How Nations Make Peace.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8049, 14 February 1906, Page 4

How Nations Make Peace.

One of the most difficult acts that a nation fligaged in war can perform is to signify its willingness to come to terms.

Both of the contending parties may be heartily weary of the struggle. The main issue may have been already settled. But still the war will drag on. What often stands in the way of a settlement is the natural feeling that any overtures may appear to be a sign of weakness and have a stimulating and encouraging effect upon the enemy. Such overtures may also toll against the nation seeking terms in the hnal settlement, and lead to a bolder and more persistent refusal to comply with its demands.

Then, again, a proposal of peace mavbe made at a very unfortunate season. It may he that there would be a real strategic advantage to the side making overtures in a short armistice. There would be time to recover from some crushing disaster, to reorganise a scattered army, or to bring up reserves of men and stores to the front.

Under such circumstances it would be only natural for the victorious enemy to discuss no terms but unconditional surrender. Should the war be continued, minutes might ue valuable to them as enabling them to make victory decisive, or otherwise make themselves masters of some important point. The overtures that are usually most effective are those of an outside nation. Though they are not always disinterested, they may he absolutely impartial, and as such carry great weight tm both sides. Some neutral Power finds the contiuancc of the war is playing havoc with her trado in that part of the earth where the war is being carried on. It is not only a mission of mercy for her to interfere, but distinctly to her advantage to do so.'

The usual method of proceeding for such a nation to adopt is to offer her " good offices." This was done in the case of the Boer War, where the United States showed great anxiety to bring that struggle to a quick conclusion. Very politely our American friends offered their "good offices,"and as politely Lord Salisbury declined them. In the present terrible struggle between Russia and Japan, both France and Britain have waited for the opportune moment when they can most effectively come forward to assist in making peace. The two countries have acted in co-operation upon the point, and a good deal of the friendship that exists between ourselves and our French neighbours can be directly traced to onr common interest in bringing about peace in the Far East. But beneath the formal movements of nations upon such matters there is a great deal of quiet influence at work that slowly but surely prepares the way for the first official steps.'

. Thus, it is an open secret that our King has never missed an opportunity ol bringing bis personal influence to bear upon both sides. His personality tells (or mueh in Jhe Court of the Tsar, and his word has great weight in the councils of Japan. When two contending Powers have theoretically accepted the fact that the time has oome for treaty, many courses open before them. The two usual lines adopted are either to call in other Powers as mediators, or to have meetings between their own direct emissaries.

The former course is not popular with the conquering side, as no nation likes to jeopardise the hard earned fruits of a terrible struggle, by leaving it, possibly to a jealous Power, to decide whether such trophies shall he retained.

In the latter course, the terms of peace are carefully debated by statesmen, committed to paper, analysed by legal specialists and men learned in statecraft, and finally written on. vellum, signed in duplicate, and published to the world. The arrangements for peace are exceedingly difficult, and straining tasks upon the special plenipotentiaries who undertake to carry ;bem through. With the great need of secrecy, the ur;ent necessity for haste, the care that is rehired in the verbal drafting in two languages, and added to all the fact of the long disSance between the two centres of authority, the actual ambassadors have a tryiug time. j Unt all that is over at last, and the peace treaty is completed. Thcactual'scroll or volume in which the ■net is recorded is given its place among the irehivesof each nation, and the decision of the arbitrators takes its place among the'laws mil monuments of the two countries.

There is another kind of peace-making sailed "Intervention." Thia is somewhat similar to the interference of a policeman or a bystander in preventing a big boy from bullying a small one,

A notable case of this was where England, Russia, and other Powers interfered between Turkey and Greece. Though in this case the answer of Turkey was at first unfavourable to the suggestion, iit was repeated with such polite firmness that the " Ottoman Torte " became at length very amenable to reason. What Japanese Fans Mean The fans used by the Japanese mean a great deal more than is commonly supposed. Those who have studied the subject say that they represent the history, religion, etiquette, daily manners and customs, peace and war, trade games and literature, in fact the whole civilisation and art of Japan. From the ?ixih century fans were a part of the national costume. Every fan belonging to every rank had its meaning, and was used according to a strict code of etiquette. The Mat fan or "uchiwa" was introduced into ■Japan by the Chinese, and has been made and used in many different ways. The cheapest and most useful forms arc familiar to everyone. One of its most curious varieties is the iron war fan. This was invented in the eleventh century lor the use of military commanders, either fur direction of their soldiers, or as a shield for defence. It is made oi leather or iron. The water fans are made of bamboo and are thinly lacquered; eo that they may be dipped into water to secure extra coolness while fanning. Another kind of " uchiwa " is the revolving white fan, which rolls around its stick and can bo rolled up. Another strong, flat paper fan is used as bellows to blow the charcoal fire in the kitchen. The "agi" arc folding fans. They are painted with flowers and tied with white silk. These are the court fans, and dillcrentflowers are appropriated by different great families. Thus, the fans of the Japanese answer the purpose that armorial bearings do among other nations. Enormous fans, •■ inita agi " are carried in processions in honor of the sun goddess. Children and dolls have fans of their own. So do dancers and jugglers. The tea fan "riku," is used at the ceremony of handing little cakes. Sometimes an innocent looking fan case holds a dagger, while preachers carry notes on their sermons in theirs. All the old legends are told by the arrangement of houses, (lowers, figures and birds painted on the faces of fans. An endless etiquette is involved in the use of fans. With the Japanese, in fact, the fan is an emblem cf.life. The rivet end is the starting point, and as the rays of the fan expand, so the road of life widens out towards a prosperous future. The "agi" is said to have originally taken its shape from the remarkable mountain, Fusiyama, which represents to the Japanese ill that is beautiful, high and holy.