Ways to Lasting Peace

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1916. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER II DEMOCRATIC CONTROL OF WAR Analysis of Propositions for Lasting Peace ALL of the intelligent constructive propositions / thus far proposed, with others crowding to the front in almost every nation, practically agree in essential demands. They unite in the petition for democratic control of government action; for the use of law instead of force in the adjustment of international disputes--though most of them agree that a degree of force, police rather than military, should stand behind the world court as a support or sanction. They demand the interposition of difficulties in the way of declarations of war, taking these out of the hands of any single man or any small group acting in secret. All have the demand for a congress of peoples, instead of that gathering of non-representative diplomats known as the Concert of the Powers. They call, not only for a permanent court of arbitration, but also for a permanent council for the investigation of facts in international differences. The principle of the admirable Cooling Off Treaties, as negotiated by Mr. Bryan, would be made a matter of general application. Most of them ask for the revival and strengthening of The Hague conferences. All ask for disarmament to some degree, and most of them for the national ownership of armament manufacturing plants, and the abolition of private profits in armament making. Most of them call for immunity of private property at sea and the relief of commerce and passen- ger traffic from attack in time of war. Most ask for international neutralization of the channels of commerce, some for the neutralization of coaling stations also. Most of them deny the right of conquest and ask that no arbitrary changes of boundary be made without the consent of the people immediat...