New-York tribune., 1907-10-12

The Hague. Oct. 1.-THE arbitration commit
tee this evening adopted Count Torniellis
declaration. which was accepted by all the dele
cations except those of the United States. Japan.
Hayti and Turkey, which abstained from voting.
The declaration follows.
The conference unanimously favors
First-The principle OF obligatory arbitration.
Second-That certain differences. especially
those regarding the Interpretation and applica-
tion OF conventional clauses. susceptible TO
being submitted to obligatory arbitration with
out restriction.
The conference unanimously proclaims that
while a convention on the subject was not con-
cluded the differences of opinion had more OF a
turidical characted. all the states of the world
in working together for four months not only
learned to know each other better by getting
closer together, but developed during this long
collaboration high ideals for the common well
fare.
Joseph II. Choate Of the American delegation,
made a speech in which he explained the alb
stention of the American delegation. He was
frequently interrupted by applause.
That the United States did not retreat was
the predominant note in Mr.. Choates address.
which was at the same time warning and a
reproach He said that nothing had shaken his
belief that an international bureau TO act as
chancellery OF the court OF arbitration of 1899
should be Instituted as soon as nine powers ad-
hered to the proposal in order that the project
Of obligatory arbitration should take a more con-
crete form than given it by the resolution
Of to-day. when It was voted on by thirty-one
states Mr. Choate added that although the I'M
mediate results Of the present conference were
distinctly limited. he sincerely hoped that each
successive conference would make the position
reached Mt the preceding conference its point Of
departure. so that by successive steps results
ultimately would be obtained that In the begin
10 eafH
We must always keep IN mind the promotion
OF this process by which the progressive deVel-
opment of international justice and peace may
be carried on It may we'll he that the most
valuable services rendered civilization by the
second peace conference will be found in the
progress made in matters upon whlch the dele
gates reach no definite agreement
In the matter under discussion we carried the
business as far as our instructlonS pernltteoI
namely, If no agreement was reached II would
be better to lay the subject aside or refer II 10
some future conference. in the hope that inter-
mediate consideration might dispose OF the OBJ
tections.
We regard the present resolution as a very de-
cided and serious retreat from the advanced po-
sition in favor of obligatory arbitration which
the committee already has reached, and one
which in our Judgment, cannot but retard the
imperial progress Of the cause Of arbitration in
general. Therefore, we cannot ConSctentously
vote on this resolution. and am instructed by
the American delegation 10 abstain from voting.
There was much comment here to-day on the
fact that contrary to fears which had been ex-
pressed the United States did nothing to induce
the Latin American delegates to follow IN her
course to-day. Mr. Choate said the subject
I'VE take OF ourselves; neither the
guardians nor the patrons of Latin America"
It was also noticed that Mr.. Choate merely alb
stained from voting. while he might we'll have
defeated his opponents by voting against the
resolution. This course would have robbed 1t
of unanimity.
Il is expected that DR.. Drago (Argentina) will
propose as the last decision of the conference
the following;
The conference expresses the wish that the
governments should consider the encouragement
of friendly feelings among their respective peo-
pies as a duty TO be carried out with the re-
sources of the state through education anent
the principles of peace. arbitration and inter-
national hospitality and other like methods