New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-21
LIMIT WARSHIPS' SIZE.
PRESIDENT SUGGESTS 1T.
Discussion at Last Session of Inter
national Lac Society.

national Lao Society.
washington. April 2O-Somewhat critical
,ievrs of recent developments in international
affairs were made at the session Of the Ameri-
can Society OF International Law, which closed
t,s first annual meeting here to-day Richard
Clnev was perhaps the most caustic in his inter
vretation Of the policy Of the United States re-
garding Santo Domingo and the acquisition OF
the Panama Canal zone without compensation
a Colombia John w. Foster announced that
President Roosevelt had proposed TO some OF the
leading nations of the world that at least
make a Limitation the size of vessels of war
that shall be built in the future" Mr.. Foster
called attention 10 Russia's changed attitude on
,be question of disarmament, which. he said, she
favored at the first Hague conference and OPP
posed now. Professor WOolsey. of Connecticut,
declared that wars Of passion" could be abOl-
ished il international law should provide that all
wars must begin with proclamation, and that
a cooling time Of thirty or sixty days inter-
vene between the proclamation and actual hos
tlities. Such an arrangement, he said would
have averted the South African and Russo-Jap-
anese wars. Representative Richard Bartholdt
spoke Of the necessity Of making the Hague con-
ference permanent and said that the United
States. with the impetus toward peace which
President Roosevelt had given. could accom-
plish this result by a united demand at the next
conference.
Secretary straus of the Department Of Com
merce and Labor. who presided at the meeting.
opened the discussion with an expression OF the
hope that should the forthcoming Hague con-
ference fail 10 prescribe a limitation on arma-
ment. il would issue mandate that any neu-
fral nation supplying a warning nation with
money should be adjudged guilty Of a hostile
act
MR. OLNEY'S CRITICISM.
Having for his text the development of in
fernational law as a science Mr.. Olney first
pointed out the necessity OF having interna-
tional law founded on the aggregate action OF
a concert Of powers. This was well illustrated
he said. IN the European concert which had
for its purpose the regulation OF European in
ternatonal policies and the Eastern question.
The European concert was somewhat analogous
10 the Monroe Doctrine, he said. although there
IN fact an independent distinction, as under
the Monroe Doctrine proper the United States
assumed no protectorate over and attempted
interference with the external or internal affairs
OF any American state. Mr.. Olney then pro-
ceeded 70 discuss moro recent history. He said:
Within comparatively short time other doc
Ilnes nave been oIncially and unofhcially an
described as the Monroe Doctrine necessary
IT, 2
animated that If American state does not be-
have !tsef well IN either its external internal
standards OF course-it may be forced by the
,b 4ed states I. an6 sosrced into doing the right
sequestered and applied by the United States
it is too plain for discussion that the Monroe Doc
trine cannot be invoked in support Of any such
pretensions; that they are seriously objectionable
as calculated 10 wound the pride and excite the
IffSr - The T0ifed state az ndeT Enc as 90 eV se
most veKatious, burdensome and dangerous char
our institutions WIN surely live and our people
continue TO prosper without the United States con-
vertng Itself into an international policeman for
srencv for the enefit OF foreign Creditor states
90 rjs,f- stgev- TIS4 ~. -, i1of-isS -tI.
larry IL urged BY officials high places must have
lated to put the United States in the Odious posi-
ton Of possessor OF enormous power who is
eagerly looking for opportunity TO exert IT, They
make apparently Oblivious OF the truth that 10
IKE a giant is tyrannous and they seem 20 be the
outcome OF views which are likely 10 retard rather
law, which in modern times POUNDS itself not upon
or state hoN-eger mighty but on the consent Of
the society Of states. expressed or implied
Mr. olney paused and asked: How should
the United States proceed?' Surely" he an
swered. mot by making itself a sort OF inter-
national American boss Let it be assumed,
however as It should be- that the new doctrines.
however objectionable in some aspects, may
and should be credited to a wholly worthy
origin"
Turning his attention to Panama, Mr.. Olney
continued:
The United States is executing a great public
work territory which but recently was the prop
srty OF sister republic There is no pretenee that
mar republic parted with its territory voluntaF
ily. The territory was practically appropriated by
the United States clsimng-and Il is the best justi-
1cation the circumstances affOrd-ciaiming
as the mandatory OF civilization" But II the
United States IS TO be deemed to have held a man
date from civilization 10 seQuestrate Colombian soil
for a great public work il should also be deemed
= mandate wa
duly ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS civilization stands
Eealed objectionable parsonage quite insensi-
Die 70 the more elementary claims OF Justice.
Two honorary members were elected. H. Lam
nasch, member of the upper branch OF the Aus
TRAN Parliament, and Thomas Erskine Holland,
OF Oxford. Officers were elected for the ensuing
year as follows: President, Elihu Root: vice
Presidents Chief Justice Fuller. Justice David
J. Brewer. Justice William r. Day. william H
Taft, Andrew Carnegie, Joseph II. Choate. John
". Foster. George Gray. John W. Griggs. W. W.
Morrow. Richard Olney. Oscar S. Straus and
Horace Porter.
Over two hundred members attended the
nUal dinner Of the association tonight The
guests included Cabinet officers, members OF the
diplomatic corps, the local judiciary and the SUI
prenne Court OF the United States. The princi-
pal address was made by Secretary Root. In
view OF the fact that considerable latitude was
allowed 70 the gDeaksrR their remarks no