INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION

Horowhenua Chronicle, 21 July 1911, Page 2

INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION

DILATE* AT LEVIN Y.M.C.A. " "Will International Arbitration Prevent War?" was the subject oi a. debate held at tho Y.M.G.A. rooms last evening muter the auspices of tlw< Literary mul Debating Society. Mr James Frouso ■presided over a good attendance. ~Slv l< , . j<;. Parker, in speaking to the- aflirniative, said that 'he wa.s there that evening not to lire .shots but to speak of peace. Ho summarised the causes of war, and said that the principal cause- wa.s greed. In so far as Arbitration, was concerned, it. would have prevented, the \ii«-10-'Boor war, the Spanish-Amer-ican war, and the- l?usso-.Japanose war. Arbitration was no new fangled idea. It had been used successfully on many occasions. The Hague Conferences had boon tihio must potent instruments in the cause of peace, and as exemnlifying the progress that had been niiTdo in the direction of arbitration in fhe past twelve years, ho pointed out that lite only country that stood out altogether from t<h> general approval of the sthenic of compulsory arbitration was America, and yet America was about, he hoped, to sign a. treaty with Croat Britain. He regarded the. Hague Conference as the grrnf forerunner of arbitration, and boked with confidence to a still further advance in International Arbitration through the U'agi'.o Oonfcrcnee of. l^ll. To fortify his argument that the peace movement was growing, he quoted spcecilves ol Mr Asqiiith. Sir Kdward Grey on Ministerial -side, and s'nnio of Mr Balfo'ur's on the Opposition side to show that tlio leading statesmen of Great Britain were of opinion that if the compilation of armaments continued it would break down civilisation. The most important factor, however, was tlio masses, to wil-oni the benefits of International Arbitration would give immediate nil;L profound relief. l ? nder an Arbitration Court the weaker nations would feel greater security, and the nation that withdrew from sii-li court could soon be brought to its knees by ,! boycotting " its food supplies. M.r Harvey, in speaking to the nevr.ativo. while concurring that pea'ce was Uie riipsidoratinn that all should aim at. maintained that compulsory arbitration was a, thing thai could not be carried out. It was all very well to talk about it, but lie reminded his hearers that in spite of the friendly relations between the Anglo-Saxon races on either side of tilio Atlantic, and. th"ir mutual proposals for an arbitration treaty, which ho wished all success. -ox-President lU:osevolt had recently d-clarcl thai there were cr.-tain things upmi which America Would novov arbitrate, and one ol th'ise. was the Monroe IV-trine. In fact, countries had ideals a.nd treaty rights which they would not surrender without a life struggle. (-[„ agree:! with 'Mr 'Parker as to causes of war- -territorial aggrandisement, expansion of nations an 1 the characteristics of a people. History had always told ■us that when nations had for a period of years pursued the arts of peace , they subsequently engager! upon Uμ* imisf, Titanic struggles. After the 'IVar's Peace Rescript had been iss:ied America .scize;l. lili-c Philippines, the Boor war broke out. the Venezuelan i rouble arose, and the Ruiso-.Tp.paneso war took place. "While they would all like to see arbitration become possible, they m-'sL look at the matter from a practical point of view, for .they coild not disguise from themselves th: , fact that wi'ioii a country's honoer wa.s tiwicho:! that eoimtry would fi'jht for its luMi'iiir :\<\<\ inte.'/i'ity desuitn arbitration courts. Mr Vincent spoke of tlio great ai'vaue thai: peace propc.-als had inn!.' in the last twelve years, anif sail (hat 'he believed the great mission of tho Anglo-Saxon race \y-<>* to hrin<j: about the consummation of the groat pence movement which nas launched in IS!)!). lie maintained thai arbitration had hivn responsible for ihe curtailin, lit of war on several occasions, while a neutral power .had, as tho result ol' tilie Hague Conferences, be n enabled to :>i.:-p in and put an on -I t;> the bioce'iest wars of recent years. The most ; paeh-making ovv'iit that had ofuiTO'.i in the last years, was I'ro-k'ont Taf't's if'i-ivorab!e peace annniniccinent. r.ooki.ng at the matter from a conil^r'.'iieiiiii'.'i, |) i"< of view he said I!:.it he believed from what had a.l-r<■;■.-lv li'O'i accomplished the era of i.'oace had dawned.

Tin , ('li:iinn;in added :i few observations '!(Kci'i.liiiii'j: Will , as a d'is-e-a-.e the result of passion tine! the. baser instiiicis of men's hearts, and' \v,'.y woiil'l still continue ii!l ;i kiT>\v!i' }'sr- and .•on-i' ol" justice pernt." itcil I !it> hu.m-an nee. On t':e (|iK'stion being put to the I'.r.fLionc:': isifrits of .''.'bate, the vo'.iii'j: was in. favour of Mr Pnrke". and on tint of t!ii' it.sc'l' tln> voting was again in Mr Parker's favour.