Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1903-12-07

the three powers already mentioned,
whose proceedings against her had re-
suited in state of war, but also to the
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.
demand was then made by the So
| called blockading powers that the sums
ascertained to be due to their citizens
by such mixed commissions should be
accorded payment in full before any
thing was paid upon the claims of any
of the so-called peace powers. Vene-
zuela, on the other hand, insisted that
all her creditors should be paid upon
basis of exact equality. During the
efforts to adjust this dispute it was
suggested by the powers in interest
that it should be referred 70 me for
decision, but was clearly OF the opin-
on that Gar wiser course would be to
submit the question to the permanent
court of arbitration at The Hague. 1t
seemed to be to offer an admirable op-
portunity to advance the practice Of
the peaceful settlement of disputes be-
tween nations and to secure for The
Hague tribunal memorable increase
of its practical Importance. The ma
tons interested in the controversy were
so numerous and in many instances so
powerful as to make 1t evident that
beneficent results would follow from
| hot, ~
fore the bar of that august tribunal
of peuHe.
Be- Claims Were Submitted
Our hopes in that regari have been
:calized. Russia and Austria are rep
resented in ,he persons of the learned
and distins uished juristg wno COM
| pose the tribunal, while Great Britain,
Germany, France, Spain, italy, Belgium
the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway,
Mexico. the United States, and Vene-
zuela ire represented by their respec-
tive agents and counsels. Such an i'm
posing concourse of nations presenting
their arguments to and invoking the
decision of that high court Of interf1a-
tional justice and international peace
can hardly fail to secure a like submits
sion of many future controversies. The
nations now appearing there will find it
far easier to appear there a second
time, while no nation can imagine it's
just pride will be lessened by follow
ing the example now represented This
triumph of the principle of Intern
tional arbitration is a subject of warm
congra tulation and offers a happy aug
ury for the peace of the world.
Advancement of the Cause Of Internal
national Arbitration
There seems good ground for the be-
lief that there has been a real growth
among the civilized nations of senti-
ment of other methods than the method
of war in the settlement of disputes. 1t
1t not intended that as yet we are near
a position, in. which it will be possible
wholly to prevent war, or that a just
regard for national interest and honor
will in all cases permit of the settle
ment of International disputes by arbi-
tration; but by mixture of prudence
with wisdom we think it is possible
to do away with much of the provoca-
ton and excuse for war at least in
many cases to substitute some other
and more rational method for the set
tlement of disputes. The Hague court
offers so good an example of what can
be done in the direction of such set
Element that it should be encouraged
in every way.
Exemption of Private Property at Sea
Further steps should be taken. In
President McKinley's annual message
of December 5, 1898, ne made the fol-
lowing recommendation;
"The experiences of the last year
bring forcibly home to us a sense of
the burdens and the waste of war We
desire, in common with most civil
liZed nations, to reduce to the lowest
possible point the damage sustained
in time of war by peaceable trade and
commerce. 1t is true, We may suffer
IN such cases less than other commun-
Ties, but all nations are damaged more
,r less by the state of uneasiness and
apprehension into which an outbreak
of hostilties throws the entire CONNER
cIdi world. 1t should be our Obi :,
therefore. 10 minimize so far as pra;-
cable, this inevitable loss and dis
t,rbance This purpose can proh;, 1l:'
best be accomplished by an interna"
tional agreement to regard all private
/ IlcIerty at sea as exempt from capture
or destruction by the forces of bellig-
Grant powers. The United States gov
eminent has for many years advocated
this humane and beneficent princi-
pie, and is now in position to recon-
mend it to other powers without the
imputation OF selfish motives. ] there
fore suggest for your consideration that
the executive be authorized to cores
pond with the governments of the prin-
cipal maritime powers with view of
incorporating nto the permanent law
of civilized nations the principle of the
exemption of all private property at
sea, not contraband of war, from cap