The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-05-18
MANY NATIONS
 WILL OBSERVE
 PEACE FESTIVAL

This is Peace Day" and, while most of the nations of Europe are too .busily engaged in war to observe the festival, the peace societies in many neutral nations will celebrate the day. Peace Day commemorates the anniver- sary of the opening of the Universal Peace Congress at The Hague on May IS, 1899. This international gather ing attracted delegates from tWenIy- six governments, and was called by Nicholas IL, Czar of Russia. Tn his rescript calling upon the world pow CTS to meet for a discussion of the de- stability Of calling a halt in the race for military supremacy, the Car la- mented the great burden of taxation which had been placed upon the shoul- ders of all European peoples by the feverish preparation for war, and the consequent diversion of effort from peaceful and productive pursuits
 The opening of the Peace Congress lin the Dutch capital seventeen years ago to-day was an impressive occasion, but it was soon apparent to all that the mutual jeaIousies and hatreds of the powers were too strong to be over come While the delegates from some of the nations seemed to be in a re- ceptive mood, others among the peace delegates were openly belligerent The
 
 asserted in the most emphatic language that the Teuton empire did not find her militarism a crushing burden, and stated that Germany would not consid- CT for 8 moment any proposal whatso- ever for any limitation or reduction of armament. The German stand left no room for argument or further con sideration of the question of the linaita- ton of armament, but the congress took up the problem of the arbitra- tion of international quarrels, and agreed upon the establishment of a Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague. Arbitration between nations was nothing new, for scores of difficult ties had been settled in that way dur ing the preceding century but a per- manent court, with members from all nations, represented a great step ins sad- vance. While the present war may seem to have nullif1ed all the work of The Hague court, there is no real req son to doubt that this tribunal will play an important part in the settlement by peaceful means of future international controversies.
 The court at The Hague has handed down decisions in thirteen cases, by far the most important of these hay ing been the Newfoundland fisheries dispute between Great Britain and the United States. Cases affecting France Germany, Norway, Sweden, Russia, Turkey. Italy, Peru, Mexico and Vene- zuela have also been decided by the international tribunal.
 The peace movement may be said to have had it's beginning in the first
 eptury of the Christian era, when Yes pasian, the Roman Emperor, dedicated 8 temple to peace. The modern peace propaganda, however. is just a. cen l tury old, having been inaugurated ir 1S16 by the New York Peace Society Similar organizations were effected in many other American cities, and ir l1828 these were merged into the Amer l ican Peace Society. which is still in ex- istence and which maintains headquar- l ters in Washington. At about the same time peace movements were launched in Great Britain, France an6 other countries, and in 1843 the frs International Peace Congress was held lin London. Another internationa. gathering to favor the peace cause wal | held in Brussels in 184S, and "a thirc ! in Paris the following year. Since then more than a score of such gath Eerings have been held in various cities i of Europe and America. The confer. tence at The Hague in 1899 represented the continuation of these years of effor 1 and, although it failed in it's primary object, there is yet ground for hope that at some time in the future it's an. niversary may be observed as a req l'sPeace Day. by all nations.