Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-06
PEACE QUESTION
AND THE HAGUE
CONFERENCE

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 set
tlement of a number of important ques-
tionS by another conference to be called
| subsequently and at an early date.
These questions We're the following:
CD The rights and duties of neutrals:
(2) the limitation of the armed forces
on land and sea, and of military bud
gets; (3) the use of new types and CALI
bers of military and naval guns; (4) the
inviolability of private property at sea
in times of war; (5 the bombardment
of ports, cities and villages by naval
forces. In October. 1904, at the instance
Of the Interparliamentary union, which,
at a conference held in the United
States and attended by the lawmakers
of fifteen different nations had reiter-
ated the demand for a second confer
ence of nations, | issued invitations to
all the powers signatory to The Hague
convention to send delegates to such a
conference and suggested that it be
again held at The Hague. In its note
| of December 16, 1904, the United States
government communicated to the repre-
sentatives of foreign governments it's
| belief that the conference could be best
arranged under the provisions Of the
| present Hague treaty.
Hague Tribunal Now Assured
From all the powers acceptance was
received. coupled III some cases with
| the conditions that we should wait un-
| til the end of the war then Waging be-
| tween Russia and Japan. The emperor
| of Russia, Immediately after the treaty
| of peace which SO happily terminated
| this war, in note presented TO the
president OH September 13, through Am
| bassador Rosen, took the initiative in
| recommending that the conference be
now called. The United States govern
ment i'll response expressed its cordial
| acquiescnce and stated that it would,
as matter of course, take part i'll the
new conference and endeavor to further
| it's aims. We assume that all civilized
governments will support the move-
ment, and that the conference is now
an assured fact This government will
do everything in its power tofsecure the
| success of the conference to the end
that substantial progress may be made
| in the cause of international peace,
| justice and good Will.
Our Attitude on War
| This renders it proper at this time
to say something as to the general at
titude of this government towards
peace. More and more war is coming
| to be looked upon as in itself a lament
able and evil thing. A wanton or uses
| less war, or war of mere aggression
| III SnOIL, any WAL DeBuH OF Carried Oi4
in a conscienceless spirit, is to be cone
deplned 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 at
the root of the problem. our aim is
righteousness. Peace is normally the
handmaiden of righteousness; but when
| peace and righteousness conflict then n
great and upright people can never for
| a moment hesitate to follow the pain
which leads toward Righteousness even
| though that path also leads TO war;
| There are persons who advocate peace
at any price; there are others who, fol-
lowing false analogy think that be-
cause II Is no longer necessary In ciYl-
lized countries FOR individuals to protect
their rights with a strong hand, II Is
therefore unnecessary for nations to be
ready to defend their rights These per-
sons would do irreparable harm to any
nation that adopted their principles,
and even as II is they seriously hamper
the cause which they advocate by tend
ing TO render 1t absurd in the eyes OF
sensible and patriotic men.
The Demagogue of War
There can be no worse foe of mani
kind I'm general, and of his own country
i'm particular than the demagogue Of
war, the man who IN mere folly or 10
serve his own selfish ends continually
rails at and abuses other nations, VINO
seeks to excite his countrymen against
, Foreigners on insufficient pretexts, who