The Daily News. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27. PEACE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 249, 27 February 1911, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27. PEACE.

We have heard a good deal lately, in respect to the coming Imperial Conference, about "defence"—which means preparation for war—but nothing about peace. International workers, however, have for the past score years been steadily working for their ideal. In January, 1897, the Queen's Speech announced that a treaty for general arbitration had been concluded with the President of the United States. The clause in the speech expressed a hope that other powers might be influenced to consider a principle by which the danger of war would be notably abated. It will be remembered by those who follow international politics that the late Queen's hopes were doomed to disappointment and that ultimately the United States Senate, by 43 votes to 23, refused to ratify the principle. There are at the moment hopes that interest in the cause of international arbitration will be revived. President Taft has lately shown that he desires to take up the noble work in the interests of general peace inaugurated by President Cleveland. Mr. Foster, chairman of the Committee of the House of Representatives on Foreign Affairs, has predicted that within five years the United States would have negotiated treaties of arbitration with Britain, France and Japan. We have already in the "ear of the mind" heard the clash of arms between the United States and Japan, and hence the statement of Mr. Foster has unique interest. There is no antagonism in Britain to the arrangement of a treaty of arbitration between the United States and Britain, and it naturally follows that the King's dominions beyond the seas would welcome with open arms any measure that made permanent friendship with our relatives in America possible. At the last conference at the Hague the principle of arbitration was immensely strengthened. The nations which are in a chronic state of warship building arc at present looking anxiously to President Taft to pee how he will play the cards that may have so great an effect on the international game. In 1908 the Senate was of the same mind as in 1897. The existing treaty with Great Britain, enacted in 1908, is of a limited character, questions affecting "vital interests, independence or honor" being excluded. No general treaty was attempted, because the Senate was known to be still hostile towards unlimited arbitration. The conditions of the present time may, however, be more favorable. In 1897 the Senate desired, among other things, to inflict a snub on President Cleveland. But President Taft, whose star has recently been in the ascendant, stands well with the Senate. The discussions of 1897 had the effect of receiving a good deal of Jingo sentiment in the States; and the Irish-American influence was also, it is said, cast against the treaty. In 1911 there is a Liberal Government in power in England, and the Irish Nationalists are giving it their support. There is a factor which may count for something. Many causes of dispute, again, which were still burning or smouldering in the relations of the United States and the British Empire in 1897 have now been adjusted, and feeling on both sidos was never more friendly. The public reprimand which President Taft lias ordered the Secretary of the Navy to administer to Commander Sims is ai no contrary significance. That gallant and warm-hearted naval officer unquestionably exceeded the limits of discretion, even as the most friendly and convivial feeling may interpret them, in his speech at the Guildhall in December. The Senate of the United States is a hardheaded and a not very emotional body; but even the least sentimental o? mankind are not free from the influence of those ideas and feelings which are called "the stream of tendency." This stream is flowing in the United States in the direction of arbitration and international peace. Preparations are already being talked of for celebrating the Hundred Years' Peace between the United States and the United Kingdom. There could be no nobler celebration than the conclusion of a treaty which should have for its aim and object to make the peace perpetual. Such an act of statesmanship would set to the world a shining example.