Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-26


The rumors relating to Bolivia's pro-
provoked comment in
European Europe. The Journal des
corm.r+ Debats. for example,
contains a leading article
on the subject of arbitration and the
action imputed to Bolivia, signed by an
eminent jurisconsult. NJ. Louis Renault
writes:
Governments are now more or less dis.
posed or obliged to settle disputes among
themselves or by arbitration. But to the
honor of humanity when a nation finds
itself In the presence Of an arbitration
sentence 1t is scrupulously executed"
And NJ. Renault cites. with others. the
arbitration decisions between Brazil ard
British Guiana settled by the award of
King Victor Emmanuel, who was named
as arbiter November 6, 1901: the long
standing boundary dispute of the Ar
gentine Republic with Chile which was
referred to the British government for
arbitration and which was settled by the
award delivered November 20, 1902 and
the treaty of Washington of May 8. 1871.
for the settlement Of the Alabama claims
the sum Of which was nothing less than
fifteen and one-half millions Of dollars.
This sentence, remarks M. Renault, was
most disagreeable to the English people
and was bitterly criticised by Sir Alex
ander Cockburn, the English member of
the court Of arbitration. Sir Alexander
nevertheless advised hs country to accept
the sentence and this was done without
hesitation. Great Britain's agreement to
the treaty was scrupulously observed.
ut is understood" continues NJ. Re-
nault. that where two parties, state or
individual, agree to settle their differ
ences by arbitration and conclude an
agreement to that effect they bind them
selves thereby to submit to the decision
would be senseless. The decision of the
arbiter, therefore, has all the authority
of any convention, and not to submit to 1t
is to violate the signed agreement
Referring to the arbitration between 30.
livia and Peru, the jurisconsult declares
that there is no question of the abandon
ment by Bolivia of territory, nor Of being
courteous or magnanimous, but only of
keeping her solemn engagement. She
promised to conform to whatever would
be the decision Of the arbiter; the arbiter
had spoken; there was nothing to do.
therefore. except to obey the decision,
without which the promise made on De-
cember 30 1902, is expressly violated.
The country that failed to cause its pre-
tensions over the contested territory to be
accepted abandons nothing. since 1t was
decided 1t did not have the right 1t al
legged. The victorious litigant, however.
might be magnanimous and abandon
something should it SO consent"
Non-performance by Bolivia would in
fiict wound upon her own good name and
credit, since she would have
Much at broken her pledge. South
s+.L. American republics. which had
such great interest in recourse
to arbitration to avoid pressure from the
great and more powerful, would receive
an underhanded blow because the re.
ported failure Of Bolivia to execute her
promise would provoke general distrust
Of all. General arbitration. in fact. would
be seriously compromised. Governments
would not be encouraged to settle their
disputes in that way II they were obliged
to run the risk not only of an unfavorable
sentence, but the non-execution Of a ia
vorable one. II would be as we'll to have
recourse to arms to decide the quarrel.
These considerations would seem strong
enough to insure the triumph of the law,
and when the time habitually allowed the
condemned to curse his judges has
passed Bolivia for fact would honor
herself by executing the decision Of July
last.
South American affairs have assumed
such great importance In an economical
sense that whatever affects these coun-
tries affects in a commercial sense the
interests of the other governments, and
especially these United States. This is
essentially SO at this moment. when COM
mercial and industrial development and
the consequent creation of new markets
Is a generally accepted policy.
The London Times of September Is Is
reported by cable as saying In an edi-
torial: What has happened in ENGLAND
is happening across the Atlantic. Work
ers are deserving the country for the
town SO rapidly as to make the possibil-
ity Of the rapid growth of the unen1-
ployed suburban class a serious problem.
]. J. Hill believes that the danger can
only be averted by the creation for Amer
lean manufacturers of a large foreign
market. and perhaps that is why Presi-
dent Tafts administration has turned its
energies to the development of foreign
trade"
Secretary Knox recently created new
South American bureau as a special d.
vision in the State De-
Pan-American partment This will be
welcomed by the CONNER
cial circles OF North