Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-06-07
ISSUES AT THE HAGUE.

As the opening of Tho Hague con
gress draws near, IT becomes evident
that peace friends will he disappoint-
ed 1t they expect too much from It's
deliberations. The Russian delegates
are opposed to any discussion Of the
limitation Of ornaments. as are the
representatives OF Germany and Aug
tria. They deeply regret" 1t is said.
the international difficulties raised
by an insistcnce on a discussion t.
which three of the leading continental
powers are unqualitiedly opposed"
The attitude OF the Russian dcie-
gates is all the more remarkable be-
cause the first congress was called
by the car for the express purpose
of discussing a proposition looking
toward the Limitation OF ornaments
The Russian government has appar-
entity. abandoned that policy. perhaps
with view 10 future retaliation.
When nation has suffered defeat in
an inglorious war. it is not In humor
for disarmament France would not
have taken any part in such discussion
Shortly after the humilating treaty OF
peace with Germany. at Versailles.
Aiming. and arming to the teeth. was
the French cry then, and that seems
to be the Russian aim now.
The Russian delegates are anxious
to have the machinery and the scope
Of The Hague tribunal perfected and
enlarged. Questions of maritime war
and the rights and obligations Of neu-
trails are regarded as proper subjects
of discussion ana the question Of con-
treband is considered especially inn
pcrtant The difficulty of adjusting
the English ana continental views on
conditional contraband, such as coal,
machinery, horses. etc. Is realized,
but II is hoped. the dispatches say
that the conference can elaborate a
convention enumerating what articles
shall be considered conraband and
under what conditions, and providing
International regulations for prize
court procedure, perhaps even an in
l,tnational prize court Of highes, in
stance.
From all Of which it seems clear
that the Russian delegates regard the
Hague congress as a kind of machine
for the refining Of warfare, rather
than substitute for that mode of
settling OF serious disputes.
The Draso doctrine, it is stated,
RHssias representatives are Wiling to
discuss at the coming congress. That
is a question OF special Importance to the
American republics A brief statement
OF that doctrine, which has become
almost as famous as the Monroe doc
trnc, may, therefore be of interest at
this time
Senior Calvo, an Argentine jurist. who
represented his country in Germany
and France. advanced the theory that
no country has the right to use force for
the collection Of debt. THE recovery OF
debts and the pursuit of private claims
does not justify" he said, the armed
intervention Of governments; and, since
European states invariably follow this
rule IN the reciprocal relations. there Is
mo- reason why they should not also
impose Il upon themselves IN their rcla-
lions Win nations Of the New World
Drago. another iuust OF the Argentine
republic, was minister NJ foreign affairs
I'm 1902. when some OF the European
powers attempted to collect certain pi-
waite claims from the government OF
Venezuela Then he sent a note TO
IA, Argentine minister an Washington,
and this note was subsequently sout 10
AN the American republics ANA Euro
prau governments lu thls he main-
Hiued chat no government has the right
20 uso force 10 collect debts resulting
from contracts. concessions, loans etc,
because the capitalist who loans money
40 DE- government takes into account the
resources of the country, the security
onrred and The ability 10 pay Ho
charges a heavy premium FOR the risk
he takes ana has no reason 10 complain
n ne loaes He does not say that
nation has the right 10 repudlate lts
debts, bus that il has the right %
choose the manner ana the time Of pay
meut since us national credit ana hon
or are Involved
This modified form of the CHlyo doc
trinc has been called the Drago doc
trlno.
N there ARE amy questions that can
properly be made the subject Of COM
.f" ItHf f'.r ~ .f DO fr.. ftt