The San Francisco call., 1899-12-28
A PEACE PETITION.

y October 20 a remarkable petition was pre-
( I scnted 10 the President OF the United States
- Il bore the signatures Of is Bishops of the
Episcopal church, oi % Bishops OF the Cathohc
church, and those % Io4 members of Congress.
large number of ciergmen and authors and OF emi-
nent citizens IN Official and private life Il asked the
President 60 offer the friendly services OF the United
States in mediation between Great Britain and the
South African republics The right OF such offer is
based the third article OF the plan adopted by the
Peace Conference al The Hague which says: The
rght Of offering their good Offices belongs TO powers
not connected with the conflict. even during the
course OF hostities. which never be regarded as
uniuendly act" To that article Great Britain and
the United States asseued It is the only provision
IN the whole plan OF the Peace Conference that holds
ont any hope OF hearing to a weak power attacked
by the strong.
President Mckinley receiving the petition said
Il thank you. gentlemen. Tor coming here and for the
sentiments you have uttered in behalf OF peace for
the whole world 20 say that those peace sen
uments have my sympaihy-my most sincere SYM
pathy especially as they come from body OF citi-
zens of such representative and influential charac-
ter and that this movement has profoundly impressed
me But IN case where so many diverse interests
ere involved believe we should move with great re-
serve lest unwt,ngly do injury TO any OF the par
ties concerned. We should not overlook American
interests that are al stake Again saw am for
peace and can assure You. gentlemen. that your
petition and what you have said 10 me will have nv
most earnest consideration"
Since then nothing has been done and the sub ect
OF the petition has not been referred to- No explana-
tion made that discoes the American interests that
will be injured by peace. that informs the pc
tItioners how tender Of good Offices might infict
injury upon either OF the parties to the conflict
The warrant for such offer goes back OF the plan
o the Peace Conference and rests upon long line OF
precedents. In 1872 Russia offered to mediate be-
tween the United States and Great Britain In 1896
England offered to mediate between France and the
United States. In 1874 France offered her good
Offices between Spain and Morocco In Is47 England
offered 10 mediate between Portugal and her insyr
gent subjects. In IS4o England and France Offered
10 mediate between the King OF Naples and the in
surgent Scilians In 1861 both France and Russia
offered good Offices between the United States and
the Confederate States. In 1865 the United States
offered mediation between Spain and the South
American republics In many other instances such
offers have been made ending with the tender bv
Sir Julian Paunoeiote OF the good Offices OF Great
Britain. Germany Austria France. Italy and Russ;,
between this country and Spain. In none Of these
the offer taken as an unriendly act or &c
imperiling either party the combat or as dangerous
10 the Interests OF the power or powers rendering
mediation.
A petition OF the high origin described bv the
President should receive the consideration promised
il England treat such offer as unirendv she will
violate all precedent and it viii do this country good
10 know her sentiments that subject II will also
be useful know what American interests are being
served by upon and the threatened destruction Of
the South African republics.