The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1913-08-28

randum, Calls For Investigation by
an international Commission of Dis
putes of Whatever Character and
Nature"-Text of Plan.
The state department has just made
public in Washington the text of the
proposal of the president and secretary
of state to the nations of the world for
universal peace. The proposal. with
the supplementary memorandum. hand
ed to the representatives in Washing
| ton from foreign governments is:
| The parties hereto agree that ali
| questions of whatever character and
nature in dispute between them shall.
when diplomatic efforts fail, be sub
| mitted for investiga ton and report to
an international commission Qhe COM
position to be agreed upon. and the
contracting parties agree not to de-
clare war or begin hostilities until such
investigation is made and report sub
mitted.
Secretary Bryan's Plan.
The investigation shall be conducted
as matter of course upon the initia-
tive of the commission without the for
mality of request from either party.
The report shall be submitted within
(time to be agreed upon from the date
of the submission of the dispute. but
the parties hereto reserve the right to
act independently on the subject mat
ter in dispute after the report is sub
mitted. Secretary Bryan's plan is:
In the peace plan proposed by the
president to all the nations the com
position of the international commits
sion is left to agreement between the
parties. and l am authorized to sug-
gest for the consideration of those who
are willing to enter into this agree
ment:
"First.-That the international COM
mission be of five members, to be com
posed as follows: One member from
each of the contracting countries. TO
be chosen by the government; one
member to be chosen by each of the
contracting countries from some other
country. and the fifth member of the
commission to be agreed upon by the
two governments. the commission to
be appointed as soon as convenient aft
err the making of the treaty. vacancies
to be filed according to the original
appointment.
'Second.-The time also is to be
agreed upon. and it is suggested that
that time be one year. If year is
considered too long or too short this
government will consider either a
greater or less period
Providing For Emergencies.
''Third.-This government is prepared
to consider the question of maintain
ing the status quo as to military and |
naval preparations during the period |
of investigation if the contracting ma
ton desires to include this, and this
government suggests tentatively that
the parties agree that there shall be no |
change in the military and naval pro-
gram during the period of investigation
unless danger to one of the contracting
parties from a third power compels
change in said program. in which case
the party feeling itself menaced by a
third power shall eonfidentially COM
municate the matter in writing to the
other contracting party. and 1t shall
be released from the obliga-
ton not to change its military or naval
program. and this release will at the
same time operate as release of the
other contracting party. This protects
each party from the other In ordinary
cases and yet provides freedom of ac-
lion in emergencies.
''Al of these suggestions, however.
are presented for consideration and not
with the intention of imposing any
liked conditions. The principle of in
being accepted. the details
Ire matters for conference and consid-
,ration."