82
The Green Bag
self a judge in his own cause as against his
other nations to join, and it will be noticed that
fellow-citizen, and presumes to attack him, is a
the resolution of Congress in 1890 embraces any Government with which the United States has or may have diplomatic relations; thus all nations seem still open to the invitation he is requested
lawbreaker and as such disgraced. So should a nation be held as disgraced which insists upon sitting in judgment in its own cause in case of an international dispute. I call your attention to the following resolu tion introduced by the Committee on Foreign Relations in the first session, Fiftieth Congress, June 14, 1888:
“Resolved by the Senate (the House of Repre sentatives concurring) that the President be, and is hereby, requested to invite from time to time, as fit occasions may arise, negotiations with any Government with which the United State has or may have diplomatic relations, to the end that any differences or disputes arising between the two Governments which cannot be adjusted by diplomatic agency may be referred to arbitra tion and be peaceably adjusted by such means (resolution not reached on calendar during ses sion, but re-introduced and passed, Senate, Feb. 14, 1890, passed, House, April 3, 1890)." This resolution was presented to the British ing Parliament, the action which of adopted the Congress a resolution of the approv~ United States and expressing that Her Majesty's Gov ernment would lend their ready co-operation to the Government of the United States for the accomplishment of the object in view (resolu tion of the House of Commons, July 16, 1893. For. Rel. 1893, 346,352). Here we find an ex pression of the spirit which resulted in the first international Hague conference of 1899; the sec ond Hague conference of 1907; eighty treaties for obligatory arbitration between the great nations of the world, our own country being a party to twenty-three of them. It was my privilege to introduce to President Cleveland in 1897 a committee of members of Parliament of Britain, headed by Sir William Randal Cremer, in response to the action of Congress, proposing a treaty agreeing to settle all disputes that might arise between America and Great Britain by arbitration. Such a treaty was concluded between Lord Pauncefote and Secretary Olney in 1897. It failed of passage by the necessary two-thirds majority of the Senate by only three votes. There is reason to believe that the British Government has been desirous of having that treaty ratified by our Government, or ready to
agree to another of similar character, so that President Taft's policy seems within easy reach of success. If the English-speaking race adopts such a treaty we shall not have to wait long {of
to give, there being no limitations as to time.
If the independence and rights of nations to their respective internal policies were first for mally recognized in such treaties, no disputes concerning these elements of sovereignty could arise. The trustees have power to sell, invest or re-invest all funds, either in the United States or
in other countries, subject as respects invest ments in the United States to no more restric tion than is imposed upon savings banks or insurance companies in the State of New York. In order to give effect to this gift, it will be suitable that the trustees herein named shall form a corporation with lawful powers appropriate to the accomplishment of the purposes herein expressed and authorize the conveyance of the fund to such a corporation. No personal lia bility will attach to trustees for their action or non-action as trustees. They have power to fill vacancies or to add to their number and to employ all officials and to fix their compensation. Trustees shall be reimbursed all expenses in curred in connection with their duties as trus tees, including travelling expenses, attending meetings, including expenses of wife and daugh ter to each annual meeting. The president shall be granted such honoraria as the trustees think proper, and as he can be prevailed upon to accept. Lines of future action cannot be wisely laid down. Many have to be tried, and having full confidence in my trustees I leave to them the widest discretion as to the measures and policy they shall from time to time adopt. only promis ing that the one end they shall keep unceasingly in view until it is attained, is the speedy aboli tion of international war between so—called civil ized nations. When civilized nations enter into such treaties as named, or war is discarded as disgraceful to civilized men, as personal war (duelling), and man selling and buying (slavery)
have been discarded within the wide boundaries of our English-speaking race, the trustees will please then consider what is the next most de grading remaining evil or evils whose banish ment-or what new elevating element or elements if introduced or fostered, or both combined
would most advance the progress, elevation and happiness of man. And so on from century to century without end, my trustees of each age
