Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-04
THE UNIVERSAL PEACE CONGRESS.

We are living in a period OF congresses
policy OF nations. Yesterday
World = IL was the eighteenth univer-
sal peace congress at Stock
koAicy' holm; today. according 20
cablegram. It is the sixteenth interpar-
liamentary conference with Its 500 dele
gates which opens at Brussels.
NJ Beernaert. the Belgian minister Of
state, in addressing the latter body said
that, despite the rapid progress OF the
cause OF arbitration and mediation. the
world was living in a regime OF armed
peace with 100000 men under arms At
cost annually OF $1,000. 100000 Herr
Pachnike. member OF the German reich
stag. introduced a resolution, whiNh was
adopted. to neutralize all interoceanic
canals and straits.
|. The most important and interesting OF
all the international peace congresses OF
the last ten years has just concluded Its
sessions at Stockholm. The soul OF paci-
fism has been warmed and consoled by a
weeks communion with kindred spirits
assembled for the purpose Of Affirming
their sentiments In the interest or hu-
manity ana UNIVERSAL peace.
Sweden Is the country Of Gustavus
vasa, the patriot and refcrmer. a coun-
a century. In such a country or perfect
freedom the 6OO members Of the congress
from all parts Of the world. representing
twenty-one nationalities. could give free
rein to their generous sentiments.
II is incontestable that pacifsm. treated
until recently as utopianism. has progress
ed and the discussion Of International
questions has produced a marked effect In
the conciIiatory attitude OF nations which
hitherto had accepted as an axiom the
Aintr, 0rtuy0fOhG
In this connection. however. let us recall
NJ. Clemenceau's reply TO an interrupter
who said irnpatiently Talk to us about
peace" mo peace Is possible without
lieved that all European nations were as
one In desiring peace. Almost fmme-
diately. without any provocation on our
part. q storm OF calumny broke over our
heads and we had TO ask ourselves. Are
we prepared?" The proceedings OF the
eighteenth congress prove that the pacifst
has learned that peace and patriotism
may be synonymous terms.
In the general opening session Count
Taube, minister OF foreign affairs. de-
nvered a discourse on the
War and theme OF "Patria and
Pacinsm." The subject be-
<eac0. sides. was well timed. for
Stockholm was decorated with fags for
the military fete. II showed that peo-
pie which maintained It's military quail
ties could welcome with cordially the
partisans Of peace.
There were many distinguished person
alities participating in the congress Count
Tolstoi and NJ Frederic Passy. who were
expected TO attend. sent kilograms OF re-
gret for their unavoidable absence.
The program OF the congress consisted
OF the discussion Of the events OF the
alton" .'code of International Law
1.-The Right of Legitimate Defense and
Defensive Treaties OF Alliance" Limita-
lions of Armaments.'
Prior to the opening session the bu-
reau Of the international League Of Peace
and Liberty met under the presidency
OF NJ Arnaud. to discuss the propositions
which should be submitted by the league
for the approval Of the congress.
NJ. Emile Arnaud proposed TO vote In
the first place a series of principles, In
substance as follows: Armaments should
be classed as means OF defense and means
Of attack NJ. Arnaud would have these
principles submitted to military special
lists In order 10 make the distinction NJ.
Moch objected that the classification was
impossible. It was an axiom Of the art
Of tactics that ION the ground in order
to defend. II was necessary to attack
NJ Arnaud insisted that the principles
should be submitted to the commission on
disarmament, and the proposition was so
voted
The president then presented to his COL
leagues the project OF an international
code in which he clearly defined the law
which should govern peoples In the flu
ture, and asked their authority to pro-
pose It to the congress for discussion.
NJ. Dumas objected. II was necessary TO
bear In mind the history Of the subject.
al
tunes on international law. and that In q
new volume II was necessary TO note
what belonged to predecessors and In
what the new principles differed.
NJ. Arnaud had no pretension OF having
made a perfect code. he agreed with NJ.
Dumas and expressed the hope that the
specialists might work more rapidly than
commissions OF that character usually do.
that a code seriously studied might be
presented to the next congress.
Count Taube. minister OF foreign az
fairs, In his speech OF welcome in the
general session. said In
Humane substance that such an
iIlustrious assemblage Of
OSsAAC' eminent men and women,
possessing a very great experience. COM
ing from all parts. inspired by the desire
that fraternity reign and that love
triumph over hate. and gentleness over
violence. was edifying. Their cause was
sacred: they would defend 1t with per
sistence that commanded admiration.
They had the faith that overturns noun
taiEs: the future was theirs: their pro-
gram was the cry Of the human con-
science. Without doubt the complete reali-
zatfon OF their Ideas was difficult. but
because they were practical men who
knew how to avoid chimerical hopes they
had already been successful. Due to
their impulsion a network of arbitrage Is
spread over the whole world.
But, however great may be the desire
for peace. this desire was limited by the
love Of country and the duty Of defend
ing II against the aggressor. This was
also their theory. Those who preach
to little nations the inanity of their eff
forts to defend themselves and counsel
disarmament without conditions, and the
cowardly abandonment Of self. have ILL
Judged the true character OF their inten-
tons.