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Thre' Commoner
'10
V,QL. lft. NO. 8
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Story of Mr. Bryan's Efforts to
Promote World Peace
By HARRY W. WALKER
The grandeur of Rome was in its military sys
tem and severe laws. Its conquests, which left
a . trait of blood from the Mediterranean to
Britain and from Asia to tho Atlantic, havo been
translated into every tongue and taught in every
school. , t
Tolstoy, the great teacher of humanity, the
philosopher and student of man, early realized
that there was a greater causo . for man than
conquest by the sword,; tliat there was a greater
theme than the shedding of blood and establish
ment of empires; that there were more lasting
words than those which described great victories
by battle. He pays a high compliment to the
great , peasant writer, Bondaref, and his far
reaching influence. To emphasize his high es
timate of the enduring service rendered by Bon
daref In advancing the doctrine .of bread labor
he compares his influence with the growth of
Christianity.
"How strange and odd it would have seemed,"
he says, "to the educated Romans of the middle
of tho first century had any one told them that
the obscure'; confused and often unintelligible
letters addressed by a wandering Jew to his
friends and pupils would have a , hundred, a
thousand, a hundred thousand times more read
ers, more circulation, and more influence over
people, than all tho poems, odes, elegies and
elegant epistles' of the authors of that age, and
yet that is what happened."
Tolstoy's reference to the influence of the
teaching of Christ shows that he believes that
the most lasting and widespread word is that
which appeals, to the .best,in man, and, that the
most reverenced act is that which maea human
ity better one to tho, other.,
Tolstoy "believed in progress,, but not the pro
gress' which appealed to, the .Roman statesmap-r-with
them conquest means progress, with them
war fs just; to arousp the martial spirit in youth
is an ambition that should be cultivated, for, by
war alone can all disputes between nations be
settled. To them "God is on the side that has
the heaviest cannon," and to appeal to peaceful
methods is to show weakness and to lose ad
vantage. Even in the glorious age of Greece, which has
indelibly engraved itself upon all civilized na?
tions, war was the only method of settling dis
putes, and ihe poetry and drama of that un
equalled time was cast aside that blood might
bo shed.
Today Europe Is dominated by the same feel
ing. The so-called civilization of 2,000 years
ago was set aside in a Cay that, men might sat
isfy their lust for one another's blood, and to
day and for many days Europe has been a
slaughter house, to an extent never before known
in the world's history.
Aniid this terrible condition tho United States
stands reverenced by the world, for from the
United States has come a new policy that is
destined to set a wider and deeper example and
become a greater Influence over the passions
and ambitions of men than all the great writings
and poems and dramas that deal with war com
bined. It was 10 years ago that William . Jennings
Brya.ii first gave voice to the doctrine of peace,
which is now embodied ' 30 treaties negotiated
by him as secretary of state. The Commoner of
February 17, 1905, contained the following from
his pen:
"It is time for the leading nations to join to
gether in proffering their r-iood offices for. the set
tlement of the war in the east. There must be
mediation somo time, why not now? Russia
can hot hope to retake Pert Arthur in years, if
at all, and Japan will find war more expensive
and more hazardous the farther her army
marches inland. There has been killing enough
on both sides to satisfy that absurd sense of
ionor which requires 'oodstied. .There never
was a time when the Christian nations were 'un
der -i more imperative duty to throw their in
infiuence on tho side of peace, and the United
States can well afford to take the lead because
our relations with both Russia and. Japan aro
irach as to relieve us of any suspicion of selfish
interest. And when peace -is restored our na
tion should take tho. initiative in promoting a
system of arbitration so comprehensive THAT
ALL, DIFFERENCES WILL BE SUBMITTED
TO THE ARBITRATION COURT, RESERVING
TO EACH NATION THE RIGHT TO REFUSE
TO ACCEPT THE FINDING IF IT BELIEVES
THAT IT AFFECTS ITS HONOR OR INTEG
RITY. Such a system would make war a re
mote possibility."
