New-York tribune., 1901-08-19
NO COERCION At uEEICO.

A curiously and unexpectedly inept view OF
the Pan-American arbitration matter appears in
recent dispatches in the London press. The
question whether the forthcoming congress at
the City of Mexico is 10 he free or fettered is
interpreted to mean whether the congress is 10
he free 10 cOerce Chill. For the congress to re
tain in its tentative programme the item of
arbitration. unrestricted by any advance quail
fication. is apparently regarded as meaning that
Chill is to Ice compelled TO submit 10 the arbitra
tiOn of that congress questions of territorial in
tegrty and national honor. such nations gen
orally regard outside of arbitration. and even
OF discussion.
We can perceive no ground whatever for this
extraordinary view of the ease. The Pan
American Congress at the City of Mexico in
October is not 10 be a court of arbitration There
is no thought of submitting 10 il any specific
international question of dispute for It's adjudi-
cation. Its function with respect TO arbitration
is 10 be similar TO that Of the late congress at
The Hague Ii is 10 discuss academically the
general subject of arbitration. to formulate
scheme for applying il 10 international DIS
putes, TO lay down rules of procedure. and per
haps 10 provide for the constitution of a stand
ing tribunal But il is not TO he called upon 10
hear and determine disputes such that be
tween Peru and Chilli over the Treaty OF Ancon.
any more than that at The Hague called
upon TO arbitrate the claims of the United
States upon Turkey for indemnity. The notion
that to retain arbitration pure and simple IN
the tentative programme Of the congress would
commit Chilli 10 the submission of the Ancon
Treaty 10 the congress for adjudication.
would empower the congress 10 compel Chill
10 do. is utterly without foundation. and is TO
be deplored as not only mistaken but potential
ly mischievOus.
Beyond that. il is TO be said that there is no
thought anywhere of attempting TO "coerce"
Chill any other State. All American States
are invited 10 the congress. All come. If at all,
of their own free will. All will retain in the
congress entire freedom OF action: freedom, let
us say, TO dissent from the judgments of the
congress and 20 refuse 10 be bound thereby, or
even at any time 10 withdraw from the congress
altogether Above all. in the matter Of arbitra-
ton there must always be freedom. for the vol
untary principle is essential 10 successful arbi-
tratiOn. The Hague treaty does not compel any
Of its signatOries TO submit a single question TO
arbitration Ii leaves each country its own
judge of the fitness of question for arbitration
And IL makes Il clearly understood that refusal
10 accept mediation or 10 submit to arbi-
tration shall not be regarded unfriendly
offensive. 1t is strange misapprehension 10
suppose that the Fan-American Congress is 10
pursue any different or more arbitrary course
in dealing with the subject
The question is precisely as already stated
in The Tribune Ii is not whether Chill or any
other country shall be coerced. II is whether
Chill and all other countries are TO be free and
the whole congress is 10 he free. 10 discuss
not to dictate. but to discuss whatever ques-
tions seem 10 concern the welfare of the Amer
lean nations, or whether all the States and the
congress shall be gagged and fettered at the
demand OF a single State