New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-25
THE PEACE CONGRESS,
Practical WOrE To Be Accomplisk,a
bg 1t.
LONDON. NIarh 80

cial programme. The proposals originally rnaa.
by the Russian government leave scope ro-
important deliberations and useful yvory -,
civilization. II these are enlarged through ~,
efforts OF the American and British guvernmsns,
so as to include systematized efforts for the "a.
ductiOn OF national expenditures for armanents
restrictions upon debt collections by lombard.
ment and other subjects. It will be an unfett4rss
Parliament Of Man. with an increased potsnfs.
atty for influencing public opinion Oppor-
tunisIn may be the natural atmosphere for orag.
nary diplomacy. Optimism Is not too rsrs
medium for the heights Of a. peace congress-
summoned for the good OF humanity. The a.
forts OF the American and British gOvernmeut.
to broaden the programme OF the conferences
may represent noble idealisTn rather than prac-i
teal diplomacy. based on what Il expedient ana
convenient The moral force Of the vorla,sI
opinion viii be stimulated by this perslsssns
agitation for full discussion OF every provosaI
for rational peace. Even II disarmament 30 20
impracticable as il was when the Car suggested
Il as the main problem for the first congress az
The Hague. Il win be a gain rather than a loss
to have the subject discussed at anoths- inter-.
national council. although nothing may be- ac-
Complshed The exclusion Of this subject from
the diplomatic syllabus win imply that the re-
d6eed cost OF fleets and standing armies Is a
wilder chimera now than &c was before the Boer
war and the campaign between Russia and
Japan.
The first congress was not failure when U.s.
armament could not be reduced TO a workins
system; nor VIII the second congress be unsur-
cessfuI If the experience be repeated. The
American and British delegation saved tn. Sc.
uation eight years ago by proposing the Perula-
neut Court OF Arbitration. and there VIII now bs
no opposition to any practical method Of I'M
proving the mechanism long as there Is no
attempt to make the processes compulsory, ss
little resistance will be offered to the improves
ment Of the Red Cross code. There has been an
important conference IN Switzerland FOR adapt
ing the primary convention OF 1868 to modern
conditions by fresh agreements based on tbs
actual range Of artillery. the magnitude Os
operations in a land campaign and the rapid de-
livery OF wounded and disabled from the eght.
ing line, stage by stage. TO field hospitals IN ths
rear. The Geneva Convention. designed for wars
like the Crimea and battles like SolferiRo. when
the distances between firing lines were short,
has become as impracticabIe as the three mile
limit in relation 70 coast defence A dslioerats
attempt has been made TO revise Il so as 70
secure the maximum rather than the minimum
effect from these humane activities, and also to
apply the principles to naval operations. esDe-
cially In the naturalization OF boats employed
for rescue. Some OF the measures tentatively
proposed need revision. and the recommends
lions OF the conference ought TO be reviewed and
sanctioned by the Hague congress.
There remains a broad field in which most ef-
fective work may be doue- This is the closer
regulation OF naval warfare 20 the fighting ships,
so as 10 promote the security OF general COM
merce. Ths original Russian programme pro-
poses a convention which viii deal IN detail
with the privileges % beIigerents and the rights
and obligations OF neUtrals; and without doubt
the delegates win find profitable employment in
carrying out the recommendation IL IS q most
necessary undertaking. for experts In tnterna-
tionaI law agree that when a war Is in progress
between two nations The chief risk Of involving
outside powers and charging the conflict lies IN
the conduct OF naval operations This da1ser
was illustrated by the DOddeEbank incident Il
was aggravated by the alliances between powers.
II the British feet had fired upon the Russian
squadron there might have been a naval war
between France and England, although 1t would
have been profoundly distastefUl 70 both coun-
tries The OvsghaUlng OF neutral ships and
cargoes by. belligereut cruisers Is jealousy re-
served by naval martinets as one Of the most
formidable resources OF sea power. notwithStan5-
ing the provisions made IN the Treaty OF Paris
for TIE protection OF neutral commerce. It
would be undertaken at high risks in any war
between maritime powers of the first rank IL
Germany and England were in conflict the seiz-
ure OF French or American ships or cargoe9
would be resented and a third feet might 30
called out for the protection OF neutral CONF
merce. II Japan and America were at war
fresh complications would be caused by inter-
ference with German or British shipping. Cper-
ations on land can proceed indefinitely without
danger OF a declaration OF war from neutral
power. Naval warfare muItipIIes the chances OK
~ 80 a belliIs
e-ent, and when there are secret or OPEN alLs
ances among maritime nations this implies tho
possibility OF a counter attack BY fourth
power The seizure Of the Trent is the hls1oFl'
warning OF the danger OF bellgerent acts Girset-
ed against neutral commerce.
The experience OF tho British I'm the south
African campaign and % the Russians IN theF
war with japan has shown that no advantages 10
gained BY interference with commerce. INs
time has passed when maritime nations Win
navies OF their own can allow their ships anu
cargoes TO be held up by belhgerents on the nisi
seas End condemned by prize courts Inc inter
ests OF national peace require an expansion %
the principles OF the Treaty OF Paris and definite
regulation OF naval warfare so as to promote
tho security OF neutral commerce and privaIs
property under any nag. This can be done Ds
an International agreement TO reStTlcs ssStiT,-
operations so far possible 10 Tue uS..slt-s.S
ships The American principe Q, or COM
from capture or all private proPSltS ~ -. go
trabanb is radical solution. which can DC 80 80
posed and debated afreSh at the aas1S SS
greSs. II can be supplemented y q - IN
definition OF coNtTaband. for general auopelO,,-
the practice OF prize courts. When hugsss5
fleets with their costly ornaments, are JuSt1t.
by tho necessity for the protection or conlltT' ~
II is fairly logical inference that thSy W..
the fighting in time Of war. and that tne 49, "a
trade will so on with little GISturo3ncS - =
possible The Russian programme prOvioes ~
the discussion OF these subjects, as wen a. I IN