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Show 1111 HI 111342151111) 11111 >11cl11|11e>tionsas11:111s1111111-n i1111111\111 nations in war. prepared the civilized world 1111‘ 1111‘ great Hague t'ontcrcnce 1111 the 18111 111' Max. 131111. 111 this peace conference twentvsix nations 111-r1»r11pr1vs111111l. 15111 more than three month,» 1111‘ 111-1e» gates oi these (‘tllllllllt'.\ were in >L‘>\11111euthitlt‘rilig'lllt' questions: ‘MM‘H-mmw 1111,1111 of 1lisar111an1ent. arbitration and peaceful setllcnicntt»: 111 interna- tional disputes. 11 began the estal1li>lnnent 1112111 11111‘1‘1111111111211 (,‘11111'1111 .\1'11i- tration which \\ 11> 1111:1111 concluded in 11111 as a permanent 11‘11111- nal. Splendid quarters 11a\ 1‘ already 11111-11 provided, 11111e11e1‘11pie1l until the 11‘1111111‘ 111' 1'cacc. 1111‘ which .\1r1 tfarncgie has >0 11111-1: all) provided. shall he erected and equipped. 11 W111 then occupv :1 111111111 unsurpassed 11 an} judicial temple in the World, with appomtments suited to :1 court sitting 111 tr} the disputes of the world. ‘ This court is now ready to 1211111 11p all questions snlnnitted to 1L-i 111 Ma). 11112. the 1'11111‘11 States and Mexico submitted to a tr11u11211 of 1i\'e meniliers 111' this court a controvers c1111c-' ' 11' what i> 111111" 11 as the l‘ins funds, which had t'111'111a1iy\ 1'1'111‘:Ili111111h 111 dispute. The court 1111111 evidence 211111 heard argument in this matter 211111 finally decided it 111 favor of the United States. This tlL‘ChUJH was readily accepted. the money paid and the matter ended. .\ 111111111e1' 111 other international controversies have been 51111111111111 111 this Court, _ '1 he tr111nn21l‘s decisions haw always been regarded as final. tore‘cer settling the questiom in dispute. 11 needs only that which is sure 111 follow, treaties lietwecn the Various nations. 1111111114 theinselces 111 snlimit for settlement questions which arise between them. Such treaties have alread1 11:31:;)1‘11111111illieltlxicieliiva 11111111111111 111 nations. . Treaties plei'lgfingr arl1i- , _ . 1 1 11111 signed 1)} Holland and Denmark. Italy :111:\l[l)e111111ar1<. and all the Cent ‘al American states with each 0 11r. 1 ore 112111 sixtv tr': 1" 11 ' " " 1- 11* made hetween various 112111511112Jinilhiii'ttimtmn limlk' [W'C'HUY been treaties with I\\'L‘l\'L‘ other nations 'l‘lieCfJi‘iiju'll 1"? 171544"?! sud] encouraged "mm 311 theand cemented (gym, ,(1 , .i it, is {1.111.111 l ' [1‘11 H211} 1e1ev1d, ‘3' "U 411.01". will tinally mm :f this "am" 1"";13:31:11]: 1111111. 1211111 to enter 111111 compacts . . . 1 1 1111111111 result 111 practical 1,11s21rn1a» ment of the world. If a11yon_ehesitates 111 11elieve that international arbitration is growing in popularity and is even now one 111 the most vital ques- tions (11 the day, his attention need only he directed 11') the fact that the great political parties in their platforms are givingr it important space and pr111minenee. At the recent National lx‘epuhIican Convention in Chicago the followingr 11121111; was adopted in their platform of principles: "The conspicuous contributions of American statesmanship 111 the great cause (11' international p121ce. so signally advanced in The Hague Conference. are an occasion for just pride and gratitieation. "At the last session of the Senate of the 1'11111-11 States eleven Hague Conventions were ratified, estahlishing the rights 111 neus trals, laws 01 war 1111 land, restrictions 111 suhnlarine mines, limit- ing the use of force for the collection 111 contractual (lt‘l\1\,f\"HVL‘rllr ing‘ the openingr of hostilities, extending the application 111 (icneva principles. and in many way lessening the evils 111‘ war and pro- 1111>ti11g the peaceful settlement of international L‘tHlil'HVt‘i'hit‘H. "At the same ~0<>11111 twelve arbitration CHIIVt‘IltlUlh with great nations were confirmed. and extradition. 1111111111211‘1' and neu- tralization treaties of supreme iinportznice were ratitiedt "\\'e endorse such (lt‘lllt‘YCtnL'lliS as the higliea duty 21 people can perform, and proclaim the obligation of further strengtlieip ing the bonds of friendship, and believe that already the realization of the hopes of centuries has come within the vision of 1111' near future." President Taft in his inaugural address sounded what we hope is the keynote of his a1lininistralion 1111 this suhject, when 111' said "that our international policy is always to promote peace. We shall make every effort Uvrbhtent with national 111111111‘ and the highest national interest to avoid a resort to arms. We favor every instrumentality, like that 111 the Hague tril1unal and 111111- tration treaties made with a View to its use in all international controversies. in order to 111ai11tain peace and to avoid war." And thus indeed (111 \1 e see a successful advance heine' made upon the world's most monstrous evil. liven those intelligent will~ >tatesmen who advocate increased armaments. and who are in;r to expend hundreds of millions of dollars in armies and navies, insist that it is 11111_\' for the purpose of 1111111111111111111' peace. |
