--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Tanner, Joseph M. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 10 number: 10 published: 1907-08 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Joseph M. Tanner, "The Peace Congress and War," *Improvement Era* 10, no. 10 (August 1907): 810–812.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera10010unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera10010unse start_page: 810 end_page: 812 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1907-08) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera10010unse publication_year: 1907 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1907, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # The Peace Congress and War THE PEACE CONGRESS AND WAR. BY DR. JOSEPH M. TANNER. The Peace Congress, now sitting at the Hague, is taken much more seriously by the civilized world than its predecessor, and the congress takes itself more seriously, Before it opened, a consider- able effort was made in the United States to create a strong pub- lic sentiment in favor of peace among the nations of the earth. In Europe little public spirit was manifested, and even in the United States the women were its more' numerous, as well as its more enthusiastic, advocates. While the people are talking uni- versal peace and brotherhood, — the abolition of war, — the con- gress itself and the governments it represents are thinking more of its regulations in conformity with the progress of civilization, how to make it more humane. Arbitration, to be sure, is advo- cated by governments who see a means of adjusting inter- national difficulties more promptly as well as a means of removing commercial obstacles. As a matter of fact, these peace con- gresses are formulating the rules of the game of war. Thought- ful men have some serious apprehensions of coming events, and would regulate the approaching conflicts. It is true, there has been some little agitation in favor of dis- armament, or of making the present standing armies a limitation beyond which the nations should agree not to go. Great Britain was in favor of such an understanding, and prompted Italy to pro. pose it; but the movement was intercepted by Germany, who was disposed to censure Italy, one of its allies, for even entertaining such a thought. Italy cannot support a navy of any importance, and its army is gradually diminishing; in fact, however large it may look on paper, Great Britain is in the condition of the boy THE PEACE CONGRESS AND WAR. 811 who has won his sack full of marbles and is ready to go home. What is left to win is not worth a serious loss. As long as there are treasures worth fighting for, the game of war will go on. Great Britain is really the only great power in Europe that has all it wants; its policy is henceforth really only one of defense. That policy acounts for its activity of late years in the creation of alliances with Japan, and with France and Spain. It would also now welcome disarmament. The other nations of Europe have an unfinished program. It's very hard to stop in the middle of a game. Then, war has taken on a fascination by the growth of its science and the wonders of its art. The strenuous efforts to reg- ulate and modify the rules of fighting, are evidences of its ex- pected advent. The last peace conference was the forewarning of the greatest war of modern times. People are naturally won- dering whether the present cry for peace is begotten of a fear of calamities to come. The arguments are in favor of peace, and if man were purely a rational being there would be little doubt about the triumph of the peace movement. It is estimated that during the last century there were some- thing like forty wars among the civilized races, that in these wars more than twelve billion dollars were expended and five million men killed. Few of these were the result of commercial differ- ences; but of late years the rapid growth of commerce has given rise to the dangers of an armed conflict. The great na- tions of the world are grappling for commercial supremacy. It will not be hard to convince men that war thus becomes a struggle for existence. Even now, while the Hague conference is in session, the news- papers of the United States and Europe are speculating over a war between the United States and Japan. Such speculations, from the cause that give rise to them, might be treated as idle fancies, were not the leading statesmen of both Japan and this country constantly arising to give assurances that such a thing as war between the two countries is impossible. The causes are mere trifles compared with the serious consequences which such a war would bring about. The Hague conference may succeed in defining contraband and establish the principle that hostility shall not begin till war has 812 IMPROVEMENT ERA. been declared. It is not at all likely that it will consider the ques- tion of reducing armaments. It may establish the principle of arbitration on certain questions. As one reads the discussions and interviews of its members, the thought is forced upon one that its mission is rather to regulate future wars than to prevent them. Meanwhile preparations are going on, and there is growing at the same time a strange philosophy, that the best means of preserving peace is to be prepared for war. Men do not acquire a profession without a fixed purpose to profit by it. As the militant spirit grows in the army of a country, it finds its way into the life of the civilians. While the Hague congress will undoubtedly modify beneficially the rules of war, it is no less true that it will also serve to keep fresh in the minds and discussions of the people the sub- ject of war. A nation's thoughts and words sooner or later mate- rialize, and whatever keeps alive the thought of war contributes to its causes. It would be strange, indeed, if in years to come the historian should enumerate as one of the causes leading to war in the twentieth century the existence of the Hague congresses. The congresses, be it remembered, are not discussing peace so much as they are discussing war and its limitations. A declaration at the Hague today of principles establishing unqualified peace among the nations of the earth would be laughed at. That great international body is not discussing ways and means for the cessation of war. It is rather formulating the rules of the game. In the words of our great secretary of state— "we must not expect too much." Salt Lake City, Utah.