New-York tribune., 1904-10-07
ANOTHER PEACECO CONGRESS-
Practical Questions Which President
Roosevelt Can Bring FOrlCard.


vrsrio corns here have been forecasting II for
several months. and they have predicted tnat
+he Washington government would Issue the
summons and take the initiative IN directing
The work Of another Peace Congress. President
Roosevelt's announcement 10 tie members OF
the Interparliauentary Union that he would
ask foreign nations TO Join in 2 second confer
ence al The Hague does not surprise well IN
formed writer's either here or the Continent.
i is regarded by several English commentators
as q complete refutation OF the partisan outcry
against him in Europe and America as a lingo
statesman and an ambitious imperialist- The
Manchester Guardian" The most sincere and
consistent representative Of the oIdtue school OF
Golden and Bright, remarks that the President
himself IS 10 be thanked for accepting without
reserve the invitation Of the terpa-lamentary
Union al q time when man OF narrow party
ain might have preferred TO put OF his reply
until November. dis speech has put the final
seal Of optimism upon course Of diplomacy
which The Morning Post" il exposing the
coarse and ignorant Nbels Of THE Speaker" de-
scribas as admirable II lis sh-ewdness its far
sehtedness and in that quality OF decisive
vigor which is often the best and only safe
guard o. peace" Il IS accepted as a proof that
he is peacenaker as Wei as = military re-
former and a navy builder His prestige would
lend moral authority 70 another Peace Congress.
since his sincerity and dis.nterestedness would
not be challenged fl Europe. The truth is dis
oerned by impartial writer's here that con-
ference convoked by the Washington govern
nent would not excite suspicious ridicUle and
distrust, as the previous enc did, but that II
would be regarded from the outset as practical
method Of strengthening the safeguards Of peace
aid minimizing the evils OF war.
When the first congress was held at The
Hague tho Car failed 10 follow up the rescrtpt
win definite and ineligible proposals for dis
armament he was dIsrrusted as q mystery
man, because he was known 10 be surrounded
ny Unscrupulous intrig'uers and torpid beauro-
Gratis and the dlmculty Of arranging disa-ma-
uent on the basis Of population. relative MILL
tary OF naval strength or diplomatic coalitions
vas considered insuperable. The congress would
have been failure. or. at best. an International
experience meeting. without permanent results.
Il the United States and British delegations had
not introduced systeratized arrangements for
arbitration. The experience % the British IN
South Africa and Of the Russians IN Man
churia has shown with terrible emphasis how
costly IN blood and treasure modern warfare has
become. but Il is doubtful whether either the
London or the St Petersburg government, TO
say nothing OF Germany and France VIII be
prepared 70 discuss disarmament ct second
congress The work o. TIE Arst session Is TO
be continued, rather than completed. at another
congress There cannot be any reasoaab bic ex-
pectation that the European powers VIII be
convinced that the time has come for a general
reduction OF armies and fleets BY any proportion
ate scheme, nor that any basis FOR diminishing
the financial burdens OF nIlitarisn can be sug-
gested- Disarmament cannot be carried into
effect, and arbitration before e permanent court
cannot be made compulsory. Can there be any
definite work for a second congress apart from
E-r,- A..
and good VIII and olirg the mechanism Of the
permanent court OF arbitration? That Is prac-
tical question for which definite answers are
supplied BY experienced men II and out OF the
diplomatic service.
There IS one question. certainly, which the
American government can bring forward with
entire consistency al second peace congress.
This Is the necessity for securing the commerce
OF The woro against attack or disturbance while
naval warfare is in progress. When the prece-
dents for higher level of maritime usage were
set by the powers IN The famous Declaration OF
Paris, the American government stood out
against them because the treaty makers had
not gone further frd secured exemption from
seizure ana capture OF ali private property In
tine Of war AZ the first congress CT The
Hague the American delegates reverted 70 this
principle IS practical method OF restricting the
destructive energies Of modern navies 70 con-
tests between lighting ships and OF minimizing
the evils Of warfare or the high seas. The pro-
possl was warmly favored by the smaller mari
time ations ike Denmark. the Netherlands.
and Norway ard Sweden; but the stronger
powers. suca as Great Britain, France Ger
many and Russia, rejected IT, There are valid
grounds for the belief that European opinion
would now Be less hostile 70 this principle II
the American GOV yernnent were 70 renew It's
proposals al second congress During the war
between Russia and Japan. German French and
British shippers have learned that the safe
guards q the Declaration Of Paris can be over
thrown by admiralty definitions Of contraband
and regulations for destroying neutral cargoes
ard ships whenever II IS inconvenient 70 take
Them into port 5or adjudication by & prize
court High Insurance premiums have been
PAID and vast commercial interests have been
disturbed. ana. while the interests II neutral
commerce have suffered. neither beIigerent has
gained any material advantage from the exer-
else Of the right Of search and the condenlra-
ton OF contraband goods The Russian govern
ment at the end of the war wiu have heavy bills
Of damages 10 settle with several powers. and
il has tres-ed hostile feeling abroad by per-
sistent moiestation Of legitimate commerce.
From the be.lige-enI point Of view, these depre-
oarions upon foreign shipping have been with
out advantage. and British merchants and Ger
man shippers nave paid high tribute 10 the
underwriters for a diminished volume OF bust
ness An International guarantee for the safety
OF private property at sea in time of war VIII
be without question a great gain for civilization.
Al Is an issue which the American government
can lay before another peace congress with a
reasonable expectation OF commanding the sym
pathy and assent oS the leading maritime ra-
tons.