The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-12-06
cal relations without injury to the in
dustrial interests Of either party.
THE PLACE. CONFERENCE

| AMERICAS REPRESENTATIVES,
| In response to the invitation Of his ma
| jesty the emperor of Russia, delegates
| from twenty-siX countries were assem-
| bled at The Hague on the 18th of May,
as members of a conference in the inter
est of peace. The commission from the
| United States consisted of the Hon. An
drew D. White, the Hon. Seth Low, the
Hon. Stanford Newell. Captain Alfred T.
Mahan. Of the United States navy; Cap
! tain William T. Crozier. of the United
/ States army. and the Hon Frederick w.
| Hollis, secretary. The occasion seemed
to be opportune for the serious consider
alton of a plan for the pacific adjustment
of international differences, a subject in
which the American people have been
deeply interested for many years, and a
definite project for a permanent interna-
tional tribunal was included in the in
structions to the delegates of the United
States.
AMERICAN PLAN ADOPTED.
The final act of the conference in
cludes conventions upon the amelioration
of the laws and customs of war on land
the adaptation to maritime warfare of
the principles of the Geneva convention
Of 1864 and the extension of judicial
methods of international cases. The con-
vention for the pacific settlement of in
ternational conflicts embodies the leading
features of the American plan, with such
notifications as were rendered necessary
by the great diversity of views and inter
ests represented by the delegates. The
four titles of the convention provide for
ba Of ha
exercise of good offices and mediation,
the forma ton of commissions of inquiry,
and international arbitration.
ADVANTAGES OF FIXED TRIBUNAL.
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
inquiry proposed consist of delegations to
be specifically constituted for particular
purposes by means Of conventions be-
tween the contesting parties, having for
their object the clear understanding of
international differences before resorting
to the use of force The provision for
arbitration contemplates the formation of
a permanent tribunal before which dis
puted cases may be brought for settle
ment by the mutual consent sof the liti-
giants in each separate case. The adj
vantages OF such a permanent tribunal
over impromptu commissions of arbitra-
ton are conceived to be the actual exis-
tence of a competent court, prepared to
administer justice. the greater economy
resulting from well-devised system, and
the accumulated judicial skill and exper-
fence which such tribunal would soon
possess.
MONROE DOCTRINE RESERVED.
While earnestly promoting the idea Of
establishing permanent international
tribunal, the delegation of the United
States was not unmindful OF the icon
veniences which might arise from an OBJ
trusive exercise of mediation, and in sign
ing the convention carefully guarded the
historic position of the United States by
the following declaration: Nothing con-
tanned in thi sconvention shall be so con-
strued as to require the United States of
America to depart from its traditional
policy OF not intruding upon, interfering
with, or entangling itself in, the political
questions or policy or internal admits
tration Of any foreign state nor shall
anything contained in the said convention
be construed to imply a REIMBURSEMENT
by the United States of America of its
traditional attitude toward purely Amer
lean questions.
COMMENDED TO THE SENATE
Thus interpreted, the convention for the
pacific settlement of international con-
flicts may be regarded as realizing the
earnest desire of great numbers of Amer
lean citizens, whose deep sense of jus
tice, expressed in numerous resolutions
and memorials, has urged them to labor
70 this noble achievement. The gen.
eral 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 ratifi-
ca ton il still awaits