the British cabinet being divided. the
delegates had 10 instructions regarding
the matter and dbstaincd from taking &c.
ton.
After the arbitration convention Is
signed it will probably be open to the an
hesion of all the other powers, not rep
resented at the conference, on condition
that on original signatory of the cunNen-
ton objects. This right to blackball tht
power wishing to join the convention wa
insisted upon by Italy, in order to prevent
the adhesion of the Pope, and by Eng
land, on account Of the Transvaal. 1t l.
hoped that all the South American state
will come in.
1T is the unanimous opinion OF all the
American delegates that the conference
begins new epoch and that the gooC
seed now sown will bear a rich harvest
hereafter. WILLIAM l. STEAD.