New-York tribune., 1912-04-14


on by the parliamcntS Of the world and viSGd
by the rulers of the earth. They contain the
threats of war, the assurances Of peace. and
the protection OF, or menace to. billions OF
dollars worth of trade Some Of the pactS
last until abrogatcd by the Governments
concerned. Others are made for a fixed
period of years Still Others are signed with
the stipulation that they may at a certain
time be revised or rcmadc.
At the time Of this writing ii is being con-
tended that the relations between Japan and
Great Britain are 50 close that the United
States, in order To accomplish the arbltra-
ton treaty with Great Britain, must also in
Cludc in the terms of the document the land
of the Mikado. 1t is also a puzzle how
Russia, Japan, and China could frame arb-
tration treaties that, looking to the abolition
of war, would remove from each Power the
fear that she might get the worst OF an argu
mcnt before a court of arbitration.
These are merely instances of the tangled
mass of circumstances now confronting the
rapid advance of the arbitration prcachmcnt.
Many treaties must expire, and many must
be made anew, before the world finds itself
ready to embrace, as a harmonious whole,
the proposition that all the WarShlpS can go
to the bottom of the sea and all the cannon
can be made into ploWSharCS. When 1t Is
considered that, in the event of Japan,
Britain, and the United States being COM
PEELED to form a thrcc-Sdcd agreement on
arbitration, such a work would require many
months, perhaps wears, II Is easily realized
that the pactication of the whole earth viii
require decades OF patient thought and ne
gotiation.
MUCH Of all thi, WAS in the Presidents
A'A mind that morning as ne sat at his
desk, and, forgcttu Of politics and minor
issues, faced the truth that the preservation
and pcrpctuation Of peace could come only
through tremendous work There are two
things that bring to his face the solemn, en-
noblng expression of high determination
and conSccratcd effort. One is the selection
of the nations greatest men for the bench;
the other is the work for the peace of the
world asked him how long ne had had the
plan for arbitration treaties.
81 couldn't say definitely, he replied. at
seems to me that have always wished, as
all men wish, for universal peace. 1t seems
worse than platitudc to say, should like
to see the whole world at peace forever.
But, long before WAS President, il seemed
to me that the arbitration OF country $
courts could be sublimatcd into international
arbitration and bloodlcsS settlement OF con-
trOvCrSicS.
He made no statement, had nothing IN his
manner. indicating that he entertained any
idea Of being able to claim the pioneer place
in the movement toward worldwide peace.
There was only one conviction to be drawn
from what ne SAID and the manner of It's
saying: Realizing that h"manity and ad-.
vancing civilization demanded an end OF
warfare. he was seeking as best he might for
the means Of attaining the wished for goal.
The only uttcrancc ne ever made showing
that he regarded himself as a leader in the
cause is contained in a speech made more
than two wears ago in New York City before
the American Peace Arbitration League.
In that he said:
"Pcrsonally, don't see any more reason
why matters Of national honor should not be
referred to a court Of arbitration any more
than matters Of property or matters Of
national proprictorship. ! know that IS
going further than most men are willing To
90: but, among men, We have I" submit
differences even if they involve honor. And
why should not nations DO likewise,
TT is difficult for the ordinary lay mind t.
L appreciate the length Of time necessary
for the adoption Of an international law
code, capable Of disposing Of Ill controvcrSlcS
among the world Powers. The draft Of the
CtYf... md