Evening star., 1907-10-30

4 That balloons shall not be used in
war for the thsowing of explosives
| ;. The prohibition of unnecessarily cruel
| bullets in warfare
| 6. The cooperation of all the nations
| in the building of the palace of peace
| /. The COnVOcatiOn of third confer
| enCe.
| All Civilized Nations Represented.
| From educational standpoint the
| conference was exceedingly important and
| the reports of the discussions will here
| after be text books of the highest value
| for students of diplomacy and interna-
| tional law. 1t Is also of the greatest sig
nificance that. for the first time in his
| tory. every civilized nation on earth sent
| its representatives to confer in spirit of
| friendiineSs and peace, and to consider
| the best means of promoting justice be
tween nations and the general interests Of
| mankind. Forty-four nations were repre-
Sented at the second conference, while
| only small fraction of that number was
| represented at the first. The education
| Of several of these nations In diplomatic
procedure and ir the recognition of the
rights of others cannot be overestimated.
Their sense of responsibility has been
aroused: their national pride and patri-
1tiSm have been stimulated by the privi-
iege of taking part in controversies, DIS
russions and conferences with representa-
| tives of the great powers. The standard
Of international morality has thus been
elevated and certain governments which
have not been considered fully civilized
have been invested with a conscience and
| a knowledge of their obligations.
So long the great powers distrust
| ach other; so long as they strive to obta n
Exclusive advantages fo- themselves; 50
| .ong as international joalousies prevail,
| IL
ment upon a number of subjects or
unanimous conclusion upon any prop
| osition of vital importance But there
| IS every encoura cement to believe that
| the recent conference has brought all the
| nations of the earth nearer together: that
| t has caused th"m to realize the i'm
| pot -tance of adopting means to secure
permanent peace. and has furnished
wholesome topics Of discussion which will
| remove or allay apprehension and con-
| vince leaders of thought and action Of
| the wisdom of conCurTing with other ma
| tions in matters of mutual interest
1t is often said that treaties are made
| only to be broken. but The Hague con-
| ference and every other gathering in
| which the statesmen and diplomatists OF
| the world participate will educate those
| who a~e responsible 10 a higher sens
of their international obligations an$
| elevate the STANDARD of national honor.
American Delegates Prominent.
| 1t is gratifying to know that the delegation
| Of the United States was recognized as the
| most important of all; that it presented
and supported more important pop
| ositiOns than any other nation. and the
most important propositions that re-
| ceived the attention of the conference
| is influence and its activity were directed
| entirely toward the accomplishment of
definite and tangible results. 1t engaged
| in no conspiracy to defeat or nullify prop
| ositions presented by other nations. but
| advocated and voted for every resolution
| that seemed likely to promote permanent
| peace. 1t was unfortunate that the other
| American nations did not support the
| United States with the unanimity and
| energy that was expected on account of
| the cordial and harmonious declarations
| of the pan-American conference at Rio
| last year.
Forcible Collection of Debts.
, One proposition presented by the United
| States was against the forcible collection
| of private debts against othe- govern
| ments. This topic. which came up from
| the Rio conference submitted by the
| delegates from the United States early
| IN the proceedings and was favOraby re-
| celVed by the great powers of Europe.
| The Latin American states, who are
more directly Interested in the subject
| than in any other, because of the fire.
| quent Warlike demonst ations that have
| been made or threatened because of their
! refusal to pay the claims of contractors
| and other creditors. were unwilling to
I recognize even by inference the right
| of foreign government to intervene in
| what they considered their domestic af-
| fairs. After considerable discussion. how
| ever. their delegates accepted with reser-
| vatfons formula which will doubtless
| bring about better understanding and
| remove chronic causes of friction The
| most important feature of this action is
| the liberal disposition shown by the credi-
| tor powers on the subject.
| The substance of the proposition as
| adopted is: That in order to avoid he
| tween nations armed conflicts of purely
| pecuniary origin caused by contractuaI
| debts claimed by the subjects or citizens
| of one country from the government of
| another and also to guarantee that "all
| contractual debts of this nature which
| are not settled in a friendly manner
through diplomacy shall be submitted TO
| arbitration it is understood coerciye
| measures shall not be taken until the
| creditor country offers arbitration and the
| debtor country refuses it. or until after
| the decision of the arbitra tors is not ful-
| filled by the debtor country.
| The proposal was approved by thirty
| nine votes. with Belgium. Sweden Rou-
| mania, Switzerland and Venezuela silent,
and twelve American governments making
| reservations.
| Protection of Neutral PEI-ty.
Another important proposs.>:- nom the
| United States concerned the protection of
| private property of neutral nations at
| sea during war. This is an hereditary
| doctrine of our government Franklin
| proposed 1t first when, minister to Paris.
| he was making our first treaty as a
| government, and it has been advocated
| consistently ever since. In 1899 ii was
| proposed in the first Hague conference
| by the American delegation and in the
recent conference there was expressly in
! Guided in the program resolution that:
| The private property of all citizens or