Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-24
TAKE |N|T|ATORY STEP

| CONTINUED from First Page)
| they represent is composed of members of
| national legislative bodies who believe that
peace between the several nations Is just
as desirable as peace between individuals
or one and the same nation, and that peace
can be secured and maintained by exactly
the same. means, namely, by arbitration.
| They hold, in other words, that differences
between nations can and should be settled
| by the arbitrament of an international tri-
bunal. the same as differences between In
olVlduals in all civilized countries are now
settled by the arbitrament Of local courts
If were permitted, on behalf of my
colleagues, to further accentuate this belief
| would express IT in this way: The neces-
sity OF social order requires a citizen to
bow to the adjudication of the differences
with his neighbor by court of law even
| when his personal honor is involved. The
members OF this union contend that the in
terests of civilization and humanity should
impel each nation to do the same no mat
ter what may be involved. because moral
as well as material, rights will much more
safely be indicated by the impartial YER
dict of applied justice than by the results
of the passionate and often blind employ
! ment of physical force. What is law for
an individual should be law for a nation
Growth OF the Union.
"On this platform the Interparliamentary
Union has grown from a small gathering Of
well-meaning friends of arbitration to
powerful organization, exerting its influence
In all parliaments of the civilized world,
the reason of its growth being, possibly,
that it's aims and objects are right. This
organization looks upon you. Mr.. President,
as friend OF Its cause, ever since you
have. by actual performance, recognized
The Hague court and had referred to it
the Venezuela controversy. though you had
r~olf T.
generally admitted that this your action, to-
gether with the Plus fund precedent, which
also occurred under your administration.
saved the Life of that great international
tribunal The American people being COM
mitted by these, and many other. prece-
dents to the principles of international
bitration, it is the belief of those present
that the people. irrespective of party,
would applaud your taking the initiative in
the converting of second conference of
governments which, we hope and trust,
begun at The Hague, in the negotiation Of
further arbitration treaties, and in the es-
Establishment of an international parliament
for the consideration of questions which are
of common concern to all.
II now have the honor to introduce TO
you DR.. Albert Gobat of Switzerland. the
general secretary of the lnterpariiamen-
tary Union, who will formally present to
you the resolution bearing on this sub
ject."
The Resolution Presented. i-
DR. Cobalt followed Immediately, speaking
in French.
'Mr. President said DIR. Cobalt, II ap-
pear before you the spokesman of the
Interparlamentary Uniony and have the
honor to place in your hands resolution
adopted by that association at the con-
ference it has just held at st. Louis. When
we recorded in 1891 at Rome our desire
that there should be at an early date a
conference of all the civilized states, we
had no idea that our Initiative would be
so soon carried into effect, for ideas move
slowly, especially In Europe and so The
Hague conference brought most pleasant
surprise to all the friends of international
harmony. The first congress of nations In
spite of the difficulties it had to overcome,
achieved very gratifying results, for it
brought forth three conventions, of which
one-that concerning the peaceful settle
ment of international disputes-is supreme
ly important.
had to postpone several questions 1t had
intended to discuss. particularly the most
important one of all, especially for Europe,
that concerning the limitation of arma-
ments. Five years have since elapsed, and
no one has thought of calling a second
conference Of the states, the new confer
ence that The Hague convention of July 10,
1899, had itself provided for. The Inter-
parliamentary Union originator of the gen.
eral congresses of nations, and intellectual
parent-a point now admitted-of The
Hague conference, could not allow this i'm
portant institution to lapse into deSuetude.
1t. therefore, decided on the 18th of Sep
TENDER last at St Louis to insist that a
second conference be called.
Regarded as Important Evolution,
1--WE look upon this institution as the
starting point of the most important evoIu-
ton ever entered into by mankind. 1t will
at last embody the brotherhood of peoples,
that community of the intellectual and ma !
terial interests of nations that has always
existed, but never, until this day, SO i'm
peratiyely demanded that 1t be recognized, !
rurthered and protected. The general con-
ferences of states will regulate for the lat |
ter that which has been regulated for pri- |
vate persons for fifty centuries: they will |
make international arbitration compulsory; !
they Will see to 1t that treaties are faith !
fully observed; they will avert disputes; |
they will relieve the people of overwhelm- |
Ing burdens imposed by criminal whims. |
But In order to accomplish its duty this in |
stitution must also be made the foundation
OF political organization of the world. To |
that end. the contemplated conferences |
must be periodical and, IL may here ex- !
press personal idea, they must during |
the time Intervening between these general |
assemblies. have an organ vested with GER |
tain supervising, directing and executive |
powers. This will prove to be the first |
stage of an International political organiza- |
ton. similar to that which now exists In the |
United States and in my own country, |
Switzerland.
"The interpariamentary conference Of |
st. Louis has deemed you, Mr.. President,
TO be especially fitted to assume the initia- |
tive of a second general assembly Of the |
states. This duty naturally devoives upon |
the chief magistrate of country where a
congress of states convenes yearly under
the dome Of the Capitol. We are more
over, aware that in applying to you, we |
address ourselves to an earnest defender OF |
international justice. and we bear in mind |
the fact that you were the first head of a |
government who turned the governments
toward the permanent court of arbitration
of The Hague. And so, with the hope that |
you will comply with the wishes of the In
terparliamentary Union, and that success
viii crown your Initiative, 1 have the honor
to lay before you the resolutions:
Expressive Of Thanks.
'Mr. President, 1 have discharged the
official duty with which I was intrusted
venture to assume another, and feel con-
fident that my action will receive the APP
prevail of all the members OF European
We thank you. Mr.. Presi-
dent, from the depths of our hearts, for /
having been pleased to join in the friendly
invitation extended to the Interparliamen- |;