Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-03

| fident. will be most beneficial to the
| academy, to the midshipmen, and to the
| navy.
Attitude of United States
TOWARD the Other Nations
In foreign affairs this country's steady
policy is to behave toward other nations
as strong and self-respecting man
should behave toward the other men
with whom he is brought into contact. In
other words, our aim is disinterestedly to
help other nations where such help can
be wisely given without the appearance
of meddlingi with what does not concern
US; to be careful to act as good neigh
Dor. and at the same time, in good-na-
tured fashion, to make it evident that
we do not intend to be imposed upon.
The second International peace confer
ence was convened at The Hague on the
18th of June last. and remained in ses-
sion until the 18th of October. For the
first time the representatives of practi-
cally all the civilized countries of the
world united in a temperate and kindly
discussion of the methods by which the
causes of war might be narrowed and it's
Injurious effects reduced.
Although the agreements reached in the
conference did not in any direction go
to the length hoped for by the more san
guine. yet in many directions important
steps were TAKEN and upon every subject
on the program there was such full
and considerate discussion as to justify
the belief that substantial progress has
been made toward further agreements in
the future. Thirteen conventions were
agreed upon embodying the definite con-
illusions which had been reached, and
resolutions were. adopted marking the
progress made in matters upon which
agreement was not yet sufficiently COM
plete to make! conventions practicable
The delegates Of the United States
were instructed to favor an agreement
for obligatory arbitration the establish
ment of permanent court of arbitra-
ton to proceed judicially in the hearing
and decision of international. causes. the
prohibition Of force for the collection of
contract debts alleged to be due from
governments to. citizens Of other coun-
tries until after arbitration as to the
Justice and amount:of the debt and the
time and manner Of payment, the i'm
munfty of private property at sea- the
better definition of the rights Of neutrals,
and. in case any measure to that end
should be Introduced the Limitation of
ornaments.
I In tie field OF peaceful disposal. Of in
ternationali differences several important
advances were made. First. as to obli-
gatory arbitration. Although the confer
erlce failed to secure unanimous agree
ment upon the details of a convention
for obligatory arbitration, 1t did resolve
as follows:
cit is unanimous: "a In accepting
the principle for obligatory arbitration;
CD In declaring that certain differences,
and notably those relating to the inter-
probation and application of international
conventional stipulations, are susceptible
Of being submitted to obligatory arbi-
tration without any restriction"
Obligatory Arbitration.
In view Of the fact that as a result of
the discussion the vote upon the definite
treaty Of obligatory arbitration, which
was proposed, stood thirty-two in favor
to nine against the adoption Of the
treaty. there can be little doubt that the
great majority Of the countries of the
world have reached a point where they
are now ready to apply practically the
by the conference.
The second advance, and very great
one, is the agreement which relates to
the use Of force for the collection Of
contract debts. Your attention is in
yited to the paragraphs upon this sub
ject in my message of December, 1906,
and to the resolution of the third Ameri-
can conference at Rio in the summer of
1906. The convention upon this subject
adopted by the conference substantially
is as follows:
I'm order to avoid between nations
armed conflicts Of a purely pecuniary
origin arising from contractual debts
claimed of the government of one coun-
try by the government Of another coun-
try to be due to it's nationals, the sigma
tory powers agree not to have recourse
to armed force for the collection Of such
contractua1 debts.
However, this stipulation shall not
he 0nnltc2 HE whon tho otto
fuses or leaves unanswered an offer to
arbitrate. or, in case Of acceptance,
makes it impossible to formulate the
terms Of submission. or. after arbitra-
ton. falls to comply with the award
rendered.
ut Is further agreed that arbitration
here contemplated shall be in conformity,
as to procedure, witt. chapter 2 OF the
Convention for the Pacific Settlement of
International Disputes adopted at The
Hague. and that 4: shall determine in so
far as there shall DC no agreeme mt be-
tween the parties. me justice and the
amount of the debt the time ar mode
Of payment thereof"
Such provision would have prevented
much injustice and txtorti6n in the past
and cannot doirb. til" its effect in the
future will be MIST salutary
third advance has been made in
amending and perfecting the convention
of 1899 for the voluntary settlement of in
extension of those parts Of that conven-
ton which relate to commissions Of In
quiry. The existence of those provisions
enabled the governments of Great Britain
and Russia to avoid war. notwithstandiog
great public excitement at the time Of
the Dogger Bank incident, and. the new
convention agreed upon by the conference
gives practical effect to the experience
gained in that inquiry. .7.t'
Substantial progress was also made to-
ward the creation of a permanent judicial
tribunal for the determination of inter
national causes. There was very fun dis
cnssion of the proposal for such a court
and a general agreement was finally
reached in favor Of its creation. The con-
ference recommended to the. signatory
powers the adoption of a draft upon which
it agreed for the Organization Of the court
leaving to be determined only the method
by which the judges should be selected
This remaining unsettled question is
plainly one which time and good temper
will solve. 90 !
International Prize Court.
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