New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-21


coed in bringing the matter before a congress
of the powers and demand arbitration on the
basis Of the strict principles of International
law England would experience difficulty in de-
Tending her position That explains why the
Commander Of the Faithful is so anxious to sub
nit the Egyptian question 70 gatherings such
as that now assembled at The Hague, and why
Great Britain is so strongly opposed 10 the
project.
PLANT OF COREA.
Within the last two or three weeks we have
seen e1nlssaries Of the Emperor Of Coyea IN the
Dutch capital visiting the various foreign mis-
sions taking part In the congress- with the object
of bringing their sovereign's oppression by the
AI!kado before that body. He objects 70 the
presence Of the Japanese in his doTninions, in
sists that they have violated every doctrine OF
International law and every treaty right by
the manner in which they have obtained
complete administrative and economic control
OF his country. reducing him 10 the status Of a
mere puppet- Ho declares that the position Of
the japanese al Seoul Is Infinitely mora indie
feCsible than that Of the English OF Cairo, and
clamors for justice At the hands Of The Hague
congress. None OF the powers represented in
the Dutch capital seems however. disposed u
offend the land of the Rising sun by undertake
Ing the championship of the Hermit Nation
Many OF the foreign delegates have refused TO
hold any intercourse with the Coreans, while
others. IN according TO them guarded interviews,
have lntimated the impossibility Of doing any
thing for them In fact the Corean mission has
met with complete failure and its only result IS
likely 70 be that the Japanese Will now proceed
to depose the Corean monarch for having vent
ured 70 appeal 10 the foreign powers against
them.
OF course. If the Coreans had been allowed 10
bring their wrongs before the congress 1t IS quite
possible that tho Cubaus might have followed
suit; perhaps. too the FtipiDus. claiming
that although denied independence and subject
el To American rule, they are nevertheless treat
ed economically AS foreign countries and sub
jected 10 all the hardships Of the American
tariff.
The interests Of peace would undoubtedly have
been served could the proposal 70 neUtralize the
Baltic and the straits leading into il from the
North sea have been brought before tho con-
Cress OF The Hague and voted upon ny that
body. For II the principles chat are IN force in
the case of tho pardauellcs and tho Black Sea
were applied 10 the Baltic and to the Danish
Sound--if the passage between Helsngborg and
ElsluOre were placed on the same International
status as the Suez Caual-then Denmark could
d!smaUtle her elaborate defcuces at krOnbers
and could devote the money which she is now
spending on her military budget 10 more useful
purposes. Russia Sweden and Germany. too.
relieved OF any further anxiety with regard 10
the defence OF their shipping in the Baltic and
of their towns and cities along its coasts. would
bo able to begin that reduction Of armaueuts
which was supposed when the present congress
was first mootel 10 DO tho principal object Of
the gathering.
REASON FOR ELIMINATION.
These are only Il few of the many international
problems which have been carefully eliminated
from the programme Of the congress at The
Hague. II is contended by some that they can
he dealt with by the International tribunal 10
which the first congress gave birth But the
court in question has practically no means OF
dealing with issues of this nature. except when
all tho parties concerned agree 70 accept It's
arbitration and TO conform 10 its Judgment.
That is a matter not only of improb1bity, but
Of impossibility in any OF the cases above men
toned and in fact the only hope that weaker
nation has of securing redress OF wrongs AT the
hands of 4 stronger power IS by appealing 10 an
international congress, such as that OF The
Hague and in securing a discussion of its rights
by the accredited representatives Of all tho prtn-
cipal countries OF the universe in convention
assembled.
| We're the congress Of Tho Hague. however TO
open its doors 10 appeals or this nature. there
| Is no knowing where it would find it possible 10
| draw the line. Cyprus might apply 10 the con-
cress TO secure her annexation to the kingdom
| of Greece. which the entire popula ton OF the
island demands. but which is opposed. not only
| by Turkey. but also by Russia. who unwill-
/ ing to Increase the power or prestige of the
Hellenic kingdom in the Mediterranean Mace
| donna might also petition for Independence Ire
| land for Home Rule. Finland for restoration OF
| the autonomy guaranteed to her by every En-
| peror Of Russia since Alexander at his corona
! ton while Hungary might insist upon review
| of her relations with Austria and upon a revi-
| sion of that treaty known the Pragmatic
| Sanction. upon which her union with Austria is
| based, and which Francis Kossuth and other
! members OF the national government at Buda-
! pest declare is either a myth at best for
! gerry IN fact, there would be end 10 the
! problems thus submitted to the consideration
| of The Hague congress. which if ii undertook to
! settle them all would be obliged To remain in
! session for years and years TO come.
From this il will be seen that although the
| congress Of The Hague offers unique oppOrtuni-
| ties for the definite solution of many trouble
| some controversies. yet that the governments
| taking part in its deliberations have plenty OF
reasons for restricting the scope Of its opera
| lions to the narrowest limits. While the people
! at large still look To these great conventions as
! panaceas for not merely international but also
| domestic. ills. the governments are becoming
| more and more convinced of their ineificacy,
| taking the ground that they seldom accomplish
| their aims. and that far more is TO be attained
! hy quiet negotiations and diplomacy than at
! these passySr& la one word. the latter are now
| adays frowned upon sashsr shan encouraged by
Lha lsadinE statesmen of the day.
j EX-ATTACHE.