The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-12-03

Such revision should be made of the
courses of study and methods of con-
Quoting and marking examinations as
will develop and bring out the average
all-round ability of the midshipman
rather than to give him prominence in
any one particular study. The fact
should be kept in mind that the naval
academy is not a university but a
school, the primary object of which is
to educate boys to be efficient naval
officers. Changes in curriculum, there
fore, should be in the direction of MAX
ing the course Of instruction less theo-
retical and more practical. No portion
OF any future class should be gradu-
ated In advance of the full four years
course, and under no circumstances
should the standard of instruction be
lowered. The academy in almost all
OF Its departments is now magnificently
equipped, and it would be very unwise
to make the course of instruction less
exacting than it is today
Acting upon this suggestion I deSig-
mated three seagoing officers, Capt.
Richard Wainwright, Commander Robt
s. Griffin, and Lieutenant Commander
Albert L. Key, all graduates of the
academy, to investigate conditions and
to recommend to me the best method
of carrying into effect this general rec
onmendation. These officers perform
ed the duty promptly and intelligently,
and, under the personal direction of
Captain Charles J. Badger, superin-
tendent of the academy such of the
proposed changes as were deemed to
be at present advisable were put into
effect at the beginning OF the academic
year, October I, last. The results, am
confident, will be most beneficial to the
academy, to the midshipmen, and to
the navy.
Foreign Affairs
In foreign affairs this country's
steady policy is to behave toward other
nations as strong and self-respecting
man should behave toward the other
men with whom he is brought into
contact. In other words, our aim Is
disinterestedly to help other nations
where such help can be wisely given
without the appearance OF meddnng
with what does not concern US; to be
careful to act as a good neighbor; and
at the same time, in good-natured
fashion, to make it evident that we do
not intend to be imposed upon.
The second international peace
conference was convened at The
Hague on the 18th of June last and
remained in session until the 18th OF
October. For the first time the repre-
sentatives of practically all the civil
a temperate and kindly discussion OF
the methods~by which the causes OF
war might be narrowed and its in
| furious effects reduced.
Although the agreements reached IN
| the conference did not in any d1rec-
] ton go to the length hoped for by the
more sanguine yet in many direc-
lions important steps were taken, ano
upon every subject on the programme
| there was such full and considerate
discussion as to Justify the belief that
| substantial progress has been made
toward further agreements in the fu-
| ture Thirteen conventions We're
agreed upon embodying the definite
conclusions which had been reached
and resolutions were adopted mark
| he matters
which agreement was not yet suffi-
GENTLY complete to make conventions
| practicable.
The delegates of the United States
were instructed to favor an agree
| ment for arbitration, the establish
ment of a permanent court of arbitra-
ton to proceed judicially in the hear
| ing and decision of international
! causes, the prohibition of force fol
| the collection of contract debts alleged
1 to he due from governments to citi-
zens of other countries until after
arbitration as to the Justice and
amount of the debt and the time and
manner of payment, the immunity OF
private property at sea, the neltei
| definition of the rights of neutrals
| and, in case any measure to that enc
should be introduced. the limitation
| of ornaments.
/ In the field of peaceful disposal OF
international differences several i'm
portant advances were made. First
as to obligatory arbitration. Although
the congress failed to secure unan1'
NOUS agreement upon the details OF
a convention for obligatory arbitra'
| ton. it did resolve as follows:
at is unanimous: % In accept
ing the principle for obligatory arbl'
tration; CD In declaring that certain
| differences, and notably those reiat
| ing to the Interpretation and apphca.
| ton OF international conventional
| stipula tions are susceptible of beins
submitted to obligatory arbltratlor
without any restriction
| In view Of the fact that as result
| of thu discussion the vote upon the
definite treaty of obligatory arplera a
ton. which was proposed, stood S2 II
| favor to 9 against the adoption OF
| the treaty, there can be little doub
| that tho great majority of the coun'
| tries of the world have reached
! r,oint where they are now ready tc
amply practically the principles thus
| unanimously agreed upon by the con-
| ference.
| Collection of Debts.
The second advance. and very
iates to the use of force for the col
| lection of contract debts. Your at
| tention is invited to the paragraphs
| upon this subject in my message OF
December, 1906. and to the resolution
| of the third American conference a
| Rio in the summer of 1906. The con
yentfon upon this subject adopted by
| the conferences substantially as pro-
] posed by the American delegates Is
| as follows:
an order to avoid between nations
| ,rnoe5 conflicts of a purely pecunfary
origin arising from contractual debt.
| claimed of the government OF one
country by the government OF another
country to be due to its nationals; tnt
| signatory powers agree not to nave
! recourse to armed force for the col
lection of such contractual debts
| However, this stipulation SHAH no