A LEAGUE OF PEACE 413 



Nations are only aggregates of the individual. The parallel be- 

 tween war and the duel is complete; and as society within our race 

 already relies upon courts of justice to protect its members from all 

 wrongs, so shall the nations finally rely upon international courts. 



Objection has been made that unreasonable, dishonoring or baseless 

 claims might be made under arbitration. That any member of the 

 family of nations would present a claim wholly without basis, or that 

 the court would not decide against it if made, is a danger purely hypo- 

 thetical. The agreement between nations when made will undoubtedly 

 be framed in accordance with the ideas of Grotius, and the independ- 

 ence and equality of all members and their existing territories recog- 

 nized. These could not be assailed. 



Three incidents have occurred since the court was organized which 

 have caused much pain to the friends of peace throughout the world. 



America refused the offer of the Filipinos to adjust their quarrel 

 by arbitration. Britain refused the offer of the Transvaal Republic to 

 arbitrate, although three of the court proposed by the republic were to 

 be British judges, and the other two judges of Holland — the most 

 remarkable offer ever made, highly creditable to the maker and a great 

 tribute to British judges. Neither Russia nor Japan suggested sub- 

 mission to The Hague. Since the Hague Court is the result of the 

 Russian Emperor's initiative, this caused equal surprise and pain. The 

 explanation has been suggested that peaceful conferences were being 

 held when Japan attacked at Port Arthur without notice, rendering 

 arbitration impossible. 



We must recognize these discouraging incidents, but we have the 

 consolation left us of believing that, had either of the three nations 

 seen, at the beginning, the consequences of ignoring arbitration, as 

 clearly as they did later, they would have accepted arbitration and 

 had reason to congratulate themselves upon the award of the court, 

 whatever it was. They will learn by experience. Notwithstanding 

 these regrettable failures to refer disputes to the Hague Court as 

 peaceful umpire, we have abundant reason for satisfaction in the num- 

 ber of instances in which the court's award has already brought peace 

 without the sacrifice of one human life — the victories which bring no 

 tears. 



Signs of action in favor of universal peace abound. Among these 

 may be mentioned that the Inter-Parliamentary Union assembled at 

 St. Louis last year requested the governments of the world to send 

 representatives to an international conference to consider: — First, the 

 questions for the consideration of which the conference at the Hague 

 expressed a wish that a future conference be called. Second, the nego- 

 tiation of arbitration treaties between the nations represented. Third, 

 the advisability of establishing an international congress to be con- 

 vened periodically for the discussion of international questions. 



