The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-07-19
DUR DELEGATES SUCCESS
Secure Special Conference Regard.
ing Private Property at Sea.
AMERICAN DIPLOMACY AT HAGUE.

Ambassador White Makes a Strong Arzu'
1nent Against Prlvateering-His Ap,
peal to All Natlons-Peace Congress
Unanimously Adopts Resolution to
Have Another Conference.
TIE HAGUE, Holland (By Cable).-The
American delegates won great success In
obtaining from the Peace Conference o
| unanimous vote in favor of having the
question Of private property at sea In time
Of war dealt with at special conference
20 bs summoned hereafter. Much dip
tomatic management was necessary, and
many obstacles had to be surmounted be-
fore this result was reached.
The Second Committee met few days
ago, and Ambassador Andrew D. White,
head OF the American delegation, broached
the subject. The question OF its admissi.
| bility under the Conference mandate was
| discussed. No vote was taken, but an
agreement was arrived at to allow the
Americans to present their case In full IN
the afternoon. Had vote been taken i'm.
medlately the americans would doubtless
have carried their point by majority OF
one or two; and to avoid this resolution
was proposed recognizing the Importance
and complexity OF the question and recon-
| ,nending the summoning OF special CON-
ference.
At the afternoon sitting OF the committee
the successive clauses OF the laws OF war
having been adopted-M. de Martens, OF
the Russian delegation, moved resolu-
tion to that effect. MIR. White seconded.
r. Q all nd al az 70
ment Of the American case he said the
United States Government had accepted
the invitation to participate In the Confer
snce with alacrtY because OF the opportu-
nifty 1t was expected the Conferences would
afford for preaching the true faith regard
ing the immunity from capture OF private
property at sea. He admitted, however,
that the United States Government recog-
nized it would be hopeless to expect any
decisive result from this Conference owing
to three causes: First, absence OF instruc-
tions from powerful Governments; second,
doubts as to the competence OF the Confer.
! ence; and, third, the length Of time neces-
sary for discussion OF nll the bearings OF
the case.
S1r. 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
full ana prompt discussion. The suffer-
ing and losses which seizures entailed
were immense, while the effect upon the
ultimate result of war was almost moth
Ing. Referring to the experience Of the
| United States in the Civil War he said that
only three Confederate cruisers did any
thing OF Importance, but they captured
1863 vessels, quadru pied the rate OF insur-
ance between America and Great Britain,
and caused the transfer OF half million
tons OF American shipping to British bot
toms. The final result was that the whole
American marine was virtually swept out
OF existence.
"If that resulted from the operations Of
three poorly equipped little steamers" be
continued, "what would happen with the
means at the disposal OF the greater nations
to-day? Yet every one knows that this
privateerln9 had not the slightest effect In
ending, or even shortening, the war; nor
would it have had any, even II the losses
had been ten times greater. The only
in maintaining a blockade. Nowadays the
transfer OF goods by land Is so general
that interruption by sea ms a rule does
nothing to promote the ending OF war, but
that interruption may destroy accumula-
ttons OF human wealth and skill requiring
O generation to make good, while the
lOSSSS CtuuOL Uo COuAu0o " t,oAAS
alone, but must affect more or less directly
the whole world"
Mr.. White warmly repudlated the suppo:.
sition that the Americans were animated
by selfish considerations. They were emil
nently practical, he said, but not less pre-
eminently devoted to great ideals. 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 ae-
ceptance OF the American proposal tnjure
any nation. On the contrary, 1t would
strengthen all.
m|The head Of the American delegation con-
cluded with an eloquent appeal to the
| iurists, diplomatists and statesmen OF all
| nations assembled in the Conference to
take the subject under careful considera-
ton, declaring, In the words OF Count
Nesselrode, that "the addition OF this prin-
ciple to international law would be crown
of glory to the worlds diplomacy"
The resolution was carried without op-
position, but with reservations on the part
OF Great Britain, France and Russia.
The American delegation Is much graft
flei at the result The delegates could not
have anticipated practical issue at this
time. The maximum success possible was
full and free opportunity OF placing the
American view on record, and OF conttnu.
ing unbroken the tradition OF century OF
American protest In behalf OF progressive
ideas in International law. This result,
which at one time appeared Impossible,
owing to the almost insuperable dihicul'
ties, is now trlumphantly attained.