The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1907-07-01
EVERY MOVE OPPOSED nv ONE
COUNTRY OR ANOTHER AT
THE HAGUE.
.MAHAN URGES CAUTION
In Matter OF Limitation and Definition
Of Arbitration Trbunai---lits
Blow at Disarmament
Project.

I
committees of the peace conference
fhaye now settled down to detailed
work, and tho arcoants OK their al.
botes raise hopes that the ultimate
results will be of genuine importance.
On the other hand, each proposal
which seriously changes or modifies
existing international law, either al
REGARDS the rules Of war or the settle.
inent of disputes, Is opposed hy oree
ior more OF the great powers.
When IT is borne IN mind that I'D
proposal can be adopted wlfhogs
unanimous consent It will be raalizef
that the practical scope OF action at
the present session In narrowly eli
eumscrihed Work Of real value ii
codifying and clarifying existing ir.
ternntianal law may be expected AMI
also in expanding To some extent tta
functions of the arbitration tribunal.
Mahan Advises Caution
The delegates read today with tie
|gfea est inte7 est an article by Capt
EAlfred T. Mahan, the American an-
thnrity on naval matters, In the forth
Eeomfng number OF the National Re
view in whichfh writer emphasizes
his previous warnings against any no.
ton or any man abdicating resp9nst
t'lity In issues of right and wrons
and, therefore, of conscience
He points out that no nation can
in the present state OF civilization
sign away beforehand its power al
moral action in underlined and un-
foreseen circumstances, and submit
TO third party a question. not OF in
terests or Of facs. but Of conscience
r cannot, therefore. rightfuly com.
nit Itself To such course In alvanse
nspept for xnch cases lis asiaIt OF
clear definition
Mahan urges the careful Limitation
and definition of the exact functions
OF fhe arbitration tribunal, and arg es
that such questions rs that of the
Pacific, Rnssia's need for access 10
the sea, Germany's and Japans re.
1uirements Of expansions. the case cf
Cuba, and the Monvoe doctrine can.
not be dealt with by arbitration.
Armaments Are Necessary.
In conclusion he deals with the
question of armaments and says:
IT Is we'll that we invoke moral
'ower TO help heal the evils OF the
World, as the physician brings II to
ear on the ills OF the body. hut few
re prepared 10 rely upon II alone.
We need material aid as vel.
THE dikes Of Holland withstand BY
irect opposition the natural mission
I the North sea 70 swallow up the
md. The levees os the Mississippi
estrain and guide 20 betterment the
curse of the mighty current which
ut for them would waste Ii streng
} deyastate the sea shores on either
and. These two artificial devices
apresent vast expenditure OF time
nd money. and energy of unprodue-
We labor. so-cslled. but they are
leaper than he food.
THE police of our great cities pre-
ant ouihursts Of crime. the fearful
disabilities Of which manifest them.
Ives on happily rare occasions when
aterial prevention has from any
lused lapsed The police boiles are
great expense. but they cost less
an a few days OF anarchy
Let us not deceive ourselves by
ncying that the strong material i'm.
Uses which drive those massrs Of
en- whom we style nations or races
e 10 be checked or guided unless
the argument Of a reasonable con.
ntion there be given the strong
pport Of organized material power
he organized disappear the unor-
nized will but come into surer and
lre dreadful collision"
Ignore Little Nations.
The question Of how to d dsal with
p great body Of delegates OF tho
Isll powers has been skiIlfully man-
ed thus far. They are treated with
E greatest personal consideration.
+. as far as the real business IS con-
med they are ignofed. No other
irse is possible. The serious work
the conferences Is done in private
lsuliations between the represenfe-
IS Of the principal countries. There
y De heartburn'ngs or protests. but
Is far no friction has arisen.