New-York tribune., 1875-10-13
INTERNATIONAL LAW.

STANDING ARAIEs-THE RIGHTS or NEUrRAl&-
INTERNATIONAL QUESTIONS AFFECTING COM
MERCE .-r
frpom SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT or THE TRIsUNg.l
The HAGUE, Sept. 13.-It will now be IN
order for me TO state what the Association for ie-
forming and codifying tho law of nations has done
and is likely to do. As stated already the members
of the Association have practically divided them
selves into two distinct classes, namely the pubilc
international jursts and the private international
iurists To the former belong likewise a very active
and useful peace party, including among their num-
Der several clerical gentlemen whilo the latter IN
clude of note, eminent jursts and judges, whose
names appear among the officers of the Association
Indeed it is the presence of these names which has
given such exceptional prominence to the proceed
inps attbe Hague and has been mainly instrumental
in attracting the notice Of the press The programme
If the Hague Conference contains a series OF SUD-
iects upon which the public had been inl ited TO
furnish papers. l cannot do better th'h ioHoW
the order given in this document as my guide III
making synopsis Of the proceedings.
The inst question was brought before the Confer
cnce by Henry Richard, NJ. p, the "oi-known
leader of the powerful and active eaco party in En-
gland In his paper entitled Z" The limitSof arDi-
,ration for the settlement of international disputes"
MIR Richard assumes that all differences between
nations arc capable of friendly adjustment. tic
forpcts hoyever-and those who deal with coditca-
tion and the formation Of international tribunals
fall into tho same error-that there are questions
betveen nations which cannot be referred TO others
for settlement such as the late question OF the
secession Of the Southern States, or the pohticai
snrr,macy of France OF Germany. 1t follows that
if matters of vital interest cannot be rcierrch the
the use of arbitration is only matter OF conVe-
nicuce and the twenty instances which have hap
rened within the last fifteen years and wercs OFTEN
cited l,v the speaker, prove nothing 1t Is III 1act
IDLE TO assert that feelings of humanity on molailE
influence the Governments OF the presen DAY more
than in former years. The question OF war vi peace
has become question OF money ana lEin'&N re-
sources. Both Kings and Presidents hence ma IL
,bsontelv necessary TO consider the cXpcdency OF
sacrificing men and money unless tho interests a'
stake Justify tho cost. Numerous cases wiil from
time TO time arise which must be referred
md will in all future time he adjusted by court ol
arbitrators For the settlement of these differences
il may be as well 10 establish a high tribunal ana
perhaps following the ingenious suggestion Of Sr'
H. Sprague UNITED Statesl, create voluntary court
in the first instance elected by the parties diSPu-
tant with ultimate appealtO q supreme mixed inter
national tribunal. A power more effective than all
moral persuasion, the law Of expodioncy, VIII III
future rclegate all these minor questions to courts OF
reference but to talk of utopan happiness OF end
ing wars by reference. and 10 point to the last ~
vears experience rs the result of the action OF the
paace party is utterly erroneous. This heopponents
of the public international law party feel ami hence
voted linswervingly against the many propositions
uut forward by DR.. Miles. Mr. III. Richard ana their
friends.
The question of the delays and fornalities to be
observed before engaging in offensive war was
strongly enough put forward for consideration by
the same party In modern days no formalitles are
IA fact observed, and to hamper intending beiser-
.nts bv DELAYS such as by analogy are observed in
legal processes, is indeed stretching point.
The delicate and dangerous ground of European
ornaments was touched upon with singular want oi
tact. Indeed this matter ought never, however III
tercstng to have been brought before the meeting
The answer of the Germans to the disarmament
theory is very curt I" Change" say they, our
geographical position, and we Will alter our army
organization" sterncr answer was given by Dr.
Nuntschi who in his written replies to questions
admitted by the American Code Committee, al but
sneeringly answered that the only limit to national
army wa. the physical power OF a race, and that an
army was not only necessary but useful These
words Of Dr. Bluntschi are Of exceptional s.gnh-
c,ncc for they may be accepted as the expressions
Of Prince Bismarck, uttered al meeting which
pretends to further peace.
Following these questions Prof. Leon Lew sub
mtted well written essay ON the nights OF neutlais
which touched the question of the supply of armed
buna reference. Within the same class of subject
matters was that of the of war, pOpulory re-
pardcd as within the province of the Rrussas Con-
ference The essentially political character of these
discussions was no doubt objectionable, though IN
themselves they proved Of exceptional interest Ad-
mittinc war rs unavoidable, Is war to be struggle
between races, or merely an armed duel OF trained
furcesf If tire latter then the most powerful and
only arm Great Britain possesses VIII be taken rom
l..4,, iron la.la lac
deemed of vital importance while the destruction Oh
the trade and mercantile marine of people Is
ycspon which strikes at the very heart strength
Of people An opinion prevails that the great NIL
ary pOwors OF Europe intend 70 enforce tins on the
Government of England. How they are to succeed
v,itbout European war am at loss understand.
turn from these all-absorbing questions to those
within the legitimate limits of private international
law No one acquainted with the vast and ever
extending commercial intercourse between the
different countries pcopcd by the Aryan races, but
will admit that the time has for the establish
inc of common rules Of condUct, rules defining tine
RIGHTS of the individuals composing the different
nationalities This convection appears to have ani-
mated not only those who attended the Conference,
bu, the press and the legal and commercial public
OF Europe, and | am convinced VIII Ikewls, COM
Inand the attention OF the educated classes of
the United States. glance at the subject matters
submitted at the Hague Conference may aid IN
pointing out the Importance of these questions
which deeply affect commercial interests. Thus
the extradition question Is one which is pressing
,pon the attention of the Cabinets and courts of
law of every civilized country. That these questions
should have been brought forward by the Dutch
Committee. who had deputcd ". Carninck Lefting,
Honorary Vice-President and judge Of the Supreme
Conrt of the Netherlands. and Mg. de Pinto Chief