New-York tribune., 1906-04-14
HAGUE DATE.
Mr. Root Says Any Time after
Sept. 20 Viii Smt This Countrv.

Washington, April 13-An important step
| toward the agreement on a date for the assem-
bling Of the second Hague conference was made
to-day when Secretary Root informed the Rus
| sian government that the convenience of the
United States would be served by the selection
OF any date later than September 20 next This
GATE was mentioned because it was calculated
| that before that time the Pan-Americar Confer
ence at Rio would end and delegates would be
| aoio 10 reach The Hague in where they
were charged to represent their governments in
ooCh conferences. Secretary Root expects that
ne Will nave completed his South American trip
ny that time. and will be in Washington ready
70 deal personally with any question arising at
Ihe Hague which the American delegates might
ueslre TO submit 10 his Judgment
The greatest satisfaction is expressed at the
| readiness with which the Russian government
accepted the suggestion from the State Depart
lnent Tor the designation Of later date than
july 1or the conference at The Hague In the
hist place, the hint from London not need
eo 10 remind the department officials. we'll as
lhose or other governments. that not much had
so far been done toward the arrangement of a
programme for the discussions at the confer
ence. The American delegates have been g.
lected and had one meeting for organization,
but they have not been able TO make much prog
ress with the consideration Of the programme
Then it was thought that this government might
wish TO suggest for discussion subjects not
mentioned in the Russian programme and these
had not been put in shape. Altogether, there
was felt TO be abundant reason for asking ample
time.
There was, however. another objection to an
almost immediate convention, which was con-
nected with the proposed representation of the
South and Central American states in the con-
ference. These states found on an inspection of
the invitations TO the conference that they would
not enter at once upon an equality with those
that had signed the original Hague treaty They
desired 70 subscribe to that original convention
particularly in respect TO the settlement Of in
ternattonal disputes by arbitration before the
second conference. SO that they might be re-
garded as on terms Of equality with the other
states. But It found that no steps had been
taken to give effect to Article I1X Of the Hague
convention, which reads:
The conditions upon which the powers who
were not represented at the first international
peace conference can adhere to the present con-
ventton shall form the subject of a subsequent
agreement among the contracting powers.
While Russia has. at the instance of America.
included these South and Central American
states in the invitation to the second conference
and they have accepted. or will accept. the invi-
tation. they make it condition of attendance
that the signatory powers of the first convention
shall give effect to the article quoted and pro-
vide means for their adherence to the first con-
Vention before the second meeting This will
take some time, and although II is believed the
Russian government or that of the Netherlands
these adherences, the formalities will take some
months.