Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-06-06
MEDIATION PLAN
As Presented to Peace Con-
ference Arbitration Committee.
Method by Which Future Armed Con-
Aicts May Be Avoided.
But Acceptance Of Mediation Shall Not Close
Operations in Progress.

The Hague, June 1.-THE arbitration
committee OF the peace conference held
meeting, today, under the chairman
ship of M. Leon Bourgeois. Mr.. An
drew d. White, head of the American
delegation, Sir Julian Pauncefote head
OF the British delegation and NJ. De
Staal, head of the Russian delegation
with all the members of the committee
were present. After NJ. Bourgeois had
made a sympathetic reference to the
death of Miss Roth, daughter Of DR..
Roth, head of the Swiss delegation
who was killed in a railway accident.
last Thursday at Flushing, the secre-
tary of the drafting committee head
the draft scheme of mediation.
Articles | and are declaratory-tO
the effect that the signatory, in order to
prevent recourse to force. have agreed
to take effective pacific solutions of
different and will, except in exceptional
circumstances before an appeal to force
have recourse to the mediation of one
or more friendly powers.
Article 3: independently Of a re-
course to such amicabla means, the
signatories deem it expedient that one
or more powers not concerned in the
conflict should offer, of its or their own
initiative and, 50 far as circumstances
Will permit, its good offices of media
ton to states at variance. The right to
offer good offices of mediation belongs
to powers not concerned in the conflict
even during the course of actual hos
Utilities and the exercise Of this right
can never be considered by the parties
at variance as an unfriendly act"
Article 4 provides that the role of
mediator shall consist in the reconcile
alton of conflicting claims and the al
laying OF bitterness between states at
variance.
Article 5, defining the Limitation Of
the functions of a mediator. says these
shall cease on the moment when it is
stated by one Of the parties to the dis
pute. or by the mediator, that the ar
rangement of the bases Of a friendly
understanding proposed by him is not
accepted.
Article says that the good offices
contemplated. either at the instances
of the parties at variance or on the in
itiative of uninvolved powers. are ex-
clusiveIy of the character of friendly
counsel.
Article : asserts: acceptance of
mediation cannot have the effect. eX-
Cept by virtue of a convention TO the
contrary. Of interrupting or retarding
or hampering mobilization or other
for war If mediation in
tcrVenes after the opening of hostil:
ties. it shall not interrupt. except by
virtue of convention to the contrary,
operations in cousc Of cXecu
tom
Article s, THE signatories are in ac-
cord to recommend. in all crcum-
stances permitting it, special mediation
in the following form: In the event Of
grave differences threatening peace,
the states at variance shall choose re
spectively power to which each shall
confide the mission Of entering into d-
rect relations with the power chosen
by the other side. in order to prevent
rupture of friendly relations. During
the currency of their mandate. which.
except in the event of a stipulation to
the contrary shall not exceed 80 days. !
the question in dispute shall be con-
sidered as referred exclusively to those
powers. They shall apply all their eff
forts to settle the dispute and in the
event of an actual rupture of friendly
relations. shall remain charged with
the mission of taking advantage of
every occasion to restore peace
The draft was adopted without modi- |
ication. although the committee stipu-
lated that it should be subject to modi- |
ications at the second reading.
The naval section Of the ornaments |
committee has unanimously rejected |
the Russian proposals.