The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-07-08
ARBITRATION Plans
As Prepared by the Special Cons
mittee at The Hague.
AMERICAN IDEAS PREDOMINANT

Am LhlUAN 1ULAO In1DVMlNAA6 =
The Committee Adjourns Until July
II In Order to Allow the Delegates
Time to Consult Their Governments
For Final Instructions.
The Hague. July 8.-The third com.
mittee, sitting at the Huis Ten Bosch,
| discussed the scheme for the mediation
and arbitration convention drawn w
by the comite d'examen. Many Of the
delegates have only been acquainted
with the proposals since Thursday. ana
they have not had time to consult their
governments Consequently 1t was de-
uided that when the committee adj
journed yesterday it will be until July
| II, in order to allow the delegates -
I week in which to consult their gov
ernments and receive final instruc-
tions. The scheme is headed draft Of
convention for the pacific settlements
of international conflicts" The first
! part deals with the maintenance o.
general peace; the second part with
arbitration. I
The proposed convention is in part.
as follows
With the obpect of preventing, a.
far as possible, recourse to force In
international relations, the signatory,
powers agree to use all endeavors to
effect by pacific means settlement Of
the differences which may arise among
them.
The signatory powers decide that In
cases of serious difference or conflict
they will, before appealing to arms.
have recourse, so far as circumstances
permit, to the good offices or mediation
of one or several friendly powers.
Independently of this, the signatory
powers deem 1t useful that several Of
the powers not committed to the ar-SA
btration scheme shall on their own
initiative, offer. as far as circum-
stances permit, their good offices for
mediation to the contending states.
The right of offering their good Of
fees belongs to powers not connected
with the conflict, even during the
course of hostilities, which act can
never be regarded as an unfriendly act.
The part of mediator consists In re-
conciling conflicting claims and ap-
peasing resentment which may have
arisen between contending states.
The functions of mediators cease
from the moment 1t may be stated by
one of the contending parties or by tha
mediator himself that the compromises
or basis of an amicable understanding
proposed by him has not been ac-
cepted.
Good Offices and mediation have the
exclusive character of counsel, and are
devoid Of obligatory force.
The acceptance of mediation, unless
otherwise stipulated may have the ef-S
feet of interrupting the obligation OF
preparing for war. II the acceptance
supervenes after the opening of hos
tilities 1t shall not interrupt. unless by
convention of contrary tenor, mill
tary operations that may be proceede
ing.
When powers between whom there
is a serious dispute accept mediation
they cease all direct relations in re-
gard to the disputed question, which
shall be considered exclusively re-
ferred to the mediatory powers.
Articles 8 to IA provide for the
institution of an International com-
mission of inquiry for the verification
of facts in cases of minor disputes not
affecting the vital Interest or honor Of
states, but impossible Of settlement by
ordinary diplomacy. The report Of an
inquiry commission will not force an
arbtral judgment, leaving the con-
tending parties full liberty to either
lad tpnh n mn
the basis of the report or have recourse
ulteriorly to mediation or arbitration.
Articles IA to 10 set forth the general
objects of and benefits 1t is hoped to
derive from the arbitration court and
declare signing the convention implies
an undertaking to submit in good
faith to arbitral judgment.
Article 22 declares that an interna-
tional bureau established at The
Hague and placed under the direction
of permanent secretary general, Will
serve as the Office of the court. The
court Is to have the custody Of archives
and the management of all admins
trative affairs.
Each of the signatory powers shall
appoint within three months of tho
ratification of the present article not
more than four persons of recognized
competence who will be entered as
members of the court on list which
will be communicated by the bureau
to all the signatory powers. Two or
more powers may agree together re-
garding the nomination of one or
more members, and the same person
may be chosen by the different powers.
Members of the court are to be ap-
pointed for the term of six yers.
The signatory powers who desire to
apply to the court for settlement OF
differences shall select from the gen.
eral list number of arbitrators, to be
fixed by agreement.
The tribunal will usually sit at The
Hague, but may sit elsewhere by coH-'
sent of the contending powers.
The signatory powers may consider
it their duty to call attention to the
existence of the permanent court to
any of their friends between whom
conflict Is threatening, which must al
ways be regarded as a tender of good
Offices.
A permanent council, composed of
the diplomatic representatives of the
signatory powers residing at The
Hague and the Netherland foreign
minister, who will exercise the func-
tions of president. will be constituted
at The Hague as soon as possible after
the ratification of the present act. The
presence of five members at duly con-
vened meetings will constitute a quo
rum.
The expenses of the bureau are to be
sorne by the signatory powers in the
proportion fixed by the international
bureau of the universal postal union.
Admiral Cervera Acquitted.