The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-08
PANAMA DWARFS
ALL ELSE, He SAYS
Continued from Second Page.)


certain percentage of the customs receipts
of two of her ports to be applied to the
payment of whatever obligations might
be ascertained by mixed commissions APP
pointed for that purpose to be due from
her. not only to the three powers al
ready mentioned, whose proceedings
against her had resulted in state of
war. but also to tn United States, France,
Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden
and Norway, and Mexico who had not
employed force for the collection of the
claims alleged to be due to certain of their
citizens.
CLAIMS SUBMITTED TO THE PERMA-
NENT COURT OF ARBITRATION
AT THE HAGUE.
A demand was then made by the Sc
called blockading powers that the sums
ascertained to be due to their citizens
by such mixed commissions should be
accorded payment in full before anything
was paid upon the claims of any Of the
so-called peace powers. Venezuela, on the
other hand, insisted that all her credl-
tors should be paid upon basis of ex-
act equality. During the efforts to adj
just this dispute it was suggested by the
powers in interest that it should be re-
lcTtGd 10 me LOT ueCiSlOH, UUl NdS
ly of the opinion that a far wiser course
would be to submit the question to the
Permanent Court Of Arbitration at The
Hague. 1t seemed to me to offer an ad-
mirable opportunity to advance the prac-
tice of the peaceful settlement CT dis
putes between nations and to secure for
The Hague Tribunal a memorable in
crease of its practical Importance. The
nations interested in the controversy We're
so numerous and in many instances SO
powerful as to make it evident that bene-
fcent results would follow from their ap,
pearance at the same time before the
bar of that august tribunal of peace.
Our hopes in that regard have been
realized Russia and Austria are repre-
sented in the persons of the learned and
distinguished jurists who compose the
Tribunal while Great Gritain, Germany
France. Spain, Italy, Belgium, the Neither
lands, Sweden and Norway, Mexico, the
United States, and Venezuela are repre-
scented by their respective agents and
counsel. Such an imposing concourse oi
nations presenting their arguments &c
and invoking the decision of that high
court of international justice and inter
national peace can hardly fail to secure
a like submission of many future contro
versies. The nations now appearing there
will find it far easier to appear there a
second time, while no nation can imagine
its just pride will be lessened by follow
ing the example now presented. This
triumph of the principle of international
arbitration is subject of warm congrat-
ulation and offers happy augury for
the. peace of the world.
ADVANCEMENT OF CAUSE OF INTER
NATIONAL ARBITRATION.
There seems good ground for the belief
that there has been a real growth among
the civilized nations of a sentiment which
will permit a gradual substitution OF
other methods than the method OF wal
in the settlement of disputes. 1t is not
pretended that as yet we are near po
sitiOn in which it will be possible wholly
to prevent war, or that a just regard
for national interest and honor will II
all cases permit of the settlement oil
international disputes by arbitration; but
by mixture of prudence and firmnesS
with wisdom we think it is possible to
do away with much of the provocation and
excuse Tor war, and at least IN many
cases to substitute some other and more
rational method for the settlement of dis
rutes. The Hague Court offers SO good
an example of what can be done in the
direction of such settlement that it should
be encouraged in every way.
Further steps should be taken. In Pres
ident McKinley's annual Message if De
cember 5, 1898, he made the following
recommendation:
EXEMPTION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY
AT SEA FROM CAPTURE BY
BELLIGERENT POWERS.
THE experiences of the last year bring
forcibly home to us a sense of the bur
dens and the waste of war. We desire,
in common with most civilized nations
to reduce to the lowest possible point
the damage sustained in time of war by
peaceable trade and commerce. 1t is
true I'VE may suffer in such cases less than
other communities, but al nations are
damaged more or less by the state of I'M
easiness and apprehension into which an
outbreak Of hostilities throws the en-
tire commercial world 1t should be our
object, therefore, TO minimize, SO far As
practicable, this inevitable loss and dis
turbance. This purpose can probably
best be accomplished by an internatio Ial
agreement to regard all private property
at sea as exempt from capture or des
truction by the forces of belligerent pow
crs. The United States Government has
for many years advocated this humane
and bareficent principle, and is now IL
a position to recommend it to other pow
ers without the imputation of selfish
motives. l therefore suggest for your
consideration that the executive be au
thorized to correspond with the govern
merits Of the pricipal maritime powers
with view of incorporating into the
permanent law of civilized nations the
principle of the exemption of all private
property at sea, not contraband of war
from capture or destruction by bcliger.
ent powers
cordially renew this rccommenda-
ton.
The Supreme Court speaking on De
cember IL 1899, through Peckham, j.
said:
1T is, we think, historically accurate
! to say that this government has always
been, IN it's views, among the most ad
lvaneed OF the governments OF the world
IN favor of mitigating, as to all non-com-
patants, the bardshis and horrors OF war
TO accomplish that object it has always