Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-04
Eiderdown FIannels

advances were made First, as to OBJ
ligatory arbitration. Although the con-
ference failed to secure unanimous agree
ment upon the details of a convention for
obligatory arbitration, 1t did resolve as
follows:
1T is unanimous: ~ In accepting the
principle for obligatory arbitration; (9
In declaring that certain differences, and
notably those relating to the interpreta-
tion and application of international con-
ventional stipu.ations, are susceptible of
being submitted to obligatory arbitration
without any restriction
I'm view of the fact that as result
of the discussion the vote upon the def
mite treaty of obligatory arbitration,
which was proposed. stood 80 in favor to
8 against the adoption of the treaty,
there can be but little doubt that he
great majority of the countries OF the
world have reached q point where they
are now ready to apply practically the
principles thus unanimously agreed upon
by the conference.
THE second advance, and very great
one is the agreement which relates to the
use of force for the collection of con-
tract debts.
"A third advance has been made in
amending and perfectipg the convention
of 1899 for the voluntary settlement of
international disputes, and particularly.
the extension of those parts of that con-
ventior which relate to commissions of
inquiry. The existence of those provisions
enabled the government of Great Britain
and Russia to avoid war. notwithstand-
ing great public excitement, at the time
of the Dogger bank incident, and the
new convention agreed upon by the con-
ference gives practical effect to the ex-
perience gained In that inquiry.
Progrese Made
Substantial progress was also made
toward the creation of a permanent ju-
dicial tribunal for the determination OF
International causes. There was very full
discussion of the proposal for such
court and a general agreement was fin
ally reached in favor of its creation. The
conference recommended to the siguatory
powers the adoption of draft upon
which it agreed for the organization of
the court, leaving to be determined on.y
the method by which the Judges should
be selected. This remaining unsettled
question is plainly one which time and
good temper will solve.
IA further agreement of the first i'm
portance was that for the creation of an
international prize court The constitu-
ton. organization and procedure of such
a tribunal were provided for in detail.
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 within
period similar to that which elapsed be-
tween the first and second conferences.
"The delegates of the United States
worthily represented the spirit of the
American people and maintained with fl
deity and ability the policy of our gov
ernmeut upon all the great questions dis
cussed In the conference.
. 1.-The report of the delegation, together
with authenticated copies of the conven-
tions signed, when received. will be laid
before the senate for its consideration.
When we remember how difficult 1t is
for one of our own legislative bodies,
composed of citizens of the same country,
speaking the Same language, living under
the same laws, and having the same Gus
toms, to reach an agreement or even to
secure a majority upon any difficult ard
important subject which is proposed for
legislation. 1t becomes plain that the
Representatives of forty-tive different
countries, speaking many different Ian
guages, accustomed TO different methods
of procedure, with widely diverse inter-
ests who discussed SO many different sub
jects and reached agreements upon so
many. are entitled to grateful apprecia-
tion for the wisdom. patience and mod
Grafton with which they have discharged
their duty
''The example of this temperate dis
cussion, and the agreements and the ef-
forts to agree. among representatives of
all the nations of the earth, acting with
universal recognition of the supreme OBJ
legation to promote peace. cannot fail to
be-a powerful influence for good in future
international relations.