Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1905-12-05
THE HAGUE CONFERENCE
Called Again by the Car, President
Promises It Americas Support.

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 number of important
questions by another conference to be
called subsequently and at an early
date. These questions were the fol-
lowing: o. The rights and duties of
neutrals; q the limitation Of the armed
forces on land and sea and of military
budgets; o. the use of new types and
calibers Of military and naval guns;
~ the inviolab ility Of private property
at sea in times Of war; % the bonn
bardment Of ports, cities and villages
by naval forces. In October, 1904, at
the instance Of the interparliamentary
union, which, at conference held in
the United States and attended by the
lawmakers Of fifteen different nations,
had reiterated the demand for second
conference Of nations, issued invita-
lions to all the powers signatory to
The Hague convention to send dele
gates to such conference and sug-
gested that it be again held at The
Hague. In it's note of Dec 16, 1904,
the United States government commu-
nicated to the representatives Of foreign
governments its belief that the confer
snce could be best arranged under the
provisions OF the present hague ueary.
From all the powers acceptance was
received, coupled in some cases with
the condition that we should wait I'M
til the end of the war then waging be-
tween Russia and Japan. The emper-
or Of Russia, Immediately after the
treaty of peace which SO happily ter
minated this war, in note presented
to the president on Sept ID through
Ambassador Rosen, took the initiative
In recommending that the conference
be now called. The United States gov
ernment in response expressed its cor
dial acquiescence and stated that It
would as matter of course take part
in the new conference and endeavor to
further its aims. We assume that all
civilized governments will support the
movement and that the conference is
now an assured fact. This govern
ment will do anything In its power
to secure the success Of the conference
10 the end that substantial progress
may be made In the cause Of interna-
tonal peace, justice and good win.
This renders 1t proper at this time to
say something as to the general atti-
tude Of this government toward peace.
More and more war is coming to be
looked upon as In itself a lamentable
and evil thing. "A wanton or useless
war or q war Of mere aggression lin
short any war begun or carried on In
. conscienceless Spirits to be con-
demned as peculiarly atrocious crime
against all humanity. We can, how
ever, do nothing Of permanent value
for peace unless we keep ever clearly
IN mind the ethical element which lies
ct the root Of the problem Our aim Il
righteousness. Peace Ii normally the
lhandmaiden OF righteousness, but when
peace and righteousness conflict then
= great and upright people can never
for moment hesitate to follow the
path which leads toward righteousness,
sven though that path also leads to
war. There are persons who advocato
peace at any price; there are others
who, following false analogy, think
that harauae Il II NO l0nrar nncoaaaxv