Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-11-09
ASKS PEACE MEETING.
HAY ISSUES CALL FOR SECOND
HAGUE CONFERENCE.
Secretary of state lnstructs Country'a
Diplomatic Representatives to Urge
Congress at Posts at Which They
Serve would Not Delay for the War.

| In a circular note made public sun
day Secretary of State Hay has carried
out President Roosevelts instructions
relative to proposing a second Hague
| conference. The note not only contem-
| plates the reassembling of The Hague
conference for the consideration Of
questions specifically mentioned by the
original conference as demanding fur
J ther attention, such as the rights and
| duties of neutrals, the inviolability Of
| private property In naval warfare and
| the bombardment of ports by naval
| force, but goes further by practically
! indorsing the project of n general sys-
| tenn of arbitration treaties and the es-
| tablishment of an international con-
gress to meet periodically in the inter
ests of peace. The issue Of the call
While the present war is in progress II
| justified by the fact that the first
Hague conference was called before
our treaty of peace with Spain was
| concluded. The note Is addressed to
''the Representatives of the United
States Accredited TO the Governments
Signatories to the Acts of The Hague
Conference, 1899" and in part follows:
The peace conference which assem-
bled at The Hague on May Is, 1899,
marked an epoch in the history of ma
tons. Called by his majesty the EN-
peror of Russia to discuss the prob
lens of the maintenance of general peace,
the regulation of the operations of war
and the lessening of the burdens which
preparedness for eventual war entails
upon modern peoples, its labors resulted
III the acceptance by the signatory pow
ers of conventions for the peaceful ad-
| justment of international difficulties by
arbitration, and for certain humane
amendments to the laws and customs of
war by land and sea. A great work was
thus accomplished by the conference,
while other phases of the general sub
! ject were left to discussion by another
| conference in the near future. such as
questions affecting the rights ana duties
OF neutrals the inviolability of private
property in naval warfare and the bonn
| bardment Of ports, towns and villages by
| a naval force.
Among the movements which prepared
the minds of government for an accord
in the direction of assured peace among
men. a high place may fttingly be given
to that set on foot by the Interparlia-
nentary Union. From its origin in the
suggestions of a member of the British
House of Commons in 1888, it developed
los
bers of delegates from the pariaments
OF the principal nations. pledged to ex-
ert their influence toward the conclusion
of treaties of arbitration between ma
tons and toward the accomplishments of
peace. Its annual conferences have no
tably advanced the high purposes it
sought to realize. Not only have many
international treaties of arbitration been
concluded. but, in the conference held
in Holland in 1894. the memorable dec
laration in favor of a permanent court
of arbitration. was q forerunner Of the
most important achievement of the peace
conference of The Hague in 1899.
The annual conference of the Inter
parliamentary Union was held this year
at st. Louis, in appropriate connection
with the worlds fair. Its delibera tions
Were marked by the same noble devotion
to the cause of peace and to the welfare
of humanity which had inspired its for
mer meetings. By the unanimous vote
of delegates, active or retired members
of the American Congress and of every
parliament in Europe, with two excep-
tons, the following resolution was adopt
ed
Whereas. Enlightened public opinion and
modern civilization alike demand that differ
enees between nations should be adiudica-
ted and settled in the same manner ms dis
putes between individuals are adjudicated,
namely. by the arbitrament of courts in ac-
cordance with recognized principles of law.
this conference requests the several gov
ernmCnts Of the world to send delegates to
an international conference to he held at a
time and place to be agreed upon by them
for the purpose of considering;
/. The questions for the consideration of
which the conference at The Hague ex-
pressed a wish that a future conference be
called.
. The negotiation of arbitration treaties
between the nations represented at the con
ference to be convened.
international congress to convene periodi-
cally for the discussion of international
questions.
daily requests the President of the United
States to invite all the nations to send rep
resentatives TO such Il conference.
On the oath of September, ultimo,
these resolutions were presented to the
President by a numerous deputation of
the Interparliamentary Union. The Pres
idant accepted the charge offered to him,
feeling it to be most appropriate that
thc executive Of the nation which had
welcomed the conference to its hospital
ity should give voice to its impressive
utterances in cause which. the Ameri-
can government and people hold dear.
lie announced that he would at an early
day invite the other nations, parties to
The Hague conventions, to reassemble
with a view to pushing forward toward
completion the work already begun at
The Hague, by considering the questions
which the first conference had left I'M
settled. with the express provision that
there should be 4 second conference.
In accepting this trust, the President
was not unmindful of the fact. so wildly
brought home to all the world, that
great war is now in progress He re-
called the circumstance that, mt the time
when. on Aug. n, 1898. his majesty the
Emperor of Russia sent forth his invita-
ton to the nations to meet in the inter
ests of peace, the United States and
Spain had merely halted ia their struggle
to devise terms of peace. While at the
present moment no armistice between the
Pc ties now contending is in sight, the
fact Of an existing war is no reason why
the nations should relax the efforts they
have SO successfully made hitherto to-
ward the adoption Of rules of conduct
which may make more remote the
chances Of future wars between them. In