New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-28
THE PEACE CONGRESS.
AN oPTIMIsT VIEW BASED ON THE
MORAL ORDER OF PROGRESS.
The Hague. Nav 10.

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Belgium. Switzerland. Greece. Montenegro, Ru-
mania, servia, Bulgaria, Portugal and Den
mark To these are added a group OF the sec
ond rank. embracing Spain, Sweden and Nor
way and Turkey. The six great Powers OF
Europe Great Britain, Russia Germany, France
Austria-Hungary and Italy will not have
greater voting power than six of the smallest
States. since each delegation las only one vote
in the Congress, and feeble little Luxembourg
is an offset 10 the worldwide British Empire.
The United States and Mexico represent the
American continent, the South American States
not having been invited. Persia, China, Japan
and Siam form an Asiatc group.
The Transvaal and the Orange Free State
were excluded by Russia. either with or without
the knowledge OF the British Government The
Vatican was barred out under menace from the
Italian Government. The South American re-
publics were passed over because their In
terests would be practically represented by the
great northern Republic. whose Monroe Doc
trine has protected them against European In
yasion for two generations. Persia and Siam
were included for some inscrutable reason only
understood in the Russian Foreign Once. The
minor European States have been invited on
terms OF equality. and they form together a
majority OF the Congress in voting power. with
q common interest in the repression OF militar-
ism. the decline Of ornaments and the main
tenance OF peace by arbitration. The day for
small and feeble nationalities has not passed
when they are allowed TO take their places In
a worlds parliament and to control its action
by leaguing together on common ground. They
hold the balance OF power on any test question
which may be voted upon in this international
Congress.
The large number OF countries represented In
This Congress reduces 1t at once to the level
OF an international debating society empowered
10 discuss academic questions without commit
ting the Governments TO any positive policy.
II is not attended by Foreign Ministers ana
statesmen Of the first rank but by diplomatists
in ordinary service. and by experts in the arts
Of war and the science Of international law IL
lacks the responsible functions OF congress or
peace commission charged with the DUTY OF
bringing a state OF 10 a close and or read
tusting boundaries and assessing indemnitles
II Is q purely advisory body, like the numerous
congresses which have been held In various
cities Of the Continent for the discussion OF
grave questions of international policy. II
greater interest attaches 10 its deliberations IMAM
20 the debates OF previous international assem-
blies it is because the Congress has been sum
,noned at the instance Of the most powerful
reaching evils and intolerabie burdens Of mill
tarisn. No government has felt at liberty 10
disregard the summons to this Conference Ma
tions great or small have felt the moral force
of public opinion behind them. and have hast
ened TO place themselves in the right ATTITUDE
toward an issue appealing to the enlightened
conscience Of the world.
SOME OF THE DELEGATES.
AS the question of limiting ornaments was
distinctly raised in the Cars Rescript the dele
cations include a large number Of military anu
naval experts OF high rank. There are also
masters of international law and ethics ike Pro-
fessor Martens, of ST. Petersburg; Baron Won
STENCIL. Of Munich; Professor Zorn, OF honiss-
berg and Professor Asser, Of Holland. Other
wise the delegations are recruited manly hoin
che dinlornatic service. Baron de staal coming
from the Russian Embassy at London Count
Munster from the German Embassy at Paris
Count Rudolf Welsersheimb from the Foreign
of1ce at Vienna. Sir Julian Pauncefote from
the British Embassy at Washington. Count
Nigra from the Italian Embassy at Vienna Mr..
White from the American Embassy at Berlin
and representatives Of minor countries from
various diplomatic posts. France sends an ex-
Premier in NJ Bourgeois and the delegates as
whole are an exceedingly able and influential
body. The Russian Government cannot with
.ustice complain Of the response which has been
made 10 the Cars appeal TO the moral sensiblh-
Ties OF nations The Rescript has been treated
with great respect and Congress OF excep-
tional character and influence is now on the
point of assembling TO receive definite proposals
.or nrornoting the peace OF the world and to de-
Nberate upon them.
will ia Mace Congress
ranized the world will not know in detail for
the debates will be conducted with closed doors
and only such abstracts and reports the Rus
sian permanent chairman authorizes will be al
lowed 70 go out. Whether the Congress can be
induced to unite on any scheme Of partial dis
or international arbitration 1t is idle
for any onlooker 10 forecast. Probably the ses-
sions will occupy two months and the final re-
suits. when reduced TO academic form in section
reports and committee resolutions will seem to
be insignificant and out Of proportion TO the
combined efforts of twenty-six nations TO pro-
mote the highest ends Of civilization. The
cheeriest optmst cannot look for anything more
practical than a series Of virtuous resolutions
with felictously turned phrases. That is the
largest result which can reasonably be expected
from what the cynics contemporary describe
as an international conference Of praise and
prayer"
The millennium has not come because Nicho-
las II with q bias toward domestic tranquility
and a quiet reflective life was moved 10 pro-
claim himself man Of peace and an advocate OF
but the extraordinary effect of
his Reseript can be traced during the last year
OF European diplomacy down TO the signing Of
the Chinese agreement between England and
Russia The disturbing force OF the Russian
French alliance was counteracted by that Mos
COW message Of peace, and the relations OF the
great European Powers have been strangely
tranouized by It. Even the most cynical dplo-
matist OF the day is forced TO admit that the