as to which unanimity could not be obtained. It is believed that Mr. Smiley's wisdom, which has made possible the great usefulness that the Mohonk conference has had in the past, was never more clearly exemplified than by his suggestion in this case, which was immediately and cheerfully accepted by all the members of the conference.

The Mohonk conference owes its peculiar and fortunate position in relation to the arbitration movement to the fact that it has constantly refused to become a "peace conference," but has persisted in remaining a forum for the scientific discussion of arbitration as a practical substitute for war. The conference has always believed that peace between nations can only come through the judicial settlement of disputes, just as peace between men has come through the ordinary courts of justice. Even a brief review of the history of the conference and of the platforms which have been adopted during the fourteen years which have elapsed since the first meeting in 1895 will show how closely the conference has adhered to the ideal of its founder, as expressed in the remarks with which Mr. Smiley opened the first conference in 1895, in which he asked that the discussion might be confined to the subject of arbitration as distinguished from the broader subjects of peace and war, and have special reference to obtaining practical results. The review of the various platforms adopted shows that with the exception of a few unimportant expressions in one or two platforms each conference has not only confined itself to arbitration, but has endeavored as much. as possible to concentrate its attention on, and to reflect in its platform, the most pressing and practical phases of the general topic of arbitration. Space forbids a detailed examination of the various platforms adopted. The following excerpt from an article written by the permanent secretary of the conference in 1901 may, however, suffice by way of summary as showing the emphasis of the platforms adopted during the early years of the conference:

In '95 and '96 the efforts of the conference were directed especially toward securing an arbitration treaty with England. In '97 the causes of the defeat of the Olney-Pauncefote treaty, which had meanwhile been negotiated and defeated in the Senate, were carefully considered, and an expression of the year before in favor of a permanent tribunal open to all nations was emphasized. In '98 the conference, in the platform which is already adopted summarizing the conclusion of the meeting, declared in favor of the United States taking the lead in calling an international conference to set up such a tribunal. In '99 the conference met simultaneously with the Peace Conference at The Hague, and devoted its attention especially to preparing the way for the favorable acceptance in the United States of the results of that conference. In 1900 the con

ference declared in favor of the United States entering into treaties with the other powers of Europe agreeing to submit all controversies that threaten war to the Hague Tribunal. At the conference in 1901 especial attention was devoted to the desirability of having the United States break the international ice by submitting some questions to the new tribunal.

It may be pertinent to add that the conference of 1901 also pointed out that the natural and ultimate result of the triumph of international arbitration would be "the reduction of armaments and the lessening of the burdens and the temptations they entail," thus clearly indicating the recognition by the conference at that time that the limitation of armaments would be a product, rather than a cause or even an accompaniment, of the general adoption of arbitration as a recognized means for the settlement of international disputes.

Although the conference of 1906 expressed the hope that the Second Hague Conference would consider favorably the general restriction of armaments by concurrent international action, it was apparent at the time of the meeting of the conference in 1907 that such a restriction at present is not practicable, and accordingly, at its meeting on the immediate eve of the Second Hague Conference, the Mohonk conference urged as the most immediate and important action to be taken by the Second Hague Conference" the following measures, among which it will be noted the limitation of armaments is not mentioned:

1. A provision for stated meetings of the Hague Conference.

2. Such changes in the Hague Court as may be necessary to establish a definite judicial tribunal always open for the adjudication of international questions. 3. A general arbitration treaty for the settlement of international disputes. 4. The establishment of the principle of the inviolability of innocent private property at sea in time of war.

5. A declaration to the effect that there would be no armed intervention for the collection of private claims when the debtor nation is willing to submit such claims to arbitration.

It will thus be seen that the constant effort of the conference has been to devote itself, not to the past or to the distant future, but to the problems of the immediate present. It has tried not to waste energy in spying out the enemy's country or in guarding the baggage, but has employed all its available forces at the immediate point of contact. Naturally, the platforms have varied more or less in character from year to year as the membership of the platform committee has varied, but they have varied still more in accordance with the situation which they were intended to meet. Always they have looked toward the stimulation

of public sentiment, and in these later years especial attention has been given to the educational and business world. But when there were any steps which appeared to be of immediate practical value to the cause of international arbitration the conference has endeavored to concentrate its attention on these steps. Especially when the conference has met before international gatherings like the Hague or the Pan-American conferences, it has endeavored to suggest measures which it believed to be possible and practicable for those conferences to consider. When a meeting of the Mohonk conference has followed an international conference, the former has recounted the ground gained and sought to secure the fruits of whatever victories may have been won. The present conference met after the meeting of the Second Hague Conference at which the Mohonk conference believed notable results had been achieved. The conference believed that our Government is doing everything in its power to render effective all that was agreed upon or proposed at the Second Hague Conference. The immediate limitation of armaments appeared to many of the members present totally impracticable. Under these circumstances it is believed that the immense progress which the cause of international arbitration has made and is making renders it impossible for the platform of any arbitration conference to be other than largely retrospective and complacent, while the adoption of a plank declaring for the limitation of armaments, which, as was pointed out in the platform of 1901, will be a natural result and consequence of the triumph of international arbitration, appeared to many members of the conference likely to have no other practical effect than the alienation of many who are heartily in favor of and efficiently working for international arbitration, and therefore ultimate disarmament. It is believed that the platform adopted, which follows, was a proper reflection of the conditions which produced it:

The Fourteenth Lake Mohonk Conference on International Arbitration recog nizes with profound gratitude the continuous and conscious development of the forces which make for international peace through international justice.

