Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-13
QUESTIONS OF SELF-INTEREST
Crop Out Continually I'm Ali the Me-
gotiations at The Hague.

The New York Heralds special from The
| Hague yesterday says: The American pro-
posal for rendering private property in
violable a. sea is strongly supported by the
Dutch delegates to the peace conference
and by the representatives OF most Other
countries
Germany however. IS Indifferent. France
is strongly opposed to The proposal. She
appears to think that in case OF war against
England a possibility which has been
shown by the Fashoda incident, the Ameri-
can scheme would rob her of her principal
weapon against the English
In case of a naval war il has been the
idea of the French to strike strongly at
Englands merchant marine and trade.
They are not at all willing TO relin .iuish
for the future what appears TO them their
best chance against the nation that rules
the waves.
1t Is certain that Russia supports the
French view. especially because she consid-
ers herself in duty bound to back her ally.
The fate of the American proposal, there
fore, is uncertain. although Germany prob
ably in the end will be found siding with
the United States and England which may
turn the scales.
At the present the whole attention of the
conference is conferred on the arbitration
question. 1t has been incorrectly stated
that the arbitration scheme as discussed
leaves arbitration optional. But IL is in fact
made compulsory in twelve specified cases,
especially applying to International con-
hicts arising out Of differences regarding
the meaning of treaties.
The Russian proposition enacts that the
conference will choose five powers TO be
called upon to arbitrate. Each will appoint
a Judge, the five constituting a court TO
which each OF the two contending parties
Will be entitled to add a judge of its own
appointment, with the same right as the
other judges. permanent arbitration bu-
reau representing the five original arbitrat-
ing powers Is proposed TO be instituted.
with headquarters at The Hague. The ex-
pense is to be borne by all the signatory
powers in the same proportion as for the
existing International post Office bureau.
On the other hand, IL seems that all
hope for a disarmament scheme in aay
shape has been definitely relegated to the
land OF Utopia Even the timd suggestion
of delaying for five years any Improvement
OF guns or war material, In order to save
expense all round, seems stripped of ne
her Austrian and Italian allies being siren
uouSly opposed to it,
member of the conference was asked
what would occur IL during the conference
England were to take UP arms against the
Transvaal His reply was:
THE question would be difficult. England
would certainly contend that il was her
own business, the Transvaal being a vas
sal, and her action against the Beers
amounting to a simple quellng of internal
lnsurrection or rebellion As however the
Beers maintain that they are an indepead-
ent power, the conference would certainly
oHer friendly Intervention and propose 10
ACT as arbitrator. The question is already
being talked about in private conversation
The English delegates say the Transvaal
dispute is only an affair between mother
and child. but this will not prevent the
peace conference from believing that IL
could not stand aloof and witness a bloody
struggle silently without proving ridIcu-
lous in the eyes of the world"