Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-05-10
THE HAGUE PEACE CONGRESS.

THE HAGUE PEACE CONGRESS.
TO the Editor:
'sprIngyile, Utah, May Q, 1902
| VIII you have the Kindness to publish
In your next Saturday issue synop-
sis OF The Hague peace convention,
| stating Ny whom II was called, its OBJ
| ject. by whom attended and business
done, and Oblige a regular
READER"
The Hague peace congress convened
on the 18th of May, 1889 in response
10 a circular to the governments Of the
world. issued by Gear Nicholas.
Tho object OF that congress is set
forth In the imperial circular. His
majesty said In part;
"Tho maintenance Of general peace
end the possible reduction Of the ex-
cessiye armaments which weigh upon
all nations, present themselves in the
existing condition OF the whole world
as an Ideal towards which the endeav-
ots Of all government should be d.
rected In the conviction
that this lofty aim II IN conformity
with the more essential interests and
legitimate wishes Of all the powers,
the imperial government thinks the
present moment would be very favor
able for an Inquiry by means OF inter-
national discussion, as 10 the most eff
fectlye means OF lnsuring 10 all the
peoples the benefits of a real and dur
able peace. and. above all, Of afllXing
period 10 the progressive develop
ment OF the present ornaments"
The idea of the Russian emperor was
that the congress should agree on some
recommendation to the respective
governments, looking toward gradual
disarmament and ultimate permanent
peace The circular closes as follows:
'rhe conference, by the help Of God.
would be q happy presage OF the CEN
tuty now about 10 open. IL would con-
verge in one focus the efforts of all
those states which sincerely seek TO
make the great conception Of universal
peace triumph over the elements OF
trouble and dlscord II would at the
same time. by formal consent cement
an agreement as 10 those principles Of
equity aud right on which rest the
security of states and the welfare OF
peoples.
Baron De staal, president of the con-
ference, IN his opening address pointed
out that the nations have great need
Of peace, and that arbitration and me-
diatlon are among the means by which
that end can best be secured These
he said have been practiced for a long
Time by diplomacy, but they have not
been precisely established, and their
employment In cases In which they
should be employed has not been de-
fined. TO do this was the duty Of the
conference, He also thought II the
duty OF the congress, to solve the prob
lem OF minimizing as far as possible
the horrors Of armed conflicts. Such |
were the objects of that remarkable |
world congress.
There were 40 delegates to that gath |
ering. Among the countries repre-
'ntedwere the United States Great Brit
ain, Russia, Germany, France. Austria
Hungary, Belgium China, Denmark.
Holland, Italy, Japan, Sweden, Norway,
Persia, Portugal Roumana, seryia,
Slam, Spain, Switzerland and Turkey.
The United States delegation consisted
IF Andrew d. White, Seth Low, Stan
ord Newell Captain Crozier and Cap
ain Mahan Sir Julian Pauncefote
leaded the British delegation, and NJ.
De Staal, the Russian.
The general impression, when the con.
erence met was that II was Intended
or an official funeral Of the Cars
'cace projects, but through the splen-
lid efforts OF the American and British
elegaies the work was taken up in
arrest, The delegates were aroused
o a sense Of their duty and con-
entlon was drawn up, which II carried
ut, would insure permanent peace
According 10 See. I, the agnatory
overs agree To employ all their ef-
)rts TO bring about by pacific means,
he solution OF differences that may
rise between different states.
Section II provides for good offices
nj mediation" The powers are by this
sction bound to have recourse. 80 far
8 circumstances allow H." to the good
Hoes or mediation OF one or more OF
he friendly powers, before appealing
} arms And the friendly powers are
ound TO offer mediation between the
sputing states.
Section III provides for an interna. ,
onal commission OF inquiry the duty
which Il shall be to establish the
rcumstanccs under which the dispute I
rs arisen and report to the powers in c
'lved, without rendering any decision. c
Then there is a section on "Interna-
onal Arbitration" the object OF which q,
the settlement Of disputes by judges .
losen by the states involved. And in
der 10 facilitate such arbitration the
'rmanent court OF arbitration at The
ague was established. This court d