The Washington herald., 1907-08-30
Work at The Hague Re-
viewed by Mr.. BarthOldt.
TRIUMPH FOR UNITED STATES
Teamwork Between American and
German Delegates Causes Surprise
the Conference Are Summarized by
the Missouri Congressman.

OF the nteTparliamentary Union. arrived
in Washington yesterday fresh from The
Hague Peace Conference. He is much
pleased with the WORK done by the con-
| ference. particularly as he sees in the
conduct Of Germany that she is working
hand in hand with the United states.
There was at first. according to Mr.. Bar
thOldt, a disagreement between these two
countries on the question Of disarmament.
but with this subject out of the way the
delegates OF the two countries worked in
thorough accord
This team work. he said, is c.
much comment 81 the European caI
where the apparently tacit agreemei
tween the two nations IS noticed ar
garded as significant.
The conference wifi lay the foun6
FOR the worlds peace, said Mr. Bar
last n,ght at present. many Pc
are laboring under an entirely erro
impression in regard TO the work DO
The Hague ana its probable results.
fact that no authentic news has
/ given out is construed to mean that
is no good news.
On the Right Lines.
The conference, however, is proceeding
somewhat slowly. but certainly, along the
right lines. It will surely bring the re-
suits that the friends and advocates OF
arbitration have sought
Even though the conference only sue
ceeded in minimizing war and the injury
accruing from strife, it has at least ac-
| comDiished a great work, and I think that
/ il VIII do much more than this. I have
| from the very start discouraged the
bringing up Of any disarmament PROPOSE
ton for the reason that at the first con
/ ference it was definitely learned that nc
great power would listen to such a pro-
posaL
My idea has always been that the
work TO secure more permanent peace
| should be taken UP where the first
conference succeeded, not where it fail.
/ ed.s IN other words, instead of discussing
the disarmament proposition. the question
Of arbitration and the perfection Of that
| system in considering international ques-
| tions should be the first aim Of the
! second conference. The fact that the
| question OF arresting armaments. as ad-
yocated by Great Britain. was brought
up at all has proved a blessing in dis
guise, because. after it has been rejected
the delegates felt that something ought
to be done.
Triumph for America.
They considered that the conference
should not be allowed to adjourn without
having accomplished some tangible re
hsults. and as a consequence of that. al
fell in with our interparliamentary plan
which I consider q signal triumph fol
the United States.
The results of the conference can be
concisely summed up in this way: First
periodicity of Hague conference, which
means that future councils of nations vii
be held at The Hague without first having
been called either by a President or
Car. Second. a result of great impor
tance will be to make The Hague a great
and permanent institution, with seventeen
permanent judges, to receive salaries. no
from one nation, but from all nation.
combined. so that they will be en- bled L
act Independently and impartially to al
countries. Third, there will be an arbi
traton treaty which will specify tht
questions in which arbitration shall b,
obligatory These viii include the pay
ment Of debts, a matter in which tn,
Americans are especially interested.
Practical Men Satisfied.
'It is safe to say that every practica
friend of peace viii have reason TO b,
satisfied with the achievements of tn,
conference, and only those will be disap
pointed who, like Mr. Stead, Of England
and the Baroness Won Suttner. expecte,
the impossible.
Mr. Bartholdt. on the suggestion o
many delegates at The Hague. visite,
both London and Berlin in order to Sc
cure the approval of the British and Ger
man governments to the interparliamen
tary plan above outlined. In speaking O
the way Europe viewed the talk Of wa
between the United States and Japan. h
said:
Nothing would be more popular In Eu
rope. They want somebody to pull thei
chestnuts out of the fire. 1 told many o
them that their wishes would not b
gratifed because Japan is not prepared t
fight ard we have nothing to fight about.