Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 November 1907 — PEACE CONGRESS RECORD. [ARTICLE]

PEACE CONGRESS RECORD.

Ret Reaalta of Ike lateraatlaaa] Conference at the Haga^. The net results of the International peace conference at The Hague, which extended from June 25 to Oct. 18, are, in the opinion of Gen. Horace Porter, a prominent member of the American delegation, far beyond expectations, inataad of being > disappointment, as has been frequently reported in cable dispatches. Gen. Porter said they had done the work they were sent to do, namely: to establish the principle of the inviolability of private property_at sea aa a rule of international law. fie says they secured for the support of a large majority of the powers represented, although they failed to win unanimous assent. Besides this, the conference has placed restrictions upon the use of floating mines; has forbidden the bombardment of undefended sea coast towns; has prohibited the levying of contributions by threats; has shielded the non-combatant In war time ; has strengthened the provisions for relief of the wounded, and has taken precautions against a revival of privateering by insisting that converted merchant vessels be formally enrolled upon the naval list gqd commanded by a naval officer. And, finally, just before adjournment, the plan of a permanent Court of Arbitration was agreed upon, -with only a few of the smaller nations dissenting, not from the principle, but as-to the method-of-eoadueting-negotiations, holding that —the —judges should be appointed upon the basis of the equality of all nations. As to the collection of debts by force of arms, the Porter resolution forbidding the employment of force until after arbitration should have been refused, or after an award had been set at naught, was unanimously accepted. At the closing session, President Nelidoff, asked the conference to render homage to President Roosevelt fur proposing a second conference, and was authorized to send him a telegram expressing gratitude. .. . . ■ ■ The efforts to establish an international high court of justice and obligatory arbitration were unsuccessful, largely owing to disagreement as to the method of its creation, although the principle of obligatory arbitration was formally adopted. The right of the different' rulers to sign the various conventions or agreements will be open until June 30, 1908. The general expenses of the conference approximated $3,000,000, nearly half of which was spent for telegrams, and over $500,000 to pay for the numerous dinners given in honor of different delegates.