The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1908-05-21
Made by international Confer
ences Declares James
Brown Scott.
EXPERIMENT SUCCESSFUL
History and Effect of the Move
ment is Told About at the
Lake Mohonk Meeting.

4 hAhh MOflO4NAyI ~. \ - May AU----,
The Lake Mohunk Conference was in
session here today.
James Brown Scott, who was one.
of the American delegates to the
! Hague, addressed the conference on
.'The Second Hague Peace Confer
ence' and told Of the results of It's
deliberations.
He said in part: THE conference
met at the Hague on June 10, 1907.
and sat until October IS. Resembling
Its predecessor, 1T was yet strikingly
different. For example. in the con-
ference OF 1899 but 20 states of the
civilized world were represented. of
which only two. Mexico and the
United States. were from the Western
Hemisphere. Through the efforts OF
Mr.. Root Latin America was Invited
and was represented at the second
conference with the exception Of
Costa RIGA and Honduras. The ma
lions of Europe looked forward 20
the presence of Latin America with
forebodlng, but Latin America justi-
fled itsef and there can be no doubt
that the attendance OF Latin Amer
ica was wise and statesmanike viewed
from any standpoint. 1t showed Eu-
rope what manner of people inhabits
Contra and South America and 'en-
abled 1t to appreciate the young
republics. The conference of 1907
was q distict success, considered by
actual results Of its deliberations. In
the first place 1t revised In the light
OF practical experience the convention
of 1899 providing for the peaceful
solution OF International disputes, the
laws and customs of war; and the
Geneva convention. 1t substituted ar
bitration for the use of force In the
collection of contract debts. In the
next place 1t continued the work of
the conference of 1899 by regulating
the rights and duties of neutrals and
neutral states in land warfare. 1t
forbade the opening of hostiiities
without declaration both In the in
terest of belligerents and neutral
powers. 1t regulated the transfor-
nation Of merchant ships into men OF
war. 1t sought to define the statues
of enemy merchant ships at the out
break Of war. 1t regulated the lay
ing of mines. 1t forbade the bonn
bardment of undefended ports, II
freed mail on the high seas from
capture, and 1t exempted certain
forms of enemy property. namely.
coastal fishing vessels and other such
craft, from capture. 1t organized an
international prize court It adopted
an elaborate convention concerning
the rights and duties OF neutral poow-
ers in naval warfare in which the
three rules of Washington were In
of the next conference the discharge
of projectils from balloons.
"In addition the conference recog-
nized by unanimous vote the prin-
cipal of obligatory arbitration and
the fact that certain subjects
may be arbitrated without the re-
serves of Independence, vital inter-
ests and honor. It renewed the dec
laration of 1889 concerning the ne
cessity of Elimination of ornaments.
1t laid the broad foundations for q
court of arbitral Justice and 1t finally
declared that third conference
should meet in or about 1915. 1t
provided that two years before the
probable meeting of the conference a
committee of the powers should ar
range a program and provide for
the organization OF the conferences
In other words the experiment has
been successful. Not only has the
world declared in favor OF the con-
ference, but the conference itself was
convinced by the result OF four monhs
elaboration that 1t should be a per-
manent institution. The preparatory
committee will result in having
carefully devised program including
all subjects ripe for early settle
ment, and the provision for the or
ganization can only mean that iteis
henceforth to be in control Of itself
not under the exclusive domination
of any one power.
Such In brief was the work OF the
second conference. 1t was worthy OF
It's predecessor. It will have sue
cessor. and in course OF time 1t will
undoubtedly, although a diplomatic
body resemble parliament which
recommends to the represented pow
ers. but does not Slegisiate directly for
them. When the court OF arbitrai
justice is established. and in opera
ton, the world will have two great
international institutions, the one
making or recommending the law. the
other Interpreting II, and the first
great step will have been taken to-
ward the judicial organization OF the
world"
Samuel B. Stiles. of Parkershnrp