Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-21
John W. Foster Describes
Second Peace Conference.
IMPORTANT HISTORY EVENT
ALI the Delegates on Platform Of
Absolute Equality.
NOTABLE MEN IN ATTENDANCE
Record Of Joseph Choate-Discus-
sion of Results of the Meeting.
Substantial Achievements.

The Second Peace Conference at The
Hague was the subject of a lecture by
John W. Foster. formerly Secretary OF
State, last evening in National Rifles
Armory. under the auspices of the Ma
tional Geographic Society.
Mr.. Foster gave list of the nations
repr sented at the conference. forty-four
in number. including every civilized peo-
pie of the globe. with the exception of
several Central American republics. Ii
IBERIA and Abyssinia. The speaker criti-
cised the action Of the United States
government in appointing three members
of the delegation with the rank of am
bassadors. while the other great powers.
Great Britain. France. Germany. Russia,
Italy and Japan, had but one.
After describing the opening scenes at
the conference, June Is last, Mr.. Foster
explained the business procedure and the
organization of the conference There
Were decided monarchial tendencies
throughout, he said. leading to the GEN.
traliZation of all important questions to
be discussed by small bodies of delegates
from the larger European powers, known
as committees, which passed on the re-
spective measures before they were pre-
Sc rted to the conference for open discus
sion. This feature of the conference. the
lecturer asserted, led to some bitterness
and abuse.
The committees or divisions were four
in number, each having a president and
possibly hundred or less delegates. and
were known as the committee on arbitra-
ton. committee on military affairs. COM
mittee on naval affairs and the commit
tee on miscellaneous matters. THESE
bodies were controlled almost entirely by
representatives Of the large European
nations.
International Import.
Speaking of the International import of
the second peace conference, Mr.. Foster
referred to it as the most important event
in the history of the human races He
gave historical sketch of the nations
of the universe for the past hundred or
more years and then showed that the
second peace conference was really the
first time that all the nations had met
for general discussion with universal
peace as the object. The conference as
sembled the middle Of June. the delegates
being on footing of absolute equality,
and remained in session four months
without serious friction, and passed thir-
teen measures affecting the peaceful and
amicable intercourse. While referring to
the great Importance of the conference.
the speaker gave an account of the not
able figures among the delegates, A>elt-
doff, the president of the conference:
Bourgeois and Renault of the French
delegation: Merschall Of Germany, Sir
Edward Fry Of Great Britain, Bernaert
OF Belgium, Martens Of Russia, Ruy Bar
bosa of Brazil and Mr.. Choate or the
American delegation. The latter, the lee
turer stated. earned record as states
man, diplomat and expert on information
al law eQualed by none. 1t was due TO
Mr.. Choates ability that large num-
Der of the thirteen measures were passed.
Mr.. Foster referred to the South Amer.
lean countries, which were for the first
time represented. They were given credit
for acquitting themselves with honor and
commanded the respect OF their asso-
clates. The lecturer said that 1t was not
strange that they did not always follow
the lead of the United States, as they
were Independent in their duties and en-
titled to their own view of the subjects
before them.
Results of the Conference.
The results of the conference were dis
cussed. Mr.. Foster said that those who
believed in vast ornaments as the surest
test of nations greatness were inclined
to belittle the work at The Hague, even
to pronounce 1t a failure. On the other
hand, those who believe that there is
better way than war to solve contro-
verses between nations see in the results
of the conference a notable advance on
the road to the accomplishment Of this
end; an advance not as great as they de-
sired or hoped for, but a substantial ad
vance.
1T is worth more than dollars or
pounds. shil'ings and pence" Mr.. Foster
added. that the representatives of all the
nations of the earth have gathered in one
great assembly with the avowed purpose
of promoting peace; that they cam to-
gether upon a perfect equality. the small
est and weakest nation on the same foot
ing as the most populous and powerful;
that they remained in session for four
months, discussing great questions OF
world wide Importance in a friendly spirit
and without a harsh word or a warlike
threat.
Substantial Achievements.
"And at the close we are able to poin1
to substantial achievements: The crea-
ton of an international prize court: an
improvement in the procedure for COM
missions of inquiry and arbitration: pro-
hibition of the employment of force in
the collection of debts; the adoption of
further regulations for the amelioration
of both land and naval warfare; greater
protection of neutral commerce during
war; step in advance toward obligatory
arbitration and the establishment of a
permanent arbitral court and provision
for the periodic meeting OF other world
conferences of peace
at is record of which every lover of
mankind may be proud. 1t Is visionary
to expect that wars among nations will
cease, but let us hope that there is the
dawn of a new day. when right, not
wrong. justice, not force, VIII rule In
the affairs of governments; when no long
er the world will be veXed by the ambi-
ton of an Alexander. a Caesar or Napo-
leon; when the patriot will delight not in
the triumphs of formidable navies and
vast armies. but in the achievements of
peace. industry and commerce in the
friendly competition of the NATIONS"
Meets Death in Mine Explosion.
Special Correspondence OF The Star