Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-01-07
A Diplomat Discusses
THE
PRESENT
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peaceful means OF settling disputes was
out VI harmony with their national
character. They knew OF arbitration
only as an academic principle OF inter"
national lazy and they had no desire TO
put it into practise They only knew
the law OF the sword and mllitarism In
It's most rampant state was the policy
OF their empire. In The middle ages
conditions were az unfayorable FOR ar
bltrn aon as In Roman times. The
medieval rulers and the great barona
had no desire TO further the cause of
arbitration and this state of indlffer-
ence continued down 10 the last cen-
tury Even az late as 1898, when the
Emperor Nicholas OF Russia called the
peace congress. his Invitation was re-
oelved with more or less skepticism. A
number OF influential newspapers OPEN
~ accused him OF duplicity and few stu
dents OF political AFFAIRS really expected
much TO be accomplished However,
the congress did accomplish many valu-
able results and its efforts have had
q wider influence than was anticipated.
Though England has been a strenu-
Gus exponent OF warllke methods IN the
past, she has OF late been converted to
the paths Of peace. The Boer war was
a severe lesson for England 10 bear
and II doubtless helped her to become
an advocate Of arbitration Moreover,
the English people, like the Americans,
ARE beginning to hate the thought OF an
armed conflict, and their efforts are be-
Ing directed toward finding "a substi-
tute for war Besides, the rising power
OF Russia Is becoming a serious menace
to the military supremacy OF England,
and, perhaps, the latter would prefer
the peaceful methods OF diplomacy TO
maintain her position among the pow"
ers OF the world.
Germany also ia q supporter OF the
principle Of arbitration ana would NE
to see It put into practical use Her
position, however, Is somewhat neon
gruous Her rapidly increasing popu-
lation makes II necessary 10 esaDllsn
moro colonies TO hold her surplus p0pu-
latIon and this fact accounts for her
activity in southwest Africa. But At
present there "a little unoccupied terri
tory in the whole world and most OF
tbis ls I'm the sphere OF influence or
some power which will prevent lts oc-
cupation by Germany, In spite or lhiH
aggressive colonial policy, however
Germany is ready to submit all her
future differences 70 arbitration anu
quickly accepted President Roosevelt
can for n second peace conference as an
evidence OF her peaceful intentions
The attitude OF the French govern
ment toward arbitration Is also iaVor-
ahle. Several months ago Foreign
Minister Decasse in reply to queS-
tlon In the chamber Of deputies rele-
tive to the proposal Of the United
States for the reassembling OF me
Hague peace conference, said that the
American Initiative had received a most
sympathetic welcome, the general
policy Of France being an assurance OF
a friendly attitude toward the PROPOSE
ton, and that definite action was de-
layed by the arrangement OF the details
OF the program and the maturing or
the sentiment OF the chamber and pup
lie AT the Thanksgiving banquet Oh
the American club In Paris baron
'Estournelles de Constant one Of the
French representatives at The Hague
peace conference IN 1898, commended
The action Of America az peace pow
or, and ended his address with n toast
10 the success of President RooseYelts
proposition for a second meeting OF
The Hague conference. This incident
alone Illustrates the attitude OF France
toward the question OF arbitration.
The position OF Russia as an advocate
of international peace IL similar TO that
OF England. The historical policy OF