Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-11-01

conferences nave notably advanced,
the high purposes it sought to realiZc.
Not only have many international
treaties of arbitration been concluded,
but the conference held in Holland IN
1894. the memorable declaration in IA.
vor of permanent court OF arDltra-
ton was IA forerunner OF the most I'M
portant achievement of the peace con-
terence of The Hague in 1899.
The annual conference of the Inter
parliamentary Union was held. TINS
year. at st. Louis. in appropriate con-
nection with the Worlds Fair. Its de-
alterations We're marked by the same
noble devotion to the cause OF peace
and to the welfare Of humanity, when
had inspired it's former meetings.
by the unanimous vote of delegates.
active or retired members of the Amer
lean Congress and of every parliament
in Europe with two exceptions. the fol
lowing resolution was adopted:
Whereas. enlightened public opinion
and modern civilization alike demand
that differences between nations .Aouid
be adjudged and settled in the same
manner as disputes between lndlvldu-
ais are adjudicated. namely, by the ar
bltratment of courts i'll accordance
with recognized principles of law, TINS
conference requests the several govern
ments Of the world to send delegates TO
an international conference to be held
at time and place to be agreed upon
by them for the purpose of considering:
Il. The questions for the considera-
ton of which the conference at Whlch
The Hague expressed wish that fu-
ture conference be called.
80. The negotiation of arbitration
treaties between the nations represent
ed at the conference to be convened.
%. The advisability of establishing
an international congress to convene
periodically for tn. succession of inter
national questions
And this conference respectfully
and cordially requests the President Of
the United States to invite all the ma
tions to send representatives to such Il
conference
''On the oath of September. Ul;imo.
the resolutions We're presented to the
President by numerous deputation OF
the ter-Parlmentary Union. The
President accepted the charge offered
to him. feeling it to be most appropri-
'tt' lIictl TIE T1AttullNt VI tIlt Iidti''i
which had welcomed the conference to
its hospitality should give voice to its
impressive utterances in a cause which
the American government ana people
held dear.
lie alhouhced that he would at an
early date invite the other nations.
parties to The Hague conference. to re-
assemble with d view to pushing for
ward toward completing the work al
ready begun at The Hague by consider
ing the questions which the first con-
ference hal left unsettled with the eX-
press provision that there should be
second conference.
in accepting this trust the Prcs-
dent WAS not unmindful of the fact So
wildly brought home to all the world
that a great war is now in progress.
He recalled the circumstances that at
the time. when. on August. "a 1898. His
Majesty, the FImperor of Russia. sent
forth his invitation to the nations to
meet in the interests of peace. the
United States and Spain had merely
halted in their Struggl" to devise terms
of peace. While at the present mo-
mont no arniStica between the parties
INV ''ilttl'iIliS II III SlSIlt, tllt ldtl vi
an existing war is no reason why the
nations should relax the efforts that
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 1899. the conference of The Hague
dealt solely with the larger general
problems which confront nations and
assumed no function of intervention or
suggestion III the settlement of terms
OF peace between the United States
fand Spain. 1t might be the same with
Il re-asscmbled conference at the pres
cnt time. Its efforts would naturally
lie in the direction of further codtica-
ton Of the universal IDEAS Of right and
Justice which we call international law:
its mission would be to give them fu-
ture effect.
THE President directs that you will
bring these considerations To the at
tention of the minister for foreign af-
fairs and ascertain to what extent that
government is disposed to act in the
matter.
Should his cXcclency invite suggcS-
tons as to the character of the questions
to he brought before the proposed second
peace conference. Yau may say to him
that at this tim" it would seem prrmatur
to couple tho tentative invitation thus cX-
tended with a categorical program of sub
jccts of disc ussicn. 1t is only by com
pariSon of views that a general accord
can he reached as to the matters to hc
considered hy the new peace conference.
Among the broader general questions
affecting tn" right and justice Of rela-
ton of sovereign states. which Were then
relegated to future conference were: The
rights and duties of neutrals; the invio-
liability Of private property in naval war
fare and bombardment of ports towns
and villages by a naval force The other
matters mentioned in the final act take
the form Of suggestions for consideration
bE Interested governments The three
points mentioned cover Il large field
THE first. especially. touching the
rights and duties of neutralS is Of uni
versal importance. Its rightfu DISPOSE
ton affects the interests and welI-6cinr
of all the world The neutral is some
thing more thar an onlou<er. Ills acts
of omission or commission may have. an
inilurncc-indircCt but tangibi,-on "A wal.
actually in lrogrt s.: whilst IN the other
hand. he may suffer from the eXigencies