| Show DECLARATIONS OF WAR WARA A tt on law nt at recently adopted a II resolution urging the recognition by all nil civilized nations of ot the tho obligation of govern gOun governments ments Involved In disputes dl to tD declare war formally before commencing actu attu actual al III hostilities This Thin would be a good rule It if It could be enforced nut Hut often the tho government really responsible ble Ule for tor the broach breach nf ot the thu peace does doel not wire oare to shoulder r the time responsibility and so ao tries to make It appear that Ilk Ita lL attack Is but an In act of ot defense defence When two powers about to engage In u a I are Ir as us IL It were ere Jockeying for tor the lion of oC the attacked part parly there can be no 10 formal declaration of war var only n It proclamation making it known knowlI that It u stub stale of war exists Itu h complained of at Japans sudden Hudden attack upon tipon Port lort Arthur anti and 1 In m 1904 ut nay nn other warning Hum thull the departing of at the tho Japanese minister tram front St Ht t Poter The tact fact Is I however er that for several years Japan had prepared for that war var Eer ver Mice stepped in between bpI China Japan and anul took from tim the latter the most important fruits of ot its itA victory the time war of at revenge was Wa planned Russia could not have been ben benIn In Ignorance of at this The Japanese e eth themselves th els did dl not conceal lonceal their In Intentions Their magazine writers pre pro predicted the time war years yearn before It came and Bussian diplomats must mutt have hae had hud Inside Information that left the un III of or the tIme government with without out Jut excuse e If It the rule had prevailed II ell that a formal declaration of ot war tsar must precede hostilities It Is pos 1101 possible sible Ible that the war would not Mt have come For Russia nu h would had time to make further lurther promises con concerning corning the tho evacuation of ot Manchuria and auml by such promises the war might 1111 been heui delayed In the th meantime would have hac been preparing for Cor forthe Corthe forthe the tray fray fra and Rud perhaps Japan Jarn could have been blen Induced to submit the contra contro veray to the Hague Tribunal It is doubtful whether wh the suggestion of ot the conference will bo III gen generally en 11 accepted though Its III affects un undoubtedly In would be 11 to restrain to some lome extent ext tilt the tIm war tiers dogs Governments that prefer an aim appeal to arms to a R submission on to lo reason anil argument ate all not likely to surrender the prerogative aU of ot commencing war ur In any an man manner tier ner ROd and by h 1 any An methods that may seem fICO of ot If advantage to 10 them As All long lomi as there Is ao so power to enforce Into the Ito pro of ot International law Ian In hot bat law lawwill will 1111 nN as often orten be 1 1 broken as nil not |
