The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-14
Looking Toward Peace.

Looking Toward Peace.
Senator Lodge, in behalf OF the
senate foreign affairs committee, has IA
vorably reported the general international
arbitration treaty based upon the recon-
mendation Of the Pan-American confer
ence held about year ago in the City OF
Mexico.
At that conference the discussion OF the
subject of arbitration was long and pas
sionate, some Spanish-American delegates
advocating compulsory arbitration; QUIZ
ers opposing, but the final determination
of the majority favored a tribunal to set
tie disputes of western hemisphere repub-
lies touching boundary lines, claims and
other matters. The signatories OF the
treaty agree to submit all disputes Wh1ch
diplomacy fails to settle to a special tr1o-
unal, unless they prefer The Hague trlo-
unal, and the exercise Of mediatorial Of
fees by a. government not a party to the
dispute is not to be regarded as an I'M
friendly act It Is provided, however, that
submission to the determination OF the
special court is not obligatory If, in the
exclusive Judgment Of either Of the par
ties to the dispute, the controversies affect
the honor or independence Of the nation.
This latter provision leaves loop hole
for non acceptance of the offices of the
tribunal. At the Pan-American confer
ence Peru, Paraguay, Bolivia, Uruguay
and Argentina sturdily commended for COM
pulsory arbitration, while Chile opposed
the principle fearing that she would be
committed to the submission OF her pre-
datory action as to Tacna and africa and
against Peru and Bolivia to arbitration,
which would not be likely to sustain her
unless she packed the tribunal in her in
terest. Chile and some other Spanish
American republics have not yet signed
the proposed arbitration treaty, which
makes submission of disputed questions to
the arbitration Of a special tribunal OBJ
ligatory when diplomacy and mediation
fail The spirit which pervaded the Pan
American conference last winter, SO far as
the Spanish mericHns was concerned,
was expressedls by ! a. delegate who said:
IF big man hits me, I am perfectly
willing that bigger man settle the dis
pute, but if it's little man I have quar-
rel with, I can settle it myself without
anybody's interference. And that is all
there is to arbitration. While we are small
and weak We want arbitration, but when
we feel that we are strong we don't want
it." That is rather low view OF the
principle Of arbitration. It is q widely prev
alent Spanish-American view however.
Castro entertains it and would not think
Of submitting to arbitration if he was in
condition to put down: the revolving
swashbucklers and fight the allies at the
same time. He would tell them to collect
their claims under the peculiar operation
| Of the Calvo Doctrine.
| So far as the. proposed Western Henri
sphere arbitration tribunal is concerned
| it is doubtful If it will receive the sup
port Of half the Spanish-Amerlcan repub.
lies. It is the duty Of the United States
nevertheless, to do all it can for the pro.
motion of the principle Of international
arbitration. During the past six years oul
government has lost only three cases ou
| Of sixteen claims submitted to arbitra
i ton. 1t does not hesitate to submit to ar
| bitration, except in such a matter as the
Canadian claim Of American territory in
| Guided in Alaska, the boundary line O.
which was settled about eighty years ago
when Russia and England defnitel,
agreed upon the ILLUMINATION, which wa.
accepted by our government in the trans
fer Of Alaska by Russia third of a cen
|
submitted the first case The Hague trib
unal took under consideration. It is al
honorable distinction to have done so.