Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 127, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 November 1904 — ASKS PEACE MEETING. [ARTICLE]

ASKS PEACE MEETING.

HAY ISSUES CALL FOR SECOND HAGUE CONFERENCE. Secretary of State Instructs Country's Diplomatic Representatives to Urge Congress at Posts at Which They Serve—Would Not Delay for the War. In a circular note made public Sunday Secretary of State Hay has carried out President Roosevelt’s Instructions relative to proposing a second Hague conference. The note not only contemplates the reassembling of The Hague , conference for the consideration of questions specifically mentioned by the original conference as demanding further attention, such as the rights and duties of neutrals, the Inviolability of private property in naval warfare and the of ports by naval force, but goes further by practically Indorsing the project of a general system of arbitration treaties and the establishment of an international congress to meet periodically In the interests of peace. The Issue of the call while the present war Is In progress Is justified by the fact that the first Hague conference was called before our treaty of peace with Spain was concluded. The note Is addressed to “the Representatives of the United States Accredited to the Governments Signatories to the Acts of The Hague Conference, 1899,” and in part follows: The peace conference which- assembled at The Hague on May 18, 1899, marked an epoch in the history of nations. Called by his mnjesty the Emperor of Russia to discuss the problems of the maintenance of general peace, the regulation of the operations of war and the lessening of the burdens which preparedness- for eventual war entails upon modern peoples, its labors resulted iu the acceptance by the signatory powers of conventions for the peaceful adjustment of international difficulties by arbitration, and for certain humane amendments to the laws and customs of war by land and sea. A great work was thus accomplished by the conference, while other phases of the general subject were left to discussion by another conference in the near future, such as questions affecting the rights and duties of neutrals, the inviolability of private property in naval warfare and the bombardment of ports, towns and villages by a naval force. Among the movements which prepared the minds of government for an accord in the direction of assured peace among men, a high place may fittingly be given to that set on foot by the Interparliamentary Union. From its origin In the suggestions of a member of the British House of Commons In 1888, it developed until its membership included large numbers of delegates from the parliaments ot the principal nations, pledged to exert their influence toward the conclusion of treaties of arbitration between nations and toward the accomplishments of peace. Its annual conferences have notably advanced the high purposes it sought to realize. Not only have many International treaties of arbitration been concluded, but, in the conference held in Holland in 1894, the memorable declaration In favor of a permanent court of arbitration jvas a forerunner of the most important achievement of the peace conference of The Hague in 1899. The annual conference of the Interparliamentary Union was held this year at St. Louis, in appropriate connection with the world’s fair. Its deliberations were marked by the same noble devotion to the cause of peace and to the welfare of humanity which had inspired its former meetings. By the unnnimous vote of delegates, active or retired members of the American Congress and of every parliament in Europe, with two exceptions, the following resolution was adopted:

Whereas, Enlightened public opinion and modern civilization alike demand that differences between nations should be adjudicated and settled In the same manner as disputes between Individuals are adjudicated, namely, by the arbitrament of courts In accordance with recognized principles of law, this conference requests the several governments of the world to send delegates to an International conference, to be held at a time and place to be agreed upon by them for the purpose of considering: 1. The questions for the consideration of which t(ie conference at The Hague expressed a wish that a future conference be called. 2. The negotiation of arbitration treaties between the nations represented at the conference be convened. 8. The advisability of establishing an International congress to convene periodically for the discussion of International questions. And this conference respectfully and cordially requests tho President of the United States to Invite all the nations to send representatives to such a conference. On the ,24th of September, ultimo, these rjiAolutions were presented to the by a numerous deputation of .thctTuterparlinmentnry Union. The President accepted the charge offered to him, feeling it to be most appropriate that tho executive of tho nation which had welcomed tho conference to its hospitality should givo voice to its Impressive utterances in a cause which the American government anti people hold dear. He announced that he would at an enrly day invite the other nations, parties to The Hague conventions, to reassemble with a view to pushing forward toward completion the work already. begun at The Hague, by considering the questions which the first conference lad left unsettled, with tho express provision that there should be a second conference. In accepting this trust, th» President was not unmindful of the sac, so vividly brought home to all the wirld, that a great war is now in progro*. He recalled tho circumstnncc that,at the time when, on Aug. 24, 1898, his najesty the Emperor of Russia sent forth his invitation to the nations to meet ii the interests of peace, the United ttates and Spain had merely halted iu th<r struggle to devise terms of pence. Wffle at the present moment no armistice btween the parties now contending is In fight, the fact of an existing war is no rason why the nations should relax the of>rts they have so successfully made hi'ierto toward the adoption of rules a. conduct which may make more rothte the chances of future wars betweegthem. In 1899 the conference of The Htue dealt solely with the larger which confront all nations, and'seamed no function of Intervention or ritgsatloo la the settlement of the terms t pesos

between the United States *nd Spall* It might be the same with a reassert* bled conference at the present time. Ita efforts would naturally lie in the direction of further codification of the universal ideas of right and justice which we call international law; its mission would be to give them future effect. The President directs that you will bring the foregoing considerations to the attention of the minister for foreign affairs of the government to which you are accredited, and, in discreet conference Kith him, ascertain to what extent that government is disposed to act in the matter. ——