Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-06
CASES OF PRECEDENCE
TWO NOTABLE INSTANCES AND
THEIR SOLUTION.

dence and whether the Japanese or the
Russian envoy should meet the President
first that 1t is interesting to note that sew
eral centuries ago the question offered just
as many difficulties as 1t does in our days.
In the year 1907, the officials of the for
e!gn Office of the states general of Holland
and iceland were confronted with most
difficult case of precedence. In April OF
that year representatives of France. Spain.
the emperor of the Holy German Empire.
England and the United Netherlands had
gathered in The Hague to try and make
peace between Louis XIV and his different
enemies. The question for the Dutch offi-
Gals was how they should arrange the
peace negotiations and who should have
precedence. Though Louis XIV was badly
beaten 1t still was better not to embtter
him and they could not think of giving the
French representative any but a first
place. But that would hardly be agreeable
to the other nations, who would never he
willing to be preceded by the Frenchmen.
Then some clever official hit upon the fol-
lowing idea. On the day of the opening of
the negotiations, the representatives sho I'D
all enter at the same time. The meetings
were to take place at the Castle Nieuwburg
at Ryswky. a small village near The
Hague. The castle had one entrance, but
they broke holes through the walls and
when the morning came upon which the
negotiations should begin every peace en-
voy drove in a carriage with eight horses
to his private entrance and at exactly the
same moment all of them entered the build
ing and at exactly the same moment every
representative took his seat
Napoleon Initiated This.
Many years later Napoleon initiated this
method When he met the pope who had
come to Paris to crown the new emperor
of the French, he solved the question Of
precedance hot ueen them in he mo Way
and while the representative of the Divine
power entered the carriage at one side the
representative of quite a different power
entered the carriage by the other side
If this method had been tried. however,
when the President introduced the different
peace ENJOYS to each other. great acct
dent might have happened. for If Mr.. Witte
would have boarded the Mayfiower on the
stacboard side, while Mr.. komura made his
appearance on the port side, 1t is very I'M
likely that even President Roosevelt could
have balanced the situation.
AS to the peace negotiations, there hardly
peace OF Ryswyk and the peace-to-be of
Portsmouth. The peace of Ryswyk decided
for once and for all that the Catholic
Church could not have an absolute suprem
acy in Europe. 1t settled war which had
been begun chiefly for idea In the war
between Japan and Russia there has not
been much of a question of any idea. 1t
has been merely a business war. Russia
economical and industrial development, and
Japan wanted it for the same reason. 1t
merely a question who was the strong
er and could get it. That it did not belong
to either of them was a matter of second
AIRY Importance
A Possible Alliance.
Now both nations have sent delegates
and through the influence of President
Roosevelt will meet in Portsmouth and try
to come to understanding and make
peace The country in which they have
been fighting, as stated above, belonged to
neither of them. the houses and farms they
have burned down were those of neutrals
and all the misery of a modern war We're
thrown upon people who had nothing what
ever to do with the whole affair. 1t is hard
to see how these two nations will make
peace and decide about countries which
belong to neither of them. and there is
great danger that other nations would not
recognize any such treaties. Japan VIII
understand this as well as Russia and the
safest way out of it will be for her TO
make an alliance with Russia which will
enable those two nations to settle the fu-
ture of Asia after their own desire.
American newspapers have been telling
so many splendid things about Japan and
the japanese that many have come to be-
lieve that they are a people, adorned with
al the virtues of the world and Of Heaven.
and many Americans will be shocked when
they find out that the Japanese are just
as good cyclists as any other nation. Japan
at this moment is entirely in the hands of
the imperialtstic, not to say lingo. party.
1t is her desire to be the first and fore
most nation of Asia. If it embitters Rus
STA now, it will have 20 watch her big an
tagonist forever and spend Il great deal of
her energy in looking out for the ever
menacing Russian peril. If, the other
hand, it makes Russia her friend and ally.
for which privilege Russia would gladly
give her the so-much desired foothold on
the continent she can devote all her forces
to the purpose of delivering Asia from
the white peril, and there is no doubt but
that she Will do this There is no reason
why Japan and Russia could not be friends
They cannot feel any race hatred as they
do not know each other well enough for
that, but. on the other hand, they have
come to know each others good qualities
in the