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

demands Belgium: and finally a proposal
from her to Great Britain, which the Prime
Minister OF that Government styled as "infa.
NOUS" on the floor OF the House of Commons
on August 6. On August 4 the Emperor of
Germany in addressing the Reichstag, spoke
of Russia as having given way ito an Unsuitable
nationalism" by siding with Servia, "a State
which through criminal act, had brought
about the calamity of this war" He also
alluded to the course of France as dictated by
malice"
When the men in power In the great nations
which at war. after resort to all the
methods OF diplomacy, use such language in
reference to sister States, 1t seems plain enough
that the world has thus far provided no efficient
way Of avoiding offensive war. and SO OF avoid.
ing defensive war.
1t Is also to be feared that the offer OF good
Offices made by the United States on August
s. 1914. came too late to be of any avail at the
present juncture
Here then. is a war very likely to cost the
world ten thousand lives and ten million dollars
for every day Of its continuance. Diplomacy
mas done It's best to circumscribe 1t or to stop
It 1t could not be circumscribed, 1t could not
be stopped unless by the friendly and firm in
terposiuon OF some high authority which the
punhc opinion OF the world could not but regard
with respect.
Arbitrators could hardly now be selected from
the Hague Tribunal. unless those selecting them
the contending countries and the questions to
De decided. Only judicial court the members
or which had, before the war broke ont been
CHOSEN from those whose character and train.
Ing gave assurance of intelligence and i'm.
partiality, could be confidently relied on as a
final Judge. -. :.
There are few controversies between nations
which do not involve the determination of
points OF law. No tribunal for settling s,1ch
controversies can be as effective as one whose
members are familiar with the investigation
Of such points
me justification for great war may turn ON
pure question OF law, which can only be-
P Frsnad settled by an abstract definition
germany put forward the claim, as present.
ing casus belli, that on August 8. 1914. France
mao violated the nutrality of Belgium by send
Ing military a1rshtps to cruise over its territory
me soundness OF this position assuming the
TACT to be as thus claimed) must rest on the
answer to the question: first, whether a
sovereign owns the air above his Territorial
possessions, and second whether, however this
may be, he is responsible for it's poIice Tn tho
air. In other words to be regarded as fraa ,ile o
the sea? , - CO. i lac
court OF Justice could decide these point,
70 the satisfaction of the world. No other
authority can. '.
II such court for nations as this soc,e+v
proposes had existed in July, 1914. II a. nn+
utterly impossible that Belgium might have IN.
saen ,s an action before it for an injunction
ar craft under authority OF France. and oh.
famed an early decision in her favor. -
=, but one thing would have been necessarv IN
the success Of such a reference of such no,nt -
s and that Is the support of the public opinion o;
nr IN war and In peace. in all public concerns,
PUBIC opinion be it right or wrong ia kim -''
The wreck and disorder now facing Enrnne
s ana oesolatng every sea, when they have done
lneir deadly work, will leave behind them new
throughout the world IN favor Of tbe n- OIn.osa
c nmaro Organized peane-organired thrpuzh
COURTS open to all and respected by all.