Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-20
Development in Life of Nations.

~UrOpr.
Development in Life of Nations.
Regarding The Hague conference, he said
that il was development in the life of
nations and. while it might not have ac-
c"mrlishcd in the past exactly what it set
out Ia do, and might not at the next meet
ing do all that its friends anu members
hoped it was an object lesson to the world
Each such meeting he said would lead
la some discovery and leave behind a
doctrine toward which tine nations might
strive.
In the general development of nterna-
tional law he said there is no use in at
tempting to enforce any international stat
Utes that did not have behind them the
sentiment of the people affected. There was
never an effective law that had to be
forced by regiment of soldiers or body
of police. Such a law was worse than in
effective. But in the development of law,
either national or international, public
opinion would enforce what was good and
what the nations We're ready to accept. In
tHc development of life between nations
moral sentiment is triumphng over force,
and Ee felt certain that peace and arbitra
tiuu would triumph in the end because the
nations of the world Were coming to see
that war was the worst offense both against
common sense and good morals.
Mr.. Fosters Views.
John w. Foster in following Mr.. Olney
said that if the Society of International
Law had accomplished nothing else than
IN bring out his paper. the existence of the
society would not have been in vain.
Referring To the work of the first Hague
conference, to which he was a delegate
Mr. Foster said that the prime object was
the limitation OF ornaments. But this was
found to be improbable owing to the
objection of several powers principally
Germany. and the matter was passed over
To- the future with the adoption of a reso-
luton To the effect that the conference
favored a reduction of ornaments but found
no practical way to put its belief into eff
feet 1t was hoped. he said that the con-
ference would be able TO take up this mat
ter in the future
Mr Foster thought il was violating no
confidence To say that President Roosevelt
had taken one important and practical
step in a recommendation he had made for
The consideration of the next conference
He would limit the size of naval vessels
and this was the sort of a practical measure
To which there might be found adherents.
Satisfactory Monument.
Tie most satisfactory monument that the
first conference left behind he said. was
the general treaty of arbitration This I'M
fortunately. he said. was rather color
less document and he was sorry to have
To observe that two of the first powers to
become involved in a difficulty ignored it
altogetEer-one of them the power that had
called the first conference and the other
one that had been earnest worker at The
Hague. He said the two powers not only
absolutely ignored any appeal to arbitra-
ton. but that none of the sgnatory powers
10 the treaty had the moral courage to
off-r mediation when war seemed immi-
neut. The effectiveness of calm judicial
inquiry shown, he said. in the ref
crenCe to such tribunal of the Dogger
Rank incident. when the Russian fleet fired
into the British fishing boats. But it was
not enough To have voluntary mediation
provided for as was done in the arbitra-
tiou treaty that all OF the great powers
had signed
ting automatically in motion the machinery
Tor mediation when war between two
powers threatened. He hoped that this
would form part OF the work of the com
ing Hague conference and the treaty would
H.. amended to this effect
Prof Theodore $. Woolsey of Connect
Ctt spoke OF the present international arbi-
Grafton treaty. and pointed out how il care
fully eliminated from arbitration all vital
subjects and left for arbitration only ques-
Tons over which nations never by any
chanC" would go to war. He said that IL
was III effect not a substitute for war but
for diplomacy.
Representative Bartholdt of Missouri was
the last speaker OF the morning session
Al the close of his remarks Secretary
Stratus announced the election of Of
HCvTS.
Election of Officers
The chairman OF the nominating COM
nIittcr read the list. which was adopted
unanimously 1t was: President Elihu
Root: vice presidents. Chief Justice Fuller
Justice David j. Brewer. Justice William
II. Day. William II. Taft Andrew Carne-
gle. Joseph II. Choate John W. Foster,
George Gray. John w Griggs W. W. Nor
rev. Richard Olney, Oscar S. Straus and
Gen. Horace Porter.
Executive council. to serve until 1907
James Il. Angel. Michigan: Augustus O.
Bacon. Georgia: Frank G. Partridge Yer
mont: William l.. Penfeld Washington;
Leo s. Rowe. Pennsylvania; +. r. Cou-
dert. Everett p. Wheeler. Andrew d.
White New York. To serve until 1905
Richard Bartholdt, Missouri; Charles Noble
Gregory. Iowa: Robt. G.. Cousins; p. c.
Knox. Pennsylvania: Horace Porter New
York: John c. Spooner. Wisconsin,; Charles
T. Warren. Michigan; Theodore s. Wooisey
Connecticut.
To serve until 10O9-Chandler p Anderson
New York: Charles Henry Butler New
York: Jacob M Dickinson. Illinois: Prof.
George w. Kirchwey, New York: Robert
lansing. New York: Prof John Bassett
Moore. New York; Prof. James b. Scott.
Washington. and Prof.. George G. Wilson.
had tSl land