The Washington herald., 1907-02-10

Then, too, it is Indispensable that some
international limitation should be placed
upon the use of floating mines, which,
as the experience of the conflict between
Russia and Japan has shown. constitute
a danger. not only TO the belligerents.
but to neutral shipping hundreds and
hundreds Of miles remote from the seat
OF war.
Still another subject for discussion at
The Hague. and an extremely important
one, is that which relates to the pre-
lininaries and declaration OF war, a ques-
ton which Russia. in particular. has at
heart, claiming as she does that Japan
attacked Port Arthur before the procla-
nation Of hostilities had reached St. Pc
tersburg. or had been communicated TO
the commander of the Inflated strong
hold. And IT is in connection with this
issue that W. T. Stead makes one Of his
most extraordinary proposals. It is moth
ing more or less than that powers. before
appealing to arms should be compelled,
under the penalty Of political and eco
monte boycott 70 delay the commence
ment Of hostilities for a period not ex-
ceeding thirty days, in order to give time
to mutually friendly governments to in
tervene in the interest Of peace. with
view to a reconciliation. Article s Of
the international agreement, representing
the labors of the first Hague convention,
laid down the principle that in the event
Of a conflict being imminent between two
countries a third power had always
right to offer its mediation without either
Of the two belligerents being able to take
odense The clause was wholly ineffec-
tual to delay the outbreak Of the Russo
Japanese war and the idea of rendering
this Article s obligatory, in the sense that
the rival nations must, defer hostilities
until "a month has been spent by friendly
governments in mediation. is absolutely
impracticable. In fact. no great power
could dream of giving its adhesion TO any
such proposal In the case Of war. there
/ Is always one power which is ready, and
one which Is unprepared for the conflict
Mr. Ste9ds proposal involves the saCri-
fee by the government prepared for the
fray Of all its advantages. The outcome
Of the war OF 1866 between Austria and
Prussia might have been different had
the latter consented 20 wait "a fortnight
or three weeks, until the Austrian gen
cralissim0 had completed the concenJra-
tion Of his troops. Again. on the out
break OF the war of 1870 Germany alone
was ready and in a position to strike inn
mediate and crushing blows. whereas the
mobilization of the French army was not
completed until several weeks after the
inauguration Of hOstilitiCs. In Cuba. too.
the American victory over the SpaDiaTds
would assuredly have eutailed the ex-
pendiJurc of much more life and treasure
if the SDauiards had been allowed time
TO bring an army corps or TWO across the
Atlantic TO the Antilles while the Tc-
/ sistance of the Beers would have been
CRUSHED earlier I'm the DAY had they been
/ forced 20 wait for q period of time sufi-
Client for the English transports 20 reach
/ cape Town from Southampton before
commencing the invasion Of Natal. Mr..
Steads idea therefore, Of compelling H.
( tending belligerents 10 defer hOstiIiiies
/ for twenty or thirty DAYS. i'm order To- al
low time for mediation, is unworthy of
/ serious consideration.
Another thing 10 be reckoned with is
the fact that there are many interna-
tiouai quarreIs which do not lend them
selves 90 settlement 10y mediation. japan
fought Russia i'm 1904 because her very
existence WAS at stake. and because il
was imperative that she should breaE
Russia's power in the far East before il
became too strong for resistance. Prus
sias real object i'm 1866 was not the prob
lem in connection with the Duchies OF
Schleswig- Holstein, but the determine
ton to wrest from Austria the presidency
OF the federation Of German states. Anc
i'm 1879 the quarrel between France auC
Germany, on the subject Of the throne o
Spain, was but Il mere preteXt for Il Wal
which was necessary to the foundation
Iof the German empire. In fact, Their,
have been relatively few wars between
the great powers which mediation coult
have prevented. And then. too. there il
always a difficulty with regard to th'
choice Of the mediator. owing 10 the far
reaching system of alliances, and OF
"ententes c0rdiales." on which the peac'
Of the world may be said to rest.
With regard to DR.. Stead's propose
to boycott any power that refuses TO sub
nit 70 arbitration, experience in the pas
has shown that measures of this kin,
have invariably proved Ineffective. sine
to-day less than ever can the gOverumen
be said TO control the financial and com
merciat resources Of a country, while 20
litical eXigency is pOwerless against tn
temptations Of private gain. Moreover
even If this We're not the case an inter
national boycott could only be Tcndere,
effective if it were unanimous, which il
out of the question.
Another project of Mr. Stead which
more Immediately concerns the Unite,
States, is his proposal to organize
species Of international pilgrimage O
peace, which is TO make it's start from
America at the close of the convention
Of the peace societies, to be held in New
York shortly after Easter. MT stead
who Is coming over here from Englan,
for this convention and who will hav
an opportunity Of bringing his views be
fore il on that occasion, hopes TO secur
the appointment of twelve delegates. whr
will sail for England. where they vii
meet party OF British pilgrims. viii
/ whom they will proceed to Paris. Their
to be Joined by a party of French cham
piOns of peace, who will then prOcee,
with them 20 Rome. IN this way ever!
capital is to be visited. until finally tn
pilgrimage, several hundred strong
reaches its final destination at the Hagu
IN time to demand a hearing and to pre-
sent its views TO the International Peac
Congress. Mr. Stead proposes that tn
expenses in connection with this pilgrim
age Of peace should be betrayed by tn
various governments. He points out tina
inasmUCh as nations are willing TO de
vote millions upon millions Of dollars &
ornaments and to war, they shoul
readily afford a few thousands of dollar