The Washington herald., 1907-08-04

The Hague, Aug. "A great victory
for the American delegates 10 the Peace
Congress was scored to-day. and a long
step taken toward the Institution Of
permanent court Of arbitration. when the
subcommittee having charge OF the sub
ject adopted a resolution embodying the
American principle.
Most OF the delegates have already ex-
pressed themselves as favoring the inter-
national permanent court in principle.
and it Is believed to-day's action fore
casts the eventual establishment OF the
court
Opposes Choate's Plan.
Mr.. Choate opened the sitting with
proposal that the American and Russian
schemes be sent together before the ex-
amining commission. where they could be
discussed Jointly. General debate fol-
lowed. in which DR.. Beernaert, Of Bel
gium, led the opposition 10 Mr.. ChOates
proposal for the establishment Of a per-
manent arbitration court. He maintained
that the existing Hague Tribunal, with its
necessarily diplomatic and political con
stitution, was ample for any useful pUr-
pose He was altogether against the per
rnanency Of judges called on 10 pronounce
on international disputes
The creation Of such judges, he thought,
would be most dangerous Who could
propose their removai2 Their colleagues,
or the countries which appointed them?
Moreover. national sentiment would not
tolerate a confederation Of countries or
their judges deciding a serious national
difference What guarantee was there OF
their impartiality? Countries not repre-
sented on the court could not be satisfied
to bear their position before II.
The Mexican and SeTvian delegates then
announced that they would withhold their
votes until the constitution Of the court
had been more clearly defined.
The Panama delegate pleaded for one
! system q international law, but said he
was rot opposed 10 Mr. ChOate's project,
! If the great powers would be compelled to
| submit their differences with the less ir--
/ portaHt states TO this court.
No Decorations for Judges.
NJ. Leger, from Haiti. introduced a new
| safeguard for the impartiality OF the pro-
posed court He proposed a stipulation
/ that the judges accept 10 decoration or
| honor from any country but their own.
The Venezuelan and Brazilian delegates
| supported this although Senior Barbosa.
| in behalf OF Brazil, agreed at length that
/ the right Of referring arbitratiOns 10 SOW
| ereigns or heads OF states should remain
| intact. and that the proposed court should
/ not seek 10 extend its authority on az OBJ
! ligatOry side.
England for Double Court.
Sir Edward Fry, in behalf OF England,
! supported 8Ir. Choate because he believed
! the proposed permanent court would not
Interfere with the work Of the existing
| tribunal as created in 1889. Parties would
be free to go before which court they be
lieyed to be the best judge Of their case.
| NJ. Bourgeois agreed with Sir Edward.
/ under the express reservation that he was
| altogether against suppressing the present
| arbitrational court. but was willing 10
make a new experiment. on the ground
! that all the world desires TO see arbitra-
| tion.
/ NJ. Beldiman, Of Roumania, said De alb
| stained from voting because he had failed
| 10 obtain satisfactory assurances regard
ing the amount If the population coun-
/ try, or combination Of countries. would
be required to- have to secure claim 10 i
| judgeship on the permanent court.
Turkhan Pasha, If Turkey. said he alb
stained from voting. as he had received
no instructions on the question from Con-
! staQtinOple.
Choute Wins on BaIIOt.
A vote was taken. which resulted, 2
for, and y abstaining from voting. Five
delegates were absent Mr.. Choate's
project was then sent 10 the examining
committee, Of the first commission.
Next week the conference VIII consider
the question Of the periodicity Of its re-
union. The American proposal, which is
supported by England, so far holds the
field. l; stipulates septennial meetings of
the conference.
Many delegates to the conference. are
prepared to hear that the Kaiser has
made as easy a conquest over Nicholas II
at Swinemunde as his representative here.
Baron Won Biberstein, has over the army
of suspicious which attended his arrival
both meetings has been ascribed by. rep
resentatives of several European coun-
tries here to her having won a patriotic
success at her national elections. Alone
among the European powers. she has
been able, since the last meeting Of the
Car and the Kaiser, to point to popular
Endorsement OF the soyereign's position.
The Austrian elections went strongly in
favor Of the Radical Socialists. Both tho
French and English existing ParIiaments
represent the defeat Of militant imperial
ism.
Kaiser Has Opportunity.
Russia's two experiments with elective
assemblies have afflicted her ruler with q
double dose Of his natural fatalistlc
gloom. In such a situation the Kaiser is
regarded as having a supremely favor.
able opportunity of impressing upon his
impartial cousin that he IS his best friend
as a dozen years ago the Kaiser was
able 10 impress the Sultan when othel
members of the European concert were
making one of their periodical efforts T.
force Abdul Hamid into altering the ad.
ministration of his European province
i Diplomatic observers here hold that the
two cases are not nearly so divergent a.
/ WesteTners might think. Both Turke,
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