New Britain herald., 1928-12-10

Central America. set new standard. in the conduct of international rela tions. It is a notable and signifl cant fact that at the first confer ence of Pan American character held at Panama in 1926. treat! | was signed which declared: The contracting parties solemnl, l ohligate and bind themselves amiCa bly, to compromise among them-' selves all differences now existing oi which may arise in the future, anl in case no settlement can be reach. cd between the disagreeing powers the question shall he taken for set clement to the judgment of the as, sembly. whose decision shall, how ever. not be obligatory unless said powers shall have expressly agreed that it shall be.
 History clearly asserts that at this early period the republics of Amer ica made both cancellation and ar bitration integral parts of their na- tional policy,
 What contributes even more re- marka bly to their force is the fact that this was done at a time when these two principles were practi- cally unknown in other sections of the world.
 Advocate Peace
 II Is, moreover, a most notable .ir,,y cf tof 1nn a lions of America have assem hlol they have given preferential atten- ton to the peaceful settlement of the questions arising among them. I have already referred to the la hors of the congress of Panama, tablished the principle that all diff. ferences that may arise between two or moro of the American republics shall be settled without recourse to force, and that if the parties can not reach an agreement by diplomatic negotiations or through the inter- position of the good offices of other nations for the purpose of concilia- tion, such questions shall be submit ted to the arbitral decision of one of the republics or to a congress of plenipotentiaries.
 Declarations of a similar nature were made at the congress of San tiago of 1856, the congress of Lima of 1864, the congress of Caracas Of 1883, and at the series of interna al O states beginning with the confer ence of Washington in 1889, and in cluding the recent conference al Habana in January of the present year.
 Cites Treaty
 Nor has the United States been remiss in the furtherance of these great principles. AS early as 1794 in a treaty with Great Britain usually referred to as the "Jay Treaty." it became the privilege of this government to introduce into modern diplomacy the principle of arbitration, and throughout the pe- riod of nearly century and a half which has elapsed since that time we have supported our sister repub- lies in upholding this great cause.
 It is a mistake to suppose that it was much easier to adopt concilia- ton and arbitration on the Ameri- can continent because of the absence of any outstanding inter-American disputes. The history of this con- tinent discloses the presence of as large a number of difficult and deli cate questions as in any other sec ton of the world. The uncertainty of the boundaries of the American states after their successive declara = tions of independence from Spain and Portugal gave rise to large number of territorial disputes which belong to the class usually arousing the most deeply rooted national feeling. The fact that most Of these have been settled by direct negotiation. conciliation. and arbi- tration will forever be one of the glories of the Americas as well as a constant reminder that the nations of this continent have dedicated themselves to tho ideals of peace and are willing to exercise the self control and make the sacrifices which the maintenance of these ideals imposes.
 Lists Nations
 Some of the countries here repre- scented have added further strength to the principle of arbitration by making it a fundamental tenet Of their political constitutions. Among these are Venezuela. Ecuador, tn" Dominican Republic, Brazil, and Uruguay, who have set an example by raising tho arbitration of inter national disputes to the dignity Of q mandatory constitutional principle.
 Foundations Laid
 It may be said therefore that the foundations for your work have been laid by the unbroken practice and policy of the American Republics.