21 OCTOBER 1905, Page 3

Tribunal into a periodic Congress, to which the conscience of

the world would compel all disputants to appeal, and the formation of a League of Peace among nations. He was glad to see that the spread of education caused a falling-off in recruiting both in Britain and America, and he trusted that the Governments might look in vain to the Universities for their supply of officers. No one questions the earnestness of Mr. Carnegie's advocacy in the cause of peace, but we cannot think that his case is helped by such overstatements as appeared in his address. We do not hope to convince Mr. Carnegie, but we would point out that an international League of Peace empowered to keep the peace by the use of force may restrict, but assuredly cannot abolish, the chances of war. We are cordially at one with him in his desire to see the Hague Tribunal an effective and often consulted Court; but our reason is mainly that we want to see international practice clarified and determined. To maintain that war cannot begin without a formal declaration, as Mr. Carnegie does, is to fly in the face of precedents, and introduce a principle which, if accepted by any tribunal, would make that tribunal a negligible authority.