Evening star., 1928-02-19
The Arbitration Resolution.

unanimous acceptance by the Havana
conference of resolution adopting. on
behalf OF the American republics, "ob.
Esato-y arbitration as the means which
they will employ ;or the pacific settle
n.ent OF their international differences
Q. juridica! nature" may be set down
as the outstanding accomplishment of
this gathering, now about to disperse
If the action represented, as it does
not. the only attainment after these
weeks of discussion it would in itself
Justify the conference as having been
worthwhile. For it records the West
EN- family Of nations as keeping in
step with the leading powers of Eu-
rope. II does not go beyond that. 1t
retains the old qualification of inter-
national differences: leaves a door
open. as in the past. by excepting from
arbitration those differences that are
held 10 be not juridical But it is step.
1t should be praised as such. for no
difficult goal can be reached except
through succession of steps.
Before accepting at its face value the
Havana resolution for obligatory arbi-
tIation. however, il is well to remember
the always practical admonition against
counting chicks before they are hatched
When the first Pan-American Confer
ence met in Washington. in 1889. the
most talked about and the most impor-
tsnt subject on the agenda was the
formulation OF draft treaty for COM
pu.sory arbitration. The treaty was
written to make arbitration Of all dis
putes-except these involving a ma
tions independence-ohligat Eleven
Q! the nations. including the United
States, signed this treaty. but none Of
them ratified it.
Al the second conference In Mexico
City. in 1901. favorable action was
taken on q protocol in which the
American republics recognized as
part Of public international American
Law" the principles Of the first Hague
conference for pacific settlement Of in
ternational disputes: several of the
nations signed treaty for compulsory
arbitration of all disputes. and seven
teen Of them. including the United
States. entered into q treaty for COM
pulsory arbitration Of peeuniary claims
The third and fourth conferences did
Ett!e or nothing TO extend the prin-
c.pies OF arbitration. The fifth confer
enee in Santiago, Chile in 1923, brought
CUT a treaty for pacific settlement of
disputes which, subsequently and TO
date. has been ratified by Brazil, Chile.
Cuba Guatemala. Haiti. Paraguay. the
United States and Venezuela. This
treaty refers disputes TO q commission
g: inquiry the findings Of which are
70 be considered only as reports and
have no force az judicial decisions or
a~pitral awards The intent Of the
treaty lis evidently that Of the famous
prysn Cancellation treaties which pro-
vide a cooling of" interval 10 lessen
the possibilities Of war.
go the conference at Havana has
merely again attempted TO make ar et-
feei;ye treaty between the Americas for
OBLIGATORY arbitration. In the light Of
world progress in this direction since
1889. there Is more hope now for sue
eess than z; any time during the last
tairty-nine years And the Havana
conference has wisely referred the
actual drafting Of the treaty, along the
Inca laid doxn in It's resolution. 10 a
conference Of pienipotentiary juriscon-
suits VINO are 10 meet in Washington
within q year. a great opportunity
1les within the grasp Of this conference
to make ot arbitration torceful in
strQment for maintaining peace Instead
q tpating Is sS q pretty theme upon
which 10 construct pleasant phrases.