New-York tribune., 1907-04-16

affairs of nations; it Is not reSaIueu Ia,e
among the agencies by which the WorlH Is SIiSb SrE
much for The beneft of mankind; that IN m&nS any
things II vii bring the +es Great principles Of
conduct TO which nations have accorueu cIT,nancs
When their particular interests are involved The
nTs o0neleGe of gfbree broad general questions
affecting the conduct of nations to~aIIu sac nrS Inc
inyioabiiity Of private property in naval warfare;
and third the bonbardnent of towns, villages and
nnrts Nv a Nal force II is understood that all
these subjects shall be also at adopted two
resolutions relating TO naval ana military a. ma
'.r6e conference is of opinion that the restric-
ton OF military charges which are a af pSiesirabe
for the increase of the material ana mor@I "e'i'i
/ of mankind
The conference expresses the Wsh t tha' nTo56ss Sme
at the conferenee N may i fTane faton ' o armed
The government Of the United states has been OF
the opinion that the shjfe1 maeT sdered %I and dis
-luioIS - ~ g.. second conference that the subject is
in the of unfinished business and cannot 3e
ignored but must be dealt with that there ought
progress toward reaching some agreement under
which the enormous expenditure of money ana the
enormous Withdrawal OF men from pfoduetlEe, III
dustry for warse purposes may he reduced, or or
OF ne iafs @ I,1 - ef ] o noerpe ~ % Ei,rpna rathe
ana ana N ,S hs+ tb contians Wbch have led
to the great armaments OF the present day are
become us to be forward or dogmatc in a matter
which IS much more vital to the nations of Eu-
however. that a state having little special
reason advance the proposal with the more ad-
vantage and the less prejudice The American gov
yGTt to rasont ihi su5iect for the constderation
Of the conference; several European powers have
also given notice Of their intention to present the
subject 1t may be that the discussion will not
bring the second conference to any definite and
practical conclusion: certainly no such such concnsi3n
universal assent. for there can be no enectve
ana leaves others free. There are serious dincul-
ties in formulating any definite proposal which
would not he Objectionable to some of the powers,
and upon tho question whether any specific pro
power must be- and is entitled to be. its own judge.
Nevertheless, the effort be made; IL may fail
In this conference as 1t failed IN the hrst: but II
it fails. one more step will have been taken toward
ffoIt ie siVeys reressarv To bring mankjnd into
/ conformity With great ideals; every great advance
agery has been upon stepping Of failure and
a good hght bravey lost for sound principle is
always n victory.
USE OF FORCE TO COLLECT DEBTS.
The government Of the United States has also
considered that the second Hague conference
the use "S orde IN e eoeon Of ordSy G
tract debts due by one government TO the citizens
1t has long been the established policy Of the
the Of 4os such e dsbt ds s W @ Ea q not @
cred the use Of force for such purpose consistent
with that respect for the independent sovereignty
of other members Of the family Of nations which
is the most important principle of international law
and the cnlef protection OF weak nations against
Oppression It seems TO us that the practice is
tons and upon welfare OF weak and disorderei
in the interests of civilzati0n ana that il offers
frequent temptation 70 bullying and oppression and
10 unnecessary and unjustlhable warfare II IS
possible thai The non-payInent OF public debts may
and wrongdolng or violation OF treaties rs 70
Justify the use OF force last resort: but We
subject which shall discriminate between such
causes and the simple non performance OF a CON
tIact win private person and u see a resolution
IN iavor Or reliance exclusively upon peaceful
that the principle Of arbitration can be so *
teaaed n lts applIGauon that the class ~ ad-
ing upon the necessities of weak and distressed
exorbiIani and unconscloasbie demands to an i'm
heard both as 20 the validity and the amount of
their claims and the time and mauer II payment 70
tbaf the total aVarjs ~ lie 1bitr.i ,rbi Tvs b
nands sSbInitted II IS difficult 70 resist the in
the good Offices Of their own government To OBJ
@ @thtn payment from other countries generally need
investigation hy fair tribunals rather than mmedi-
ate and peremptory enforcement
"a XSed ] ~ m nilng i9r a subst3ntial advance both as
tRat tRe eraat ostsIe I , nes seemed mel TO- me
TO submit their demands 10 the decision of an
impartial tribunal Il is rather an apprehension that
the tribunal selected will not be impartial In a
dispatch 70 Sir Julian Pauncefote dated March 3.
l@6; Lord Salisbury stated this difficulty. lie
II the matter in controversy is important So
that defeat is a serious blow 20 the credit tho
/
becomes more less keen partisanship. Ac-
cording 70 their sympathies, wish for the VIC
tory OH one side or another. Such conflicting sym
pathies interfere most formidably with the choice
I Of an impartial arbitrator II would he iuvdi-
Gus 10 specify the various forms OF bias by which
In any Important controversy between two great
powers. the other members Of the commonwealth
of nations vsiby affected. In the existing con
ditlon Of international sentiment. each great power
could point 10 nations whose admission any
jury by whom It's interests were 20 be tried q
would be bound TO challenge: and in a litlgason
oS nret To & s ps ,5 'e ISad cgarnges
tions from which competent and suitable arbiters
could be drawn II would be easy. but scarcely dec
They will occur TO any ones mind who attempts 10
competent arhitrators and will consider how many
OF them would command equal confidence from
This is the difficulty which stands in the way N
u11rrestrcted ar6ltTation lon BY whatever plan the
Ilnu1ai rs tIt eo oI II must be that Is
Interested Will he decided by tho OF man.
and that man a foreigner. He has no jury Ia hnd
his facts he has no court 10 npeai IN % rrret bi
law and he Is sure 10 he credited. Justly or not
with n leaning To one ltgant the other"
ARBITRATION's STUMBLING BLOCK
The feeling which Lord Salisbury so we'll cx
the way Of arbitration The essential fact which
slider themselves as belonging to diplomacy rather
biIltv and their duty nv the traditions tho semi
have grown up in centuries of diplomatic inter
course rather than by the traditions the sentI-
ments and the of honorable obligation which
nations. Instead OF the responsibility for
impartial Judgment which weighs upon the judicial
officers Of every civilized country. and which Is
enforced By the honor and sef-respect OF every
upright judge an national arbitration is often
regarded as an occasion for diplomatic adjustment
Granting that the diplomats who are engaged In an
for the nations concerned in the controversy;
consideration any interests which their own coun-
tries may nave m the controversy or in securing