The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-05-04
MANY MEN AND WOMEN DISCUSS ABOLITION
OF WAR METHODS TO BE EMPLOYED
IN BRINGING 1T ABOUT.
Topic Is Taken Up From Every Standpoint and All
Speakers Agree That Time For Universal
Olive Branch Is Here

CHICAGO, May 4.-George Roberts
president of the Commercial National
bank, presided at todays sessions of
the national peace conference Marcus
M. Marks. of Boston, discussed the
subject, Business Men Want Peace
dwelling upon the necessity of peace
to prosperity.
Others spoke along the same lines.
Mrs. Lucia Meade addressed the wo-
men delgates, pointing to the absurd
tiles of war.
Mrs. Ellen Henrotin, president of the
women's session, and Jane Adams of
Chicago. also spoke. This afternoon
w. J. Calhoun of Chicago, discussed
the legal aspects of the peace move
ment. Professor William 1. Hull of
Swarthmore college; Professor Charles
Hyde, of the University of Chicago;
James B. Scot, solicitor of the United
States state department, also spoke.
James Brown Scott, solicitor of the
state department in his address to the
conference said:
without attempting to usurp the
functions of the preparatory commit
tee charged with the preparation of a
program for a third conference at The
Hague it may be asserted with some
confidence that certain subjects will
undoubtedly be discussed and it is
hoped, conclusions reached upon them.
For example, compulsory arbitra-
ton, defeated at the first Hague con-
ference, recognized in principle at the
second conference and incorporated in
the convention for the limitation of
force in the collection of contract debts.
will, in all probability, make its ap-
pearance and likely triumph at the
third conference.
THE next step is the negotiation of a
treaty which will give effect to the
principle of compulsory arbitration
unanimously adopted at the second con-
ference. and the negotiation, since the
close of the conference, of some sixty
treaties of compulsory arbitration, of
which "a have been concluded by the
United States, shows that an insistent
public opinion is forcing nations, not
merely to confess their faith in arbi-
tration but also to evidence it through
International agreement.
1T was the desire of an overWhelm-
ing majority to adopt a general treaty
of arbitration, reserving from the obli-
CATION of arbitration questions affecting
the independence, vital interests and
honor of the contracting nations, and
to include in the treaty various speci-
fed subjects in which the reservation
of independence, vital interests and
honor were renounced. Thirty-two
states voted for the draft convention
prepared by the committee on exami-
nation; nine voted against it Ger
many, Austro- Hungary, Belgium, Bull
garia, Greece, Montenegro, Roumania,
Switzerland and Turkey. and three
abstained from voting Qtaly, japan and
Luxemburg)
Germany, which led the opposition
to the treaty Of compulsory arbitra-
ton in 1899, confessed its mistake at
the second conference by accepting the
principle, and it is to be expected that
the experience OF the interval between
the second and third conferences will
cause that enlightened country not only
to confess but also to accept, IL 1t does
not actually propose a project Of COM
pulsory arbitration at the third con-
ference Should 1t do so, the faithful
allies, Austro- Hungary. and Italy. would