The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-06-14
HOLLIS DID NOT
MAKE STATEMENT
That Germany is Opposed to Ar
bitration in Principle.
THEY RESEMBLE THE FRENCH
Sir Julian Pauncefote Emphatically Con-
frmed the Minister'S Statement to
a Representative of the As
ISOLATED Press.

The Hague, June 13-In view of the
statement published in the United States
that Minister Frederick Hollis, of the
American delegation to the peace confer
ence, had cabled to the state department
at Washington that Germany was oppos-
ed to arbitration in principle, the cores
pendent of the Associated Press called to-
day upon Mr.. Hollis, who declared there
was absolutely no foundation for such
statement.
He said that as a matter of fact, he had
not sent the statement or a message of
any kind since his arrival here, and the
information sent by the delegation had
not contained the least foundation for the
statement published. There is no Doubt"
said Mr. Hollis, that the Germans in this
respect, resembling the French and some
other European nations, are not so en-
thusastic in support of the arbitration
principle as are others, which should take
the lead in the matter, but the German
delegates are cooperating Loyalty in franz
ing the arbitration schedule and nothing
has occurred which would justify the pub
LEGATION of Germany's attitude
There Is another story which is quite as
false which. in the United States may be
story that we have abandoned the Ameri-
can plan for permanent arbitration. The
delegation, therefore, has prepared for YOU
THIS statement: In view of the misleading
statements published in America regarding
the course of the drafting committee of
the arbitration committee and the exact
position of the American proposals YOU
may say that the American plan for a per-
manent tribunal which has been CORRECTLY
set forth IN the American papers has been
referred with other similar plans TO the
drafting committee
This committee will report to the full
commission on arbitration the exact pro-
posal as submitted, and also submit ex-
actly all of the other proposals, as the
drafting committee shall Professionally re-
commend. The commission on and after
the conference will finally pass on the vari-
Gus projects. The fact that in the draft
Ing committee the English proposals have
been used as the basis of discussion does
not indicate in the least the abandonment
of any other plans. 1t is not expected that
the drafting committee will be ready to re-
port to the commission on arbitration for
a week or ten days, and all statements re-
garding its work or attitude are unauthor-
lied"
Sir Julian Pauncefote emphatically con-
frmed the accuracy of the statement of
Mr.. Hollis to the Associated Press. The
subcommittee of the Red Cross met to-
day, Professor Asser, of the Dutch dele
cation, presiding to hear the report of
Professor Louis Renault, of the French
delegation, on the extension of the Geneva
convention to international warfare The
report in the unanimous opinion of the
delegates is a mastery piece of work. All
the essential principles of the original
scheme, as embodied in the report, are
agreed to, although several amendments
as to details were submitted. Herr Asser
pointed out the necessity of communicat-
ing to an enemy an exact list of hospital
ships.
Captain Alfred T. Mahan, of the United
States delegation, will on Thursday submit
an amendment defining the status of ship
wrecked persons and wounded men res
cued accidentally by neutral vessels.
Count de Grelle-Rogler, of the Belgian
delegation, proposed today modification
of clause ten of the convention dealing
with ship wrecked, wounded and sick men
when landed in neutral port.
The question was also considered OF re-
replacing the Red Cross flag by one with
out religious significance, the Turkish and
Siamese governments having made declara-
lions on this point.
All these matters will be disposed of at
Thursdays meeting of the committee,
which will then report; then there is no
doubt that Prof. Renault's report will fin
ally be adopted.
The preamble endorses the application to
naval warfare of principles of the Geneva
convention of 1864 and the supplementary
clauses of 1862 Endeavoring to reconcile
the various conflicting interests It recog-
nizes the necessity of not hampering belli-
gerants in legitimate action. while modify
ing unnecessary suffrage. The considera-
lions met with the appreciation of all the
powers especially from Great Britain and
the United States. Naval warfare is re-
garded as the first real, active question Of
the conference.