Show PUPILS WILL HEAR i 1 POWERFUL PLEA FOR PEACE 2 i Principals of all public schools in in Salt Lake will read to eighth grade pupils on May 18 a Strong letter Jetter written by Fannie Fern Andrews Andrews An- An I An-I drews secretary of the American School chool Peace league This will be done doneRt at Rt the request of Superintendent D. D H H. Christensen Exercises es will be held on that day dllY in commemoration of Peace Day The letter follows k 1 To the he Teachers of the United ed States With two Thirds or of r the worM world at w War war ar why should should we wo observe P Peace ace Day ay For Par a dozen years past thA schools of this thus country and of other countries have ave set aside May 18 for the purpose of concentrating attention n on the sig sig- significance of the work of the Hague Haguel l Peace ace conference But with the threatened threatened threatened threat threat- ened breakdown of civilization In Europe Europe Eu- Eu rope i today the manhood of the nations sl shattered scattered homes ruined productive en energy energy en- en en ergy ergy diverted to the one task of kUll killing killing kill kUl- l ing g does It not appear that the peace conference e is out of Joint with th the times Under the circumstances would it not be well to suspend the customary reference to this e event ent this year Quite the contrary the system of ot J law w which the Hague conference stands for o offers fers the only hope to war strick en Europe This his common tribunal Is Is the e only light upon the horizon on and It Itis itis II is the duty of us all to keep this light burning The opening of the first Hague peace conference y on n May 18 1899 1890 is is without doubt the starting point and tile center of int international progress This conference Is la described I by International jurists and Md statesmen I as the beginning of a new epoch for or international international in- in law and international rela rela- tl ns This and the second Hague c conference conference con con- n- n ference which met on June 3 15 I OJ have forced the recognition recognition-of Or the principles prin- prin that the establishment of equitAble equitable equitable equit equit- able law Is an essential to the realization realization U tion n of peace Moreover the the achievements achievements achieve chieve- ments of ot these conferences have haV impressed impressed impressed im im- pressed the world with the possibility and the desirability of making the practice of civilized nations conform to their peaceful professions The hope of civilization lies In the progressive effort which has given to the family of nations the germ genn of an international law making body Law is the only s substitute for war Signs of Progress The present is s not a time for hope for hopeless hopeless hope hope- hope hope- less lees dejection In spite of the momento momentous momentous moment- moment o ous s struggle across the water which s' s seems seems ems to tc demonstrate th the overturning o of of international law Upon close examination ex examination ex- ex we see si signs ns oo of very great pr progress gresa Almost all th the European powers proposed recourse to to the Hague tribunal or to a conference of interested powers to avoid war and hen this was not successful every belligerent bel bel- 1 government without exception published its reasons for going to war a according to the Hague convention This appeal to the public opinion of mankind has no historic precedent I Never Neves before have the nations on sucha such a al abroad broad scale sought to j justify their actions at the bar of this tribunal Our task Is to strengthen public opinion which is the only practicable s sanction for international law Nothing Nothing Nothing Noth Noth- ing Is more conspicuous In the present war than the sensitiveness of the belli bel- bel li rent to the charges of violations of treaties aties and the established law law- of ria- ria lions No breach of international law lawIn lawIn lawin In this war will pass unnoticed Tie c combined combined action of modern powers represented chiefly by the Hague conferences con con- has developed this sense of responsibility a r a great step in world w progress and It is not a mere supposition supposition supposition suppo suppo- to expect that one outcome of oftie tie Hc conference will be bethe bethe the recognition that violation of international international inter inter- national law is a legal injury to every everyn n nation The The present sensitiveness should develop into conscience so th that t the peace which ends this unfortunate war and the means taken to prevent the violation of its terms will make a anew anew new flew new era in international relations This peace leaCe which follows the the Peace 9 pt gf Westphalia in 1648 the Peace of Utrecht In 1713 and the Treaty of I Vh Vienna in 1815 1816 the three celebrated causes of combined European action action- should hould usher In an era of law which as ss Mr Root says will constrain nations to conduct based upon principles of Justice and World Court Ideal This sh should uld be the great step for for- ward This This' Ms is the only compensation for the terrible interruption of the processes of civilization Should not the celebration of Peace Day this year clothe with new significance the meaning by x f arbitration m mediation In- In investigation and conciliation for preventing preventing pre pre- venting enting destructive warfare One might well include In this observance a description of the permanent court courto o of arbitration at The Hague and show its effectiveness In settling the fifteen Important cases cages which have been taken before it since 1902 The formation of ofa ofa ofa a real world court so nearly accomplished accomplished at the second Hague con conference conference confer confer- r- r ence should a also so be emphasized as an an n ideal for which the world worM has hoped and waited A Peace Day exercise In the schools this year offers a great op- op to take note of these solid soUd foundations of law and order and above all to point to the underlying spirit of operation co-operation and will good-will which has haS' brought the world to the present stage of unification Insofar as this spirit persists persists will civilization achieve its ideals Of ot all the institutions working for tor forthe the unification of mankind the school stands first On those therefore who administer education In this critical at time rests the responsibility of preserving preserving pre pre- serving and advancing those ideals for which all civilized nations should strive and especially have the teachers teachers teach- teach i ers ers of this nation a nation founded on democracy universal brotherhood and good twill swill an important and responsible ble part to play The observance of ot May lay 18 this year offers one means of stimulating the desire for law Jaw and order Shall ShaH not tl the e teacher teachers of the United State States take advantage bf this and every other opportunity for spreadIng spreading spread- spread Ing Ing- the eternal ideas of justice and ana humanity |