New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-09-26
ARBITRATION PROGRESS
Premature Pr0posaIs-Let Wei
Enough Alone.
London. septemhsr 10

4
ton is expressed over a reasonable set.
Element Of a protracted dispute over ths
Interpretation or a badly drawn treaty.
and guarantees are found for the right,
and interests OF American fisherman.
Colonial authorities ard the mothef
country. One commentator remarkf
sententiously: Arbitration has IaS
sores in the past; we have only to mem
ton the name Of Geneva. But there "a
nothing but encouragement TO be drawe
from the proceedings in this case ron
any point OF view" A drawn fight wftas
out a decisive victory all along the li1S
for either side convinces leader wrfters
that substantial justice has been obs
tanned on gfve-and-taks principles ana
that the Atlantic coast fisheries viii bx
conducted in future without harasslns
controversy. The arbitrators have ao-
pealed to the spirit Of ressonableness O..
both sides Of the Atlantic and therebS
have done much TO pOpularize the HaguG
tribunal
This is the seventh case which has
been tried and settled by this arbitrator
court. America and England have ss4
the example by referring disputed cues
tons 10 it, and France. Germany. RussLs
and other powers have followed the same
procedure. The existence OF the pernas
nent court has facilitated other settle
ments for which If has not been directly
responsible. The Emery case was as
justed between the United States and
Nicaragua outside the court after q pros
tocol had been signed for carrying thu
dispute to The Hague. and a BOUNDARY
question between Portugal and the
Netherlands was disposed OF with ths
understanding that recourse would be
had to the permanent court OF arbitra.r
ton in the last resort.
Seventeen republics IN the WeSterE
hemisphere have agreed to a convention
by which pecuniary claims not settled
by diplomatic agencies shall be referred
either to the permanent court or TO ons
Of special Jurisdiction. An international
court Of justice has been established for
Central America and one case involving
neutral obligations has been decided bI
IL France and Venezuela are likely ta
refer their disputes TO arbitration at The
Hague. and other cases are coming on.
4 dozen boundary cases have been sets
tied out of court since the first peace
congress was held. and as many as six.
teen disputes over frontiers. financial
claims. maritime rights and other cues
lions Of minor importance are now undeF
consideration by the governments Of as
many as twenty-five powers.
Arbitration has made such rapid progs
ress since the first peace congress that
there is already a disposition among
soft headed optimists 70 regard 1t as a
miracle working institution Of super
natural power They have been unwiII>
ing to wait for the gradual evolution Of
order in the family OF nations. but have
proposed with premature emotional en-
ergy arbitrary measures for the substi-
tuition Of arbitration for ornaments.
The Gar IN the original rescript. which
was the summons fer the peace con-
gress. contemplated systematic reduc-
ton of ornaments. but there was no
practical method Of working out the So
luton. With equal faulty poseurs have
sought to convert the limitation OF ths
effective strength Of armies and navies
into q detail OF political maneuvring or
bargaining. and z British
Prime Minister was prevailed UPON TO
place q battleship in pawn subject TO
guarantees for good be-
haVior.
More harm than good has been dors
by these i'll considered attempts 70 mini
nize the risks Of war By reducing the
offensive power OF standing armies and
fleets Governments are willing to refer
boundary disputes and ancient contro-
versies Ike the Atlantic fisheries TO ar
bitration. but they are not prepared 70
reduce ornaments by single BATTALION
or batt1eship.
Talk about the national duty CT re-
naming weak for the sake OF Suppress
ing the barbarism Of war IS idle chatter
The moral force OF public opinion is not
behind IL While minor matters may be
safely submitted to arbitratCrs. there are
interests which can be settled
only by the iron dice OF war. Whenever
these questions OF paramount inpoF..
lance arise nations must be strong
enough TO defend themselves.
The really rational advocates OF peace
are not ideaHsts vaporing about general
disarmament. abolition CT standing
armies. encouragement OF rife practices
and abandonment Of naval preparations
for another Trafalgar. but cautions dip
lomats and flexible ministers. who are
lndustriously employed IN removing
causes OF irritation and estranssmsnt
among nations Because they are con-
WINGED that fighting power IS more nee
essary and important than ever befors
in world humanity governed b. force
or by the menace Of IL. they rejoice over
every boundary adjustment or the settle
r1ent OF any vexaticus controversy cS
lcng standing
After century Of diplomatic wran-
Cling the fisheries question has been dis
posed of by arbitration and the truth "a
generally acknowledged that there was
I'm IT OF vital importance to
either side-nothins that would ever
have justified civil war in the Anglo
American world The pieadings havs
been conducted by eminent men. an in
PARTIAL Judgment has been rendered with
timely and reasonable concessions TO al