The Washington herald., 1912-01-31
THE WASHINGTON HERALD. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 81.


in the identic note inviting the nations
to join in establishing permanent court
of arbitral Justice, and a first and long
step toward this end would be for the
more powerful nations 10 set the exam
pie BY agreements between themselves
such as those now receiving the consid-
Grafton OF the Senate. and such as my
good friend, the German Ambassador.
and myself had begun TO negotiate when
halted by unexpected objections In the
Senate to the treaties already negotiated,
and some protests outside the Senate,
which recalls the spirit that led TO the
burning IN efigy OF John J0S because
of the arbitration clause in the Treaty
Of Gheut.
Favored by Powers.
at is to be hoped that the broader
proposition, initiated by the United
States, and which has been mostfavora-
bly, received by the powers, will not be
wrecked by the United States refusing
to accept the principle involved in the
pending treaties.
"The creation of an international court
of justice will not destroy the useful
ness of the pending treaties. There
will still remain that large class OF
nonjusticiabIe differences which, un-
der the terms of the treaties, are to
tigation, consideration, and advice.
''The establishment Of such court
has been one OF the aspirations of all
the centuries. As / said on q previous
occasion, the idea is as old as the
Roman altar OF peace or the temple
of Claudius or Vespasian. Its realiza-
tion will be the fruition and crystal
lization of the thought and ideals OF
the governments and statesmen OF all
Nd ha oil Of fa a r.
like a mantle descending from on high.
will be ample enough TO enfold all who
have contributed to its accomplish
ment."
After Mr.. Knox had concluded Toast
master Graves introduced Count Won
Bernstorff, the German Ambassador, as
the next speaker, at the same time pay
try standing foremost in the ranks OF
civilization.
Speech by Ambassador.
Il beg TO thank your most sincerely for
the privilege Of appearing before you to-
night. and Of having the honor and pleas
ure OF meeting the Secretary of State"
said Count Won Bernstorff. Perhaps I
may attribute your kind invitation TO
the fact that probably no living white
man reads more American newspapers
than do. You need not, however, re-
gard this remark as a compliment. be-
cause I do not read the papers for my
pleasure, but for the reason that this
work forms part of my official duties.
II cannot help believing that there is
kind OF freemasonry which unites dip
lomats and journalists. and II does not
seem unnatural that II should be so.
They very often suffer together. do
not know which is really the greater an
80. IA
ferent speech or the anguish Of report
ing it. / believe that the press renders
great educational service to statesmen
by the useful comments and criticisms
which are made on whatever they say.
I'VE diplomats have long learned to
look TO the newspaper press as not only
the quickest, but, on the whole. the
most accurate source Of intelligence in
all matters OF public interest II would
be idle to deny that we sometimes con-
slider 1t necessary to correct the informa-
tion which our respective governments
and nations receive through the news
papers. In general. however, one can say
that the press has relieved US Of the duty
Of reporting facts. We now confne our
expressing our views, which are Of more
or less value, according to the confidence
the two respective governments and na-
tions place in our judgment
Duty of Newspaper.
This work Of approaching facts we
share with the press, and we naturally
like those newspapers best which happen
TO express our own views. particularly
as we suspect the public of being more
ready to believe what their newspaper
tells them than what we are able to say.
The power TO give publicity to our views
on matters OF international interest
throws great responsibility upon US.
diplomats as well as journalists, because,
in spite Of all modern facilities of inter-
course, nations in our days have very
little intimate knowledge OF one another.
in former centuries one used TO blame
the government for all troubles and wars
that occurred. OF late, however the Sit
uation seems 20 be entirely changed. The
troubles which occur are generally based
on feelings, aspirations, antipathies or
the public, and the governments invariably
play the part Of the fireman who tries TO
extfnguish the flames. 1t seems 10 be
that the press should in such cases Of In
Observation-Disclosures or disputes
try to help the firemen and not throw
new fuel into the flames.
Sometimes Cause Trouble.
.I quite understand that it is q great
for a correspondent to send a
cable with some exciting stories about
conflicting interest OF nations ana gov
ernments, because such kilograms are