The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-12-03

for obligatory arbitration, the estab- |
iishment Of a permanent court of arbi-
tration to proceed judicially in the
hearing and decision of international
causes. the prohibition Of force for the |
collection OF contract debts alleged to
be due from governments to citizens OF
other countries until after arbitration
as to the justice and amount OF the
debt and the time and manner OF pay
mcnt, the immunity of private proper
ty at sea. the better definition of the
rights Of neutrals and, I'm case any
measure to that end should be intro
duced. the limitation of ornaments.
in the field Of peaceful disposal of in
ternational differences several impor-
tant advances were made. First, as to
obligatory arbitration. Although the
conference failed to secure a unani-
nous agreement upon the details of
convention for obligatory arbitration,
IL did resolve as follows:
'It is unanimous a. In accepting
the principle for obligatory arbitra-
ton; 2)i in declaring that certain diff
ferences, and notably those relating to
the Interpretation and application of
international conventional stlpulations,
are susceptible of being submitted to
obligatory arbitration without any re-
striction."
In view Of the fact that as a result
Of the discussion the vote upon the
definite treaty of obligatory arbitra-
ton which was proposed stood 80 in
favor to o against the adoption Of the
treaty there can be little doubt that
the great majority of the countries of
the world have reached Il point where
they are now ready to apply practically
the principles thus unanimously agreed
upon by the conference.
The second advance. and very great
one, is the agreement which relates to
the use Of force for the collection of
contract debts. Your attention Is in
vited to the paragraphs upon this sub
ject in my message of December, 1906,
and to the resolution Of the third Amer
lean conference at Rio I'm the summer
Of 1905. The convention upon this
subject adopted by the conference SUBJ
stantiaIly as proposed by the American
delegates Is as follows:
"In order to avoid between nations
armed conflicts OF a purely pecuniary
origin arising from contractual debts
claimed Of the government Of one coun-
try by the government OF another coun-
try TO be due to its nationals the sig
natory powers agree not to have re-
course to armed force for the collec-
ton of such contractual debts.
However. this stipulation shall not
he applicable when tine debtor state
refuses or leaves unanswered an offer
to arbitrate or, i'm case Of acceptance,
makes IL impossible to formulate the
terms Of submission or after arbitra-
ton fails to comply with the award
rendered
1T Is further agreed that arbitration
here contemplated shall be in con-
formity as to procedure with chapter
3 of the convention for the pacific
settlement of international disputes
adopted at The Hague and that ii shall
determine in SO far as there shall be no
agreement between the parties the JUS
tice and the amount of the debt, the
time and mode of payment thereof"
Such aprovision would have prevent
ed much injustice and extortion in the
past, and cannot doubt that its effect
in the future will be most salutary.
A third advance has been made in
amending and perfecting the conven-
10 tt< t,v
ment Of international disputes and par
ticularly the extension of those parts
Of that convention which relate to
commissions Of inquiry. The existence
Of those provisions enabled the govern
ments Of Great Britain and Russia to
avoid war Notwithstanding great pub
lie excitement at the time OF the Dog
ger bank incident, and the new conven-
ton agreed upon by the conference
gives practical effect TO the experience
gained In that inquiry.
Substantial progress was also made
toward the creation of permanent
judicial tribunal for the determination
of international causes. There was
very full discussion of the proposal for
such court, and general agreement
was finally reached in favor Of Its
creation. The conference recommend
ed to the signatory powers the adop-
tien of draft upon which 1t agreed
for the organization of the court, leav
ing to be determined only the method
by which the judges should be select
ed. This remaining unsettled question
Is plainly one which time and good
temper will solve.
A further agreement of the first I'M
portancc was that for the creation of
an international prize court The con-
stitution, organization and procedure
OF such a tribunal were provided for
In detail. Any one who recalls the I'm.
justices under which this country suf-
fercd as a neutral power during the
carly part of the last century cannot
fail TO see in this provision for an In
ternational prize court the great ad-
vance which the world is making to-
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