INTERNATIONAL

ARBITRATION.

It is seventy-five years since the Peace Society was founded, in 1816. The Annual Report, in another part of the HERALD, takes special cognisance of the signs of pacific progress afforded by the retrospect of the efforts of the past three-quarters of a century and by the encouraging changes for the better now manifest in the aspect of public opinion and in the action of the Churches, in regard to questions of Peace and War.

THE GREAT DOMINANT MISSION.

At Glasgow, on the 20th ultimo, the Prime Minister, Lord Salisbury, said that it was "the great dominant mission of the Foreign Office to preserve Peace and extinguish all danger of War." Most heartily is it to be desired that every successive Premier and Foreign Minister may take this view of the matter-and act it out.

THE CONTINUANCE OF PEACE.

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On the same occasion, the Premier stated that, "This country has borne some part in maintaining the continuance of Peace, which is of such intense importance, not only to the commerce of this country, but to the welfare and progress of the world. Peace has been maintained from year to year, always with some misgivings, with some doubt lest the year that was opening might see the hopes of previous years overthrown by some unforeseen accident; for it is impossible to conceal from ourselves that the maintenance of Peace depends on other conditions from those which belonged to it half a century ago. We used to think—it was a common proverbial observation-that wars more often produced by the ambition of rulers, or the intrigues of rulers, than from any other cause; but, as time has gone on, the risks of war have become so tremendous, the power of destruction which it lets loose has become so terrible, that there is no ruler that does not shrink from the possibility that his actions may involve war, It is my belief that every one of those who may share in shaping the destinies of Europe, in any part of it, is deeply, intensely anxious to avoid the curse of war. But, on the other hand, deep-moving, often obscure, popular feelings, tremendous in their force, and inscrutable in their action, exist in the present day, and exist with a vehemence which they derive from the increased power of

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the people, and from the greater enlightenment and education which prevail. Although that enlightenment and education ought to persuade, and does persuade, to Peace, yet it lends terrible force to the passions of men when once they are moved to war. Still I feel that, as every year goes on, the terrible results of war become more evident to every human mind, and the danger of it recedes into the background."

THE BEHRING'S SEA DIFFICULTY.

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Further progress has been made in the direction of a pacific solution of the Behring's Sea Dispute, owing to some mutual concessions on the part both of the British and United States Governments. This matter is eminently suitable for final settlement by Arbitration. This course, as the Times remarks, was practicable and highly expedient in 1888, and it is still more expedient and equally practicable to-day, when both countries are wearied of the. matter and when there is spreading a general conviction that only the lessees of the Pribyloff Islands are much interested in maintaining claims new to International Law and offensive to the traditions of American diplomacy."

THE FOREIGN MINISTER OF PERU.

The Peruvian Minister for Foreign Affairs, writing from Lima, to Mr. Wm. E. Darby, in acknowledgment of a copy of the transactions of the London Peace Congress, conveys his general adhesion to the principles enunciated by that assembly, and adds: "I hope for the period when humanity will bless, as its most eminent benefactors, those who have deliberately proposed and practically endeavoured to prevent the horrors of war, and to establish on a solid basis the peace of nations."

NEEDLESS MULTIPLICATION OF SOCIETIES.

Mr. Frederick Sessions has published some timely remarks on the needless and objectionable multiplication of societies having the same objects, whether in relation to Peace, Temperance, or Opium. He says:-"The multiplication of organisations is become quite a curse to our moral reformations. The same givers and the same speakers are applied to, over and over again, by Societies having the same objects, but too often having jealousies against each other.'

GREAT BRITAIN AND PORTUGAL.

At length another agreement has been signed between Great Britain and Portugal, by which the respective boundary claims of the African possessions of the two countries are peacefully agreed to. By this convention Portugal re

ceives a concession of 50,000 square miles, north of the Zambesi, in addition to her other claims. The Pall Mall Gazette severely blames Lord Salisbury for being too conciliatory towards Portugal and for conceding more than there was any call for. But any rate this extreme, if it be such, is better than the reverse would have been.

