Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1907-06-13
Chief Concern.

| WHICH Lu0 COulSIcuCo Will uO SohuuSS
ed have, In a measure, obscured the
beginnings of the movement for the
reassembling of the conference, ! SC
that there is not perhaps general
appreciation Of the important part
played by the Washington government
in initiating the movement. For the
fact is that America really caused the
invitation to the second Hague confer
ence to be extended to the world
though the document was actually Is
sued later by the Russian government
The germ of the idea was found In
the meeting Of the inter-parliamentary
union at st. Louis two years ago. The
resolutions there adopted, all urging
an extension Of the principle Of set
Ting international disputes by arbi
tration were laid before President
Roosevelt who prepared a note al
dressed to our principal representa-
tives abroad directing them to sound
the governments to which they were
accredited as to the desirablity OF re-
converting the international conference
at The Hague.
The presidents overtures were re
ceived with apathy at first, as 1t was
not until the Russian emperor came to
the rescue (the president meanwhile
practically desisting from further
movement), and issued him own spe
cific invitations, that the success Of
the second conferece was assured
Naturally, having in a way fathereo
the second conference, the Washing
ton government has shown the deep
est interest in every detail Of the pro
gramme of important subjects to be
considered by that conference. OF the
first order of Importance, ACCORDING
to the American view, is the proposal
that improvements be made In the
provisions Of the existing convention
relative to a peaceful settlement Of
international disputes as regards Tue
court of arbitration and the interna
tional commission of inquiry. Instruc'
tons of the American delegates on
this point are known to be explicit
They are to do everything in their
mower to influence the conference 10
enlarge the powers Of the permanent
Hague tribunal in dealing with arbitra-
ton cases; and above all, the effort IS
to be made to bring more business
before the tribunal; to induce nations
to have more frequent recouse to this
tribunal for the settlement of their
disputes.
The fact is that the president and
Secretary Root are disappointed at the
very small issue from the august tri
bunal. -
Since its creation it has passed
upon Just four cases: First was the
Plus case, involving the disposition
of the fund set apart by Mexico to
satisfy the Catholic church In Califor-
MIA for church property taken over by
the state. Second, there was the set
Element of the question growing out
Of the blockade Of the Venezuela ports
by the allied powers. Third, was the
Alaskan boundary question between
America and Great Britain. Fourth
was the decision of a question that
had arisen between japan and Greg
Britain as to the exemption, from tax
alton Of foreign jewellers In japan.
All but the last of these cases we're
Of American origin. In other words,
although serious international disputes
have arisen and been adjusted diplo-
matically or by force of arms since
the creation of The Hague tribunal,
America and Great Britain have been
the only parties to resort to arbitra-
ton.
That Is why, with a full belief in
the efficiency and humanity and COM
mon sense of that method OF settling
international quarrels the Washing
ton government seconded by Great
Britain has instructed its delegates to
try to enlarge the scope Of the arbitra-
ton principle.
Though not offering the same prom
Use OF satisfactory agreement as the
four subjects on the regular program
me above referred to, Of far greater
Interest to the public are two PROPOSE
tons, one relating to the Limitation
Of ornaments, and the other concern
ing the famous Drago doctrines, which
may be discussed II the conference SO
wills.
The attitude Of the American dele
gates toward these subjects toward
which there has been much specula'
ton. is after all reasonably clear. A
careful persual Of Secretary Roots
public utterances disclose the attitude
OF the American delegates. though OF
course not the details Of their IN
structions.
In substance their instructions are
to The effect that from the beginning
American had held that the Limitation
Of ornaments, being . Lesser from me