The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-06-07
. .
Il PEACE CONFERENCES,

II it We're not so solemn a matter.
so CHASTITY q matter. it would be A
matter for amusement that after all
the mighty movements making for
peace, wars still 20 on. and prepara-
ton for greater wars goes on as never
before. The Geneva convention i'm
1854 put h stamp of shame upon
war by discussing its horrors and con-
Guiding that if there must be Wal
as mcrciful as possible. This resulted
i'm the organization of the wonderful
order of the Red Cross. more exalted
and honorable than any royal or
knightly order. The purpose was to
afford relief to the sick and wounded
in field, camp or hospital. and not
only in war, but where plague RACES
or whatever suffering intrudes. The
Red Cross is recognized the world
e and respected in val by all con-
tending forces.
called the first of the peace congresses
though it was not specifically in
tended to be so. The Brussels confer
encc of 1915 has bee called a peace
conference, but it was hardly that.
1t was rather intended to effect a re-
vision Of the articles governing "civil-
lied warfare" so-called. The rights
and duties of belligerents We're defined
in q manner too elaborate for brief
calculation. This has been called a
peace conference but it was due
to certain violations of ethics. espec-
tally during the F'ranco-Prussian war,
Just as the Geneva convention was a
result of a contemplation of the hor-
rors of the Crirnean war and the al
Of France and Sardinia in 1859.
The first real a conference was
that called by the car of Russia to
meet at the Hague in 1909. This was
a conference really looking to peace
and to arbitration by friendly discus
sion instead Of settlement of disputes
by h arbitrament of war. 1t did
much to further the cause of arbitra-
tion and declared in favor Of new
regulations to govern warfare. n of
which was that explosive bullets
should be prohibited in ''civilized war
fare"
1t seemed like the most grotesque
irony of fate that, after the peace con-
ference of 1909 had been initiated by
the car, relations between Russia and
Japan became so strained on account
of the insolent persistence Of the for
mer in northern Manchuria and in
Korea. in a reckless determination to
have a port on the Pacific which would
be free of ice the year around, that
in February. 1904, Japan broke off
diplomatic relations with Russia. re-
called its minister, threw an army
into Chemulpo within forty-eight
hours and that within a day or two
thereafter the Russian war vessels in
the ports Of Che,nulpo and Port Arthur
were practically destroyed. The Rus
sian vessels at Vladivostock were de-
stroyed soon after. and Japan was mis-
tress of the coast from the naval
standpoint.
The awful war that followed inland
is fresh in the memories of even young
students of history. Possibly in no
other wars of history We're armies
moved with such celebrity and terrific
blows struck so rapidly as those of
Japan.
The bitter war which waged for
more than two years, 1ss9-1ao2. in
South Africa. cost Great Britain p
round 10000 lives me hundreds of
millions of dollars. The Bocrs. after
heroic resistance. We're utterly de-
stroyed AS "A national factor. and the
Orange Free State was made a vassal
Of Great Britain along with the Trans
vaAl. The sieges of Ladysmith. Mafe-
king. Johannisbcrg. Pretoria and at
other places in lesser degree. passed
into history as ranking with the most
remarkable of the greater wars, and
all this happened Immediately after
Great Britain had taken - most promi-
nent part in the Hague peace confer
cnce.
Soon after the ending of the Japan.
Russia peace conference at Ports
mouth. n. H.. in 1905. to arrange
terms, President Roosevelt lot it be
known that he favored another meet
ing at the Hague in the interests Of
peace and arbitration, but il vas