The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-06-01
Rmssza's Proposal TO
the Peace Congress
Gzvem Out.
Nearly Hi Possible
Complications Are
.C0verxd.
BY Cable From The Hague, May 81.

Het Vaderland prints the text of the
Russian proposals to the peace conference
regarding mediation and arbitration.
Part one deals with the desirability of
seeking a solution of international disputes
by the mediation of friendly powers and
sets forth that such good offices, whether
sought or proffered shall bear strictly the
friendly counsel and no way of compulsory
force.
Part two deals with international abr-
tration and equitable means of settling
questions regarding the international appli-
cation of treaties.
The contracting powers, therefore, should
undertake to seek such arbitration in such
cases, so far as these affect neither vital
interests nor the national honor of the
parties in dispute. Then, after setting forth
that each state remains the sole Judge of
what cases are to be submitted to arbi-
tration, 1t is suggested that large num-
Der of cases, such as questions of pecunary
damage and dsagreements in the aplica-
tion Of treaties or conventions affecting
commercial, postal, navigation, currency,
sanitary and copyright matters and the like,
not affecting vital interests or national
honor, are those in which arbitration should
be obligatory. In all other cases, says the
mended by the present act, can only be
applied on the spontaneous initiative of
one of the parties in dispute and with the
express consent of the other parties.
The closing clause provides as follows:
With view of facilitating recourse
to arbitration, the signatory powers
agree to formulate a common arrange
ment for the employment of interna-
tional arbitration and for the funda-
mental principles to be observed in
! drawing up rules of procedure to be
followed pending inquiry into the dis
pute and the pronouncement of the ar
bitrators decision. The APPLICATION of
these principles and procedure may be
modified in virtue of special arrange
ments between the states which may
have recourse to arbitration.
A COMMISSION OF INQUIRY.
Part three deals with an international
commission of inquiry. 1t provides as fol-
lows:
In cases of divergence causing inter-
national litigation on local circum-
stances which cannot be settled by ordi-
nary diplomatic means, but do not in
volve honor or vital interests, the
governments interested agree to insti-
tute an international commission of in
quiry to investigate impartially all
questions of fact. Each government
interested shall appoint two members Of
the commission. These four shall
choose fifth, who shall be president of
the commission. If the votes are di-
vided to this an appeal shall be
made to another government or to
third party to appoint a president.
After the investigation, the commits
sion shall submit a report signed by
all the members to the governments
interested. The report shall in no wise
have the character of an arbitration
judgment but shall leave the conflict
ing parties at full liberty either to con-
clude a friendly arrangement on the
basis of said report, or to have re-
course to arbitration by concluding an
agreement ad hoe, else by resorting
to active measure allowable in the mu-
tual relations between nations.
The Russian proposals are followed by
code of arbitration indicating procedure
these lines:
The states interested that have accepted
arbitration shall sign special act of COM
promise, clearly setting forth the questions
to be arbitrated and the full facts con-
nected Herewith. The compromise thus
concluded may provide for arbitration upon
the whole matter in dispute or upon points
categorically determined.
The governments interested may entrust
the functions of arbitration either to
sovereign third power or to a tribunal of
arbitration Such tribunal shall be
lected in the same manner as commissions
of inquiry, and, if difficulty arises in choos
ing the fifth arbitrator as president, the
other powers shall be asked by common
consent to appoint a president.
The other clauses of the proposals deal
with details as to place of meeting, the
appointment of counsel, the procedure of
the tribunal and cognate matters.