Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-06-13


ference be made a permanent body
with periodic meetings, measure
which has been urged by the Intcrpar-
liamentary union, tho Mohonk con-
ference, and the recent National Ar
bitration and Peace Conference. 1t
may seem a small thing for the Hague
will meet once in three, FIVE or seven
years, but It would in effect establish
an international congress, of one house
to be sure and with only advisory
powers but the possible nucleus of a
future international Legislature. The
very agreement by all the nations to
send delegates to periodic meetings
for consideration OF international
problems, even in times of war, would
rank high In history.
Then there is the question of n gen.
eral arbitration treaty. Whatever
may be the value of the existing forty
four special arbitration treaties, it
cannot be denied that Of the Hague
conference could agree on a general
treaty binding all nations to submit
differences arising between any of
them, n great step forward would he
taken. OF course. such a treaty would
be limited in scope, but it would re-
move as possible causes of war some
classes of controversies.
If. in addition to necessary revision
of the Hague convention, the confer
euce acts on either of the above meas
ures, it will merit the appreciation OF
all friends of peace.
IT is to be borne in mind in this con-
nection that gratifying results have
followed the holding of the first Hague
conference In 1899. AS we have al
ready said the direct outcome was the
was formally declared open for bust
ness: The "Pious Fund" case. L. s. vs..
Mexico decided in favor of u. s; The
Venezuelan" case. Great Britain, Ger
many and Italy vs. Venezuela aud
Franco, Spain, Belgium, the Neither
lands. Sweden and Norway, Mexico
and the United States. decided in IA
vor of the three first named powers;
the "Japanese House Tax Case" Japan
4 ut at
many, decided adversely to japan; the
! "Nuscat Case" Great Britain rs
France. neither party receiving its
full claims
1t is interesting in this connection
to note that arbitration treaties to
the number of forty-four have been
concluded between the nations. two
and two, practically all of them stip-
ulating that for five years all disputes
not affecting vital interests or ma
tional honor" shall be referred to the
Hague court. Those between Den
mark and the Netherlands ana Den
mark and Italy make no exceptions
whatever. OF these treaties Great
Britain is party to 10. France Z
Germany I. italy c. Austria s, Russia
g. Spain 5. Norway s, Sweden g
Switzerland :, Portugal !. The Neither.
| lands 4, Denmark :, Belgium :, Rou.
mania I, Peru ?, Columbia /, Chile .
| the Argentine Republic Q Clever
treaties to which the United States wa;
a party failed in Washington, not 70,
want of support of the principle, but
because Of n disagreement between tn.
| President and the Senate over the in.
depreciation of n word
Affiliations outside of the Iagu,
| court have been numerous the tern
arbtation as used in this connection
covering the work Of mixed commits
sions About nifty cases have beer
disposed of in this way, some of thau
of considerable significance. The two
most prominent were the Alaskar
boundary settlement and the North Sc.
case. The former settled a dispute O.
long standing between the United