New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-08
ARBITRATION.

pose of blockading the ports or venezuela ana
using such other means Of pressure as would
secure a settlement of claims due as they al
legged to certain Of their subjects. Ihelr en-
ployment of force for the collection or these
claims was terminated by agreement brought
about through the offices of the diplomatic rep
resentatives Of the United States at Caracas and
the government at Washington, thereby ending
a situation which bound to cause increas-
ing friction and which jeoparded the peace OF
the continent Under this agreement Nenezuela
agreed to set apart certain percentage or the
customs receipts of two of her ports, to be APP
piled to the payment Of whatever obligations
might be ascertained by mixed commissions ap-
pointed for that purpose, to be due from her, not
only to the three powers already mentioned
whose proceedings against her had resulted in
a state of war, but also to the United States,
France. Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, SWe-
den and Norway, and Mexico, who mad not
employed force for the collection of the claims
alleged to be due to certain of their citizens
VENEZUELAN SETTLEMENT.
A demand was then made by the so-called
blockading powers that the sums ascertalned
to be due to their citizens by such mixed COM
missions 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 cred
itors should be paid upon a basis of exact
equality During the efforts to adjust this dis
rute it suggested by the powers in interest
that it should be referred to for decision;
but was clearly of the opinion that a far wiser
course would be to submit the question to the
Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague.
tunity to advance the practice Of the peaceful
settlement of disputes between nations and to
aecure for The Hague tribunal a memora bic
increase Of its practical Importance. The ma
lions interested in the controversy were
numerous, and in many instances so powerful,
as to make II evident that benefCent results
would follow from their appearance 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 represented in the per-
sons Of the learned and distinguished jurists
who compose the tribunal, while Great Britain,
Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, the
Netherlands. Sweden and Norway, Mexico the
United States and Venezuela are represented by
their respective agents and counsel. Such an
imposing concourse of nations presenting their
arguments to and invoking the decision Of that
high court of international justice and interna-
tonal peace can hardly fail to secure a like sub
mission Of many future controversies. The
tons now appearing there will find it far easier
10 appear there a second time, while no nation
can imagine its just pride will be lessened by
following the example presented This tri-
umph of the principle of International arbitra-
ton is a subject of warm CongratulatiOn and
offers a happy auSury for the peace Of the
world.
HAGUE COURT COMMENDED.
There seems good ground for the belief that
there has been real growth among civilized
nations OF sentiment which will permit
gradual substitution Of other methods than the
method of war in the settlement of disputes. 1t
is not pretended that yet are near posi-
ton in which it will be possible wholly to pre-
vent war, that a Just regard for national
interest and honor will in all cases permit of
the settlement of international disputes by ar
bitration; but by a mixture of prudence and
hrmness with wisdom, we think it is possible to
do away with much of the prOvocation and ex-
cuse for war, and at least in many cases to sub
stltute some other and more rational method
for the settlement Of disputes. The Hague
court offers so good an example of what can be
done in the direction of such settlement that it
should Re encouraged in every way.
Further steps should be taken. In President
Mckinley's annual Message of December D. 1895
Ia TDada tha foil Xircr ,rJ.,Ei
The experiences Of the last year bring forcibIy
home to us sense of the burdens and the waste
OF war. We desire ic common with most civilized
damage sustained in time of war by PeaceabIe
trade and commerce It is true we may suffer in
such cases less than other communities. but all
hatlons are damaged more or less by the state Of
b p and apprehension into which out
DrTd6 oT n4 b throws the entire commercial
nize, so far practicable this inevitabe loss and
complished by an international agreement to re-
ea1G al % PrSae property Gt sea as exempt from
powers. The United States government has for
nrinSinIe and is now IN nositfd ana peeneent
it to other powers without the imputation of selfish
ton that the Executive be authorized to correspond
With the governments I; Of the PRINCIPAL maritime
permanent law Of civilized nations principle or
contrabrand Of var from aPt9re or @ Sf hS
| by belligerent powers.
I cordially renew this recommendation.
| NEUTRALITY OF PRIVATE PROPERTY
| The Supreme Court. speaking on December IL
| 1899 through Peckham. J.. said:
It is, think. historically accurate to say that
| this government has always been in its views.
/ the world in favor of mitigating TO all nom
| combatants the hardships and horrors of war. To
! accomplish that object 1t has always advocated
! those rules which would in most cases do away
with the right TO capture the private property of
| an enemy on the high seas
| I advocate this as a matter of humanity and
| morals. It is anachronistic when private prop
erty is respected land that IL should not be re-
| spected at sea. Moreover il should be borne
In mind that shi0ping represents, internationally
| spea king q much more generaIf-ed sDeCies a.
| property land-that is property found at sen
| is much less apt than is the case with property
| found on land really TO belong to any one ma
/ tion. Under the modern system of corpora te
| ownership the flag of vessel often differs from
| the flag which would mark the nationality OF
! the real ownership and money control OF the
vessel; and the cargo may belong to individuals
| OF yet different nationality. Much American
capital is now invested in foreign ships. and
among foreign nations ii often happens that the
capital OF is largely invested in the shipping
1 OF another. Furthermore, as practical matter.
| Il may he mentioned that while commerce de
stroying may cause serious loss and great an
| noyance, IL can never be more than a subsidiary
/ factor in bringing to terms a resolute foe This
| is now well recognized by all of our naval ex-
perts The lighting ship, not the commerce de-
/ stroyer. is the vessel whose feats add renoWn
! TO a nations history and establish her place
| among the great powers OF the world
Last year the Interparliamentary Union for
| international Arbitration met at Vienna, six
| hundred members Of the different legislatures
of civilized countries attending 1t was provided
! that the next meeting should be in 1904 at St
TofYfa