Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-06
TRIUMPH FOR AMERICANS
The Peace Conference Adopts the Privateer-
ing Proposition.
Decision Reached That a Special Con-
to Consider This Question.

What is regarded as great success was
| scored yesterday by the American delegates
! in obtaining from the peace conference at
| The Hague Unanimous vote in favor of
| having the question of private property al
| sea in time of war dealt with at a special
| conference. to be summoned hereafter.
Much diplomatic management was neces-
sary, and many obstacles had to be sur
mounted before this result was reached
The second committee met yesterday
morning and Andrew D. White head of the
| American delegation, preached the subject
The question of it's admissiEility under the
conference mandate was discussed. No
vote was taken. but an agreement was ar
rived at to allow the Americans to present
their case in full in the afternoon. Had
vote been taken Immediately, the Amer
leans would doubtless have carried their
point by majority of one or two. and to
AVOID this a resolution was proposed recog-
ntzing the Importance and complexity of
the question, and recommending the sum-
monng of special conference
At the afternoon sitting of the committee
the successive clauses Of the laws of war
having been adopted, NJ. De Mertens of the
Russian delegation moved a resolution to
that effect. Mr.. White seconded.
MIR. Whites Statement.
In the course of a clear and eloquent
statement of the American case. he said the
United States government had accepted the
invitation to participate in the conference
with alacrity because of the opportunity it
was expected the conference would afford
fer preaching the true faith regarding the
immunity from capture of private property
at sea. HE admitted. however, that the
United States government recognized Ii
would be hopeless to expect any decisive
result from this conference, owing to three
causes: First, absence of instructions from
powerful governments; second. doubts as to
the competence of the conference, and,
third. the length of time necessary for a
discussion of all the bearings of the case
Mr.. White frankly admitted the difficult
ties involved in deciding what constituted
contraband of war. but insisted that these
supplied one of the best arguments for a
full and prompt discussion. The suffering
and losses which seizures entailed were i'm
mense, while the effect upon the ultimate
result of war was almost nothing Refer
ring to the experience of the United States
IN the civil war, he said that only three
confederate cruisers did anything of i'm
portance, but they captured 1853 vessels
quadrupled the rate of insurance between
America and Great Britain, and caused the
transfer OF half million tons of American
shipping to British bottoms The final re-
suit was that the whole American marine
was virtually swept out of existence.
Privateering Ineffective.
IT that resulted from the operations of
three poorly equipped little steamers he
continued, what would happen with the
means at the disposal of the greater ma
lions today? Yet every knows that
THIS prtvateering had not the slightest eff
rect IN ending, or even shortening, the war,
nor would 1t have had any, even if the
losses had been ten times greater The
only real effect is gained by warships in
maintaining a blockade. Nowadays the
transfer of goods by land is so general that
interruption by sea, as a rule, does nothing
to promote the ending of war, but that in
terruption may destroy Accommodations of
human wealth and skill, requiring a gem
Grafton to make good, while the losses can
not be confined to belligerents alone, but
must affect. more or less directly the
whole world
MIR. White warmly repudiated the suppo-
sftion that the Americans were animated
by selfish considerations. They were emf
nentiy practical, he said but not less pre-
eminently 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 arbitra-
ton. But the question he was urging upon
the delegates, he asserted, was one of right
justice and progress for the whole world,
and this all Americans felt deeply. Nor
could the acceptance of the American pro-
posal injure any nation. On the contrary,
1t would strengthen all.
The head Of the American delegation con-
cluded with an eloquent appeal to the ju-
1918, uiDiUHidl1St5 anu statesmen o all
nations assembled in the conference to
take the subject under careful considera-
ton. declaring, in the words of Count Nes-
selrode, that the addition of this principle
to interna tional law would be crown OF
glory to the worlds diplomacy"
Dutch Delegations Support.
NJ. Rahusen of the Dutch delegation sup
ported MIR. White, and suggested that the
governments favoring the idea should con-
ri Ind
Sir Julian Pauncefote, head of the Brit
ish delegation. 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, head of the French delega-
ton, and Capt Scheme of the Russian del
egation announced that in the absence of
instructions they could not vote.
The resolution was then put and carried
without opposition, but with reservations
on the part of Great Britain, France and
Russia.
that the question of the determination of
the rights and duties of neutral states
should be placed upon the program Of the
future conference.
seGuenly and accepted all the recommen-
dations OF the committee.
The American delegation is much graft
fled at the result. The delegates could not
time. The maximum success possible vas
full and free opportunity of placing the
American view on record, and Of contiIII-
ing unbroken the tradition of a century Of
American protest in behalf of progressive
ideas in International law
This result, which at one time appeared
impossible, owing to the almost insIperabe
difficulties. Is now triumphantly attained.
The Administration Gratffed.
The news from The Hague announcing
the unanimous vote of the peace conference
in favor of holding a special conference
hereafter to discuss the question of the
freedom from seizure of private property at
sea in time of war is a source of genuine
satisfaction to the administration. The
American delegates had more interest in
this question, perhaps, than any other be-
fore the conference.
There have been times during sessions of
the peace conference at which it appeared
that this subject would be passed over
without favorable action. and the officials
had almost given up hope of anything in
that direction being accomplished Secre-
tary Hay was shown copy of the dispatch
last night. He regarded 1t as substantial
victory for the advanced position the Amer
lean government has taken on this matter,
as the news indicated that the conference