INTERNATIONAL PEACE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXV, Issue LXV, 18 June 1913, Page 3

INTERNATIONAL PEACE.

MB BRYAN'S PROPOSAL

The unconcealed hope expressed by those who are not William Jennings Bryan's enthusiastic admirers, that his appointment to the dignified position of Secretary of State meant placing him "in cold storage," is not being by any means verified. He is easily the most active member of President Wilson's Cabinet, and is more in the limelight than any other. Mr Bryan's trip to California in connection with the question of Japanese ownership of land gave him foist, fortnight'more prominence in the newspapers than any other man in America. Another thing Mr Bryan has done to keep his name in the news is to propose to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations a very far-reaching plan, of international arbitration. It goes practically as far as the .project so arduously worked for by President Tart; •Briefly, ifc;j:is that thel United States should-make .treaties under whiclT dis-■-putes, .even .those involving "national honor or vital interests," would'be submitted to an International Board of Enquiry, and that the disputing countries should agree to take no steps whatever toward preparation for war within a specified period of six months a year. The extent to which other nations had been "sounded" on the proposal was not disclosed by the Secretary of State to the committee, but he intimated that one or two foreign Powers viewed the plan with favor. The chief argument presented so far against the proposal is that the United States, if it had such a treaty with one Power, would be prevented from making preparations to meet the attack of another with which it. had no such treaty. In addition, some Senators [ insisted that the United States could not afford to submit* any questions of national honor or vital interest to a joint commission of investigation, or refrain for any stated time from making preparations to defend itself. On the whole, Mr Bryan's plan is more drastic than that presented by President Taft, inasmuch as it provides for refraining from preparations for war. The Senate would have none of the former President's proposals, and is not likely to view with favor Mr Bryan's, unless it be that the new blood in that body has worked a change in its views. It is understood that, wit^i the endorsement of President Wilson, the Secretary of State will undertake to open negotiationsAvith leading Powers for such treaties as bis proposal contemplates.—Evening Post's correspondent.