The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-06-21
AT THE HAGUE.
Work of the Brussels Conference and
Geneva Convention subcommittee.

Work of the Brussels Conference and
Geneva Convention subcommittee.
THE HAGUE, June 2O.-The Brussels con-
ference subcommittee of the international
peace conference convened to-day, Profess
sor De Martens, of the Russian delegation,
presiding. The drafting committees report
was amended in regard to award of the
greater protection of neutral states, defining
the rights of civil populations to organize
resistance, and the right OF armies as to-
ward armed civilians. Ten clauses of the
report were adopted.
The report of the subcommittee will now
be presented to the conference and 1t is be-
lieved that nearly all the powers will adopt
the new articles as basis of instructions
for armies when entering Ue field.
The Geneva convention committee held a
plenary session to-day to consider the re-
port of its subcommittee. Captain Mahan,
OF the American delegation. again drew at
tention TO the omission of an article de-
ining the exact status of wounded and ship
wrecked men falling into the sea during
a battle and picked up by neutral hospital
ships. He also proposed three additional
articles which were referred TO the drafting
committee.
The Persian delegate, Gen. Mira Ria
Kan, who is Persian minister to Russia,
moved to change the Red Cross emblem to
a white flag with a red sun. The plenary
conference met to cdopt these additional
articles and appointed committee to draw
up a general act embodying the report Of
the Geneva convention section.
This Is the first definite result OF the con-
ference.
LONDON. June I.-The correspondent Of
the Times at The Hague. who interviewed
Jean de Bloch, author of the work that Is
believed to have inspired the Car TO con-
vene the peace conference, says: M De
Bloch expressed the opinion that Emperor
William would not indorse DIR. Zorn's oppo-
sition to a permanent arbitration tribunal
because il he did he would incur a terrible
responsibility. On the contrary, NJ. De
Bloch is convinced that the Kaiser is fully
conscious of his power for good or evil at
the present critical moment and will seize
his opportunity"
The American delegates considered that
some additions were necessary to cover cer-
tain omissions in the text These additions
will be left for the powers to consider. but
whether they are adopted or not, they do
not affect the ten articles passed to-day.
The Americans also made formal demand
lOr tne exemption oi private property at sea
from capture in time of war. This question
was not included in the circular of Count
Muravieff and may possibly be ruled out OF
order. If. however. a discussion should be
allowed the exemption would probably be
supported by a majority. mainly composed
of the smaller powers.
LONDON. June H.-The correspondent Of
the Daily News at The Hague, discussing
"the question of private property at sea
which was brought into startling promi-
nence by Captain Mahan to-day" CTuesday),
says: 1T is a matter of life and death for
England. British and American interests on
this question are totally opposed. 1t is
obvious that the Americans are only con-
cerned for their own interests. which are
that, on the outbreak OF the war, the Brit
ish mercantile marine should be transferred
to the neutral American flag