Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-04-01
PEACE LEAGUE IS
|ND0RSED BY FRY
Experienced Diplomat Gives
His Approval of League to
Enforce World Peace.
EXTINCTION OF ARMAMENTS
Tariff Fight After War"
Would Be Disastrous to All
Parties, He Says.
EXTINCTION OF ARMAMENTS
BY JOHN l.. BALDERSTON
Copyright, 1917 by the Mcclure Ncwspap,
SNnlirnfn


Copyright, 1917. by the Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate.)
LONDON, March 10.-An impor-
tant pronouncement of opinion on the
question of peace terms has been OBJ
aimed from Sir Edward Fry, the man
BEST qualified by actual experience
among all European diplomatists to
speak on the subject. Sir Edward
Fry was arbitrator between the
United States and Mexico in the Pious
funds case in 1892, and in 1909 he
acted as arbitrator in the dangerous
Hasablanca dispute between France
and Germany In 1904 he was legal
assessor to the international commits
sion which settled the dispute be.
tween England and Russia over the
sinking of English trawers by the
Russian fleet, and from 1900 to 1912
ne was British member of the per-
manent court of arbitration at The
Hague, and in 1907 ambassador and
tirst British plenipotentiary to The
hague peace conference.
Sir Edward Fry warmly approved
amer icaH peace league policy
Yhen asked to comment on the signi-
r.. nee of President Wilson's offer
20 abandon the historic isolation of
The United States and pledge America
% use force in defense of a league of
peace.
Mediation Propcr.
THE acceptance of the idea of a
league of nations" ne said, mot only
oy England, but by the great republic
across the Atlantic, Is a very hopeful
fact in the present situation and one
which possibly may be very fruitful
IN the future. The irritation felt in
some quarters at the Intervention of
America was perhaps natural, and |
nope mas gwen place to a recognition
OF the presidents good intentions. It
may be worth while to notice that The
Hague conventions of 1899 and 1907
fecognZed the probability of such ir-
rltatlon being felt. but expressly de-
clared that mediation, whether before
or after the beginning of hostilities. is
IN no sense to be considered an un-
friendly act"
The food crisis now existing and
rapidly growing worse all over the
world was pointed out to Sir Edward
ina he was asked whether during
the presumably lengthy period be-
The signing of n peace treaty 1t would
be possible to restore normal COM
merce. He replied:
Prospects for Commerce.
"lt is impossible to answer this
question until the terms OF the armis-
tice are settled, and the question
whether commerce would be resumed
or not before the actual signature of
a treaty of peace, would depend upon
the estimated probability of the ar
nfstice being followed by the treaty
all probability the amount of COM
-nerce transa cted before the peace was
ctually signed would be very small"
"How far is 1t desirable" Sir Ed
ard was asked. that the peace con-
erence should consider the questions
# economic restrictions and opportu-
nties?"
81 am entirely opposed to any pro-
ision to continue the war of tariffs
fter peace has been reached in the
var of arms. The experience of man
Kind in tariff wars Is only less disas-
trous to both sides than in conflict
VI ornaments"
SHOULD an attempt be made to
nmbodY in the treaty a scheme for
perpetual peace. or would it be better
hat the conference should confine
itself to the settlement of the imme-
diate isSueS?'
Permanent Relief
Il am decidedly of opinion that the
treaty of peace should provide for
some permanent federation of the ma
tons. and for the limitation if not
for the extinction, of armaments. The
long peace which has prevailed be-
tween Canada and the United States
Il
tected by a single fort is n very in
structive example of what | should
hope to see achieved by a league of
nations. The different fate of this
line Of frontier from that which has
been experienced by the long line of
frontier between Germany and
france, guarded by numerous forts.
S very noteworthy"
"Would it be desirable to include
in the treaty of peace any provision
Of penalties for gross breaches of in
terrational law?"
"The difficulties OF assessing, exact
ing and distributing any penalties for
ch of international law is so great
that I doubt the wisdom of inserting
any provisions in the treaty of peace
for the violation of such law"
what is the most atisfactory
method of ascertaning the wish of
the population of territories which II
is proposed to transfer from one
country to another?"
"A carefully arranged plebscte. to
be conducted under the superindend-
ence of representatives of the neutral
powers would, / think, be the only
practicable way. In any such ar
rangements provisions should be made
to facilitate the removal of those in
habitants who objected to live under
either old or new conditions of the
country
Sir Edward Clark does not believe
the present an opportune time to dis
cuss in detail the territorial aims of
the belligerents.