Mangonui County Times AND NORTHERN REPRESENTATIVE. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1904. Arbitration v. War.

Northland Age, Volume 1, Issue 18, 13 December 1904, Page 2

Mangonui County Times AND NORTHERN REPRESENTATIVE.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1904. Arbitration v. War.

“What right, what true, what fit we justly call, Let this be all my care—for this is all.” —Pope.

Mr. C. Von Hao*n, in Sydney “Truth,” writes: The hope that wars—the natural feelings of resentment between nations at variance—will become less frequent, is one that has been considerably strengthened by the cable speech of Lord Lansdowne. That speech marks one of the greatest advances in civilisation history has yet afforded to the world. The British Government’s enthusiastic acceptance of Brtskicnt Roosevelt’s proposal for a second'pctfct! conference, the enumeration of what has been done in establishing good relations between the powers during the last few years, is gratifying to the feelings of all lovers of peace. The evil influences of jingoism have been counteracted by calm and Christian statesmanship. The rulers of two nations have determined that serious wrongs shall if possible he righted without the incurring of fresh additional wrongs, and more suffering to the women and children of both nations. The decision to submit the Baltic fleet, affair to an international commission of inquiry denotes the high-water marl—the acme of civilisation. The crisis has been met in a manner alike honorable to British and Russian statesmen, possibly influenced more than we know by two good men who are evidently well-intentioned peaceloving monarchß. I have been amazed at the want of sppreciation of the efforts of the friends of peace at the Hague Conference, and of the great work achieved. Following the proceedings carefully, some of us.were confident that great good would result! Wo believed that notwithstanding the fact that they sneered and hurled ignorant abuse at the Russian Imperial convener of the Conference, a great step had been taken in the interest of international peace. Those who expected something Utopian and impracticable were disappointed, because they lost sight of and misoonstrued the real object of the Conference: they persisted in wrongfully describing the object to he the then manifestly unattainable disarmament of the nations instead of the setting up of machinery under which misunderstandings and friction would be minimised. The Hague Convention has facilitated the substitution of arbitration for war as a settlement of international disputes more than many people realise. So far as human foresight can accomplish the task, deadlocks in the settlement of disputes have been provided against. The provision that the invader is only a trustee while in possession of conquered territory has been clearly re-aflirmed, also that he is responsible for all acts contrary to the usages of war under the international contract, also the right of prisoners to humane treatment, to the protection of their property, to the right of making their wills while prisoners without coercion or influence, The provision that prisoners of war shall be repatriated as early as possible after the conclusion of peaco is important. The sincere hope that the proposed second peace convention may continue the great work initiated by the Russian Emperor, will inspire all Anti-War Leagues to increased effort and enthusiasm.