Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-05-21
INTERNATIONAL [ |. A |
ARBITRATION.
Lake Mohonk Conference Unani-
lllously Adopts Program Urg-
ing it on All Governments.
CAUSE is MAKING ADVANCE.
Great Armamcnts OF the Nations Are
IntolcrabIe and Satire Upon
81 Civilization.

Mohonk Lake, n. Y, May 21.-Reiter-
ating declaration of the British for
eign secretary that the increased arlna-
ments or the nations which prompted
the call for the first Hague conference
had become IL satire upon civilization,
the Lake Mohon1 conference on inter
national arbitration today unanimous
E ly adopted platform.
Dean Kirschwey of Columbia, chair
man OF the business committee, in pre-
senting the platform declared that tile
situation Of the nations and OF inter-
national politics today Justified a mucl,
more advanced position than taken by
last years conference, especially ,o,l
limitation of armaments. and that,
therefore, there was no Inconsistency iii
the attitude of the conference.
William l. Buchanan Of Buffalo and
Judge S. L. Baldwin of New Haven,
seconded the motion for adoption Of the
platform and commended it for what 1t
contained as well as for what it did not
contain.
Tho platform was then adopted
unanimously and without dissent Or,
criticism.
THE PLATFORM.
".rhe fifteenth annual Lake Mohonk
conference OIL International arbitration
meeting on the tenth anniversary OF
the opening of The Hague conference.
reviews with profound satisfaction che
signal advance Of the cause Of inter-
national justice during the decade, a
progress uneNampledl in any previous
period in history. The memorable
achievements OF this period are at oncc.
an inspiration and an Imperative call
to renewed Efforts.
We urge upon our government which
has been SO conspicuously and SO hon
orably identified with the progressive
policies Of The Hague prompt action
toward perfecting the Important meas
lires therein inaugurated and the COM
plete development of the system OF ar.
bitration. We especially urge It's early
Initiative on the establishment of the
international court of arbitration jus
tice. 80
ING further urge the negotiation Of
a general treaty OF arbitration between
all nations and look forward with in.
creasing hope to the day when treaties
Of arbitration shall provide for tile refs
erence to The Hague or all information
al differences not settled by regular
diplomatic negotiations. II
The clear logic of The Hague con-
vention prescribes. the limitations and
gradual reduction OF machinery of war
by the nations parties to these conven-
&tiuns corresponding to the develop
inent@ of the Observation-Disclosures OF law
and justice for the settlement Of inter
national differences.
The great arnaments OF the nations
Whose intolerable burdens prompted the
call to the first Hague conference have
during the decade increased SO portent-
5ously as to have now become, as re-
Gently declared by the British foreign
secretary. a satire upon civilization,
They fill the world With apprehension
and alarm; they create an atmosphere
aunfaNorable to the system of arbitra-.
ton and their drainsupon the resources
of the peoples has become so exhaust
ing as to menace all national treasures
and disastrously check the social re-
forms and advances which the interests
Of humanity demand.
1T is the opinion OF this conference
that the time has arrived for carrying
into effect the strongly expressed de-
sire of the two peace conferences at
The Hague that governments examine
the possibility i.of agreement as to the
Limitation of armed forcese by. land
and sea. and of war budgets and adj
dress themselves to the serious study
of this pressing question.
Accordingly we ask. our government
to consider whether the peculiar posi-
tion which it occupies among the ma
lions does not afford it q special oppor-
tunity to lead the way toward maxi
ing these weighty declarations a basis
of public and concerted nation"
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