The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-05-11
The Next Hague Conference.

In view of the great interest
aroused by Mr. Bryan's proposal for
worlds peace and the drawing near
of the next Hague conference, it IS
we'll to recall the fact that the last
conference adopted certain recon-
mendations for the purpose of making
provision for the work of the approach
ing session. Unless steps are taken
speedily to give effect to these rec
concentrations, the work of the con-
ference may be so imperilled by reason
of unpreparedness that its assembly
may be postponed indefinitely.
The final resolution of that confer
ence, as set forth in the Blue Book
Miscellaneous |, 1909 was as fol-
lows:
The conference recommends to the
powers the assembly of third peace
conference. which might be held within
a period corresponding to that which
has elapsed since the preceding con-
ference, at a date to be fixed by COM
mon agreement between the powers,
and ii calls their attention to the ne
cessity of preparing the programme OF
this third conference sufficient time
in advance to insure its deliberations
being conducted with the necessary au-
thority and expedition. In order to
attain this object the conference con-
siders that 1t would be very desirable
that, some two years before the prob
able date of the meeting, a prepare
tory committee should be charged by
the governments with the task of col
Letting the various proposals to be
submitted to the conference, of ascer-
tanning what subjects are ripe for en-
bodiment in an international regula-
ton, and of preparing programme
which the governments should decide
upon in sufficient time to enable IT to
be carefully examined by the countries
interested. This committee should
further be intrusted with the task OF
proposing a system of organization and
. procedure for the conference itself.
We know from the official report
that the machinery of the last con-
ference has proved dilatory and con-
fusing. A number of questions still
| await solutions as, for instance, the
right of delegates to take up the time
of the conference; the right of ma
jority over a minority in the absence
of unaninity; the power OF a chair
man to conhne the discussion within
certain limits All this should be set
tied before another meeting can prove
satisfactory.
The danger to the effectiveness OF
The Hague conference, which these
words disclose, should be carefully
| avoided. Here is another thing: The
fourth of the opinions expressed by the
| conference reads as follows:
The conference expresses the opinion
that the preparation of regulations rel
| alive to the laws and customs of naval
| war should figure in the programme OF
the next conference, and that in any
| case the powers may apply. as tar as
possible. to war by sea the principles OF
| the convention relative to the laws and
| customs of war on land.
The possibilities which lie in this
important opinion serve to enforce the
anxiety felt by those who are await
| ing an announcement by the govern
ment that these preliminary matters
are under discussion.
| Official documents establish the fact
that the last Hague conference con.
temp1ated the appointment of pro-
visional committee TO arrange the work
of the next meeting. Until this is
done the summoning of the confer.
ence, which is due next year, is rather
problematical.