Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18
HIRST ATTACKS CONTRACTORS
English Editor Says War Scares Are
Fostered for Purpose.
TAXES BURDEN TO THE PEOPLE
Dean Charles Noble Gregory Of Iowa
state University Adds to Gem
eral depreciation of Armed
strife.

! WASHINGTON, Dec. l7-That war
scares are largely inspired by armament
contractors, who ultimately would drag
various countries into the bankruptcy
court" was charged by Francis S. Hirst
editor of the London economist, In an ad-
dress before the International conference
OF the American Society for the judicial
Settlement of InternationS! Dlspuates to-
night.
He charged as absurd the purchase Of
dreadnaughts by Brazil TO protect itself
against Argentina" and said the rivalry
between Japan and the United states was
| crushing the people OF Japan under n load
OF taxes, while armament expenditures
we're also wrecking the finances OF Great
Britain and Germany.
The supreme court OF the United States
as analogous to the proposed arbitral
court, was often cited in the discussion Of
the conference.
Andrew ]. Montague. former governor OF
Virginia, characterized the United States
supreme court as an international court.
because It was called upon to settle DIFF
ferences between sovereign states"
Dean Gregory Talks.
General depreciation OF war was added
Iowa State university. who said aviation
was new means Of destroying man by
overhead attacks the inland cities now
being no more immune from invasion than
the sea-coast points.
The permanent court OF arbitral justice
the purposes of which the society hopes
ultimately to put into effect received favor
able and unfavorable treatment by various
speakers.
Mr.. Hrst, the English representative,
commented on the danger of having the
court too judicial" urging that diplomacy
be mingled with justice for the general
satisfaction OF ALL
Il need not tell you how deep and sincere
is my sympathy with any movement to fur
ther the judicial settlement Of international
disputes. 1t is the hope OF the future, and
will be realized-of that / am confident
sooner or later, and when II comes the
world WILL with gratitude, remember the
sustained efforts OF the American gov
eminent in this good cause, and will treas
ure them among the Hottest endeavors of
great nations"
las between individuals" said Mr.. Hirst,
so between nations, there is a place for
the strictest Interpretation OF a statute by
mere lawyers who care nothing for the con-
sequence and will not look beyond the
legal meaning of the word. There Is a
place also for a broader and more equita-
BILE construction.
And, finally, there is a place. especially
as between countries whose laws and
customs have grown up entirely apart for
thousands OF years, say between the United
States and japan, or Italy and China, for
mixture of law and compromise"
Analogy Not Complete.
Referring to the analogy OF the supreme
court of the United States to a perma-
nent court of arbitral justice, he said:
The analogy between international and
national law is not, and never can be COM
plete, because one OF the functions of in
ternational law must be 10 adjust and
reconcile, not to override conflicting sys-
TENS. When once a statute has been
passed. the difficulty ends and the statute
can be strictly interpreted; but even then
a true international court OF jurists will
have an international mode of interpreta-
ton, blend perhaps OF the civil law and
the common law, or. of oriental and west
ern rules"
The growing wealth and power of con-
tractors who supply governments with
stores and ornaments of all kinds is por-
tentous," continued Mr.. Hirst. They
can we'll afford to keep a press which
shall rouse or aggravate national fears and
jealousies, playing off one prospective bat
tleship against another.
THE favorite cry Of armament monEers
is that ornaments are the only security. II
you are unsrmed, they say, you are I'M
safe; that laws and conventions may be
broken and that there Is no international
force behind an International award, no
army or, navy behind an international
tribunal. no means OF enforcing an inter-
national tribunal. They quote the ancient
dogma, II you want peace, prepare for
war. Yes. but as Mr.. Asqulth pointed out
the other day, the growth of ornaments
is becoming such a financial burden upon
even the richest states that the taxation It
involves arouses dangerous international
! discontents which may at any time provoke
outbursts destructive of the worlds peace"
Economic MischIefS.
The diversion OF capital from fruitful
enterprises into forts and battleships of
men, from productive employment to
armies and fleets. where they have to
! live upon the taxes. is perhaps the most
obvious Of the great economic mischlefs OF
our times. Are ali nations to Join in the
race for expenditures on armies and navles
untn they fall down one by one, exhausted
in the bankruptcy court?
1T is the good fortune of the United
States to be so rich, populous and power
full and so far removed from panicky con-
tact with armed neighbors that n is free
/ to play the part OF mediator in this inter
national feud."
| He closed with the statement that he
who could bring about a scheme which
would be adopted by The Hague for the
limitation Of ornaments would win eternal