AUSTRALIA.

The Sydney Echo recently had a leading article in support of the principles of the Peace Society, in which the Editor remarks that "One of the great fears of the Colonies has been that they may be drawn into a European, or some other war, in which they can have no interest. The Peace party altogether must be very strong in its members, scattered throughout the civilised nations of the earth, and to these may be added very nearly, if not quite, the whole of the population of the Colonies of Australasia. It has been calculated that during the present century out of every pound of the national taxes in Great Britain 16s. 31d. have been expended on war, or the preparation for war, and only 3s. 8d. on civil government. Among the nations on the Continent of Europe the comparison must be even more startling, and it may be considered quite certain that there is no desire in Australia to emulate the Great Powers in this respect."

THE GERMAN EMPEROR ON DUELLING.

The young Emperor of Germany has said some excellent things in favour of Peace, but last month at Bonn, under the temporary excitement of a students' beer party, he indulged in some very unwise remarks about duelling, and exclaimed:-" It is my firm conviction that every youth who enters a corps, or beer-drinking and duelling club, will receive the true direction of his life from the spirit which prevails in them. It is the best education which a young man can get for his future life, and he who scoffs at the German students' corps does not penetrate their real meaning. I hope that as long as there are German corps students, the spirit which is fostered in their corps, and which is steeled by strength and courage, will be preserved, and that you will always take delight in handling the duelling-blade." It is customary in England, when persons make silly speeches at banquets, to ascribe this want of discretion to the wine, but in this instance it seems to have been the beer. And the young monarch's words have provoked a smile, at his own expense, throughout Europe.

THE MANIPUR BLUnder.

The more the Manipur disaster is looked into, the more it appears to have been a blunder and a crime, on the part of the British authorities in the neighbouring territory. However, the English Agent has paid the penalty with his own life. But now, to make matters still worse, the Chief Commissioner of Burmah has offered rewards, which look very much like "blood money," for the capture of the Regent, the Senaputty, and certain generals and other officials of Manipur. These rewards painfully suggest incitements to assassination. It is so far satisfactory to observe that even some journals favourable to the Government have strongly protested against this procedure.

THE NISMES PEACE SOCIETY.

The Nismes Peace Society, the office of which is at 1, Rue Duguesclin, Nîsmes, France, has published the third issue of its quarterly bulletin. The Society invites papers discussing these two points :-1. The pacific results of the French Revolution. 2. Ought future Peace Congresses,

and especially the one to be held at Rome this year, w omit from their debates all discussions upon international politics; or ought they not, on the contrary, resolutely to grapple with these subjects? The first of these topies. "The pacific results of the French Revolution," will probably suggest a very unexpected and curious idea to the friends of Peace generally.

THE MILITARY PARLIAMENTARY CAUCUS.

The military Members of Parliament, in connection with their systematic organisation for putting "pressure" upot the Government, have been collecting information respecting the alleged grievances of the Purchase Officers; in order to ventilate these in the House, and to influence the Ministry. It would be a very interesting circumstance if it could be announced that, in like manner, the Members of Parliament favourable to Peace, Arbitration, and Retrenchment, were similarly organising united action in order to exercise " pressure upon the Government.

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FRENCH AND ENGLISH.-ENTENTE CORDIALE !

A very pleasing example of peace heroism, on the part of Lord Charles Beresford, commander of the British warship "Undaunted," took place last month, off the stormy coast of Palestine, near Jaffa. A French war-ship, the Seigneley," ran aground, and seemed likely to become a total wreck. Lord C. Beresford came to the rescue in boats, and with the help of both British and French sailors -and by determined work night and day, with a steel wire hawser and fifteen shackles of chain cable, they floated the French vessel in fifty-two hours. The French and English worked vigorously together. Twenty-four hours later, arrived the French Levantine squadron, expecting to find their countrymen wrecked, but finding them instead well afloat, and little worse for what had happened. Such hearty international union in a good work is infinitely better than the rivalry of a sea-fight.

