Evening star., 1907-08-29
SECOND MEETING HERE
Annual Conference of Interna-
tionaI Law Association.
OPENED AT PORTLAND, NE.
Many From Principal Countries of
Europe and America.
OFFICERS FOR ENSUING YEAR
Chief Justice Baldwin Of Connecticut
Delivered the Inaugural Address.
Forty New Members Elected.

PORTLAND Me-, August 29.-Members
of the legal fratern.ty representing the
principal countries of Europe and America
are in attendance at the twenty-fourth an
nual conference of the International Law
Association. which was opened today and
will be in session until Saturday. This Is
the second time the association has held a
conference in the United States, and was
arranged in response to invitation from the
American Bar Association, whose conven-
tion was concluded yesterday. 1t is de-
voted principally to the reading Of papers
on topics of international consequence.
Simeon E. Baldwin, LID, chief justice
of the Connecticut supreme court of er-
rors. as honorary president Of the associa-
ton, read the inaugural address.
Judge Baldwin's Address.
Judge Baldwin said, in part:
Americans are glad to receive this asso-
citation for second time and glad to be
able to congratulate 1t on the substantial
progress made since our Buffalo meeting
of 1899 in advancing the science which it
was organized to promote. The first con-
ference of peace at The Hague had just
closed its session. and we were looking
with hope but hardly with confidence, for
favorable outcome of its project for estab-
fishing a court of nations. Again We meet
at time when a similar conference of
peace is sitting at The Hague; but with
what different sentiments and anticipations
in regard to It's power for good. The court
which the first conference proposed has
proved itself an effective instrument for
the settlement Of international disputes. It
has vindicated the title of international
law to a position among sciences. 1t has
shown that it Is a law, and has a sanction
the all-compelling sanction of the public
opinion of the world.
The progress of international law in mod
ern times has been largely in the direction
of preventing war. 1t has also been largely
In the direction of ameliOrating the condi
tions which war brings. One is impor-
tant as the other for the absolute preven-
ton of war, in however a remote future,
is to the scientific student of history and
psychology impossible, unless all nations
climb to equal plane of civilization and
morals, and that Is a far higher plane than
any nation has yet attained.
1T must be frankly acknowledged to be
precisely here that we find the most serious
obstacles to the reform and codification of
international law. The different powers
still represent very different states Of social
advancement Nevertheless the theory of
equality between nations Is the very soul
of the science which we meet to cultivate.
1t is by universal insstence on this rule
! of equality that those who would advance
the place of international law a social
force best secure their end
Cephas Brainard of New York, for the
executive committee, reported the list of
officers for the ensuing year, which was
officers for the ensuing years. as follows:
officers for Ensuing Year.
Honorary president of conference. Simeon
E. Baldwin, LID, chief justice Of the su-
preme court of errors, Connecticut; presi-
dent Right Hon. Lord Justice Kennedy,
LID, court of appeals, London; vice
presidents, Cephas Brainard, New York;
Alton B. Parker, New York; Charles B.
Elliott, Minneapolis; l.. ]. Laranger Mon
treal; secretaries, Charles G.. Hyde, Chi
cago, and G. G. Phillimore, London.
Forty new members were elected.
DIR. Evans Darby, secretary of the peace
society, London, read a paper Inter
mittent Progress of International Arbitra-
ton
Mr.. Darby said. in part:
Political progress is of necessity slow
and often intermittent international prog
ress still more So 1t should be enough that
progress is not only assured, but is already
palpably declaring itself During the past
year something like pause has come in
the outward and visible progress of the
arbitration movement From the peace
makers standpoint this IS full of encour-
ernments a growing desire to avoid occa-
sions of quarrel and to maintain peaceful
relations.
In The Hague peace conference we have
the beginnings of practical federation.
The reform and development of interna-
peace movement, namely, the harmony,
unity and prosperity of the nations
The president interrupted the program
to introduce Mr.. Bryce, the British ambas-
sador, who addressed the conference for
a few minutes.