The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-05-31
GATHERING At
LAKE MOHONK
Large Attendance at the Con-
ference on International
Arbitration.
ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT
OFFICERS ELECTED FOR THE EN-
SUING YEAR.

Lake Mohonk. y Y May 50.-The
twelfth annual Lake Mohonk conference
on international arbitration opened today,
with an attendance of Go diplomats.
jUrists- congressman, cIergymen, educa-
tors. editors and DhilauthrOpists.
The opening address was delivered by
Albert X Smiley Mr.. Smiley was fol-
lowed by eX-Secretary OF State John W
Foster. Mr.. Foster, as president Of the
conference. delivered an address, IN which
he said in part:
semblage of the twelfth annual confer
enCe on international arbitration today
with the reign of peace among All the ma
tons of the earth. The hopeful promise
now IS not only That peace relgnS, Dut
that the nations are striving to preserve
peace The third meeting OF the Amerl-
can states is about to occur at RIO
JaneiTO to concert measures for greater
harmony in their work Of developing COM
merCe, industry. intelligence and justice
And it is proposed that this assembly in
The western hemisphere shall be Followed
soon by another conference of all the ma
lions of the world at The Hague in the
interest OF peace and humanity. the
gratifying feature of this second confer
ence in Europe IS that it is responded
10 with alaCrity by all the governments,
in striking contrast with the hesitation
and Jealousy which marked the first con-
vocation.
First Time in History.
1T will be the first time in the his
tory Of the human race when all the in
dependent nations have come together TO
confer on their mutual interests Verify
the world is moving on toward the era
Of peace and good VIII among men With
IhlS inspiring picture before US, regret
10 have TO direct your attention to an
other phase of the coming worlds con
gTess which Is not so encouraging. The
main object of the first Hague confer
enCe was expressly set forth in the pro-
Eramme TO be the limitation of the aTma-
ments of the nations The first call for
the second Hague conference was ISSUED
during the progress of the RUSSO-Japanese
war BY President Roosevelt, but after its
close the emperor of Russia asked and
was accorded the privilege of sending out
the formal COnVOcatlon-
The disCOUraging feature OF it to which
] have alluded is that in the programme
of subjects 70 be considered the Gmlta-
ton of ornaments has not been included
Ii is of equal Importance with the gen
eTaI acceptance of the principle of ar
biJratioH that some measure shall be
adopted to put a stop TO this eVer-lucreaS-
ing competition of the great powers in
the enlargement of their standing armies
and navies u is a mOCkeTE of sincerity
and consistency to sOlemnly enter into
treaty cOmpaCtS for the settlement of in
1enational disputes by peaceful aTbitra-
ton while the high contracting parties
continue To strain to their utmost their
taxing capacity and their credit IN prep
yrations for war
Z recognize that the limitation Of ar
ncuIties, but 1t is no more Impossible of
realization than a general arbitration
treaty seemed few years ago
Spirit of MiIitarism.
1T earnestly hope our governments
delegates TO The Hague viii take the lead
in bringing al bout ar agreement among
the great powers for limitation and,
if possible, a reduction in ornaments But
I DO not lose sight of the fact that even
in our own country the proposition does
not meet universal favor, that there IS
abroad in this land a ChauvauiStiC spirit
of militarism and d disposition 10 belittle
the efforts OF the friends Of peace The
war and navy departments are constant
lN appealing To congress for increased ap-
prOpriati0ns to put them IL proper con-
ditiOn for war The lately retired com
handing general of the army has an
must prepare ourselves for the next war.
Why this constant haTpinE on the next
war when there is no human probability
OF having One2 If we attend to our own
tend to theirs, there viii be no occasion
for armed conflicts on our part.
Il would not have YOU understand that
] am advocating peace at any price.
believe with President Roosevelt, as eX-
pressed in his message already quoted.
that there have been, and may be in the
future. righteous wars. and ] would, as
he expressed IL. follow the path which
leads towards Righteousness even though
that path leads TO war But J also be
1ieve that in the present stage Of the
worlds progress most wars may be avoid
ed, and if the powerful nations viii unite
in compulsory arbitration, all aggressive
wars may be prevented ] also believe
that the measure next to. If not equal
in importance with compulsory arbiLra-
ton to secure the worlds peace. is the
limitation and diuIunitiOn Of the aTma-
ments Of the great powers.