Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-10-15

A@seAa3s4s4aA Aa" SsuSSos1Su-
BRgNE, Switzerland, Sept. l, 1850.
To ;he Editor OF the Free Press and Times:
The meeting of the International Law As
sociation, in this city last week, was one of
much interest. The convention opened on
Tuesday, Sept. 9th, with an address of wei
come 10 the delegates by NJ. Welti, the
president of the federal council. He spoke
in French. The main address which follow
cd was delivered in German, by DR.. Sieve
king, the president of the Appellate court at
Hamburg. DIR. Sieveking, being one of the
vice-presidents of the association, presided
over the meeting, in the abseLce of the presi-
dent. He used the English language while
presiding, and spoke it tiuently, though of
course with an accent. He impressed the
members very favorably by his clearness of
ideas and speech and dignity of manner. 1t
was noticeable to the Americans that he
seemed TO govern the meeting more than
presiding officer generally does with US. For
instance, he did not think it necessary to put
to the meeting questions of taking recess or
adjournment or as to the order OF business
but directed the proceedings in such
matters himself, Such appears to
be the custom here, and it worked
well enough. The sessions of the convention
occupied four days. and the proceedings were
of high interest. The topics brought up were
important, and the discussions were able and
spirited. Among the subjects discussed were
(of course) copyright, consular courts in
Oriental countries, marriage laws, maritime
telegraph cables, etc, etc. The subject of
consular courts was discussed in long paper
read by Sir Travers Twiss on the consular
courts in the Ottoman Empire, and in
paper read by Japanese residing at Berlin.
The latter considered the subject from the
standpoint of the nations within whose bor-
ders the consular courts are set up, and was
dispassionate and dignified setting forth of
the grounds of complaint and criticism on the
part OF Japan, against the consular courts
1t was an opposite view from that taken by
all the Others and gave members something
to think of. Sir Travers Twiss also read a
paper on the protection Of telegraph cables,
in which he referred to a proposition madeby
the State Department of the United States,
that the nations should agree to treat the
wanton injury of telegraph cable as an act
OF piracy. This, he said, would never be
agreed to, and he urged rather that such an
injury should be regarded as IAN offence
against the law of n1tions;" that ships of war
should be authorized to capture persons CON-
mitting such an offence; but that the trial
of such offenders should be reserved to the
courts OF the nation Of the captured vessel
This proposition was opposed by NJ Clunet
of Paris and by Mr.. Robert d. Benedict Of
Brooklyn. The latter pointed out that while
the proposition was to make prize of vessel
engaged in such an offence. it was contrary to
all the principles of prize-law to submit the
question OF prize or no pri ze to the courts of
the nation of the captured vessel. Mr. Bene-
dict also. pointed out the omission of any pro-
vision for the punishment of individuals,
which it was more important to provide for
than for the capture OF vessels and he sus-
tanned the proposition of the U. 5. State De-
partment as founded on correct principle
and as simply extending principles and rules
Of law well known in their application to
property on the surface of the ocean, to the
new region at the bottom of the sea. to which
science has extended the appliances of COM
merce. Sir L. Twiss and DIR. Jacques of
Berlin supported the other side and the
subject was referred to committee to report
on next year.
The copyright question was introduced by
Il report OF the committee on that subject, in
which mention was made of the recent de
cison of the United States Supreme Court
in the trade mark cases. and il was suggest
ed that as the court had declared the trade
mark acts unconstitutional, it would prob
ably make the same decision in relation to
copyright laws Mr. Condert. who was one
of the counsel in the trademark cases, took
occasion TO correct the mistake, and pointed
out the fact that the United States Constitu-
tion gave express power to Congress to pass
copyright laws, which was not given in
reference to trademarks 1t is remarkable
that Sir T. Twiss should have fallen into this
error He could mover have read the dnris
ion in the trademark cases, for In that the
court quoted the clause of the Constitution
authorizing copyright laws. Mr. Coudert
replied quite sharply to some remarks made
by Mr.. Frecland of London on the position
of the United States in reference to copy
right Ii this occasoned any i'll feeling
among the English members of the associa-
ton, i, was doubtless dispelled by Judge
Hunt of the United States Court of Claims,
who followed Mr.. Condert in some remarks
of more kindly tone.
On Thursday evening grand banquet was
given to the association by the reception
committee, at the Bernerhof This was
very elegant affair. Some - or 100 gentle
men sat down at the table Only two after
dinner speeches were madc-one by Mr..
Hammer, member of the Federal Council,
and one by DIR. Sieveking. am not reportin.
the convention, and have only thus hastily
jotted down some of its salient features 1t
was an interesting meeting and the benefits to
be derived from such Il meeting of represent
tative lawyers of the various countries re-
presented in the association, are obvious.
Yours,