The Washington times., 1907-12-03

VIII depend upon which power has pre-
pared best in time Of peace. The United
| States Navy Is the best Ruarantv the
nation has that its honor and Interest
VIII not be neglected: and in addition Il
oners oy Tar the best insurance for
peace that can by human ingenuity be
! devised.
Naval Academy Course.
I call attention to the report os the
official Board OF Visitors to the Naval
Academy at Annapolis which has been
forwarded TO the Congress. The report
contains this paragraph:
Such revision should be made OF the
| courses OF study and methods OF con-
ducting and marking examinations as
viii develop and bring out the average
all-round ability OF the m!dshipman
any one particular study The fact
should be kept IN mind that naval acad-
emy Is not a university but a school. the
primary object OF which Is 70 educate
boys TO be efficient naval officers
Changes IN curriculum. therefore. should
be In the direction OF making the course
OF instruction less theoretical and more
practical No portion OF any future
ciass should be graduated IN advance OF
the tull four years course. and under
no circumstances should the standard OF
instruction be lowered The acader1v in
almost all OF its departments is now
magniilcenuy equipped, and IL would be
very unwise TO make the course OF In
struction less exacting than Il IS today. 3"
Acting upon this suggestion de-
slgnAted three seagoing officers, Capt.
Richard Wainwright, Commander Rob
ert & Griffin, and Lieut. Corlmander Al
bert l. Key. alt graduates Of the acad-
cuy, 10 investigate conditions and to
recommend 10 me the best method Of
carrying Into effect this general recon-
I1endauon. These officers performed
the duty promptly and intelHgently.
and. under the personal direction OF
Capt. Charles J. Badger. superintendent
OF the academy. such Of the proposed
changes as were deemed 70 be at pres
eUt advisable were put into effect at
the beginning OF the academic year
OgHoer /, last. The results, I am con-
| fident viii be most beneficial to the
academy. TO the midshipmen, and 10
the navy
Our Foreign Relations.
In foreign anairs this county
steady policy is to behave toward other
nations as strong and seif-respectinE
man should behave toward the other
men with whom he is brought into
contact.
In other words. our aim is disinter-
estedly to help other nations where
such help can be wisely given without
the appearance Of med Hing with what
does not concern us; to be careful tc
act as n good neighbor: and at the
same time, in goOd-nntured fashion. 10
make 1t evident that we do not intend
TO be imposed upon.
The Second International Peace Con-
ference was convened at Tho Hague
on the 18th OF June last and remained
! in session until The 18th OF October.
For the first time the representatives or
practically al the civilized counties
o. the world united IL a temperate and
kindly discussion Of the methods by
| which the causes OF war might be mar
rowed and its injurious effects reduced
Although the agreements reached in
the conference did not in any direction
go to the length hoped for by the more
sanguine, yet in many directions impor-
tant steps were taken, and upon every
subject on the program there was such
full and cOnsiderate discussion as to
Justify the belief that Substantial r-oer-
ress has been made toward further
agreements in the future. Thirteen con-
venttons were agreed upon embodying
the definite conclusions which had been
reached, and resolutions were adopted
marking the progress made IN matters
upon which agreement was not yet suf-
heieI,1y ia,,ly,,S ,eSompletf to make conventions
The delegates OF the United States
were instructed to favor an agreement
for obligatory arbitration. the estab-
lishment Of permanent court of arbi-
tration to proceed judicially in the hear
ing and decision Of international causes
the prohibition of force for the cOIIec-
ton of cOntract debts alleged to be due
from governments to citizens Of other
countries until after arbitration as TO
the justice and amount of the debt a. d
the time and manner of payment. the
Immunity of private property at sea,
the better definition Of the rights of
neutr8ls, and, In case any measure to
that end should be introduced, the linn
itation OF ornaments.
Advances Made at The Hague.
In the field Of peaceful disposal OF IN
ternational differences several impor-
ant advances were made. First as to
obligatory, arbitration. Although the
conference failed TO secure a unanimous
agreement upon the details Of a conven-
ton for obligatory arbitration, it did
resolve as follows:
''It is unanimous: ID In accepting the
principle for obligatory arbitration: C2)
in declaring that certain differences,
ana notably those relating to the inter-
probation and Application OF interna-
tional conventional Stipuiations are sus-
ceptible OF being submitted to obligatory
arbitration without any restriction"
In view Of the fact thai as result
OF the discussion the VCse upon the
definite treaty of obligatory arbitration,
which was proposed, stood 30 in favor
to against the adoption OF the treaty,
there can be little doubt that the great
majority OF the countries Of the world
have reached a point WnSre they are
now ready to apply practical ly the prin-
ciples thus unanimously agreed upon by
the conference.
The second advance and a very great
one, Is the agreement which relates to