ference, will consist of persons appointed by the Governments which respond favourably to the invitation of the President.

"The chief subject for consultation, discussion, and recommendation to their several Governments will be some plan or plans by which

"1st. National laws may be harmonised, and an international code constituted.

"2nd. To consider and report on the feasibility of international treaties of arbitration, and of extending the same to all civilised countries.

"3rd. To recommend measures for the establishment of a high court or tribunal which shall sit permanently, and to which shall be referred ultimately all causes of international difference which cannot be adjusted by negotiations."

The Advocate justly observes, in reference to this grand project, that the United States may fully take the leadership of nations in this matter, by their standing outside the disputes which endanger peace elsewhere, and by the cosmopolitan character of her population, which prevents the existence of race prejudices and race antagonisms.

We heartily concur in this view; and the friends of peace throughout the world will desire anxiously to learn whether the United States Government will accept the challenge. We earnestly hope so.

ITEMS.

DENUNCIATIONS OF BUSSIAN TYRANNY.-Mrs. BELVA LOCKWOOD writes on this subject in the April number of the Peacemaker (Philadelphia) as follows:-" Wars have been brewed in the past with less insult to the invading force than we are giving to Russia. We profess to be a neutral Power-it is the genius of our Constitution-but denouncing a neighbouring Government from the public platform and in the public press is not neutrality: it is aggression, and is being given at times and in ways in which the Power attacked has no opportunity to strike back except by an open rupture. On behalf of the Peace Association, I protest against this cowardly, unmanly warfare." There is food for serious thought here. The journalists of all nations flatter the national vanity of their readers by dwelling upon the faults of foreign countries; and then the readers rub their hands: "How much better we are than those foreigners." Yet every country has at home monstrous evils, which much better deserve their attention.

INTERNATIONAL COURTESIES.-We cannot have too many of them, for they are among the indirect influences which lead to international unity. Therefore, we observe with pleasure that our Lord Mayor, a Huguenot by descent, banquetted the delegates from the Paris Town Council, who came to our metropolis the other day to study the Underground Railway. We are sure they went back all the better disposed to like John Bull, partly for his rough hospitality, and partly because the national pride of Frenchmen must have been gratified when they compared our dingy Mansion House with their own splendid palace, the Hotel de Ville. We cannot have too many hob-nobbings of this sort. Why should not London and Paris councillors, M.P.'s, savants, literati, architects, artists, social reformers, actors, jurists, and, above all, pacificators, hold great international feeds in each other's cities every year? It all helps us to undertand one another, and, we hope, to like each other better.

WAR BREEDS WAR.-Is it not so, if Von Moltke was a true prophet when he said that, with the annexa

VENEZUELA AND BRITISH GUIANA DISPUTE.-A meeting was held in London on the 8th inst., convened by persons having commercial interests in the countries above named. Mr. Sampson S. Lloyd presided, and resolutions were adopted urging upon Her Majesty's Government an early settlement of the rupture, as being detrimental to the interests of both countries. Our Association addressed Lord Salisbury on this subject two years ago, and we have frequently urged in these columns that this dangerous boundary dispute by the Venezuelan Government. should be brought to a close by arbitration, as desired More recently our

committee has sent a statement of the whole question to several members of the House of Commons. Now that the money-bags begin to cry out something will perhaps be done.

"LES ETATS UNIS D'EUROPE."-The journal which bears this title, the organ of the "International League of Peace and Liberty," published at Geneva, completed the twenty-second year of its existence on the 1st of this month. Let us take this opportunity of bearing our testimony to the value of the paper in question, to the great service that it has rendered to the cause of peace, founded upon justice and secured by law. We do not think that any journal can surpass it in impartiality, in appreciation of juridical principles, in anxiety for truth, and in honesty of purpose. Its venerable editor and inspirer deserves the profound gratitude and esteem of men in all countries who desire the victory of justice, truth and love among mankind.