ADVOCATED ARBITRATION OF ALL DIS
PUTES A second editorial appeared February 24,
1905, a week later, and presented the idea more
at length:
"It is possible to provide for the impartial
investigation of any international dispute, leav
ing the final submission to arbitration. The
president might be authorized to enter into an
agreement to submit ANY AND EVERY INTER
NATIONAL DISPUTE TO THE HAGUE COURT
FOR INVESTIGATION. When the court reports
upon the facts and presents the real issue be
tween the parties THEN THE PARTIES CAN
DECIDE INTELLIGENTLY WHETHER ' IT
INVOLVES A PROPER QUESTION FOR
ARBITRATION ' OR AFFECTS THE
INTEGRITY AND HONOR OF EITHER
NATION. Such an investigation would,
in most cases, remove the misunderstanding and
bring about a reconciliation, and public opinion
would exert a powerful influence in harmoniz
ing any differences which might be found to ex
fist., ... If such a: plan had been in opera
tion, the Russian-Japanese war might have been
prevented. It is quite certain that a preliminary
investigation by an impartial .board would haye
prevented most of the international wars of the
.last half century, and would be still more effec
tive in the future."
So great was the proposition then advanced
that many failed to comprehend its magnitude,
and there were journalists who even attempted
to turn it to merry jest. Many men of promin
ence, after declaring that Mr. Bryan's theory
was impractical, insisted he was a "dreamer,"
but Mr. Bryan found encouragement in this, re
membering that Joseph, who "had the corn,
as well as our own Thomas Jefferson, had been
called "dreamers."
Even these doubters and scoffers were com
pelled to think again when, a few months later,
in the fall of 1905, at Tokio, Mr. Bryan, address
ing a large and distinguished Japanese audience,
spoke in favor of an international peace. The
great impression that this speech made upon the
Japanese was reflected on the people here, be
sides attracting wide attention in Europe.
The next presentation of the plan was at the
Peace Congress in London, July, 1906. Twenty
six nations were represented at t'!s congress. Mr
Bryan received an invitation to the Peace Con
gress while he was in Norway, before reaching
Great Britain. When he arrived in London he
laid his plan before Lord Weardale, from whom
tho invitation was received, and whom Mr Bry
an had met two years Vefore when a peace con
gress war. held in the United States.
Lord Weardale at 'once indorsed the plan and
thereafter gave Mr. Bryan effective and valuable
support. . . . i
' Mr. Bryan next presented the plan to Sir
Henry Campbell-Bannermari, the British pre
mier at the time. Sir nenry'not only approved
it, but in making his speech at the opening of
the peace congress purposely made use of lan
guage which might be used as a basis for the
introduction of tho resolution which was after
ward offered by. Mr. Bryan and unInimou8Ty
as followsf CngreSS- ThG resolon was
"K d,iaaereement should arise which is nnt
included in those to be submitted to arbitration
the contracting parties shall not resort to anv
act of host tlity before they separately or jointly
invite, as the case may necessitate, the forma
tion of the internatonal commission of inqrv
or mediation of one ,or more friendly powers
.this requisition to take- place, if necessarv i
accordance with article VIII, of. The Hague ion"
v.entipn, providing for he -peaceful .settlement
.of international.conflicts." .ement
. The. speech, of .Mr fBryan, in. support of hh
xesolution attracted world-wide attention and
.thousands in. his own, country, who,; previous to
this,bad regarded Mr., Bryan,. only in the light of
a political leader, now regarded him as a Chris
tian statesman and many American newsnanerc
called him the "Gladstone of America "
r, JfVS? ?flat he peace egress
held in. New York Mr. Bryan's plan was aeain
adopted. . b
Whon President Taft was Preparing the trea
ties with Great Britain and France, Mr. Bryan
