The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-11-12
Tentative Program.


OF American republics already has dis
patched to every south and central
American capital tentative program
Of the subjects to be considered by the
conference and the various foreign
Offices have been at work upon this
with the purpose Of submitting OBJ
jections or suggesting amendments.
Much progress has been made and It
is hoped that It soon will be possible
to promulgate the final program,
which according to present indications
will not vary considerably from that
prepared, by the board of governors.
The three preceding conferences
have moved along the lines Of least
resistance; that is to say. the dele
gates have adopted as basic principles
such propositions as have secured the
easy adhesion of the great majority
but no effort was made to coerce the
minority of the states into acceptance
Of rules which, when these were Of
real importance, they were thorough
ly debated and then remanded for
further consideration at the next con-
ference. In this way the conferences
have been made educational. and ex-
perience has shown that q sound pro-
position Is almost certain to secure
adhesion. So 1t happens that the ten
tative program includes some sub
jects that already have figured in the
debates Of the preceding conferences.
Thus, for instance. will again come
up the subject Of compulsory arbitra-
ton. While the Hague conference ac-
cepted this in principle 1t declined to
recommend general treaty of arbi-
tration. though strongly urging to the
states represented the making of
special treaties among themselves to
carry out the idea. The United States
already has done this with eleven Of
the other American republics, and the
subject will come before the fourth
conference and receive further en-
,couragement at the beginning of the
proceedings. when each delegation
will be required to report what action
has been taken by their respective
governments to carry out the wish of
the third conference.
Another project broached at pre-
ceding meeting which will be again
threshed out will be the establish
ment of steam navigation lines con-
Meeting the principal ports of the Am
erican countries, on the basis of a
uniform system of contract.
Subjects to be Considered.
The bureau of American republics
is to be strengthened and continued
for another ten year term of life at
the least and 1t is hoped that the COM
mission Of international jurists will
be able to report something in the
nature of code of international law
that will be adopted for the govern
ment of the American republics in
their diplomatic relations II this re-
port is satisfactory the fourth confer
ence will embody in treaty this basic
code. which is expected to have the
happiest results in the settlement of
any disturbing questions that may
arise In the future between the re-
publics.
The Pan-American railways postal
rates and parcel posts: a uniform
system of collection of census and
commercial statistics and consular
methods; supervision Of food supply;
the protection of the. public health,
and the regulation of rates Of inter-
national exchange and other matters
left by preceding conferences for the
consideration of that which is to meet
at Buenos Aires.
New and up-to-date subjects are
wireless telegraphy and aerial nayi-
cation, for 1t has begun to be realized
by the governing board that there
soon will be need of regulations for
the government Of these. modes Of
Communication and travel. An effort
Also will be made to arrive at some
sound basis Of regulation Of foreign