The times., 1899-07-08
SATURDAY, JULY S. 1899.
Private Property at Sea.

Private Property at Sea.
Sir Julian Pauncefote has taken sur
prisingly shortsighted view of the Ameri-
can proposal at The Hague Conference
for the protection of private property at
sea in naval warfare, If we are TO judge
from his opposition to consideration of
the proposal at this time that he is rep
resenting his Governments objection TO
the principle involved. Great Britain, as
the great carrying nation of the world, is
more directly interested in this subject
than the United States or any other of
the powers represented at The Hague. 1t
is probable. therefore, that Sir Julian's
expressed opposition to taking up the sub
ject at The Hague is based upon con-
sideratons of expediency only as affect
ing the work of the Conference
But it is not SO easy to account on the
same theory for the policy of delay which
the proposal provoked from the Russian
delegates. By traditional courtesy the
Cars representatives, at the instigation
Of whose sovereign the Conference was
convened, are expected to interpret the
scope of the Conferences programme as
well as its powers. This gave the Rus
slams the opportunity to rule out the SUBJ
feet as not coming within the province
OF the Instructions given to them by their
master at St Petersburg. Ambassador
White, who forcibly argued the justice of
the American contention, is to be con-
graduated alike for the strength and lu-
cidity of his presentation and the still
more valuable result OF forcing Russia TO
show her hand, as was done on the adop-
tion of compromise resolution to have
the question of private property at sea
In time of war dealt with at a special
conference. to be called hereafter, on
which proposition Great Britain, France,
and Russia voted in the affirmative with
reservations not very clearly defined. 1t
is perfectly understood why the French
delegates received The proposal so charity.
Their attitude only proves conclusively
that French political interests are SO
helplessly allied with the Russian cause
that in no important matter affecting the
combination can France take the initia-
tive We are not surprised, therefore,
that the French delegates voted with the
Cars representatives. The reluctance
which the Russians displayed IN approach
ing the subject and the excuse offered
by them for its consideration reveal the
Cars sham pretence in the interests of
peace agreement. His proposals at best
do not amount 10 more than a PROPOSE
tion for armed neutrality OF the powers
invited by him to participate in the Con-
ference. The spirit OF them has gone
no further than the sinister suggestion
that there be no enlargement OF the mill
tary establishments of the great nations
beyond the limits of plans already ma
tured and under prosecution. II this
should be adopted by the Conference and
ratified by the nations at interest, II would
leave the Car the overtowering military
giant OF the world. for the effective
strength of his army now exceeds that OF
any other nation, and when the projected
additions are made 10 his navy he will
be next to France In the number of
modern formidable ships. Great Britain
voted as did Russia on the proposition,
doubtless for the purpose OF playing along
with the Car TO learn his game. II this
were not the motive which prompted Sir
Julian Pauncetote, one of the most crafty
and clear sighted diplomatists of the age,
to vote for consideration OF the American
proposal at a special conference, and at
that with reservation" we are at a
loss TO surmise his purpose.
Mr.. Whites strong, ringing words on
the subject OF the protection of pri-
vate property at sea must appeal to
Great Britain's vast shipping interests
with telling force. He pointed out that
though. during our Civil War. only three
Confederate cruisers did anything of i'm
portance. yet they captured one hundred
and sixty-nine vessels, quadrupled the
rate Of insurance between America and
Great Britain and caused the transfer of
half million tons of American shipping
10 British bottoms, the final result being
that the whole American marine was
swept out of existence. IF that resulted
from the operations OF those poorly
equipped little steamers" pertinently en-
CURED the Ambassador. what would hap
pen with the means at the disposal OF the
greater nations today?''