smissed after the
adoption of a very general resolution expressing the opinion "that the
restriction of military charges ... is extremely desirable for the
increase of the material and moral welfare of mankind."

ARBITRATION.--The conference met with a somewhat larger measure of
success when it came to discuss the question of the peaceful settlement
of international disputes, though here also the attitude of the German
government stood in the way of complete success. The United States from
the days of John Jay had taken the lead among the nations of the world
in the policy of settling international disputes by peaceful means.
Quite different has been the traditional policy of Prussia, which
throughout its history has relied upon force to accomplish its purposes.
All the German wars of the nineteenth century could easily have been
averted if the Prussian government had honestly desired to settle its
quarrels by peaceful methods. She has taken the ground, however, that
arbitration can only work to her injury, since she is better prepared
for war than any other nation and can mobilize her army more rapidly
than any of her neighbors. "Arbitration," said one of her delegates at
The Hague, "would simply give rival powers time to put themselves in
readiness, and would therefore be a great disadvantage to Germany." This
point of view shows clearly how the German leaders place the growth of
German power far above such considerations as right and justice.

THE HAGUE PEACE TRIBUNAL.--The struggle in the conference over the
question of arbitration centered about the establishment of a permanent
tribunal or international court of arbitration to which nations might
bring their disagreements for settlement. The United States delegation
favored making a definite list of the kinds of disputes which nations
would be compelled to bring to the tribunal for settlement. On the other
hand, the Kaiser himself sent a dispatch from Berlin in which he spoke
strongly against anything in the nature of an arbitration tribunal.
Largely through the efforts of Mr. Andrew D. White, head of the American
delegation, the German government was brought to modify its stand.
Germany finally agreed to the creation of the tribunal, but only on
condition that in no case should the submission of a dispute to it be
compulsory. The tribunal was to be established, but it would have the
right to render a decision only in those cases which the disagreeing
nations migh