Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1912-03-21
FOR WORLD N|DEPEACE
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ny SiOub essay VI
manuel Kant on Perpetual Peace. In
this, the idea was first expressed of
federation OF the nations of the
world
During the nineteenth century, the
| peace movement made great prog
ress. In quiet Christian home in
1 New York city new line of acti-
vities was inaugurated by David l..
| Dodge, who organized in 1910, the
American Peace Society When il
celebrated its tooth anniversary about
two years ago, there were in exist
ence about 500 societies in fifteen
countries-each a center of influence
and light
During the nineteenth century,
there were two epoch-making periods,
where public sentiment and personal
devotion crystallized their influence
in two notable series of peace CON
crosses The first International Peace
Congress was planned i'll Boston and
held in London in 1S43 OF its three
hundred delegates thirty were from
the United States The second was
in Brussels and rec eived its impulse
from Elihu Burritt, as did also the
three following. He was a most no.
table man in the annals of the world
peace movement. of whom this nation
may we'll be proud The third con
grcss was held in Paris in lS49, and
was presided over by Victor Hugo.
The fourth was in Frankfort in 1850,
and the fifth in London in 1857
The Peace Cons resses were revived
in 1859, and were hela i'll both
Europe and this country.
In additional to international peace
conferences. National congresses
have also been held in England.
France and this country. They have
helped greatly to prepare public SEN
/ timcnt i'm Europe and America for
the great Hague conferences of 1899
and 1907, which have witnessed the
elimination of the work of all the
centuries preceding.
In August, 1898, the mightcst mon
arch in Christendom. the Gar of
Russia, appalled, at the awful burden
/ imposed upon mankind by the con-
! tinued heavy taXationl necessary to
support the military and naval forces
Of the world, issued his famous re-
script To the nations, inviting them
to a conference. TO consider how
these burdens might be lightencd,
and especially to consider the ques
tons of disarmament.
The call sent a thrill throughout
the world, Do we not all remember
it? Notwithstanding the surprise
which followed, and the general doubt
OF the possibility OF accomplishing
anything. all the governments of Eu-
rope, four in Asia, and the United
States approved of the Cars propo-
sal, and decided to send delegates.
\ second rescrpt was sent out by
the Russian government on the 18th
OF the following January, outlining in
some measure. the subjects to be dis
cussed The actual assembling of the
conference was intrusted to the gov
ernment Of the Netherlands. Queen
Wilhelmina, and her minister. under
whose auspices it was held.
The first Hague conference met on
the 18th of May. 1899, (The Cars
birthday in the House in the
Woods "a government mansion near
the Hague offered for the purpose.
It was presided over by Baron
de Stsal head CT the Russian government.
There were one hundred members OF
this conference, besides secretaries
and other attendants The first week
was devoted principally to- organiza
ton. to officials calls and receptions.
20 receiving memorials kilograms.
cablcgrams. letters, personal repre-
sentatjvcs, etc. the great number OF
which from all parts of the world.
revealed the enormous amount of in
teres, that the conference had
awakened
The subjects on the program were
assigned 10 three large committees,
one ON ornaments. one on the rules
and customs of war. ana the third
on arbitration. These committees
did the work, the conference itself
not meeting after the completion
81 It's VI EdllLdllpll, NNNNDl ~ at VII
the committee reports at the end.
The committee on disarmament could
not come to any agreement.
The committee on Rules of War
fare recommended and the confer
ence adopted a body of improved
rules for the conduct Of civilized
war on land. and one for the extern
sion of the Red Cross to naval war
fare The great work of the confer
ence was on the recommendation of
the committee on arbitration. and re-
lated to the specific settlement of
international controversies by means
of the adoption of sixty-one articles.
Through these articles. provisions
was made for special mediation by
neutral powers. for international
commissions of inquiry. and for the
creation Of permanent international
court Of arbitration.
In connection with this, the re-
personalities OF the different gov