Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-23
FOR UNIVERSAL PEACE.
a
Objects of the Interparlia-
mentary Union.
MEMBERS IN THE CITY
DISTINGUISHED PARTY TO CALL
AT WHITE HOUSE.
President Roosevelt to Be Invited to
Further Cause of Arbitration
Sightseeing Today.

Further Cause of Arbitration
Sightseeing Today.
Two hundred members of the Interparlia-
mentary Union better known as the
worlds peace congress, who are in this
country as the guests of the United States,
arrived in Washington this morning and
were quartered at the Arlington. They spent
the forenoon today in sightseeing, many
of the members visiting the Capitol and
Congressional Library. This afternoon they
are at Mt. Vernon, visiting the tomb Of
Washington. Tomorrow they will be re-
ceived by President Roosevelt, when he will
be presented with most remarkable reso-
luton, inviting him to call sessions of this
worldwide congress, that the principles OF
international arbitration may be more thor
oughly established Sunday the visitors will
leave for New York. and after luncheon
Monday, when they will be the guests OF
the Civic Federation, the party will dis
perse Some will return to England and
their homes, while others will make more
extended visit on this side of the Atlantic.
The personnel of the party is extraordi-
nary All the members of the 1nterparlia-
mentary Union are have been members
of the national legislatures of their re-
spective countries, making the body thor
of the organization, as explained by one OF
it's members today, is to promote the exc
cution of treaties of arbitration, that is,
system of agreements to submit to THIS
congress for arbitration issues not yet
arisen. In other words it is an agreement
to agree and it differs from The Hague
tribunal in that all the nations of the world
are invited to participate. THE nations of
Central and South America were not rep
resented at The Hague.
1t is not proposed to give this congress
authority, but that it shall act only in an
advisory capacity 1t is believed, however,
that this authority will come gradually
and that ultimately all nations will con-
slider as law the suggestions made and APP
proved by the majority OF members. Ii IS
intended that the congress shall convene at
stated intervals, which, its advocates be-
lieve. will result in much more progress
than if the meetings were optional, as with
The Hague.
Influence Of the Union.
The activities of this union have caused
the execution of more than dozen arbitra-
ton treaties and were powerful factors in
the creation of The Hague court. The pur-
port of the resolution adopted during the
recent sessions of the organization in st.
Louis, is call upon the nations to give
The Hague court jurisdiction and to con-
slider the constitution of a congress of ma
tons to discover the principles of inter-
national law which The Hague must apply
The idea originated with William Randall
Cremer of England. When Mr. Cremer de-
termined to work for treaties of arbitration
as the next practical move forward toward
the substitution of judicial proceedings for
war, the scheme was looked upon by most
men as visionary. Now it is the dominant
idea in the foreign offices Of almost every |
country.
Memorial to U. S. Congress.
Mr.. Cremer began soon after entering
parliament by preparing al memorial to the
United States Congress, and secured 234
signatures of members Of parliament, re-
questing the United States to enter into |
negotiations with Great Britain for the exc |
cution of an arbitration treaty. There was |
however, no visible result from this me- |
mortal to the President and Congress at |
Washington. |
Mr. Cremers next move was a motion |
in the house of commons calling on the king |
and council of state Qhe treaty mailing |
power of Great Britain) to take the initia- |
tive in the matter. 1t took three years to |
get this motion to hearing, when 1t was |
adopted by unanimous vote, but was with |
out visible results. Then he prepared an |
other memorial to the United States, Sc |
cured 1854 signatures of members of the Brit |
ish parliament and arrived in Washington |
with the memorial at the time when Presi- |
dent Cleveland's Venezuela message mad |
placed the United States and Great Britain |
the verge of war;,
The President, Lord Pauncefote and Mr.. |
Olney, Secretary of State, threw themselves |
into the preparation of an arbitration |
treaty; which Mr. Cremer says is the most
perfect treaty yet negotiated. 1t was exc |
cuted in full by the British government, |
signed by the President of the United |
States, passed in the United States Senate |
by large majority. but failed to become |
operative because 1t lacked three votes of |
receiving the required two-thirds majority. |
Alleged Animus Toward England.
Mr.
months stay in Washington, in working
for the passage of the treaty, that there
was some animus in the United States
toward England on account of Ireland,
but nothing but gratitude and good will |
toward France, so he went to France and
explained to friends in the French parlia-
ment what he had attempted, and told
coed where England had failed. He said
that If France opened negotiations with
the United States she could take the lead
In what ne considered great movement
in world politics. The French minister of |
foreign affairs was impressed and re-
solved to take action. The next election
in France brought in a new government.
however, and Mr.. Cremers fourth effort |
seemed in vain. At the meeting in Paris,
however, he had asked whether his
friends would like to discuss the execu-
ton OF an arbitration treaty between
France and Great Britain. They asked If
he could bring over some of the members
of parliament. Accordingly, on October
81 1883, Mr. Cremer, accompanied by Sir
Philip Stanhope and DR.. Clark Cloth of
whom are with the party today, together
with some twenty or thirty other mem
bers OF the British parliament, arrived in
Paris and We're received by some thirty
members of the French parliament After
discussing the question of an arbitration
treaty between France and Great Britain
they decided to adjourn the meeting to
day during the Paris exposition 1ss9), |
ana to invite members of other national |
parliaments to attend i
put IN an appearance, and 1t was decided
a conference of this sort ought to be held
perlodical!y-annually If possible The
result Is that the meeting which was just
neid IN st. Louis was the twelfth session.
In the meantime the membership has
grown to more than 1000.
Mr.. William Randall Cremer's Views.
The originator of the 1nterparliamentary
Union. and for nineteen years it's never
firing advocate is William Randall Cremer
formerly an English carpenter and labor
unionist. He was the secretary of the In
ternational Workingmen's Association of
which Carl Macks was at once the inspirer