called upon him and presented hisi peace plan
and urged that It be embodied in each treaty
The president was. pleased with the plan ami
called in the secretary of state, who likewise ex
pressed approval. During the same visit to
Washington, Mr. Bryan called upon James Brycc
the, British ambassador, whom he had met h
Great Britain, and laid the plan before him
The plan in part was embodied in these treaties
The senate did hot object to this part of tho
treaties, but the, objection 'which .prevented con
firmation (was made to, another proyision. Shortly
after this, when visiting Lincoln, Nebi, President
Taft, in his .speech, . gave great credit to Mr. Brv
an for having suggested this feature in the trea
ties. When President-elect Wilson invited Mr. Bry
an to Trenton, after the election of 1912, and
tendered him the position of secretary of state,
Mr. Bryan mentioned his peace plan as some
thing that could be worked out through the state
department. This suggestion received the cor
dial approval of the president-elect. Soon after
Mr. Wilson's inauguration, early in April, the
matter wad again brought to the attention of
the president. He laid it before the cabinet, and
then, with the president's approval, Mr. Bryan
consulted the senate committee m foreign rela
tions. After obtaining the indorsement of th3
principle by the committee, to make sure of the
ratification of the treaties, he presented the plan
in writing, with a verbal explanation, to the rep
resentatives of all the governments, the offer be
ing made' to enter into 'such; treaty' with' each of
tlie -nations severally.' ' After' th'en'dotkement of
the principle a note was seirt ttf'ea'ch1 of the am
bassadors' and ministers, ,JpVe1seWt,irfg'' the' plan in
detail. -
The republic of Salvador vras the first to agre.
to the terms of the treaty, the convention being
signed on August 7, 1913.
I had occasion to call -4pon Mr. Bryan that
day and I will never forget his look of intense
happiness as he handed me a copy of the first
peace treaty. ......
Thirty-three nations have indorsed the prin
ciples embodied in the plan, and 30 have entered
into, treaties in the order named:'
1. Salvador .Aug. 7, 1013
2. Guatemala.' ..Sept. 2Q, 1913
3. Panama ';.. . . . .Sept. 20, 191.3
4. Honduras. .,k... , . .Nov. 3, 1913
5. Nicaragua. . . .... ".'. . .Dec. 17, 1913
. 6. Netherlands. r. .',.,. ;.',;. .'. ;f)ec. 18, 1913
7. Bolivia...... .;.'... "...;.. Jan. 22, 1914
..8. Portugal; . . . . , -. ... '..iV ...Feb. 4, 1914
9. Persia ...... t . ".". . . .Feb, 4, 1914
10. Denmark, . .'..::. . it. . .... . . . eb. 5, 1914
11. Switzerland. . , .". ... V..' . .- .Feb.. 13, 1914
.12. Costa Rica. . . v. .'.. . . . T.;. . .Feb. 13, 1914
13. Domincian Republic'. ;.,-.". .i?eb. 17, 1914
14. Venezuela ' "..;.' .March. 21, 191-1
15. , Italy. ..,.,, .'. ;. ... .May 5,. 1914
16. Norway .. .C ..'... i.'V: June 24, 1914
17. Peru , .July 14,. 1914
18. Uruguay.!.. ., ..".,. ;'..."..;'. July 20, 1914
19. Brazil ...:.'. ,'. '..". .'. July '24, 191 4
20. Argentina. ;.. ...... .'V. . .V. .July 24, 1914
21. Chili .'...;'.. i..;,. July 24, 1914
22. Paraguay ", . . . , . . . t .Aug. 29, 191
23. France '..'.Sept. 15, 191-1
24. Great Britain .".-.. .Sept. 15, 1914
25. Spain ........". .Sept. 15, 1914
26. China . .Sept. 15, 1914
27. Russia.;. .........'.. .Oct. 1, 19U
,28, Equador. ...... . . ...Oct. 13, 1014
,29. Greece... ". " '. '..". .Oct. 13, 1014
30. Sweden , '. . . .Oct. 13, 1914
These governments exerct e authority over
nearly twelve hundred millions with our pop
ulation, fully three-fourths ,of. the inhabitants
of the globe. Germany, Austria, and Belgium
have accepted the principle, but treaties with
thesejoun tries have not yet been concluded.
Mr. Bryan believes that Japan will be added to
the list of treaty nations as soon as tho Califor
nia question is. settled., A treaty with. Colombia
unquestionably will be mad if the treaty with
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