The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-05
Internat.onal conferences.

Intern attonal Conferences.
A recent despatch from London informed
us that the Russian government was earnestly
striving to induce England to take part in the
international Code Conference" to be held
at St Petersburg. Our readers will remem-
Der that some time since there was Confer
ence Of this character held in Brussels and an
effort made to reconstruct the laws of war.
Delegates attended from all the great Powers,
the English government only consenting to
be represented at the last moment and under
reserve. When the delegates came to discuss
the questions submitted to them by the Rus
sian government, under whose direct auspices
the Conference had been summoned, there
was found to be radical difference of opinion
upon almost every question of international
law SO far as it concerned military and naval
operations. The Germans, for instance, were
anxious to have law passed forbidding citi-
zens of any country to take up arms unless
they we're regularly in the army. The effect
OF this measure would be TO give additional
power to the standing armies Of Europe,
because it would subject the inhabitants
of an invaded country to treatment as
marauders and spies if they attempted
to defend their homes France and Eng
defence, in other words the right of
the inhabitants of town to suddenly rush to
arms ard defend it from an invading party,
was sacred, and that those who did such an
act OF patriotism without happening to be in
the regular service Of the country could not
be dealt with as marauders. The effect Of
such a law would have been to largely
strengthen the power Of Germany, espe-
cialy in dealing with q country like France.
Another objection was in reference to the
rights Of maritime nations. The Russian
government proposed law in reference to
the rights Of neutrals ON the sea, and limiting
the scope Of naval officers in the pursuit Of
maritime war. England, whose strength is
largely naval objected to any enactment that
would njure the usefulness Of that arm of
her service. Upon these two points the Con-
ference broke down, and Russia retired from
1t chagrined. but at the same time made an
effort to summon new one.
This new body is to meet in st. Peters
burg, and il will continue the discussions of
the Congress at Brussels. The purpose which
the Gar processes is to amend the interna-
tional laws so as TO assuage the horrors OF war.
England has thus far declined to take part in
the deliberations. The English statesmen
feel. no doubt, that they can have no interest
in common with the interests Of the Continent
on these matters. In England the standing
army forms but small portion Of the people
and there is large volunteer service. The
policy OF England is to depend upon q
small army but upon large navy, and to
trust its defence should ever the invader
come, to tho patriotism Of the people
at large. The policy Of the great Powers Of
the Continent is to recognize the army
as supreme to compel every abe-bodied citi-
zen to do military service TO deprecate any
policy that does not strengthen the military
\ spirit. As orr correspondent teegraphed rs,
the refusal Of England to take part in this
4 Conference will probably lead to ITS complete
4 abandonment. There could, Of course, be no
II conference Of a practical nature which did
not bind England, and England can have no
\ common ground with the other nations. The
attempt Of the Gar of Russia to settle by
II congress these questions in dispute recalls the
attempt Of the late Emperor Of the French,
Y before tho Danish war, to summon a
\ European Congress for the settlement Of al the
y questions then disturbing European diplo.
macy. England refused T. take part
r, tbat f'cueraea and tIrs desfr,,,el