Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-21
CLOSES IN OPTIMISM
End of Mohonk Lake Peace
Conference.
PROSPECTS FOUND GOOD
Announcement Received From Sec.
rotary Knox of Establishment of
an International Court.

MOHONK LAKE. N. Y, May 21.-The
sixteenth annual session of the Lake
Mohonk Conference on international Ar
bitration ended last night. The chief
feature was the announcement by Sec
rotary Knox, through James Brown
Scott, solicitor of the State Department,
of the probable early establishment OF
an international court of arbitral justice.
This promise. coupled with President
Tafts recent declaration In favor OF ar
bitration treaties containing no reserva-
tons as to national honor or interest,
and the presence of the Dean Of Worces-
ter lEngland) and the Rev. William
Thomas Nondon), as delegates for
churches of all denominations in the Brit
ish and German empires to urge Amert-
can churches to join in a world peace
league, has inspired the delegates with
optimism
The peace advocates were also cheered
by the announcement of the friendly Of
fers to Peru and Ecuador of mediation
by the United States, Brazil and Argen-
tina in their dispute and by the near
approach of the celebration of CEN
tury's peace between the United States
and Great Britain, with an object lesson
in the limitation of ornaments for more
than ninety years on the great lakes and
lilC 81 fiNCi.
Arbitration Treaties Favored.
The conference platform adopted con-
graduated the American people on these
evidences of the marked progress which
the past year has witnessed in the age
long struggle for the substitution OF the
reign of law for the reign of force in In
ternational affairs, and expressed the
90 bat ho nd
ate will give effect to his wise and far
seeing declaration by entering upon the
negotiation of general treaties of arbitra-
ton of this character at the earliest prac-
tica BILE moment.
The conference reaffirmed its declara-
ton Of last year respecting the portentous
growth of military and naval establish
ments, and called renewed attention to the
fact that the rapid development Of the
instrumentalities of law and justice for
the settlement OF International differences
furnished to the craftsmanship OF the civ
ilzed world the long-desired opportunity
of limiting by agreement the further in
crease of ornaments.
II emphasized the fact, well expressed
by former President Roosevelt In his
Christiania address. that, with sincerity
Of purpose, the great powers OF the world
should find no insurmountable difficulty In
reaching such agreement.
Among the speakers at yesterdays SEES
sion was William ]. Bryan.
Bryan for Arbitration.
Some favor large naves,'' said he ''n
the belief that they will compel peace;
others believe, and / share the belief,
that peace can better be promoted by
discouraging the spirit that inspires the
building of big navies. Our nation is i'm
a better condition than any other TO test
the power of example In leading the
nations into the paths Of peace. II does
not need to compete with the world in
battle ships. 1t will become an increasing
influence for peace In proportion as 1t
relies on peaceful methods rather than on
a show of force. 1t ought to announce its
willingness to enter into treaties with
all nations STIMULATING that there should
be no declaration of war or commence
ment of hostilities until the matter tn dis
pute has been submitted to an impartial
tribunal for investigation and report.
A short service in memory of King Ed
ward VII preceded yesterdays session.
when President Nicholas Murray Butler.
Dr. Albert X Smiley and the Dean Of
Worcester spoke.