Letter From Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson to Charles Johnston, February 10, 1910

Authors

Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson

Document Type

Letter

Files

Date

2-10-1910

Keywords

Charles Johnston, International Prize Court, Hague Conference, Philander C. Knox, North American Review

Description

The document is a carbon copy of a typed letter from the Assistant Secretary of State to Charles Johnston concerning a potential article on foreign policy for The North American Review.

Sender

Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson

Recipient

Charles Johnston

Corresponds to:

Folder 1-10, Document 7

City

Washington, D.C.

Transcription

[Personal + Confidential]

February 10, 1910.

My dear Mr. Johnston:

Your letter of yesterday has just reached me. I am ashamed to realize that I have allowed six days to go by without returning your manuscript. I read it when it arrived, but have since been too overwhelmed to go over it again. In order that it might not be delayed I have seized an hour this evening to make in the text a few small alterations and one or two remarks, calling your attention to seemingly proper changes. I have also very hastily dictated paragraphs on five points, which, I think, you would wish to include in some form or another.

I think you have missed another point which is of great interest to a large body of American people. I refer to the Secretary's circular on a general court of arbitral justice at The Hague. You are, doubtless, familiar

Mr. Charles Johnston,
511 West 122nd Street,
New York City.

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with the idea. The general effect of this circular was this:- You know at the last Hague Conference it was sought to create an International Court of Prize. A difficulty was found in the fact that neither international law nor the municipal or administrative laws of the different countries were sufficiently in harmony to afford a definite body of law for the prize court to administer. Hence there was called the London Maritime Conference. Thereat there was adopted, ad referendum, a body of rules for the governance of a court of prize. These are now before the various governments for ratification. If they be ratified the present court would be a reality. That this will come about there is the greatest ground for hope. The circular proposes, looking to that eventuality, and that the jurisdiction of [such prize] court be extended to enable it to entertain international disputes. Thus we should have as a reality, to all intents and purposes, the general court of arbitral justice, for which peace advocates the world over have so long aspired. This is a great propaganda for peace which appeals to all lovers of peace, - classes of persons who often fail to reflect that some of the greatest works of peace are policies like the present

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application of the Far Eastern and Pan American policies of the United States.

I should think that with the materials you have you could polish up a very interesting article which would be just without being exaggerated in its praise of Mr. Knox's foreign policy, which I, doubtless prejudiced but still an old hand, think can be complimented but can hardly be flattered. My elisions, interlineations and suggested additions have been so hastily made that I must submit them with some apology, but with every confidence in your able protection of the reputation of the North American Review as well as your own.

With kind regards and apologies for my delay, I remain, my dear Mr. Johnston,

Yours sincerely,

[signature]

Language

English

Rights Statement

Please contact the Myrin Library Special Collections Department for permissions to use this document. https://www.ursinus.edu/library/archives-special-collections/

Recommended Citation

Huntington-Wilson, Francis Mairs, "Letter From Francis Mairs Huntington-Wilson to Charles Johnston, February 10, 1910" (1910). Other Correspondence. 204.
https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/fmhw_other/204