Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1907-12-19
The HAGUE.
What the Second international Peace
Conference Accomplished.


on the 18th of June last and remained
| In session until the 18th of October.
| For the first time the representatives
OF practically all the civilized coun.
tries of the world united in n temper.
ate and kindly discussion of the meth.
| DDS by which the causes OF war might
be narrowed and Its injurious effects
reduced.
Although the agreements reached in
the conference did not in any direction
| go to the length hoped for 10y the more
sanguine, yet In many directions I'm.
! pOrtant steps were taken, and upon
every subject on tin programme there
was such full and conslderatc discus
sion as to Justify the belief that sub
stantlal progress has been made to.
ward further agreements In the future
! Thirteen conventions were agreed
upon. Cmbodylng the definite conclu-
sions which had been reached, and res
buttons were adopted marking the
progress made In mnttcrS upon which
agreement was not yet sufficiently
complete TO make conventions prncti.
cable.
The delegates Of the United states
were instructed to favor an agreement
for obligatory arbitration. the cstab.
lishmcnt Of n permanent court Of arbi-
tration to proceed iudlCinlly In the
hearing and decision of International
causes. the prohibition Of force for the
collection of contract debts alleged to
/ lao I,,n r..,,,, ,r,.prnnnnts I'm rItIynnS ~
other countries until after arbitration
as to the Justice and amount Of the
.dcbt and the time and manner Of pay
mcnt. the immunity Of private proper
ty ut sea. the better definition OF the
rights NJ noutrals and, In case any
measure to that end should he intro
duccd. the limitation Of armamcnts.
In the field of peaceful disposal Of in
ternational differences several impor-
tant advances were made. First. as to
obligatory arbitration. Although the
conference failed TO secure unani-
nous agreement upon the details OF n
convention for obligatory arbitration,
II did resolve as follows:
at Is unanimous O. In accepting
the principle for obligatory arbitra-
ton; C2) in declaring that certain diff
ferences. and notably those relating to
the Interpretation ard application OF
International conventional stipulations,
are susceptible of being submitted to
obligatory arbitration without any re-
strictlon."
In view OF the fact that ms n result
of the discussion the vote upon the
definite treaty of obligatory arbitra'
ton which was proposed stood 70 In
favor TO 3 against the adoption Of the
treaty there can he little doubt that
the great majority Of the countries OF
the world have reached n point where
they are now ready to apply practically
the principles thus unanimously agreed
upon by the conference.
The second advance. and n very great
one. Is the agreement which relates &c
the use OF force for the collection OF
} contract debts. Your attention IL In
, vited to the paragraphs upon this sub
. jcct In my message Of December, 1905
and to the resolution of the third Amer
{ lean conference at Rio In the summer
r OF 1906. The convention upon TIL:
] subject adopted by the conference sub
stantialiy as proposed by the American
4 delegates Is Is follows:
In order TO avoid between nations
e armed conflicts of purely pecuniar!
| origin arising from Contractual debt
q claimed OF the government of one coun
I try by the government Of another coun
try to be due to its nationals the sig
Q natory powers agree not to have re
i. course to armed force for the collec
$ tion OF such contractual debts.
Q However. this stipulation shall no
q be applicable when the debtor stat
q refuses or leaves unanswered an one
I to arbitrate or, In case Of acceptance
| makes II impossible to formulate tn
a terms of submission or after arbitra
= ton fails to comply with the awar'
: rendered
+ at Is further agreed that arbitration
: here contemplated shall be In con
= formity as to procedure with chapte
4 OF the convention for the pacifi
! settlement Of international dispute
J adopted at The Hague and that II shal
S determine In so far as there shall he n
agreement between the parties the jus
U tice and the amount Of the debt tn
: time and mode Of payment thereof"
+ Such provision would have prevent
. ed much injustice and eXtortion In tn
past, and cannot doubt that Its etfec
I In the future will be most salutary.
n third advance has been made 4
} amending and perfectlng the conver
J. ton of 1890 for the voluntary settle
IS ment of international disputes and PAL
J. ticularly the extension Of those part
e of that convention which relate I
I commissions Of inquiry. The existenc
@ OF those provisions enabled the govern
ments of Great Britain and Russia
= avoid war Notwithstanding great pull
J. lie excitement at the time Of the Doc
l. ger bank incident, and the new CONVEX
s ton agreed upon by the conference
) gives practical effect to the eXperienc
/ gained in that inquiry.
Substantial progress was also mad