The sun., 1907-08-27
Brazil Against the Proposed Court
Arbitration.

The Rio de Janeiro Government has
published in the columns of our neigh
Dor, the Herald, the objections offered
last week at The Hague by DR.. RUY
BARBosA, chief delegate from Brazil, to
ihe plan for a permanent court of arbi-
tration submitted by the United States
and approved by Germany and Great
Britain. A transcript Of the alternative
Project suggested by Brazil is also
printed. In view of the earnest and
hitherto successful efforts made by Secre-
tary Roof to establish the most cordial
relations with the Rio de Janeiro Gov
ernment, and in view also of the fact that
The delegates Of some other Latin Amer
lean States seem likely to side with DIR.
BARBosA, the grounds Of the latters
opposition 10 the British -German-Am Amer
leah proposal should be considered care
fully.
An inspection of the brief transmitted
to this country for publication shows
that most Of DIR. BARBosA's criticism on
the Choate programme is concerned with
minor points concerning which an accom-
mediation could be reached easily. Some
thing may be said, no doubt, for the
expediency Of merging the permanent
court Of arbitration established at The
Hague by the conference of 1899 in the
new and more imposing tribunal which
the British, German and American dele
gates would create, but this ia not a mat
ter as to which Brazil would be likely to
insist on the adoption of her recommen-
dation, provided her fundamental objec-
ton should be met That objection is
that in the composition of the proposed
court a departure is made from the prin-
ciple of absolute equality of treatment
for all the Powers represented at The
Hague.
II is undeniable that in the conference
of 1890, in which Powers small as we'll
as great took part, the former, including
for instance, Switzerland, Portugal and
Bulgaria in Europe and Mexico in the
Western Hemisphere, it was agreed that
the contracting States regardless of their
respective importance should be equally
represented in the permanent court of
arbitration. 1t is also probable enough
that if any intention of abrogating that
principle of equality had been made
known in advance Brazil and some other
Latin American States that took no part
in the conference of 1899 would have
lcfrained also from sending spokesmen
10 the present meeting at The Hague.
Those Latin American countries are
every whit as jealous of their dignity and
of their claims to be treated without dis
elimination in an International gathering
as are any Powers on earth. and it is
scarcely for the United States, that
propounded the Monroe Doctrine and
hitherto has upheld il, to discountenance
such self-assertion.
As for Brazil in particular, il is beyond
question that she much surpasses Mexico
in respect of population and wealth and
Is beyond comparison superior in those
respects to her own mother country,
Portugal, or to any European Power OF
the third class Indeed, a strong case
might be made for her title to rank in the
sGale of nations above Spain, if not also
above the Ottoman Empire. As regards,
too, existing capacity of self-defence or
aggression, she could probably make
short work OF China. which for her part
is placed at The Hague on a footing
with Powers of the first class. On the
whole we are inclined 10 think that Brazil
has done her duty TO Latin America by
demanding that the perfect equality of
nll the parties 10 the second Hague con-
ference shall hc acknowledged.
No doubt, as 'cr. CHoATE has said. a
court composed Of some forty seven