It especially approves and commends the work of the Second Hague Conference, which revised and perfected the various conventions of the conference of 1899, as follows:

Restricting the use of force in the collection of contract debts; proclaiming unanimously the principle of obligatory arbitration; establishing an International Court of Prize, and declaring in favor of the establishment of a Permanent Court of Arbitral Justice.

These measures are a great and welcome advance towards the regulation of international relations upon the basis of justice, reason, and respect for law.

The Fourteenth Lake Mohonk Conference on International Arbitration notes with pleasure the existence of fifty and more treaties of arbitration concluded within the past five years, and more especially the arbitration treaties concluded between the United States and France, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Switzerland, Holland, Norway, Sweden, Portugal, and Spain. The conference, therefore, expresses the hope that the peaceful and judicial settlement of international difficulties by resort to courts of arbitration and of justice bids fair to become the rule of the future, as it has been in a measure the enlightened practice of the immediate past.

The Fourteenth Lake Mohonk Conference on International Arbitration further commends the activities of our schools, colleges, universities, and the various professional, business, and labor organizations of the country by which and through which popular sentiment is created, trained, and directed, not merely to the maintenance of peace, but also, by the elimination of the ostensible causes of war by peaceful settlement, to the prevention of war itself.

Finally, the Fourteenth Lake Mohonk Conference on International Arbitration rejoices in the fact that the representation of all the civilized nations of the world in the Second Hague Conference, and the recommendation in its final act for a future conference, guarantee, for the future, a conference of an international and permanent character, capable of correcting the inequalities of international practice and of enacting a code of international law based upon justice and equity.

THE NEW BUILDING OF THE INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS

On the 11th day of May, 1908, in the presence of representatives of Latin America and of the United States, the corner stone of the new building of the International Bureau of American Republics was laid in the capital of our country. The occasion was a notable one, not merely from the presence of and addresses by President Roosevelt, Secretary Root, Ambassador Nabuco, and Andrew Carnegie, but as visible evidence of the fact that the Western Hemisphere is little by little being drawn into closer, more intimate, and sympathetic connection, and that Pan-America is cooperating to secure not merely commercial development but, by a closer understanding, the maintenance of peace at home and abroad.

It was entirely appropriate that Mr. Root should be the conspicuous figure on the occasion; for it is not too much to say that his secretaryship has witnessed the culmination of the various movements to bring Anglo-Saxon and Latin America together, nor is it too much to hope that the spirit of good fellowship generated by his policy and by his personal visit to the various countries of Latin America will result in removing

misunderstandings that so frequently occur between peoples that do not come into close contact, and that the relations of the Americas may henceforth be based upon equality, justice, and a desire for the improvement of all without the sacrifice of the rights and national aspirations of any member of the Western Hemisphere.

The importance of the occasion and Mr. Root's part in bringing it about were admirably set forth by the President in the last paragraphs of his address:

In conclusion, let me speak of another trip, made a couple of years ago by the Secretary of State, Elihu Root the first time in our history the American Secretary of State, during his term of office, left the country to visit certain other nations. Mr. Root made the complete tour of South America, traversed Central America, and afterwards visited Mexico. He was everywhere received with the heartiest greeting, a greeting which deeply touched our people, and I wish to say once more how appreciative we are of the reception tendered him. His voyage was unique in character and in value. It was undertaken only because we citizens of this Republic recognize that our interests are more closely intertwined with the interests of the other peoples of this continent than with those of any other nations. I believe that history will say that though we have had other great Secretaries of State, we have had none greater than Elihu Root; and that though in his high office he has done much for the good of his nation and of mankind, yet that his greatest achievement has been the success which has come as the result of his devoted labor to bring closer together all the republics of the New World, and to unite them in the effort to work valiantly for our common betterment, for the material and moral welfare of all who dwell in the Western Hemisphere.

The address of the Secretary of State follows in full:

Mr. President and Gentlemen:

We are here to lay the corner stone of the building which is to be the home of the International Union of American Republics.

The wise liberality of the Congress of the United States has provided the means for the purchase of this tract of land five acres in extent near the White House and the great Executive Departments, bounded on every side by public streets and facing to the east and south upon public parks which it will always be the care of the National Government to render continually more beautiful, in execution of its design to make the national capital an object of national pride and a source of that pleasure which comes to rich and poor alike from the education of taste.

The public spirit and enthusiasm for the good of humanity which have inspired an American citizen, Mr. Andrew Carnegie, in his administration of a great fortune, have led him to devote the adequate and ample sum of three-quarters of a million dollars to the construction of the building.

Into the appropriate adornment and fitting of the edifice will go the contribu