DEATH OF THE HON. EDWARD S. TOBEY.-We regret to learn that the American Peace Society has been deprived by death of the services of its president, the Hon. Edward S. Tobey, who occupied that position for fifteen years. A resolution adopted by the Committee on the 30th March last bears eloquent testimony to "his faithfulness to many public trusts," and to "the wisdom and devotion which he cheerfully and unsparingly brought to the service of that Society."

IS WAR BECOMING MORE HUMANE?-There is a noteworthy article, with this heading, in the May number of The Messiah's Kingdom. It consists mainly of extracts from a book entitled "Military Manners and Customs," by J. A. Farrer. It brings forward evidence to show that "writers on the Law of Nations have, in fact, led us into a fool's paradise about war by representing it as something quite mild and almost refined in modern times." Some proofs of this statement are worth quoting. "The Lateran Council of 1139 anathematised the cross-bow for its inhumanity. It forbade its use in Christian warfare as alike hateful

to God and destructive of mankind." "And torpedoes, infernal, when, under the name of American turtles, now used without scruple, were called infamous and they were first tried by the American colonies against the ships of their mother country." When bombarddirected only at the defences and batteries of a place, ment was first tried, it was a rule that firing must be and not against the houses. But "a regular and simple bombardment-that is, of a town indiscriminately, and not merely its fortresses-has now become the estab lished practice."

WAR AND PEACE.

"Peace who sits, With shining aureole, and with Gorgon shield." How canst thou reconcile, Goddess of Peace, Holding the olive-branch-that thou shouldst be The odious vampire of humanity,

Bellona and Minerva both? Are these
Compatible? Canst thou give hand to each ?
Nay-blessed be calm life, and gentle speech,
Flowers, and golden corn, and verdant trees,-
Not naked corpses, where the vultures screech,
With beak of steel to tear them piece from piece.
Should mortals, brothers all, each other hate,
And seem of misery insatiate?

Away, ye men of war! with scaffolds tall,
Death's instruments of horror, one and all;
Let Hospitals be built, and Barracks fall.

(Translated by E. S. G. S.) [From the French of M. Edouard Lacretelle. For original see CONCORD for April.]

MEETINGS.

A DRAWING-ROOM meeting was held on the 16th ult., by kind permission of Mr. and Mrs. T. Holmes, at 18, Great Cumberland-place, W. After a statement by Mr. Hodgson Pratt on the aims and work of the Association, a paper was read by Mr. Crews Dudley, entitled "Some Difficulties of the Peace Question Removed." Mr. Dudley began by combating the errors that international quarrels could only be finally settled by force, and that war was an inevitable necessity, and that, therefore, it was our duty to leave it alone. He then proceeded to show that there was no fixed permanence in war, and that the three most potent influences in our day which made for peace were the spread of civilisation, the increase of the power of the people, and the advance of philosophy and science. The freedom of the press was also mentioned as having done much to remove many of the obstacles from the paths of peace. A discussion followed, in which the following took part :-M. Paul Blouet ("Max O'Rell"), Dr. Duka, Hon. and Rev. Canon Leigh, Lieut.-Colonel Montefiore, Mr. Margerison, Mr. Hodgson Pratt, and the Secretary of the Association.

THE WOMEN'S CORNER.

WEST ISLINGTON WOMEN'S LIBERAL

ASSOCIATION.

ON Monday, the 20th ult., in the unavoidable and much regretted absence of Mr. Hodgson Pratt, Miss Monica Mangan, honorary secretary of the Women's Committee, International Arbitration and Peace Association, gave a deeply interesting address on "A Peace Policy." Mr. T. Lough, candidate for the division, presided. Miss Mangan showed very clearly the practical advantages of peace, and how practicable it would be to resort to arbitration if the ruling powers had any real desire for that method of settling quarrels. The time was perhaps not so far off as it was sometimes thought, when a judicial settlement of international difficulties would be the only solution. Year by year, a larger share of power was being acquired by the people, and they were not likely to allow themselves much longer to be made a cat's paw; but were already beginning to recognize that prosperity would result

from the interdependence of nations. They perceived that free commercial relations, international education, and other ideals-in a word, all which tends to the unity of man would sweep away the prejudices founded upon the self-seeking fostered by diplomatists. Then the barriers erected between those who should have been most helpful to each other would be destroyed.

