326 



The Review of Reviews 



October 1, ISK. 



MP. W. J. Bryan ion the left '. with Count Apponyi and 

 Baron D Estournelles de Constant. 



yet emulated American Presidents in receiving mul- 

 titudes — but he received sevent}- of the leading mem- 

 bers of the Conference on the following day at 

 Buckingham Palace. 



The 



Counsel of the 



Conference. 



The Standstill 



of 



Armaments. 



be voted every year .'ui appropriation, bearing a definite 

 proportion to tbe moneys voted for the Army ajid the 

 Navy, wliich should be used aa a budget for the promotion 

 of internatiouaiism and of peace. 



This is decimal point one i)er cent, in a slightly 

 modified shape. 



The third question dealt with by 

 the Conference was the necessity of 

 checking the ascending march of 

 war expenses. Bankruptcy or re- 

 volution lie ahead unless we can check this infernal 

 annual increment, estimated by M. Messimy as 

 amounting to _;£8, 000,000 per annum in Europe 

 alone. For Europe, the United States, and Japan, 

 military expenses had increased between 1901 and 

 1906 by ;^6o.ooo,ooo, of which Europe stands bur- 

 dened with ^50,000,000. Of all the great Powers 

 Italy has sinned least and Britain under its Jingo 

 rulers has sinned most. M. Messimy, who is tht- 

 official reporter on the French Military and Naval 

 Budget, assured the Conference that he was autho- 

 rised to declare that the immense majority of the 



The Conference passed several 

 resolutions which were intended to 

 give a friendly lead to the forth- 

 coming Conference at the Hague. 

 The first and most obvious was ?ilr. Bryan's proposal 

 to give statutory effect to the old formula, " Always 

 arbitrate before you fight." The precise terms 

 finally agreed upon are as follows: — 



If .X difference should arise between the contracting par- 

 ties which by the terms of the convention should not be 

 aubmitted to arbitration, the parties shall not have re- 

 course to any measure of hostility of whatever nature be- 

 fore having jointly or separately demanded, according to 

 the circumstances of the case, either the constitution of aji 

 international Commission of inquiry or the mediation of 

 one or more friendly Powers. This requisition shall be 

 made in case of need conformably to Article VIII. of the 

 Hague Convention for the peaceful settlement of interna- 

 tionaJ conflicts. 



The second and equally practical proposal was that 



the Go\ernnients should themselves vote appropria- 

 tions for the promotion of peace and international- 

 ism. The text of the resolution, which was to have 

 been moved by M. La Fontaine, was not discussed 

 in detail, but carried in principle: — 



Considering that the duty of promoting international 

 brotherhood, and of combating directly and indirectly the 

 causes which lead to war. should be undertaken by the 

 Executive Governments with the whole authority and re- 

 gonrces of the nations, this Conference recommends that 

 to enable this duty to be eflectively discharged there should 



Mr- W. J. Bryan at the House of Commons. 



(He is accomp.anied by M. Deloncle and the Comte Qoblet 

 d'Alviella.) 



