The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-05
THE HAGUE ooNFERENCE.
Much Work Left Undone by the First
Meeting in 1899.


The first conference of nations held
at The Hague in 1899, being unable to
dispose of all the business before it,
recommended the consideration and
settlement of a number of important
questions by another conference to be
called subsequently and at an early
date. These questions were the fol-
lowing: ID The rights and duties of
neutrals; CD the limitation Of the
armed forces on land and sea, and of
military budgets; CD the use of new
types and calibers Of military and
naval guns; (4) the inviolability Of
private property at sea in times of
war; CD the bombardment of ports,
cities, and villages by naval forces. In
October, 1904, at the instance of the
Observation-Disclosures Union, which, at a
conference held in the United States
and attended by the lawmakers of fif-
teen different nations had reiterated
the demand for second conference of
nations, I issued invitations to all the
powers signatory to The Hague con-
vention to send delegates to such a
conference and suggested that it be
again held at The Hague. In its note
of December Is, 1904, the United
States government communicated to
the representatives of foreign govern
ments its belief that the conference
could be best arranged under the pro-
visions of the present Hague treaty.
From all the powers acceptance was
received. coupled in some case with
the condition that we should wait I'M
til the end of the war then Waging be-
tween Russia and Japan. The en-
peror of Russia, Immediately after the
treaty of peace which so happily ter
minated this war, in a note presented
to the president on September 13,
through Ambassador ROSen, took the
initiative in recommending that the
conference, be now called. The United
States government, in response, ex-
pressed its cordial acquiescence and
stated that it would, as a matter of
course, take part in the new confer
ence and endeaVor to further its aims.
We assume that all civilized govern
mcnts will support the movement, and
that the conference is now an assured
fact. This government will do every
thing in its power to secure the sue
cess of the conference to the end that
substantial progress may be made IN
the cause of international peace, JUS
tice, and good Will.
This renders it proper at this time to
say something as to the general atu-
tude of this government toward peace.
More and more war is coming to be
looked upon as in itself a lamenta Die
and evil thing. A WantOn or useless
war or a war of mere aggreSSlon-in
short. any war begun or carried on IN
a constituencies spirit, is to be con-
demned as a peculiarly atroclous crime
against all humanity. we can, now
ever do nothing of permanent value
for peace unless we keep ever clear
in mind the ethical element which lies
AT the root of the problem. Our aim
is RICH teousness. Peace IS normally
the handmaiden of righteousness; but
when peace and righteousness conflict
then a great and upright people can
never for a moment hesitate to follow
the nath which leads toward righteous
ness. even though that path also leads
10 war There are persons who adNo-
cate peace at any price; there are
others who following a false analogy,
think that because it is no longer nee
ossarv in civilized countries for Indi-
viduals to protect their rights with a
strong hand. it is therefore unneces- Z
sarv FOR nations to be ready to defend
their rights. These persons would do
irreparable harm to any nation that
adobted their principles. and even as it !
Is fhev seriously hamper the cause
which they advocate by tending to
render it absurd in the eyes of sensi- |
HE and patriotic men, There can be
no worse foe Of mankind in general, /
and of his own country in particular, /
than the demagogue of war, the man
who in mere folly or to serve his own
selfish ends continually rails at and
abuses other nations. who seeks to ex-
cite his countrynen against foreigners
on insufficient preteXts. who excites
and innames a perverse and aggressive /
national vanity. and who may on oc-
casfons wantonly bring on connict be-
tween his nation and some other pa