New-York tribune., 1907-08-30
LEADS At THE HAGUE.
United States, Says Bartholdt, Has
Done Much for Peace.
rFrom The Tribune Bureau

Washington. Aug. 2s-"The United States will
come out of The Hague conference WIN hSihs
coIors because II has advanced the only correct
and practical propositions for establishing world
peace on q more permanent basis With the actiVe
support of Germany, the final triumph of the Amer
lean plan is bound to be the gratifying outcome
Representative Bartholdt, of Missouri, who has
Just returned from Europe, thus summed up to-uaS
the results of the work of the American delegates
at The Hague. He spent nearly a month at the
conference and went to London and Berlin IN
order to obtain the support of the British and Ger
man delegates for the propositions OF the inter
Parliamentary Union, of which he was the repre-
sentative.
LAS | predicted more than year ago., contin-
ued Mr. Bartholdt, "the British proposition look
ing to arrest of armaments has proved a IalI-
ure which, of course, will be used by the var
party as a pretext for assertion that the con-
ference itself is a failure l do not believe bring
ing up the question a mistake, however. II
has proved a blessing in disguise by making the
delegates of all countries bestir themselves 10
accomplish something in another direction. After
the disarmament proposition out Of the way
the feeling became general that the conference
should not be allowed to adjourn without some
action facilitating the maintenance of peace.
America came TO the front at the start Mr..
Porter champoned the abolition of force in the
collection of debts except where a government r.
fuses to submit the decree of arbitral Il
bunaI. The Americans unanimously brought FORT
the project for a permanent intern itiOnal court,
with seventeen judges, as well as the draft of q
model arbitration treaty which provides obltga-
tory arbitration for great number of specited
subjects These propositions cover the whole in
terparliamentary plan.
The conference is rapidly approaching maj
adjournment Little of its real work has come TO
the knowledge of the public because the delegates
practically pledged TO secrecy but 1t would De
a grievous error to conclude from this that its
Iabors will not be of great benefit to mankind CT
will fail materially advance the cause of peace
by lessening the possibility of The following
points will almost certainly be embodied In the
laws Of nations as a result of the conference:
"Firsu-Future councils OF nations, Ike the pres
ent one at The Hague will be provided for and
a bureau will be established at Hollands capital
to which the powers viii send their propositions
Z This will make each conference autonomous. and
free It from the preponderating influence OF any
one power of which there IS now much compliant
because Russia has not only prepared the pro-
also obvate the necessity Of its being convened by
any ruler.
"SeCond-The Hague court will be established on
a more permanent foundation by the operation Of
the American proposition to have seventeen per
manent Judges This will make the high tribunal
a part Of the worlds recognized judicial machinery
and insure the absolute independence and impair
tiality of its adtudcations-
.Thiri-A general arbitration treaty Will be
agreed upon. narrow in scope for the present oC'
a good beginning.
/ mo one but the American delegates themselves
know what their instructions We're, but from tneiI
attitude at The Hague il IS plain that President
Roose.elt and Secretary Root are making SOD
the promises they made at tho New York peace
congress AS Americans. shall UnquesuonanE
emerge from The Hague with increased prestige