New-York tribune., 1907-01-29
THE HAGUE CONGRESS.
Limitation of Naval Construction
Il Free Parliament of Man.
London, January 10

approaching congress at The Hague, and there
is cumulative evidence that it VIII be fulfilled
At the first session the initiative lay with the
Cars government. and futile efforts were made
20 carry out the principles Of the Edict in favor
Of disarmament; but, incidentally, other Ques-
tions were raised. and by the cooperation OF
America and England the permanent court Of
arbitration was established and the congress
was saved from the reproach Of failure. Ex-
perience ought to be safeguard against hmita-
ton Of the subjects to be discussed at the next
congress. The initiative again is nominally
Russian privilege. The most practical results
will be secured if all powers licensed to
bring forward questions in which they are
directly interested. Disarmament, or, more
strictly. the limitation OF current outlay for the
military and naval services, is one Of these in
ternational issues. The British government is
in sympathy with the movement. and is pre-
pared to enter the congress with clean hands
and with practical evidence of setting whole
some example in reducing the cost Of the stand
ing army and in restricting naval construction
Japan favors the submission of the question for
full discussion, and all the minor maritime pow
ers Will support the proposal 1t now seems prob
able that the American delegates will bring for
ward an abstract proposal for the reduction OF
the financial burdens imposed by increased ar
mament, and that the British delegates will
heartily second it. If this programme be prear-
ranged with the acQuiescence Of Germany,
France. Japan and other powers. the discussion
may be useful. even If It be impracticabe to
work out any positive scheme Of international
action.
The strongest argument in favor of limitation
of current expenditures for armaments can be
based upon the Dreadnought, That revolution
sry battleship with Its turbine engines has con-
demned all vessels Of the same class in the Brit
ish and foreign navies as antiquated and inefh-
cient Yet II is itself experimental ship
which will inevitably be improved upon in the
course Of a few years. The use of turbines
has made a radical change OF weights, which
affects battery fire coal endurance, manGuvring
power. defensive armOr and fighting capacity
The slate has been cleaned for q new set Of
problems 10 be worked ont by naval architects.
Nothing could be more wa .eful than the imme
diate construction of Dreadnoughts on a large
scale for the principal navies OF the world They
might themselves outclass all existing battle
ships. but their time would be short since they
would rapidly be displaced by improved Dread
noughts built in America. Germany, France and
IraIv as we'll as IN England. Here is an un-
answerabIe argument against premature repro
duc+ion OF a costly type OF batteship when the
design has not been perfected and more power
full and efficient rivals will speedily be anoat
under the stimulus Of national emulation II
would be practical relief measure Tor the tax
payers Of the maritime nations II the construc-
ton Of battIeships could be restricted by inter
national agreement during the next decade
There would be fewer miscalculated failures and
smaller investment OF taxpayers money in ex-
perirnentaI vessels doomed TO be speedily out
cIassed and displaced.
The problem Of limiting military expenditures
is as difficult now as IT was when the first
Peace Congress met at The Hague and IL was
found to be impracticable. There is little nkeli-
hood that the German Emperor will be con-
verted 70 the policy OF a reduction OF standing
armies unless the elections in the Fatherland
20 heavily against him and there is another
large increase of the Socialist vote. On the
naval side he may be disposed TO be reasonable.
especially as the German designers are noted
for their thoroughness and will prefer 20 build
their Dreadnoughts with deliberation, taking
advantage Of every new fact brought out by the
experience OF the British. French and American
engineers. His example would at once influence
Austria Hungary. Italy and France; and prac-
tical method OF limiting expenditures for naval
construction might be devised after discussion
at the peace congress. In any event there can
oe no possible harm from an exchange OF
views on this subject; and the American dele
cation viii naturally introduce the proposal II
II be assured in advance that It will have the
effective support of Great Britain Japan and
other powers. A peace congress of necessity Is
more or less an experience meeting where full
discussion OF good resolutions and humane as
pirations is desirable. Naval martinets and
army STAFF officers may scoff at disarmament as
a patitude Of the millennium Governments
cannot afford TO take that attitude They know
that the moral force Of enlightened public opin-
ion IS behind the cause Of rational peace. Ger
tainly the prevention Of wasteful expenditures
for war preparation is closely connected with
that movement.
There are other questions moro promising
than disarmament to be laid before the
gress at The Hague. There IS the American
principle Of security Of private property at sea
In time OF war, and there is the urgent need OF
obtaining a precise definition OF contraband
which will be accepted by civilized nations and
introduced generally In the practice Of prize
courts There IS a series Of questions connected
with the collection of debts by naval demon
stratlons and customs seizures and these are OF
paramount importance to the minor republican
states of the American continent There is the
humane proposal that declaration OF war shall
be deferred for thirty sixty days until friendly
powers shall have exhausted their good offices
in arranging a settlement. These and many
other questions have their adherents among the
nations free field is wanted for international
issues OF all sorts If any delegate thinks he
has a method for improving the relations Of
nations he shall be left at liberty 70 explain it,
A free and unfettered parliament of man is
what Americans will naturally favor. and after
full discussion they viii hope for definite and
| practical results. I NJ r