and opportunity will be afforded your Congress to attend this exposition and in addition to transacting the business of the Congress also see the new San Francisco which has arisen from the destruction of 1906 a better and greater city than before and will, we think, prove an incentive to a large attendance at the Congress."

I also have here a letter from the Convention League which I do not deem it necessary to read, but simply inform you that this invitation from the secretary of the Convention League of San Francisco is of like import with those already read. And again in the name of our new city and in the name of the Golden State of the West, in the name of the best and highest interests of humanity, we invite you to join us at San Francisco in 1915 in the greatest Peace Congress ever held in America. (Applause.)

MR. MEAD:

I am sure that this Congress greatly appreciates this generous invitation which has come to it to hold its next meeting in San Francisco. I do not think that any other invitation has come. We appreciate the honor and privilege very highly. In the division of labors in our great peace movement the arrangement for the National Peace Congress is assigned to the American Peace Society. I move you, sir, that, expressing gratitude for this invitation, we refer it with full powers to the Executive Committee of the American Peace Society, which will, of course, decide this matter very early that the friends, wherever this Congress may be held, may be apprised.

SENATOR BURTON:

You have heard the motion that the invitation be referred to the Executive Committee of the American Peace Society. Are there any remarks upon that motion?

[Thereupon the motion was duly seconded and carried.]

SENATOR BURTON:

We will next listen to the report of the Committee on Resolutions.

SECRETARY TRUEBLOOD:

I have had the honor and the very laborious task of being the chairman of the Committee on Resolutions. That is why I am called upon to present to this body the resolutions which we are offering, as a platform and declaration rather than as resolutions. After I finish that there are two or three special resolutions.

PLATFORM OF THE FOURTH AMERICAN PEACE

CONGRESS.

1. The Fourth American Peace Congress assembled at St. Louis, May 1 to 3, 1913, and composed of delegates from the numerous Peace Societies, from other organizations interested in the cause, and of representative individuals, from this and other American states, records its sincere satisfaction at the substantial progress which the Movement for World Peace has made since the meeting of the Third Congress at Baltimore two years ago.

2. It particularly expresses its high appreciation of the unique services to the cause of international arbitration rendered by ex-President Taft in negotiating the treaties with Great Britain and France. These treaties constitute the high-water mark of the arbitration movement on its practical side, up to the present time, and the Congress records its deep regret that they were not ratified by the Senate with their full significance preserved.

3. Not less significant, the Congress recognizes, is the noteworthy enlargement and deepening of public sentiment, on the part of nearly all classes throughout the country, in favor of pacific settlement of all international controversies, as evidenced by the immense number of letters and memorials received by the Senators during the discussion of the Arbitration Treaties last year.

4. The Congress rejoices in the failure of the Militia Pay bill to become law, and urges the people of the nation to be on their guard against allowing any such system to be established, as will ultimately fasten on the nation a great and burdensome military establishment, like those of the Old

World, for which our great country has no conceivable need. We call upon all friends of peace to guard against the insidious efforts to extend military training in the schools and to make naval recruiting stations of our colleges and universities.

5. The Congress congratulates the country on the failure, for two years in succession, of the two-battleship program, believing that the nation is so completely protected by its geographical situation, the great strength of its people, and the universal friendship of the other nations, that it does not need to go any further in naval rivalry with the other powers.

6. The Congress respectfully urges upon the President of the United States the initiation, at the earliest practicable date, of negotiations for an international agreement, for not only the arrest of the current naval and military rivalry, but, also, for a simultaneous reduction of armament; that the peoples may be relieved from the heavy and exhausting burdens of taxation, under which they are now suffering.

7. The Congress has learned with much pleasure of the plan which President Wilson and Secretary Bryan have just announced, for securing treaties of unrestricted arbitration with not only Great Britain and France, but also with Germany and the other powers, and for the investigation, by a Commission of Enquiry, of the facts of any dispute which either of the parties may not consider proper for arbitration, before any steps are taken towards hostilities.

8. As it is expected that the Third Hague Conference will assemble in 1915, the Congress respectfully requests the President to appoint, without delay, a committee of not less than five persons, especially fitted by ability and international experience, for the task, to consider what proposals the United States shall present for the program of the Third Hague Conference.

9. It is the judgment of this Congress that the difference which has arisen between the governments of the United States and Great Britain, over the question of Panama tolls. should be disposed of by the prompt repeal by Congress of the provision in the Canal Act, for the exemption of vessels engaged in coastwise trade from the payment of toll. Failing

this, the controversy should be submitted without delay to the Hague Court for arbitration.

10. The Congress makes earnest appeal to the legislature and people of California and to the National Administration at Washington, to secure such just and impartial settlement of the question of alien ownership of land in the State as may not discriminate against the citizens of a great and friendly power, and turn a long standing historic friendship into enmity and friction for the future.

11. The Congress recognizes the vast importance, to the cause of good will and peace between nations and races, of early education in the principles of international justice and morality, the interdependence of peoples and races, and the co-operation of the nations for the promotion of the common good of humanity. It commends the aims and work of the Intercollegiate Peace Association, the American School Peace League, the Association of Cosmopolitan Clubs, and other bodies engaged in this fundamental work, including the various organizations of women, and bespeaks for them more generous sympathy and the larger financial support of which they are in urgent need.

12. The work of federating and affiliating the various peace organizations of the United States into a more unified and co-operative force, which has, since the Baltimore National Peace Congress, been well advanced through the National American Peace Society, has already resulted in increased activity, in the strengthening and enlargement of peace propaganda throughout the nation, and gives promise of much greater efficiency of the Peace Movement in the future. The Congress records its warm appreciation of the Federation of Peace Forces, and expresses the sincere wish that sufficient resources may be found to carry it forward to much greater completeness.

SECRETARY TRUEBLOOD:

That, Mr. Chairman, is the platform as the committee has approved it. You will notice that we have confined ourselves largely to certain important pressing questions. We have not gone on to adopt resolutions on a hundred subjects which we

are interested in. We felt it wiser in this Congress to strike directly at the things which ought to be done for the people of this nation and to decide what could be done without much delay. I submit this as the platform of Congress and move its adoption.

SENATOR BURTON :

What is the pleasure of the Congress?

[Thereupon the motion was duly seconded and carried.] SECRETARY TRUEBLOOD:

There are two or three special resolutions which are offered as expressing the sympathy and interest of the Congress but not as part of the platform and declaration.

"Resolved, That the schools, churches and other organizations interested in promoting world peace be urged to use as their banner on public days and occasions the national flag bordered with white.

"Resolved, That the President of this Congress satisfy himself of the conformity of this usage to the national provision concerning the flag and be authorized to suggest to the various countries, through their embassies at Washington, the promotion of similar usage in their respective countries; a white border around each nation's flag, being thus a symbol of international fellowship; a bordered flag the emblem at once of the nation and the fraternity of nations."

This is offered for an expression of your judgment.

SENATOR BUrton:

You have heard the resolution. What is your pleasure in regard to it?

[Upon motion duly seconded the resolution was adopted. ] SECRETARY TRUEBLOOD:

Here is another special resolution relating to the opiu traffic in China.

THE OPIUM TRAFFIC IN CHINA.

"The Congress rejoices at the remarkable success whic has been attained by the Government of China in its century