The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1909-05-06
NlORL q CONGRE SS
IN NEAR FUTJ JPEE

canoe Of some of the special conven.
lions adopted ~ the second Hayu,
conference which exclude warlik,
Operations entirely from certain field,
land make war in general much NOR,
dihicult and less likely to occur at ali
As to the important work Of IN,
conferences. the speaker said: 18Th.
first Hague conference gave us tbs
Permanent International Court of Ar.
bitration. to which the powers repre-.
sented finally became parties by rati.
fication of The convention. This cour,
has now for eight years been in sue.
cessful operation. and not less than
forr controversies have been referred
to 1t during the last year. The sec.
fond Hague conference enlarged and
strengthened the convention under
which this court was set up, and made
the: Court the tribunal, not OF the
powers already represented, but Of all
the nations of the world. Though ref
erence OF disputes to this tribunal IL
still in general voluntary, majority
OF the important nations, have ALREADY
by special treaties with zach other In
pairs, pledged themselves to refer all
disputes OF a judicial order and those
arising in the Interpretation of
treaties to Its jurisdiction. 1t is reas-
enable to believe, therefore, that we
have arrived at a stage in the Develop
ment when there already exists among
the nations substitute for war prac-
tically, II not theoretically, adequate
for the adjustment of all their dis.
putes, without resort to force, In a
way to conserve the honor and vital
interests of the separate governments.
Another step of still greater mo-
ment was taken by the second Hague
conference in the direction Of provid-
ing perfect substitute for force in
the settlement of International DIFF
ferences. It voted without dissent
ing delegation for the principle of an
international Court Of Anbitral Justice
with judges always in service and
holding regular sessions" The speak
err said 1t is safe to assume that the
which viii render. war between the
powers of the world scarcely thinka-
BILE. He continued:
At High Water Mark.
1.-THE high water mark of the work
of the second Hague conference was
reached in its action in regard to fu-
ture meetings of the conference. The
principle of periodic meetings OF the
conference hereafter was approved
without a dissenting voice. The date
even of the third conference was fixed
and the governments urged to appoint
at least two years in advance an In
ternational commission to prepare the
program of the meeting. This action
means, II approved by the several
powers, as 1t undoubtedly will be.
that we are to have hereafter regular
meetings of world conference. The
powers Of the conference, will at first
be only advisory. but in the very ma
lture of the case Its conclusions and
recommendations will be largely
adopted. and In this way 1t will, from
the very start, be substantially a leg
.islative world assembly. Its powers
will naturally grow and be extended.
Here we reach the real position which
the peace movement has attained.
The promise. therefore. Is very large
for the years just before US. for when
the nations meet representatively at
regular periods. and men Of the high
est ability and experience discuss in
a friendly and frank way all of the
common problems of the world. the
days of war will be numbered. the
great aymaments which now burden
and distract humanity will tumble to
pieces, and the era of universal and
perpetual peace will have begun. It
takes no large vision to see this great
contamination realized at no distant
time" ~.