The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1907-12-03

Sltcu W tue pdIdSIupuS atpoIl Ills suu-
ject in my message of December, 1906,
and to the resolution of the third Amer
lean conference at Rio in the summer
of 1906. The convention upon this
subject adopted by the conference sub
stantially as proposed by the American
delegates is as follows:
"In order to avoid between nations
armed conflicts Of 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 it's 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
be applicable when the debtor state
refuses Or leaves unanswered an offer
to arbitrate or in case of acceptance,
makes it impossible to formulate the
terms of submission or after arbitra-
ton fails to comply with the award
rendered
ct is further agreed that arbitration
here contemplated shall be in con-
fOrmity as to procedure with chapter
Of the convention for the pacific
settlement of International disputes
adopted at The Hague and that it 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 provision 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-
ton Of 1899 for the voluntary settle
ment Of international disputes and par
ticularly t.e 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 a general agreement
was finally reached in favor of it's
creation. The conference recommends
ed to the signatory powers the adop-
ton of a draft upon which it agreed
for the organization of the court, leav-
ing to be determined only the method
ed. This remaining unsettled question
is plainly one which time and good
temper wi. solve,
| A turtle. agreement Of the first i'm
portance was that for the creation of
an interna ,ional prize court. The con-
stitution, organization and procedure
of such a tribunal were provided for
in detail. Any ole who recalls the in
justices under which this country suf-
fered as a neutral power during the
early 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-
ward the substitution of the rule of
reason and justice in place Of simple
force. Not only will the international
prize court be the means of protecting
the interests Of neutrals, but it is in
itself step toward the creation Of the
more general court for the hearing of
International controversies to which
reference has just been made. The or
ganization and action Of such prize
court cannot fail to accustom the diff
ferent countries to the submission Of
international questions to the decision
Of an international tribunal and we
may confidently expect the results Of
such submission to bring about a gen
eral agreement upon the enlargement
of the practice.
Numerous provisions were adopted
for reducing the evil effects of war
and for defining the rights and duties
Of neutrals.
The conference also provided for
the holding OF a third conference with
in perioil similar to that which
|
conferences.
The Delegates Of the United States
worthily represented the spirit Of. the
American people and maintained with
fidelity and ability the policy Of our
government upon all the great ques-
tons discussed in the conference.
The report Of the delegation. togeth-
err with authenticated copies of the
conventions signed. when received will
be laid before the senate for it's consid-
Grafton.
When we remember how difficult it
is 70" one of our own legislative bodies
composed of citizens Of the same coun-
try, speaking the same language. liv-
ing under the same laws sand having
the same customs, to reach an agree
nent or even to secure a majority up
on any difficult and important subject
which is proposed for legislation it
becomes plain that the representatives
Of forty-five different countries. speak
ing many different languages. accus-