Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-06-08
At The Hague Peace Conference
1t viii! be One Of Moderation
\ RN, And Cancellation.
THE QUESTION OF ARMAMENTS
Would be Willing to Discuss il, But for
\ Result Concrete Formula Must
BE Unanimously Adopted.

tOlglRn AlllllSN'i lNl4btt tNA.''N.'A
Frances position at The Hague peace
conference as one of moderation ana
cancellation. NJ. DePressense, Scot
alist, who presented an Interpolation
on this subject. urged it to be the duty
of the republic to take au advanced
position in favor OF the reduction Of
ornaments. War was Weighing Eu-
rope down, the speaker coutendeu, ahd
the questions rendering war less rum
GUS and savage were secondary ana
could not be treated with success un-
i less the main problem was solved. he
suggested that this be accomplished
either by proposing that each country
maintain a peace army IN proportion
to its population, or chat each De as
signed a aXimum sum for military
expenditures. In opening his address
Nj. Pichon paid n high tribute to the
work of the first peace conference. ana
then declared the approaching CONFER
ence must normally develop the work
then begun The Importance OF thls
second conference ia increased by the
larger number of countries represented
he said. and il would consider means
of making war less evil and more
humane. rules Tor maritime warfare
the transformation Of merchantmen
into warships in time OF war the rights
OF private property upd the appica-
convention to maritime warfare
DELEGATES INSTRUCTIONS.
The government. in formulating It's
instructions to the French delegates
to The Hague NJ. Pichon declared,
intends to allow them fullest liberty
of action confident that they always
would be actuated by the lofty prin'
ciple OF substituting a policy OF peace
for one Of war.
The government. the foreign minister
continued, had been urged to force the
question of compulsory arbitration; 1t
asked nothing better and as for the
greater limitation of ornaments, the
United States, Great Britain and Spain
had announced their purpose TO sub
nit propositions TO this end. The
French government would Wllhhsy
participate In the discussion. but in
order TO arrive at any result con-
crete formula must be unanimously
adopted Such Il formula has not yer
been found. and unanimity was still
further away. Prince Won BueloW.
the German imperial chancellor, had
declared that Germany would not par
ticlpate in the discussion OF a PROPOSE
ton which. in his opinion. might al
most be classed as dangerous.
The chamber unanimously approved
the minister's declaration.
FRANCE EMBARRASSED
Perhaps none of the great European
powers, with the possible exception OF
Italy, will enter The Hague conference
more embarrassed than France. a re-
gime of peace Is essential for the So
luton of the greatest economic ana
sociological problems her statesmen
are undertaking to solve at home Yet
in her relation TO foreign powers
France has lived for years, and still
lives, under the haunting shadow of
her mighty German neighbOr.
Almost every Frenchman feels vague
~ buj surely that some time France
Will again have TO confront Germany
on the battlefield. The memory of the
accute situation preceding the Alge-
ciras conference is sim fresh in the
minds of those conducting the govern
meut, and they feel that to agrees
sively champion anything In the dlrec-
tion of reduction or limitation OF ar
maments would he TO show "A weakness
that might encourage her old foe TO
aggression. Moreover, TO a lesser cN-
tent the government must reckon with
a certain revengetul ana militant spir-
It In her people which manifests itself
In keeping fresh flowers forever on the
statutes of the lost provinces of Alsace
and Lorraine, ana never gets tired Of
talking of revenge.
HER OBLIGATIONS.
But above an the French government
must consider the international obi
cations she has contracted with foreign
movers. her alliance with Russia, and
her series of cntentes with England
Italy and Spain, which are now to be
supplemented with n similar alliance
with Japan. The alliance of friendships
entered into originally 20 protect her
from the spectre Of Germany, ana since
extended in the interest of peace, have
lao, ,F "a 3,
tlcnal combination which in a congress
of nations such as win meet at The
Hague diVest her of freedom OF action.
She IS naturally compelled To consult
the wishes OF her allies and friends as u
priyato man rs forced 10 take into con-
sidcration the Views of his partners ana
business associates. And at present
the controlling ana dominating spirit
OF tho combination to which France be-
longs is England.
ENGLISH AIMS.
English aims ana English policies are
therefore likely TO be most largely re-
hectcd whenever the memhers of the
combination can reach "a common atti-
tudo upon the larger issues at The
Hague. And Tor weeks and months
London mas been in intimate exchange
with the chunCellnries of Paris and hcl
other continental friends with a view oi
presenting a united 'front.' upon IN.
main question frances attitude on tn,
Drago doctrine, the immunity of pri-
waite property an sea, the convention &
10 be elaborated "n maritime warfare
including The rights ui ncutrals, con-
trabands, the right tO destroy ships
the laying and Goatlug of mines, etc.
directly Inscribed upon the Russian pro-
gram, IRE necessarily, therefore, deter
mined most by the results ot these OK
changes.
FRANCES POSITION,
Upon one point possibly the mos
impOrtant Frances position W,ll hc nm
oquiVocai. she win nrnty advocate th
exAusou OF The principle OF arbitration
compulsory whore possible, with th
championmg OF everything such am at
titudc Involves.
For instance, her delegates viii SUP
port any practical measures for M
realization of President Roosevelt
schenle % strengthen The Hague nib
unal by creating permanent lrIhunl
composed ui such eminent Jurists a
win W. n above suspicion on nations
prejudice. and thus inspire tho conn
donce Of every huRnm who desires q
appear before II, Indeed beyond Oh
great good that must undoubtedly re
suit from closer definition NJ IN
rules of war and the resolving Of lssug
raised during the Rusau-Jnpauese wan
the pAclfcsts of France believe the ere
alton OF "a strong permanent ulbuua
M The Hague and the extension VI th
scope of arbitration Is likely 10 be- th
biggest work for the peace of Inc WoH
which the coming conference co