Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-06-20
PEACE CONFERENCES.
How Those of 1899 and 1907 Have
Been Followed by Wars.

If it were not so solemn a matter, 50
CHASTITY matter, it would be mat
fer for amusement that after all the
mighty movements making for peace
wars still go on, and preparation for
greater wars goes on as never ipeiore.
The Geneva convention of 1864 put the
stamp of shame upon war by discuss
ing its horrors and concluding that II
there must be war something should
be done 20 make it as mereitui as pos
sible This resulted in the orsaniza-
ton 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 hospit-
al. and not only in war. but where
plague RACES or whatever suffering IN
trudes. The Red Cross is recognized
the world over and respected in war
by all contending forces.
The Geneva convention may be call
ed the first of the peace congresses.
though it was not specifically intended
to be so The Brussels conference OF
1874 has been called a peace confer
ence. but 1t was hardly that. 1t was
rather intended to effect a revision of
the articles governing civilized war
fare" so-called. The rights and du-
ties of belligerents were defined in a
manner too elaborate for brief elucl-
dation This has been called peace
conference" but it was due to certain
violations of ethics. especially during
the Franco Prussian War, just as the
Geneva convention was result OF
contemplation of the horrors OF the
Crimean War and the war of France
and Sardinia in 1859
The first real peace conference was
that called by the Car of Russia tc
meet at the Hague in 1899. This was a
conference really looking to peace and
to arbitration by friendly discussion
instead of settlement of disputes by
the arbitrament of war. 1t did much
to further the cause of arbitration and
declared in favor of new regulations
to govern warfare one of which was
that explosive bullets should be pro-
hibited in civilized warfare
1t seemed like the most grotesque
irony of fate that, after the peace con-
ference of 1899 had been initiated by
the Gar. relations between Russia and
Japan became SO strained on account
of the lnSOient persistence OF tue 1cIIit-
er in Northern Manchuria and in Ko-
rea in 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,
recalled its minister threw an army
into Chemulpo within As hours and
that within day or two thereafter
the Russian war vessels in the ports
of Chemulpo and Port Arthur were
! practically destroyed. The Russian
vessels at Vladivostok We're destroyed
soen after. and Japan was mistress OF
the coast from the naval standpoint.
The awful war that followed in
land is freslnin 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. 1s99-1992. in
South America, cost Great Britain a
round 10000 lives and hundreds of mill
/, lions of dollars. The Beers, after he-
| roic resistance, were utterly destroyed
as a national factor, and the Orange