The Topeka state journal., 1899-12-05
THE HAGUE CONFERENCE
The Monroe Doctrine Was Carefully
Guarded by o. s. Delegates

In response to the invitation of His
from tWenty-six countries were assembled
at The Hague on the 18th day of May. as
members Of a conference in the interest
of peace. The commission from the
United States consisted of the Hon. An
drew White. the Hon. Seth Low, the Hon.
Stanford Newell. Captain Afford T. Ma
William 4 Crozier of the United States
army and the Hon. Frederick w. Hollis,
secretary. The occasion seemed to be op-
perfume for the serious consideration of a
plan for the pacific adjustment of inter
national differences, a subject in which
the American people have been deeply in
terested for many years and a definite
project for a permanent international tri-
the delegates of the United States.
The final act of the conference includes
conventions upon the anticipation of the
laws and customs of war on land. the ad-
aptatiOn to maritime warfare of the prin-
ciples of the Geneva convention of 1864,
and the extension of judicial methods to
international cases. The convention for
the pacific settlement of international
conflicts embOdies the leading features of
the American plan. with such mOdifca-
uOnS as We're rendered necessary by the
great diversity of views and interests rep
resented by the delegates. The four titles
of the convention provide for the main
tenance of general peace, the exercise of
good offices and mediation, the formation
of commissions of inquiry and internat-
ional arbitra ton.
The mediation provided for by the con-
ventiOn is purely voluntary and advisory,
and is intended to avoid any invasion of
limitation of the sovereign rights of the
adhering states. The commissions of in
qufry proposed consist of delegations to
be specifically constituted for particular
tween the contesting parties having for
their object the clear understanding of
international differences before reSort1ng
to the use of force. The provision for ar
bitratiOn cOntemplates the formation of
puted cases may be brought for settle
ment by the mutual consent of the lti-
gants IN each separate case me adVan-
tageS of such a permanent tribunal over
imprOmptu commissions of arbitration are
conceived to be the actual existence OF
competent court prepared to administer
justice, the greater economy resulting
from a well devised system and the ac-
cumulated judicial skill and experience,
which such a tribunal would soon possess.
W nile earnestly promoting the idea OF
establishing a permanent international
tribunal the delegation of the United
states was not unm1ndful of the fncon-
veniences which might arise from OBJ
trusive exercise of mediation, and in the
convenuon care1uIiy guarded the historic
position of the United States by the fol-
lowing declaration:
Nothing contained in this convention
shall be so construed as to require the
United States OF America. to depart from
upon, interfering with or entangling itself
in the political questions or policy or in
state; nor shall anything contained in the
said convention be constructed to imply
America of its traditional attitude toward
purely American questions"
Thus INTERPRETED. the convention for
the pacific settlement of international
conI-lcls may pc IegsIued as rea1lZlng lhe
earnest desire OF great numbers OF Amer
lean citizens whose deep sense of justice.
expressed in numerous resolutions and
memorials, has urged them to labor for
this noble achievement The general
character of this convention. already
signed by the delegates of more than
twenty sovereign states. further com
mends it to the favorable action of the
senate OF the United States whose Tatifi-
Army MATTERS.
Since my last annual message and in
obedience to the acts of the congress of
teer force enlisted for the Spanish var
consisting of 34,S34 regulars, and Io,2Q2
EoIunt GERS, with over 5,D9O volunteer Of
tary service. OF the volunteers, 667 Of
ncers and 1881 men were serving in the
Philippines and $50 of the regulars who
We're entitled to be mustered out after the