THE INTER-PARLIAMENTARY PEACE CONFERENCE AT Rome.

Mr. Philip Stanhope, M.P. has received a letter from Signor Bonghi, the president of the executive committee to which have been entrusted the arrangements in connection with the forthcoming Inter-Parliamentary Peace Conference. The present idea is that the gathering shall take place in Rome early in November. Signor Bonghi states that the general committee, now in process of reconstitution, has been joined by about half the Members of the Italian Chamber, and that this number is expected to be considerably increased. Signor Villari, who was one of the Italian delegates in London last year, will not be able to act on the executive committee because he is now a member of the Cabinet. The executive committee, which consists of Signor Bonghi and fourteen other Italian Senators and members, are at present engaged in drafting resolutions to be submitted to the Conference. In view of the growing importance of the question, a motion will probably be brought forward making the general committee a permanent body. Signor Bonghi is also the President of the Committee for organising the Peace Congress at Rome, which will be held just before the Conference.

EASTERN AFRICA.

Captain E. C. Hore, of the London Missionary Society, who, as an unarmed traveller in Eastern Africa, has borne practical testimony to his love of Peace, is delivering a course of lectures on that Continent in Kensington Town

Hall. He is strongly opposed to the mode of dealing with the natives adopted by some recent explorers, and has, on the contrary, studiously avoided conflicts and exercised a conciliatory policy towards the tribes with whom he has come in contact.

ANNUAL MEETING OF MEMBERS OF THE

PEACE SOCIETY.

The Annual business Meeting of the Members of the Peace Society was held at the Office, 47, New Broad Street, London, E.C., on Tuesday morning, May 19th, 1891, Mr. Thomas Snape, C.C., of Liverpool, in the chair.

Amongst those present were the following :-Mr. James Henderson, of Glasgow (H.M. Inspector of Factories), Rev. James Freestone, Staleybridge, Rev. Wm. Mottram, London, Mr. Wm. E. Corner, of Hackney, Mr. William Holmes, London, Mr. William Tallack (Secretary of the Howard Association), Mr. Mark Howarth, Liverpool, Mr. Thomas Crosfield, Liverpool, Mr. William Pollard, of Manchester, Mr. John Gill, Falmouth, Mr. George Singer, Clapton, Mr. T. Morgan Harvey, London, Mr. William Dyne, London, Mr. Evan Watkins, Clapton, and Mr. Augustus Diamond, London.

The SECRETARY (Mr. WM. EVANS DARBY) read the Annual Report and Balance Sheet of the Society, together with a List of the Committee and Officers of the Society.

The CHAIRMAN (Mr. THOMAS SNAPE) said that one of the greatest pleasures that he experienced in attending previous meetings of the Society was in listening to the Annual Reports prepared by the late Mr. Henry Richard, M.P.; but he thought Mr. Darby had now given them one quite as interesting, being a very complete survey of the Peace movement during the year. It is extremely gratifying that in the political movements of the past year, which might have led to international strife, there has been manifested by statesmen an increasing desire to have resort to Arbitration for the adjustment of international disputes. This has especially been shown in the difficulties with Portugal and Newfoundland, and in reference to the Behring's Sea Fisheries.

The Peace Society is fully justified in its claim to have leavened the public mind with a growing respect for Arbitration, instead of the contempt with which it was formerly regarded. The London Congress, and the wide adoption of a "Peace Sunday," are also very encouraging events of the past year.

The Chairman then referred to the recent failure of the Russian Government to raise a loan, as being an instructive circumstance to the friends of Peace. For the refusal of the Messrs. Rothschild to aid that loan was immediately followed by a great sense of relief in Europe, because it was felt that if the sinews of war were withheld from Russia, the outbreak of strife would become more difficult. For nearly all foreign loans are means of facilitating wars.

Sympathetic allusions were made by the speaker to the earnest labours of Mr. John Gill for the young, and also to the recent death of their friend, Mr. Henry Catford. Mr. Snape concluded by moving "That the Report now read, together with the Balance-Sheet, be adopted and presented to the public meeting this evening."

