PEACE PALACE

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 99, 30 August 1913, Page 5

PEACE PALACE

THE GREAT HAGUE JOKE.

PLEA FOR ARBITARATION

[By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] Times— Sydney Sun Special Cables.

London, August 29

Referring to the Hague Peace Palace, the Times welcomes the completion of the work on many grounds. The British Government, with the entire approval of the nation, bar, shown its readiness before now both to refer its disputes with its neighbors to the judgment of arbitrators, and to abide by their decisions. The Delagoa Bay case is only one instance among a number. "We have every wish," it says, "that our example should be widely followed. Even if the tribunal fails to avert armed conflicts, it may still help to shorten their duration."

THE SWORD BEFORE TREATIES. [By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] [United Press Association.] (Received 8.5 a.m.) London, August 29. •The Daily News, discussing the Palace of. Peace, emphasises the contrast between- statement professions and thir conduct, enumerates the wars since the Czar's rescript in 1818, coupling therewith the horrors of Russian repression, and says: "The list covers a period of violence, blood-, shed, and perfidy unparallelled in the century. With few exceptions, statesmen throughout the world still believe in the force of the sword more than in treaties, in accomplished fact more than in justice. Perhaps the moral is that it is more difficult to change the mentality of Governments than of the people, since the propaganda of peace can more profitably be addressed to the latter."

REAL DEFENDERS OF PEACE. The Standard, under the heading, "The Great Hague Joke," refers to the costly wars since the rescript started as a collossal sham and adds: "The craze in sending a warship in honor of The Hague ceremonies shows a fine sense of the fitness of things. Had others desired to tell the truth instead of countenancing'a polite piece of humbug they would have sent Dreadnoughts, with flags inscribed 'real defenders of the world's peace,' for not the Hague Conference, but the army corps and the battleship prevent rivalries bursting into flame. We must face the faet j whileevery nation is sincerely, desirous to keep peace as long as possible. All are convinced that there is no guarantee against agression, but their own ability to defend themselves."