Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-05-08

vITHTN a year the internauon-
w I al peace movement has reach
M cd stage of peculiar interest
w and one which seems to indi-
-, general lines along which tho
s,or against war Is likely to be con-
,.c,ed FOR the Immediate future, In
,,,est centers on the second Hague con-
,,renrs which met IN June last and
,d,ourned In october after exhaustive
slscussion OF great international mat
,ors by some of the ablest talent of 45
rsilons The results of that confer
,n,, have been misrepresented and mis-.
understand. and an impression has
srsen In some quarters that the confer
ence was not measurably successful,
f'ndonbtedly 1t was a disappointment
- some ardent advocates of peace. but
a careful analysis of its work not only
,rdleates substantial progress but also
smphasizes the wisdom OF the obvious
and growing tendency of the pence
royement toward the practioal-tho
telling that most OF the real construc.
,re work must be through the devel.
onment and extension of international
hw and the cultivation of International
acauaintance and good feeling ms
hssis of respect for the findings of an
International court. Whatever the mer-
n Of advanced plans and theories. II
seems evident that the present genera
lions at least Will do well to direct its
efforts largely to the upbuildlng of in
tarnatonal law and arbitration and Of
on International court of such charac-
fer as shall inspire fearless submits
sion Of differences.
NOT LEGISLATIVE BODY.
In considering the work of the second
Hague conference. II must be remem-
hred that II was not legislative body
or one In which a majority ruled.
Measures required for adoption the sub
santial unanimity of 45 nations, rep
resenting all races, climes and temper
aments and every stage of national
pOress When we consider this and
realize that It was the first time In his
Tor, that the representatives of prac>
tlcally all nations have met for dis
cussion the wonder is not that more
was not accomplished. but that the del
egaes were able to agree on so many
measures Of Importance. That men OF
such widely differing habits and en-
yironment were able to recognize the
International point of view on even a
few questions surely gives promise OF
the utiTcate development of law be-
tween nations.
WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED.
To pass over many measures adopted
to mitigate the horrors of war, includ-
Ing the extension of the Red Cross to
naval warfare, the conference rendered
substantial service;
First, by decreeing that in future no
nation may use armed force to compel
payment of debts due from another
nation without first making an offer to
arbtrate. This safeguards both debt
or and creditor nations.
Second, by providing for an internal
tional prize court to which appeals
may he taken from biased decisions OF
national prize courts. This is long
step toward international justice.
Third, by resolving that a third
Hague conference shall be held in about
eight years and that the preliminary
arrangements Of that conference shall
be made by an International committee
selected in advance. This effectively
prohibits domination of the program by
any power regardless of what nation
may call the conference, and practically
assures the Hague conference a place
in the regular order OF international
affairs
Fourth, by authorizing either party to
an International dispute to publicly ask
for the services of the Hague court.
Wheh II is remembered that hereto
fore two nations in dispute were Obliged
10 agree to arbitrate--a most difficult
thing when passions are aroused-the
great value of this provision is obvious
nation In the right may now put its
adversary In the difficult position of
arbitrahng losing cause, or of pub
licly refusing to trust its cause to the
tribunal II has helped to establish.
Fifth. by agreeing on a plan of or
ganization and procedure for a real
International court, with permanent
Judges, TO supplement the present
Hague tribunal. BY arranging the all
lotment of judges, the nations may at
any time put the court into operation.
And as high an authority as Secy. Root
has been quoted by Hon. Joseph H..
Choate as being confident that the ma
lions can agree on judges and put the
court into active operation without
waiting for the third Hague conference.
OPPOSED BY ONE POWER.
AS to a point on which the Hague
conference failed of unanimous agree
ment II should be stated that a gem
eral treaty OF obligatory arbitration
was actively opposed by only one pow