Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-12-21
56th CONGRESS-.
The Treaty Negotiated at The
Hague Sent to Senate
With Request that Prompt Action Be
Taken for Ratification.
But Little Business in Congress Adjourns
Till Ian. 3. 1900.

Washington, Dec. Gothic President
today, sent to the Senate the treaty
| negotiated by the powers at The
Hague, last July, for the pacific settle
mcnt of disputes between nations and
the declaration to prohibit for five
years the launching of explosives from
balloons. The Senate Immediately re-
| moved the injunction Of secrecy. The
Presidents message was a formal letter
of transmittal, except that it invited
attention to an accompanying report
from the secretary Of state, urging inn
mediate action by the Senate. The
secretary's report is as follows:
To the President-The undersigned
secretary Of state has the honor to lay
before the President with a view tC
their transmission to the Senate to re
ceive the advice and consent of that
body to their ratification, copy of a
convention for the pacific settlement of
international disputes signed at The
Hague. on July %, 1899. by the pleni-
potentiarics Of the United States, Bel
quinn, Denmark, Spain. Mexico, France.
Montenegro. the Netherlands. Persia
Portugal, Roumana. Russia. Siam
a. ''ii'' -''i N'AE anu i't4l IL it, anu
Il copy of declaration to prohibit. for
term of five years. the launching Of
projyctilcs and explosives from balloons
or by other new methods Of q similar
nature signed at The Hague. on July
10, 1899. by the plenipotentiarirs of the
United States and the plenipotent-
iarics of the powers represented at the
international peace conference at The
Hague
The original Of each Of these instru-
ments was signed in single copy
which remains III the archives Of the
Netherlands government. The depart
mtnt Of state is advised by the minis
ter of the United States at The Hague
that since July % the following sigma
lures have been attached to the con-
yention for the pacific settlement Of
international disputes:
by the plenipotentiaries of Italy,
oct. u 1899
BY the plenipotentiary of Austria
Hungary. oct Il. 1899
BY the plenipotentiary of Luxem-
burg. Oct. 26. 1899.
by the plenipoteniary Of Servia. Nov
II. 1899
In signing the convention the follow
ing declaration was made by the plen-
potcntiaries of the United States:
Nothing contained in this conven-
ton shall be 50 construed as to require
the United States Of America to depart
from its traditional policy Of not in
truding upon. interfering with or en-
tangling itself in the political questions
or policy or internal administration of
1t,
contained in the said convention be
construed ~ imply REIMBURSEMENT
by the United States Of America Of its
traditional attitude toward purely
American questions"
| respectfully recommend that the
attention of the Senate be called to
the Importance of immediate action
being taken on the convention. in view
DC the fact that sufficient number Of
Publications will soon be obtained to
authorize the organization Of the tri-
bunal and the large part taken by the
United states in the preliminary work
renders it desirable that this country
should not occupy secondary place.
Respectfully submitted.
JOHN HAY
Accompanying the treaty is a signed
declaration agreeing to prohibit. for a
term Of five years. the launching of
projectiles and explosives from bal
looms or by other new methods OF n
similar nature. 1t also provides the
method of approving or denouncing
the convention.
The provisions Of the treaty were
published at the adjournment of the