Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-12
ARBIT RATION ASKED
Advocates of Universal Peace
Gather in Meeting.
WORLD : FAMOUS MEN
CONGRESS PETITIONED FOR
TREATY WITH GREAT BRITAIN.
Addresses Stir the Audience to Work
Addresses Stir the Audience to Work
Establishment of Harmony.

Resolutions calling upon Congress to
provide an arbitration treaty that would
be acceptable to Great Britain and which
could be made effective between that coun-
try and the United States were adopted
this morning at a preliminary meeting,
held in the New willard, of the distin-
guished men who have gathered from all
parts of the country to attend a mass
meeting this afternoon In the Lafayette
Theater The resolutions set forth the
fact that the world had passed into that
stage of its Hfe and civilization when re-
sort to arms to settle controversies be-
tween states and nations should have be-
come a thing of the past ages.
They maintained that the settlement of
these difficulties could be had satisfactor-
fly at the hands of an unprecedented board
composed of an equal number of represen-
tatives of the nations at odds, these repre-
sentatives to be exponents OF international
law and comfy, and to be entirely without
prejudice in the premises. Considerable
discussion was called forth by the presenta-
ton of the resolutions by Judge Gray OF
Delaware chairman of the committee on
resolutions but the end desired was Sc
cured by the adoption of the paper that
expressed the thought of the entire body
present.
At the meeting this morning former Sec
retary John w. Foster was chosen presi-
dent and John B. Moore of New York. ClIn-
ton Woodruff of Philadelphia and Thomas
Nelson Page secretaries. The District
Commissioners were present, and Mr.. Mac
farland made a brief address of welcome.
expressing to the members his concordance
with the sentiments of the occasion that
had brought such a distinguished gathering
to the capital of the nation.
Among those who responded TO invita-
tions from the chairman to speak were
President Jordan of the Leland Stanford
University of California. Frederick w. Sc
ward of New York, son of Lincoln's Secre-
tary of State; Stuyyesant Fish OF New
York son of the late Hamilton Fish, Sec
retary of State in Grants cabinet: Samuel
Gompers, president of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor; Thomas Barclay. Lon
don barrister, who took prominent part
In bringing about the arbitration treaty be-
tween Great Britain and France.
Judge Kegg of the New York state bar;
w. L. Prather, president OF the univernty
of Texas; Representative Barthoidt OF MIS-
sour, Governor Dufbin of Indiana, a. u.
Farquhar. representative of the National
Association of Manufacturers, the greatest
business organization in the world; George
F. Seward Of the New York chamber OF
commerce, Judge Thomas j. O'Brien ef
Grand Rapids. Mich; Blanchard Randall,
president of the National Board OF Trade
Horace White. editor of the New York
Evening Post. and several others.
Among the more distinguished persons IN
the audience were Cardinal Gibbons. Gen.
NJ A. Miles, Gen. Wilson. Gen. Sternberg,
Andrew Carnegie, Mrs. Belya A. Lockwood.
DR.. Edward Everett Hale, Woodrow VIII
son, Ira Remsen, Clark Howell and Others
Conspicuous above the platform were the
flags of the United States and Great kr L
ain set in border of white with the leg
end Peace for all nations" In gold let
ters floating on streamers from the poies.
This flag typifying universal peace and
liberty which is to float over the tribunal
building at The Hague whenever that edi-
flee is in use for the purpose for which II 10
to be erected was adopted at a conference
in Philadelphia on October u, 1891, Of four
hundred delegates from all over the world,
who met for the purpose Of advancing the
cause of universal peace.
Mr.. j. w. Fosters Remarks.
In accepting the honor of presiding Of
fcer of the meeting Mr.. Foster said;
1 highly appreciate the honor conferred
on me in being called upon to preside over
such a distinguished and representative
body of citizens assembled from all parts
of the Union to confer upon one or the
most important subjects which concerns
mankind.
The time at your command is limited.
and I must not consume any considerable
portion of 1t in introductory remarks.
think, however, 1T may be prohtapie 10
your deliberations II 1 briefly refer to one
ASPECT of the main question you have In
hand.
The call under which we come together in
dicates as the chief matter FOR our consio-
sration q basis for an arbitration treaty
between the United States and Great Bri-
tain, which may afterward be EXTENDED 10
other countries. 1t is often said when
general treaty of arbitration is suggested
that there are some SUBJECTS WHICH d he-
ton should not arbitrate.
Among these are mentioned territorial
questions and national honor. Let US IN
quire what has been the character oI .ne
questions between ourselves ana GREAT
Britain which have been in the past SUP
mitted to arbitration.
In the first treaty made with that coun-
try after our independence, that OF iis4'
o,,r government submitted to the arbitra-
tion OF commission a territorial quesuoh .
involving large extent of country, ana py |
a unanimous decision the claim OF our
government was rejected. BY the same
treaty a similar reference of the rights or ,
American seamen and commerce was made. I
involving principles of international prac-
tice vital to our prosperity; also the ques-
ton whether our courts had faithfully car ,
ried out the terms OF the treaty OF lnce-
pendence as to British loyalists.
By the treaty Of 1914 three arbitration
were created TO determine the
various controverted matters connected |
with the Canadian boundary, involving |
large areas of territory on the mainland
and adjacent islands.
The treaty af 1871 created an arbitration !
tribunal. the most important and imposing
in its personnel and in the principles IN
yolved ever held between two nations. The !
United States charged that the British gov
ernment. by its acts of omission and COM
mission during our civil war, had caused
the flag of the United States to be swept
from the ocean, its foreign carrying COM I,
merce of great magnitude to be destroyed
and the war to l,e prolonged at the cost OF 4
tens of thousands of lives and billions OF 1
dollars.
II the conduct of the British government
was established to be In accordance with
law. the consequence would
be of the gravest character. as not only
the honor and the vital interests Of the
United States were concerned. but even its
as the contest was one in
which the dismemberment of the Union
was threatened And yet our government.
entered into a treaty with Great Britain
by which atonement for these acts was sub
mitted to arbitration.
/ need not enumerate the remainder OF
the score and more of arbitration treaties
we have had with Great Britain, on a great
variety of subjects, to show that no ques-t
ton can in the future arise between the
United States and Great Britain which will
moro seriously involve the territorial in-i
legTify, the honor of the nation. its vital
interests or Its Independence, than thossi
which have already been submitted to ar;
bitration without serious injury to our in-;
Lerests. There never was time IN our 6tx