Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-04-22
HOPES TO SECURE AGREEMENT
BETWEEN ALL NATIONS TO
END WARS.
LIMIT TO ORNAMENTS,
ARBITRATION ~ COURTS
Pledge. to 30 Asked Of Each Power to
Not Enlarge Army During Any
crisis-Aims at Same End Which
Taft Arbitration Scheme Contem.
plated. =.

BRYAN, secretary of state, is about TO
launch his first distinctive policy OF
!nterna tional Importance. 1t is plan
for the promotion of world peace
which contemplates the negotiation OF
treaties between the United States and
all the civilized nations Of the earth.
1t will have as it's most original feat
IRE a suggestion for temporary limita-
ton on the armament and war prep
arations of disputing nations.
Mr.. Bryan has discussed his plan In
formally with members Of the senate
committee on foreign relations and ne
has asked for hearing before that
committee on next Wednesday to dis
cuss the plan in detail.
Democrats of the senate who nave
heard of this important move at hrst
REGARDED the scheme as more or less
visionary and mpractlcable. But as
they have talked it over with Secretary
BRYAN they have come to look with
greater favor on it and are prepared
now to give serious consideration TO
his suggestions.
Similar to Tariff Proposal.
The Bryan plan aims at the same
end which the Taft scheme of general
arbitration treaties had. In fact. Mr..
Wilson'S secretary of state seems to be
imhued with the desire to pick the Taft
movement up where it was wrecked.
and. by avoiding the features to which
The senate objected and by adding
few new ones of his own. to carry IT
thru to a successful conclusion.
I.1
as yet only general outline OF the
BRYAN plan, but that is sufficient TO
indicate that Mr.. Bryan. like Secretary
Knox, hopes to promote world peace
thru setting up internal machinery
" hich will open the way for nations TO
cool off in times when passions are
running high and Will afford an oppor-
turity for second thought. In fact.
the BRYAN plan already is being re-
ferred to as that of The sober second
thought
Mr.. Bryan's plan cortemplates the
ne1otiation of arbitration treaties
which will provide for the reference OF
all questions of dispute. including
those Of vital interest and national
honor. to an international court oil IN
uu.ry. The findings of this court. as
members Of the senate understand the
p;an. are to be merely findings Of fact
an6 are not to be binding on either ma
ton.
No Change in Armies.
But pending the arbitration the dis
putting nations, under the terms OF the
proposed treaties, will be bound to
make no change in their military
strength, not to increase their arma-
ment, mobilize troops. or in any way
change the military policy as it existed
at the beginning of the controversy.
The entire ground work of the Bryan
plan seems to consist in the idea that
if contesting nations only have the OPP
portunity for a calm second thought
and are relieved from the incidental ir-
ritation that comes from war prepara-
TONS the chances are that armed con-
hict Will be avoided.
In some of its details the Bryan plan
clearly resembles that outlined by Sec
rotary Knox and which is embodied in
the fragmentary remains of the gen.
eral arbitration treaties ratified by the
senate. The Knox plan provided for the
appointment Of joint high commits
sion, to be composed of nationals from
each Of the disputing governments, who
should Investigate controversies and
report on them with recommendations
The findings on them with recommen-
dations The findings Of this commits
sion were not to be regarded. however.
as an arbitrable award.
PitfaII in Knox Proposal.
The Knox plan also provided that in
cases where the disputing nations were
unable to agree as to whether or not a
controversy was arbitrable the ques-
ton should be referred to joint high
commission. whose decision should be
binding. 1t was this feature of the
Taft Knox program that the United
States senate resented. They contend
ed that the proposed treaties took from
the senate the power Of deciding
whether or not a question was arbf-
trsble and lodged that power in com
mission to be made up partly of Amer
leans and partly Of foreigners.
Mr.. Bryan apparently intends from
the outset to avoid the pitfalls that
wrecked the efforts of the Taft admin :
istration along this line. This indicated
not only by his determination to avoid
the objectionable features of the Taft
plan but also to take the senate com
mittee into his confidence in regard to
the scheme.
Secretary Knox's method of proceed
ure was entirely different He padded
his own canoe leaving the senate com
mittee in the dark until he dropped the
treaty down in their laps. AS re-
suit he usually hit a rock and was
. tipped out. Mr.. Bryan proposes to make
kA IF "a
parties to his plan of arbitration and
that Is the purpose Of the conference
which he has asked for next Wednes-
day.