The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-10-18

States has resorted to arbitration SO often Is
that diplomacy has not had with us the char.
acter Of scientific profession. which 1t sus-
tains In Europe We have had fewer men spe-
cally trained for and in 1t, and when we have
had them we have not kept them as long in con.
tinuous service. Changes Of political represen.
tation have involved too many changes Of diplo.
matte representation.
This society believes that the time Is ripen-
ing for an advance from an international
tribunal Of arbitration to an international court
of Justice
In less than hundred years an international
congress Of all the Independent nations of
America resolved that the principle of interna-
tional arbitration was accepted as Pan-Ameri
can doctrine Between 1926 and 1890 the PEG.
pies of America had become better acquainted
with each other. Their institutions had become
more similar. With the peaceful revolution in
Brazil OF 1885, governments republican in form
had become universal. What was impossible
in 1926 became fair subject of consideration
I'm 1890.
Reference has already been made to the fact
that when Austria Hungary in July, 1914, I'M
dertook to discipline her little neighbor on the
south. she was asked by one Of the Great Euro
pean Powers to meet the others In diplomatic
conference. with view to endeavoring to
avoid war. The reply, according to the echo OF
the talk OF chanceors which reaches the public
ton, was that such a great nation as Austria
Hungary could not be expected to submit the
pTopriety of her conduct in such affair to the
Judgment OF European areopagus.
Must the world wait for the twenty-irst cen
fury before Europe goes as far as America has
done in advancing the doctrine that there are
other and better remedies than war for most
international differences?
May not and should not the pending European
war prove step toward the erection of real
court OF nations. to speak with authority and
without partially?
1t is the common understanding that all the
methods now existing for securing peace be.
tween nations at difference were tried before
the war broke out or at least before 1t became
general, and were tried in vain.
At the outset ustria-Hungary had made
diplomatic representations to Servia. Failing
%, 1914. an ultimatum. 1t contemplated an
inquiry Into the existence and propagation in
Servia OF an unfriendy spirit toward Austria.
hungary. In making which Austria Hungary was
TO participate. Seryia refused to accept all the
conditions required. and invoked the interpo-
sition OF the Hague Tribunal of Arbitration.
never having ratified the convention under
which 1t was erected, any claim of hers for
that had perhaps been fatally delayed. Austria
hungary then, on July 49, declared war upon
her. Meanwhile there had been tenders OF
counsel to Austria-Hungary from various Quar-.
tiers, In the nature Of an interposition for good
OFFICES. Until the day Of the issue OF her dec
iaratlon OF war negotiations of this character
were were proceeding In the Russian. Austrian and
herman Foreign Offices. Great Britain had also
proposed formal diplomatic conference This
plan had been rejected by Germany, though ac.
copied by Italy on July 27. Germany had ac
companied her refusal by counter-proposal
to the effect that Great Britain should concur
IN the endeavor to confine any war that might
result between Austria-Hungary and Servia
strictly to the territory of those Powers, and
!et THIS result be worked out through pending
diplomatic negotiations between st. Petersburg
and Vienna, or representations to the Govern.
ment OF Seryia at its temporary seat at Nish
Next came the rupture between Germany and
RUSSIA and Germany and France; Germany's