Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1899-07-08
White wins.
sig Concession for Americans
at Peace Conference.
WHAT IS C0NTRABAND.
The Point Over WtIch Yesterday =
Discussion Was Made - Private
Property at Sea Should BE Exempt
During War--What Confederate
Cruisers Did in War Of Rebellion
Opinions OF Other Delegates.

Cruisers Did In WarOf ReDeIIiOn
Opinions OF Other Delegates.
The Hague, July 6-The American
delegates scored great success yester-
lay in obtaining from the peace con-
ference a unanimous vote in favor OF
naving the question of private property
1t sea in time of war dealt with at Il
special conference, to be summoned
hereafter. Much diplomatic manage
nent was necessary, and many obstacles
nad to be surmounted before this result
was reached.
The second committee met yesterday
morning and Mr. White. head of the
American dele egation, broached the sub
lect. The question of its admissibility
under the conference mandate was dis
cussed. No vote was taken, but an agree.
mant was arrived at to allow the Ameli-
Gyms to present their case in full in the
afternoon. Had IL vote been taken inn
mediately the Americans would doubt
less have carried their point by major
ity of one or two, and to avoid this a
resolution was proposed recognizing the
Importance and complexity of the Ques.
ton and recommending the summoning
Of special conference.
AT the afternoon sitting of the com
mittee NJ. De Martens of the Russian
delegation moved a resolution to that
effect. Mr.. White seconded. In the
course of a clear and eloquent statement
Of the American case he said the United
States government had accepted the in
vitation to participate in the conference
with aclarity because of the opportunity
1t was expected the conference would
afford for preaching the true faith re-
garding the immunity from capture of
private property at sea. He admitted,
however. that the United States govern
ment recognized it would be hopeless TO
expect any decisive result from this con-
ference. owing to three causes-frst,
absence of instructions from powerful
governments; second. doubts as to the
competence Of the conference, and third,
the lergth of time necessary for a dis
cussion for all of the bearings OF the case.
Mr.. White frankly admitted the diff
culties involved in deciding what con-
stituted cOntraband of war, but insisted
that these supplied one of the best argu-
ments for full and prompt discussion.
The suffering and losses which seizures
sntailed We're immense, while the effect
upon the ultimate result of war was al
lvost nothing. Referring to the expert
ance of the United States in the war Of
the Rebellion, he said that only three
Confederate cruisers did anything of i'm
portance, but they captured 1859 vessels,
quadrupled the rate of insurance be-
tween America and Great Britain and
eau "a the transfer of 100000 tons of
American shipping to British bottoms.
The final result was that the whole
American marine was virtually swept
out of existence.
IF that resulted from the operation of
three poorly equipped little steamers"
ne continued, what would happen with
the means at the disposal of the greater
nations today? Yet every one knows
that this privateering had not the slight
est effect in ending, or even shortening
the war: nor would it have had any even
If the losses had been 10 times greater.
Tie only real effect is gained by war;
ships in maintaining blockade. Nova
days the transfer Of goods by land is SC
general that interruption by sea as rule
does nothing to promote the ending of
war; but that interruption may destroy
accumulatiOns of human wealth and
skill requiring a generation to make
good, while the losses cannot be confined
to belligerents alone. but must affect
more or less directly the whole world"
Mr.. White warmly repudiated the sup
position that the Americans were ami.
IA e,il IL
were eminently practical. he said but
not less prominently devoted to great
ideals. This he illustrated by referring
to the enormous sacrifices made during
the Civil war and the devotion of the
Americans to arbitration. But the ques-
ton he was urging upon the delegates
he asserted, was one of right justice nd
progress for the whole world and this all
Americans felt deeply. Nor could the
acceptance of the American proposal in
jure any nation. on the contrary. it
would strengthen all.
Mr. White concluded with an eloquent
appeal to the jurists diplomatists and
statesmen of all nations assembled in the
conference to take the subject under
careful consideration, declaring, in the
words of Count Nesselrode, that 1.-THE
addition of this principle to interna.
tional law would be a crown of glory tc
the worlds diplomacy" NJ. Rahusen of
the Dutch delegation supported Mr..
White, and suggested that the govern
ments favoring the idea should conclude
treaties among themselves.
Sir Julian Pauncefote said that British
opinion was divided on the subject, and
that he had no instructions regarding it.
In his personal opinion, the question was
outside the scope of the conference.
NJ. Bourgeois and Captain Scheme an
nOunced that, in the absence of instruc.
tions, :hey could not vote.
The resolution was then put and car
rled without opposition. but with reser-
vations on the part of Great Britain,
France and Russia.
The committee also adopted resolu-
tiCn that the question of the determina-
ton of the rights and duties of neutra
states should be placed upon the pro.
gram Of the future conference The
plenary conference assembled subse.
quently and accepted all the recommen.
dations of the committee.
The American delegation is much
gratified at the result. The delegates
could have anticipated practicable is
sue at this time. The maximum success
possible was full and free opportunity
If placing the American view on record
and of continuing unbroken the tradition
If a century of American protest in be-
half of progressive ideas in international
law. This result which at one time ap-
peared impossible, owing to almost in
sIperable difficulties, is now triumphant.
ly attained.
Nonv Ha va Enna Hnpno