New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-04
RELATTONS or NATIONS.
Hoo the Cause Of Peace Nay Best
Be Promoted.
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir have read with great interest F. W Sew
ards letter in yesterdays Tribune. as well this
mornings editorial headed Treaties Which Make
for Peace"
convention of the civilized nations in which
they mutually guarantee their independence and
present boundaries s indeed che Of the great aims
Of the peace movement, the other being the
substitution OF legal proceedings for the arbitra-
ment Of war. But such convention he consid-
cred step toward universal peace only in case
It comprises al the leading powers. As it is, such
treaties as You recommend in your article may have
the purpose 10 rid the contracting parties Of any
danger from q few Of their possible enemies in
order 10 concentrate their military strength in
/ other direction.
As long as mutual distrlst is the keynote Of
! diplomatic wisdom it must therefore. he Won
dered at that such agreements the ones referred
| to are regarded rather as menace by the powers
not included in the agreement than as an assur-
ance Of peacefulness None of the treaties you
mention in your article, any other one between
European nations has been followed by a decrease
IN ornaments. The forces set free by the
parative safety in direction have been used to
Increase the defensive offensive strength in
other As an illustration, let me refer the
Of Italy. After the conclusion the treaty between
that country and France agreeing To reduce their
Alpine troops. the regiments found superfuous on
the French frontier have been used 10 Increase the
Alpine forces near the Austrian frontier-of an
aIlied nation-and thereby the warike spirit
both sides Of that frontier has found fresh i'm
pnise similar Illustrations in other countries
easily he found
The experience Of history. even Of contemporaries
Gus history. does uphold the optimistic view
your editorial; all of these agreements have failed
so far 10 inspire the confidence that they did not
intend 10 secure advantages at tho expense of
others. As to disarmament or limitation of arma-
ments, the example Of Switzerland affords little
consolation Ia the advocates Of that proposition
Her neutrality has been guaranteed since the Con-
ereSs Of Vienna and has been repeatedly confirmed
In the last century. but It is simply the result
ot a mutual consent or custom grown 10 have
the force or an unwritten treaty. as MIR. Seward
writes. But Switzerland is compelled to maintain
as great military force she can hear. for if
she be not able defend herself against breach
on neutrality on the part Of beiligerent negbbors
her privilege will be forfeited The same is the
case with Belgium Tie Franco German War has
shown the necessity of this armed neutrality"
LIKE otner pactsts. agree with You that We
must attain the desired end by attacking the evil
az us source Instead Of at its elimination But
by danmtng UP only few outlets Of the source
you may make the flow of the others so strong that
You viii he unable to cope with them.
Inc longer ! am studying rhe questions connected
WIN the peace movement the I become con-
WINGED that We bring the possibility of too
much to the foreground. that work for ar
hhStc@ n toad Of for peace.
Peace IS infinitely more than the absence Of war.
Peace in its modern conception is the community
or interest Of all nations. the union Of all nations
IN ire common work Of human progress. Of civil
ization and culture. The treaties that make for
peace more than any others are those in which
the nations unit" 10 protect one another and all
mankind against threatening evils. OF promoting
/! the common welfare
/ our diplomats and statesmen have been over
taken by tho actual evolution Of events While
they stil stick to the old international law with
its questions Of war, Of sovereignty and Legitimacy,
the nations they represent grow into closer union
! from HaF TO day by the common interests OF com
merce and industry, Of science and art. Of social
development, the material means Of communica-
ton, and. last but not least in the increased per
so1al relations which make nations understand
! and respect one another IN a higher degree than
/ ever before
/ If was not afraid that have claimed too much
| OF your valuable space already should like 10
! point out some OF the treaties that make for
! peace" in This sense. some Of the institutions
! which maintained in common by differ
ont o,-s-n-oe-tetre greatest NJ yhI, ie the INT
J versal Postal Tu!or-and which, taken together.
/ make formidable nucleus for the coming world s
| administration.
! 1t is in this direction that the friends Of peace
should bring more conscious effort 10 bear In this
! field will find the public almost unanimous on
7 our side. and certainly viii find the support Of
I the best OF Journalism. our own administration
ought to be urged not % miss any opportunity 10
! enter upon such culture treaties make bold
20 call them for lack Of another short expression.
! Let tho newspapers give them as much space as
they afford. and accustorn their readers 10 the
! fact that their interests are the same those
/ Of the foreign" nations
Every traveller to foreign lands ought to be con-
/ scous that he may act as a messenger Of peace;
/ abroad To study foreign conditions should con-
! scousv make Of their opportunities to en-
! phasiz" tho amty Of the peoples, not as polite
phrase between host and guest but with an earnest
! VIII 20 further this purpose international con
! crosses could increase their already great inhu-
enc. IN this direction hy making II an incidental
| M expressed point OF their programme. The moro
We strengthen the forces that unite the nations
the less people will think Of the possibilities OF
! rupture
Let me use this opportunity. Mr.. Editor. to ex-
press my appreciation of the fairness and justice
with which your esteemed paper has treated the
| programme Tor which PaCiasm stands There are
SO many immediate. practical Sters 10 h" taken on
which all we'll meaning people agree that We can
very well afford 10 let accidental dssensions
about the possibilities of the ideal that guides us
like loadstar" rest while work at the solu-
ton Of the problems ttnt face US at present
ERNST RICHARD.
New York June O. Iao7.