The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-01-16

Compulsory Arbitration Impracti-
cable, Said ChiIeans-United states
and Mexico Authorized to Secure
Adherence of NOn-SignntOry Pow
ers-McxicO Is Empowered 10 Take
Steps to Ascertain the Practicable
ity of "A still More COmprehc nsive
Plan of Arbitration.
Mexico City, Jan ia plan for
the adherence of the nations repre-
sented at the Pan-American Congress
to The Hague convention was intro
duced by the Chilean delegation to-day
after statement tending to show the
advantages of The Hague convention
and the impracticabilty of compulsory
arbitration. The plan for the adher-
ence of the nations of America to The
Hague convention is as follows:
"The states represented at the Sec
ond international American conference
resolve:
First. To adhere to the conventions
signed at The Hague by the powers
represented at the international peace
conference; (a) for the peaceful adjust
ment of the international difference;
CD for the adaptation to maritime war
fare of the principles of the Geneva
convention of Aug. 22 1884, (c) with
respect to the laws and usages of land
war.
Second, to confer, in order to attain
that end, upon the United States OF
America and the United States of Mex.
leo, signatory governments to said
|
essary steps to establish Cor secure)
the adherence of non-signatory pow
ers."
The Majority Plan.
The following is the official plan of
acceptance of The Hague conference
consigned by the delegations to the
Pan-American conference, with the ex-
ception of Chile. who, it is claimed,
for purposes of obstruction presented
an independent plan, and Ecuador,
who has sided with Chile throughout
the conference:
Article /. The American republics
represented at the international con-
ference at Mexico and which were not
parties to the three conventions signed
nize the principles set forth in tho
convention as part of the public in
ternational law of the Americas.
Article g. The acceptance of the
conventions, which are operative when
once ratified by the several govern
ments, shall be communicated by those
governments through diplomatic chan
nels to the government of The Neither
lands
Article 3. AS it is expedient that the
controversies. which il may be agreed
to submit to arbitration, should be
confined to the confirmation of a trib-
unal of so high a character as is the
permanent arbitration court of The
Hague, and also that the American ma
tions which did not sign the conven-
tion which created so beneficient an in
stitution may be able to have recourse
to 1t by virtue of IA recognized and ac-
cepted right, and taking moreover into
consideration the offices rendered by
the government of the United States
of America and the United States of
Mexico, the conference bestows on said
governments the mission of negotiating
with other powers who signed the con-
vention for the pacific adjustment of
international differences to the end that
the nations of America which did not
sign the convention may now become
parties thereto.
In an additional article the sigma
tory nations empower the Mexican
government, in the interval between
the present and the next Pan-American
conference, to communicate with other
governments of America with q view
to ascertaining the practicabiity OF
concluding a still more comprehensive
plan of arbitration. If those steps are
successful further treaty will be
concluded between two or more of the
nations in question and in any event,
Mexico will report at the next confer
ence as to the success of her efforts I'm
this direction.
CbiIi's Obstructive Tactics.
The obstructive tactics of Chile,
which were clearly revealed at to-day's
sessions. begin to make it apparent
that IL will be practically impossible TO
ever bring either Of the arbitration pro-
jects to vote unless some rule resemb-
ling the cloture Of the British Parlia-
ment is adopted, as the Chileans will
continue to talk indefinitely. After at
tacking throughout the afternoon ses-
sion the plan Of general acceptance of
The Hague articles as having been
partly adopted, they finally changed
front, dropped their own plan of ac-
ceptance and gave their assent to the
general plan, but insisted that instead
| of merely passing through the confer
ence IL be submitted thereto for debate.
They know, ii is claimed. that II II is
only debated. they will be able to de-
lay matters indefinitely and in the
meantime work for the withdrawal Of
more Central and South American
delegations until they have succeeded
in wrecking the conference. The dis
cussion will be continued at an extra
session tomorrow morning. IL must
be observed that the Chileans have re-
peatedly declared themselves strongly
in favor of The Hague convention 50
that in promoting debate on the plan
for its acceptance they clearly show
their obstructive intentions.
Chile's object in presenting an ap-
propriate plan Of adherence to The
Hague convention. in which II Is Joined
only by Ecuador, Is to cause Its plan
to be referred to the committee on
arbitration I'm which event the COM
mlttee will either have to accept II or
n IL rejects II the conference Will be
placed IN the position OF discardnR
what II has already approved, In either
OF which cases chile will score "A point
beside delaying other work.
The delegations that have been fairly
favorable to Chile are now experience
, lng a change. But what excites the
greatest indignation is the efforts of
chile to undermine the conference by
procuring the withdrawal Of delega-
lions as In the case Of Venezuela. This
is regarded az a direct Indifference 10
the United gtafes and Mexico. the two