A discussion followed, which showed that all present were strongly in favour of this reasonable method. A working man, in a very amusing speech, said he wished he had brought his wife to hear such an able lecture, and that he was delighted to see a young lady come forward and speak on this question. A very hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Miss Mangan.

May

Resolved, further, that this Committee do express their hearty desire to co-operate with their brethren of Venice for the progress of the great and fruitful idea of peace based on justice in international relations, and obtained through juridical methods and friendly mediation; also, their hope to be made acquainted from time to time with the progress made by their Italian friends.

Resolved, also, that this Committee do convey to their esteemed friend and colleague, M. Felix Moscheles, an expression of the great satisfaction with which they have learned that the above-named Association has been founded at Venice; also their congratulations on this good result of his wise, faithful, and unremitting efforts made on that behalf, for which the Committee of this Association feel heartily grateful.

5. THE NEWFOUNDLAND FISHERIES QUESTION.-Resolved, that this Committee have observed with much satisfaction indications of the loyal disposition of their fellowcitizens in Newfoundland to abide by the decision of the arbitrators regarding the fishery and other rights affected by our treaties with France, which willingness is authoritatively manifested in the declaration made before the House of Lords by Sir William Whiteway, at present Premier of Newfoundland.

That, while the Committee do not desire at present to pass any opinion on the treaty rights or colonial claims respectively, they are well aware how strongly the people of Newfoundland feel on the whole subject; therefore, the Committee desire to recognise, as a gratifying sign of the times, the confidence thus avowed by their fellowcitizens of that colony in the method of impartial arbitration for the settlement of international disputes, even where, as in this case, the natural rights and most pressing national interests of the populations immediately concerned are at stake.

Resolved, further, that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Sir William Whiteway and his colleagues, with a covering letter congratulating them on the respectful and attentive hearing they have secured for their case by the proper constitutional methods.

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Backshell, S. P.

Bennett, J. N.

Bruce, Mrs. M.

Burgess, S. C.

Cadbury, Richard

Carlisle, Countess of

Chaplin, A.

Cochran, R.

Cook, J. M.

Cowen, Mrs.

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Edwards, R. P....

Halstead Auxiliary Society, per Mrs. Little

Higginson, Miss H. C.

Holland, Rev. Canon H. Scott

Davies, D.

Doubleday, W. B.

Gill, John

Harvey, A.

Herriot, R.

Hobson, Dr. J. M.

Holmes, W. J.

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Johnson, J. C.

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Johnson, Mrs.

Lubbock, Sir John, Bart., M.P.

Martineau, R. F.

Mitchell, Dr. Julia

Mallet, Mrs.

Messer, J.

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Norris, Rev. Alfred, M. A.

Payne, W. M.

Pedley, Geo.

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Pendrigh, Mrs....
Peppercorn, Miss A. E.
Phillips, Morley
Phipson, Miss
Portal, W. S.

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The Editor acknowledges, with thanks, the receipt of the following:-Herald of Peace, Arbitrator, La Paix, Peace and Goodwill, Les Etats-Unis d'Europe, La Rénovation, L'Eglise de France, Le Devoir, Bulletin des Sommaires, Bulletin Trimestriel de l'Association des Jeunes Amis de la Paix, La Revue de l'Orient, La Revue Libérale, Die Nation, Le Courrier de Londres, Belgian News, Peacemaker, American Advocate of Peace and Arbitration, Il Secolo, La Libertà et la Pace (Palermo), Chamber of Commerce Journal, and Financial Reformer.

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