New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-07-28

BRUSSELS. Monday, july q. 1874
The International Congress convened at noon TO-
aay and sat an hour. Baron Jomini was chosen
President IL was decided that the sittipgs should
be held with closed doors. The Congress adjourned
until Thursday. A grand banquet viii be given
T. the delegates tomorrow.
Ii is stated that Russia only desires the Congress
assembled here to consider certain points of its pro-
gramme she does not insist on the adoption OF the
whole.
NJ Borchgrave. Secretary of the Belgian Minister
of Foreign Affairs has been appointed Secretary of
the Congress.
SOME OF THE QUESTIONS TO BE DISCUSSED
EXPORTS OF THE EMPEROR OF RUSSIA TO AMEL-
1oRArR THE CONDITION OF PRISONERS OF WAR
LAWS or SEA WARFARE AND THE RIGHTS OF
NEUTRALs-sOME OF THE MEANS OF WARFARE
FAVORED AND OTHERS OPPOSED BY RUSSIA.
IFROMAS OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
BERLIN. July 1O.-The relations between Austria
and Russia are Just now puzzle to all European
ponticians The Grand Duke Constantine has just
returned to ST. Petersburg from special mission 10
Vienna. and the Archduke Albrecht of Costozza
fame Is expected to-day at Warsaw, where he will
meet the Emperor Of Russia, and take part IN the
,eyiews, and subsequently return with him 10 81.
Petersburg where he viii remain some three weeks.
mnch more has been said about the journey of the
merted. The military orders of knighthood play
much greater part in the Eastespecialy in countries
which were originally ruled BY them-than IN the
West and the anniversaries of the Order OF st.
George are more respected than those OF the carter
or Legion of Honor. The Grand Duke was sent by
the Emperor Alexander 10 congratulate the Lmpe-
rnr Francis Joseph on the 18th anniversary OF his
having won the Cross of St. George, which is only
gwen for bravery in actual conflict The occasion
of his winning II II is true the battle OF RaaO,
against the Hungarian rcvOlutiOnists; but we must
not for moment suppose that the Russian Emperor
had any. desire 10 renew the remembrance of the
battle That might inGeed offend the Hungarians.
Oh. no, he only wished TO call TO mind the great
bravery of the Emperor on that occasion.
The minds OF most people however, are turned AZ
the present moment TO Brussels. where an InteTna-
tionai Congress win meet on the 27th of July 10
discuss new rules Of war. The humane disposition
Of the Emperor Of Russia is well known. The
Geneva Convention for the treatment of sick and
wounded in time of war received his ready concur
renee aud he was the trst to propose the abolition
of explosive ride bullets. which was agreed TO by
most of the Powers of Europe. When. therefore,
the OriCInatOrs of the Geneva Convention proposed
20 extend that institution so far as 70 amelorate the
lot If prisoners of war and Gen. dHoudelot drew
ND a project for agreeing on international measures
on NS -uNltfl. littN lplliu Il ltdul ouPp'iN Al
Russian Government which itself had been engaged
III a work tending to the same end. The project OF
Gen. d'HOudetOt was IN a great measure incorpo-
rated in that which was being prepared at the
Russian War Office. and when the society known as
the Universal Alliance-whose chief aim was TO
render wars less bloody and less cruel. winch had
leen Greatly sneered at especially in England-pre-
scented an address 70 the Emperor on his visit TO
I,ondou IL was most cordially received, somewhat
IN the establishment of the world. II was not until
o,e time afterward that it became known that the
Russian Government had already presented PROJECT
of an International Congress at Brussels on
tins same subject. The idea of a Congress
Was Immediately accepted by most of the nations OF
Accommodating Germany and France, Italy and
Austria-some OF whom had already had some slight
negotiations on tins subject. Certain occurrences
in the late war were remembered by all, and more
especially bv the Powers engaged IN II. France
naturally wished that some things winch they
qualified by the name of barbarous should be pre-
vented in future-such placing hostages IN front
of railway trains and the treatment OF the popula-
ton Of provinces temporarily occupied. Germany
on the other hand was anxious 20 sanction gor-
our treatment of Invaded provinces. and, by making
war more terrible 70 the populations, desired to
render Ms occurrence more difficult. There was at
the same time a feeling that possibly among the
Continental States, and especially IN Germany, TINS
occasion might De used TO restrict 70 some extent the
lights of mar time States not OUy IN time OF war
but especially when they were neutrais III Is true
that even before this. some of these Powers, ana
.speeiallv Germany. bad made representations on
tie subieet and although the Congress as proposed
by Russia only looked the establishment OF rules
"a regulate land warfare, il soon became oovious
that questions Of sea warfare would come into the
discussion.
England. of course took fright at this. She has
always been the most powerful nation on the sea-
and the laws OF sea warfare and those which regard
the rights OF neutr.ls have been land down by her
Cabinet OF In her Admiralty Courts knowing that
sbe was una Die 20 raise especially large land force
10 wage a successful war with any strong nation on
the Continent she was DESTROYS OF retaining 10 the
utmost all the rights and usages OF maritime war
The Government, therefore, held aloof from the
uroiect and treated il with considerable suspclon
and A. soon as the programmes announcing the
fact of the Congress were published In London pub
lie feeling declared itself very strongly against any
surrender of maritime rights. aud against any
change IN the rules which already existed Inns
Was very evident from the remarks OF Lord Denbgh
n the Hons. Of Lords and the reply OF Lord Derby
The latter said IN fact that England would not JON
IN a congress if any question relating TO maritime
war came into the discussion. and promised 10 nllt
the actou Of England in any case to simply sending
agents who would report the proceedings OF the
Congress 10 the English Government, but VINO woulu
be ID no manner furnished with full powers for the
discussion and settlement of questions.
The rule. of maritime war had little interest lor
Rns.ia inasIoucb as her commercial marine IS very
small ana the blockade of her ports III case OF war
81 nil