6l2 



The Review of Reviews. 



the existing irgiiiie in which rival States pursued anta- 

 gonistic poHcies. dependent for their execution solely 

 upon the force of arms. ' 



VISIT TO ALEXANDER III. OK lU'S.SIA. 



My first peace mission to the Continent took place 

 in 1888 at a time when the popularity of General 

 15oulanger seemed to threaten Europe with war. I 

 went to St. Petersburg, and was received by the 

 Emperor Ale.xander III. at an interview which has 

 contributed not a little to allay the fear of an armed 

 conflict. I do not think it is too much to say that, as 

 the result of my conversation, I succeeded in establish- 

 ing the true character of Alexander III. as the peace- 

 keeper of Europe. I was laughed at when I returned, 

 but years afterwards, when Alexander III. died, I had 

 the honour of being told by the British Prime Minister 

 of the day that I had been absolutely right, and that 

 he and others who had laughed at me had been al)so- 

 lutely wrong. 



THE DANGER OF ANGLO-RUSSIAN ANTAGONISM. 



The permanent danger to the peace of Asia, and not 

 of Asia alone, lies in the antagonism between Russia 

 and England. For thirty years I have constantly 

 laboured to promote a better understanding between 

 the two countries. On two occasions, at least, when 

 Russia and England were on the verge of war. my task 

 was one of no little difficulty and danger ; but the long 

 and passionate apostolate of peace has at least suc- 

 ceeded in convincing all the more thoughtful English- 

 men that the true interests of both countries is to be 

 found in a good understanding and friendly relations. 

 In 1890 I founded the Review of ReviI':ws in 

 London and New York and Melbourne, for llie avowed 

 purpose of promoting the re-union of the English- 

 speaking race and of preaching the doctrine of the 

 imperialism of Responsibility as opposed to the 

 jingoism of passion, prejudice, and pride. The next 

 service which I was able to render to the cause of peace 

 was when President Cleveland threatened England 

 with war on the subject of the Venezuelan frontier. 



THE STANDSTILL OF ARMAMENTS ACITATION. 



In the vear iSg2 I had tlu' privilegeof takinga leading 

 part in- the agitation in ICngland in favour of a pro- 

 pf)sition which even at that time 1 knew was strongly 

 favoured by the Emperor Alexander III., for what 

 was afterwards known as the Standstill of .Vrmaments. 

 An influential meeting was held, and a memorial was 

 largely and influcntially signed, uhich was presented 

 to the Government of the day. urging them to 

 co-operate with Russia in securing, if possible, an 

 international ag eement in favour of arresting the 



movement in favour of the continually increased 

 armaments. 'Jhis moxx'inent was the pioneer of the 

 Hague Conference. I took a leading part in con- 

 junction with Dr. Darby, of the Peace Society, who 

 has always been most useful in all this work. 



THE VENEZUELAN ARBITRATION. 



A year or two later President Cleveland threatened 

 Great Britain with war if she refused to allow the 

 question of the Venezuelan frontier to be referred to 

 arbitration, and it was again my privilege to take a 

 leading part in organising the demonstrations in 

 favour of arbitration in this country. By public 

 meetings and memorials we succeeded in producing 

 such an expression of public opinion in fa\oi;r of 

 arbitration that Lord Salisbury gave way, and the 

 question was amicably settled by reference to a Court 

 of Arbitration subsequently held in Paris. Of course, 

 I could have done nothing in these things without the 

 loyal and enthusiastic support which was given me by- 

 such men as Mr. W. Randal Cremer, of the Inter- 

 parliamentary Conference, and Dr. Darby, cf the 

 Peace Society. 



ALWAYS ARBITRATE BEFORE YOU FIGHT. 



And here let me say that my ideas about Arbitration 

 differ considerably from those of others. It is always 

 assumed that when a question is sent to arbitration, 

 both Powers must bind themselves in advance to 

 accept the award, whatever it may be. The net effect 

 of this is that questions of vital interest are never sent 

 to arbitration. Now the true policy, it has seemed to 

 me, which I set forth in a pamphlet entitled " Alwavs 

 Arbitrate Before You Fight," is the necessity for 

 insisting that every question, no matter whether it 

 may affect vital interests or not. should always be sent 

 to arbitration before there is an appeal to arms. 

 Always arbitrate before you fight, and in ninety-pine 

 cases out of a hundred you will never fight at all ; 

 but if nations are required to repudiate all appeal to 

 the ultimate tribunal of war before going to arbitration, 

 they will in all important cases refuse to allow the 

 question to be sent to arbitration. Always arbitrate 

 before you fight .seems to me a much more practical 

 formula than always arbitrate instead of fighting. 



THE SOUTH AFRICAN QUESTION. 



During all this time the South African question was 

 beginning to create unrest. The influx of luiropean 

 population to the gold mines of the Transvaal boded 

 ill for the peace of South .Africa unless some means 

 were found whereby the claims of the Outlanders, who 

 paid three-fourths of the taxation, could be recognised 

 by President Kruger and the Boers. President Kruger 