Mr. WILLIAM POLLARD seconded the Resolution, which was carried unanimously. He thought that the reply to the frequent question, "What has the Peace Society achieved?" was plainly shown by the very pacific attitude of the British Government.

Mr. SINGER referred to the recent excellent Peace sermon preached in a metropolitan church, by Canon Scott-Holland, as indicating a great advance in clerical interest in the cause. He also thought that it was very important to encourage local efforts on behalf of the Peace Sunday.

Rev. WM. MOTTRAM expressed regret at the melancholy events which have recently taken place at Manipur; but he was thankful for the year's work of the Peace Society, which he regarded as very encouraging.

The CHAIRMAN drew attention to the falling off in the Society's subscriptions, which were nearly £800 less than last

year. This is a very serious feature, and must tend to a curtailment of needful operations unless further support be forthcoming.

Mr. THOMAS CROSFIELD moved the second Resolution, viz. : "That the gentlemen whose names have now been read, constitute the Committee and Officers of the Society for the coming year." He would like to see more young people devoting themselves to the cause, for they could hardly devote themselves to a better one. In Liverpool, the Boys' Brigade has been a source of much anxiety to the friends of Peace. Although the motives of its promoters may be sincere and well-intentioned, yet the effect on the boys is very objectionable. The opinions of high military authorities are very favourable to these Boys' Brigades. This fact in itself shows the real tendency of the movement, which is to train and increase the number of young soldiers. A Conservative Churchman had recently expressed to him his feeling of disgust at some of the proceedings of the Brigades. Mr. JAMES HENDERSON seconded the Resolution, which was carried unanimously.

The SECRETARY (Mr. W. E. DARBY) read certain proposed slight modifications in the rules relative to affiliated societies, which had been approved by the Executive Committee.

Mr. MARK HOWARTH moved "That the proposed new Rules in relation to affiliated societies, now read, be and are hereby, adopted."

He referred with pleasure to the great activity of Mr. Darby during the past year. He hoped that the subject of the teaching of History in Schools and Colleges, with reference to the principles of Peace, might receive increased attention from the Secretary and the Society.

Mr. JOHN GILL seconded the Resolution, which was agreed to.

Mr. WILLIAM E. CORNER proposed, Mr. POLLARD seconded, and it was agreed by the Meeting, to refer to the consideration of the Committee the reduction of the terms of membership in the Society, so that every subscriber should be regarded as a member.

Mr. HOWARTH moved, Mr. CROSFIELD seconded, and it was agreed also to invite the Committee to consider whether some other large centre than London can suitably be selected for the holding of the annual meetings.

The CHAIRMAN (Mr. SNAPE) thought that it would be a very great mistake to change the place of mecting away from London.

The SECRETARY read the Resolutions to be submitted to the Public Meeting in the evening, and they were approved.

A cordial vote of thanks to Mr. Snape, as Chairman, concluded the proceedings.

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PEACE SOCIETY 1890-1.

On the 14th of June, 1891, the Peace Society will have completed its seventy-fifth year. For three-quarters of a century, therefore, it has been pursuing its work, proving itself to have been one of the factors which have been active in the making of modern history, and establishing its consequent claim to the sympathy and support of all who have at heart the welfare of the nations and peoples of the globe.

PROGRESS OF THE CAUSE.

During that period the cause of permanent and universal Peace has been making appreciable, if sometimes it has seemed to be intermittent, progress. Year after year there has been a readier recognition of the principles of justice and humanity which underlie and inspire the work of the Society, and a lessening disposition to consider its aims and teaching as visionary and Utopian, and its application of Christianity as impracticable. To-day the churches of Christendom are awake to the importance of the subject, as they have not been for many centuries, while the principle of International Arbitration has been adopted by statesmen with growing frequency, has become a standing topic of political discussion, and has been admitted to a foremost position in political programmes.

The changes of theological and religious thought, which have

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