New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-20
ACCEPTING TEE IRENTCON.

That is a welcome announcement, none the
less welcome because not unexpected, that the
Austro-Hungarian government has accepted the
Presidents invitation TO a second peace con-
gress at The Hague. We had not supposed that
any Of the powers would decline the call De
spite some injudicious comments in the public
press, probably inspired by spiteful and dis
ingenious factiOnal utterances in this country,
it has been clear from the first that the govern
ments and serious statesmen Of Europe regard
the Presidents proposal one to be carefully
considered and probably accepted. The British
government naturally and appropriately took
the lead in signifying its approval Of the plan,
and more than one other government has in one
way or another indicated its Willingness to enter
into the conference. The relations of Austria
Hungary with America have not been as init
mate as those Of some other countries, but that
fact makes it all the more agreeable and au-
spicious for the government of that country to
be the f1rst-as it is said to be-to give a formal
official acceptance Of the Presidents invitation.
Apart from the general principles which doubt
less operate In the case Of the Dual Realm as in
others, we may without hesitation ascribe this
action largely to the venerable Kaser's pro-
found love of peace and to his tactful disposition
to live in amity with all nations.
From time to time, it is true there are prot
estations in the Russian press that the congress
for Russia, at any rate, to take part in it while
her war with Japan is In progress. We have
not seen these utterances supported with
single convincing argument against either the
holding Of the congress or Russia's participation
therein. On the contrary, the weight of argII-
ment seems TO be on the other side While a
great war is raging is manifesty a good time
10 study it and TO devise ways and means for
minimizing its horrors, to formulate rules Of
hal md oil For
wars and to seek all possible measures for pre-
venting the recurrence Of such wholesale trag-
edies. Of course, there would be no thought of
meddIing with the present war. The congress
would have nothing to do with it unless with
the consent of both the bellgerents. 1t should
not be stultfying or embarrassing for Russia
while she is waging one war to consider plans
for avoiding more wars. Nor can we regard
the official limitations which have been given
forth at st. Petersburg rs indicating inSuperable
objections on Russla's part to the congress- Ger
talnly we are not prepared TO believe that when
all the other powers have signifed their accept
ance Of the Presidents invitation Russia alone
VIII refuse 1t, and that the power which distin-
Sulshed Itself by taking the initiative in the first
peace congress will assume the unenviable dis
uncton Of being the only one to absent itssIf
from the second
1t appears TO be reasonable then To exnect
.ne speedy approval of the Presidents scheme
py al the powers. and the consequent holding
OF the congress at an early date This will
mean expedition such as was not generally an
uclpated when the President first promised IN
call a congress. Even some of those who MOS.
approved his promise scarcely expected him TO
rum II until perhaps, next year But he did
1ulnl 1t almost as soon it was possible TO do
The clerical work of preparing the invitations
Again. 1t was not generally expected that the
scheme would be so favorabIy regarded for
prompt action Many supposed that the Euro
pean powers would accept the invitation with
the proviso that the congress be not held untiI
after the present war. But there is no hint az
that On the contrary, the war is practically
ignored, and the powers are showing them
selves not averse to a meeting of the congress
at the earliest date that can be selected. Such
Is the effect of bold and aggressive initiative
IL II was contrary 10 tradition-He do not kDow