New-York tribune., 1907-04-20
MR.. ROOTS SOLUTION.
JUDICIAL ARBTTRATORS.
SuDreme COsrt of Nations as Basis
for Peace Congress.
1From The Tribune Bureau.l


washington April 19.-Recent peace con-
grasses. the more practical character Of the
's.n,,rnents expressed at these meetings, and
.to high standing Of the men who have enlistd
a. the cause Of universal peace. have not only
,roused new interest in the coming Hague con-
,snfion which is 10 meet on June 10, but have
,gorsed ground for the hope that material prog
rsss may be made in the worldwide movement
N prornote the tranquility and harmony OF
,e.,ons. especially in their international rela-
lions.
The Secretary OF State has indicated that the
selegates from the United States viii be in
,tructed TO press the further consideration OF
what Mr. Root has termed THE unfinished busi-
ness" Of the former convention, and this in
cIudes the proposition for disarmament The
President, however has emphasized the weak
ness OF the proposition for universal disarma-
,nent by pointing out the evil which must re-
suit were the more highly civilized nations OF
the world TO lay down their arms and thus
Mace themselves at the mercy OF the less highly
civilized and even barbarous countries.
This argument does not, OF course. conflict
with the proposition that the more highly clv-
sized and organized nations should take some
rteps looking TO a cessation OF the constant
struggle 10 outvie one another in condition OF
military preparedness and the President has
again emphasized the advisabillty OF. for IN
Ftance perfecting agreement limiting the
size OF the modern battleship. Such a limitation
on the size OF the naval lighting unit. while
placing a premium on the ingenuity OF naval
constructors. who would be called on to
oOmplish the highest possible efficiency within
the axed Limitation, would unquestionably tend,
81 least FOR & time. 70 diminish the vast sums
now being expended by the most highly civilized
nations Of the earth, not TO perfect navies TO
ne used IN defence against the less highly civ
nized nations, but TO insure their own suprem-
scy in any conflict which may occur between
themselves.
GENERAL CRoZIER on DISARMAMENT.
Brigadier General Crozier, who was member
oS the last Hague delegation from this country.
discussing the question OF disarmament with
q Tribune correspondent recently. said:
A great many propositions suggesting disarma-
tnent at least an agreement as to the deadness
frst Hague convention There was. for instances
proposlnon g t 6oO s nV tbs S ~ '1ss The Tinted
States ready TO accept the proposition because
cause her re was Unsatisfactory. The proposition
not increase standing armies met with ieYoT
Se rs bsd 6,f pu5 bandfu 81 regular troops at that
time SO with navies: nation with weak
navy willing TO agree TO proposition eurISa9A-
- aisarTnarent was suggested which did not meet
with opposition from at least one generally from
The delegates 70 the fTst Hague convention were
unanimously in favor OF fae % % vnr Of
the proposition that whenever inteEnauonaI nosun-
S,rereats Should be called to the eSistence Of
the Hague tribunal %rl yet during the long
threatened, no voice WI ss2sed to recommend the
The only indication "a now see pointing 10
decrease Of the armed Of the nations Is that
Se Iy 9 Snd navy approprations speech along
these lines, made on the aoor OF Ine sa aouss & OF
she greatest announcement which the convention
received that progress IN this direction was possi-
ble. In that convention France strongly favored
arbitration, but was convinced that It must pre-
represented at the convention which did not re-
gard the maintenance Of an army as a buroen'
ing that the military system OF his country was
source OF wealth, claiming that the mental and
SToSnctive a6acyt15 and res1lited IN increased ma
tional wealth. While the reply might have been
made that equally valuable training could be
The fact is that as long as there is a possibility
The transportation of an army Of three hundred
thousand men, for instance, is Ike undertaking TO
South Carolina Such feat could not be per-
formed without system. There must be thorough
understanding OF the many problems which war
presents and scientific prearran cement and calcu-
laton OF these problems can be effected only
through thorough training of a sufficient body OF
men. We must. OF course. remain armed long
liable 70 be subjected TO the same humiliation
was China when Japan whipped her, despite
China's numerically greater strength. II Is easier
and cheaper TO transport great army across the
: Auanuc than II would be TO transport IL from San
francisco 10 the Atlantic seaboarG. There is al
ways the possibility Of a combination OF European
powers against the United States and prepared
ness on our part is necessity. ! little differ
slee II the conditions existing now. IN so far
E.salInanent is concerned from those existing at
NE Tine OF the first Hague convention
TO WORK FOR ARBITRATION
1t has remained for Secretary Root. however,
70 perceive the fundamental weakness Of the
movement for disarmament, and under his
guidance the American delegation TO The Hague
will concentrate its efforts on a movement cal
eulated TO remedy that weakness. Arbitration
must precede disarmament" argued France IN
NE last Hague convention. All the nations rep
resented at that convention were unanimously
N favor Of arbitration says General Crozier.
and yet no voice was raised in favor OF arbitra-
uon between Russia and Japan. Moreover,
even the Senate OF the United States baked at
what It regarded as the sweeping character Of
me international arbitration treaty which, fol-
lowing the Hague convention, the President and
secretary Hay urged II to ratify, and ratified II
only after material amendment
secretary Root has probed this seeming in
consistency and has put his finger on the weak