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 might decide to submit to it.

The Hague Tribunal is not made up of permanent judges like an ordinary court.  It consists of persons (not more than four from each country) selected by the various nations from among their citizens of high standing and broad knowledge of international affairs.  From this long list any powers between whom there is a disagreement may choose the persons to form a court or tribunal for their special case.