The Penn's Grove record., 1899-07-07
OUR DELEGATES SUCCESS
Secure a Special Conference Regard
ing Private Property at Sea.
AMERICAN DIPLOMACY AT HAGUE.

Ambassador white Makes a Strong Argu'
ment Against Privateering-His APP.
peal to All Nations-Peace Congress
Unanimously Adopts a Resolution to
Have Another Conference.
THE HAGUE, Holland (By Cable).-The
American delegates won Il great success In
obtaining from the Peace Conference a
unanimous vote in favor of having the
question Of private property at sea in time
OF war dealt with at a special conference
to be summoned hereafter. Much dip
lomatic management was necessary, and
many obstacles had to be surmountcd be.
fore this result was reached.
The Second Committee met a few days
ago, and Ambassador Andrew d. White,
head OF the American delegation, preached
the subject. The question OF its admissi-
bllity 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 a vote been taken i'm
mediately the Americans would doubtless
have carried their point by a majority of
one or two; and to avoid this 4 resolution
was pEOpOStu recognizing tue importance
and completely Of the question and recon-
mendlng the summonlng Of a special con-
ference.
At the afternoon sitting of the committee
the successive clauses of the avs OF war
having been adopted-M. de Martens, of
the Russian delegation, moved n resolu-
ton to that effect. Mr.. White seconded.
In the course OF a clear and eloquent state
ment of the American case he said the
United States Government had accepted
the Invitation to participate In the Confer
ence with ~alacrity because of the opportu-
nifty 1t was expected the Conference 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 i~nstruS-
tions from powerful Governments; second,
doubts as to the competence of the Confer
ence; and, third, the length of time neces-
sary 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 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 a 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.
ETe .l.A .o.-Ik1 f.za. r. -
three poorly equipped little steamers" he
continued, "what would happen with the
means at the disposal Of the greater nations
today Yet every one knows that this
priyateering had not the slightest effect in
ending, or even shortening, the war; nor
would 1t have had any, even il the losses
had been ten times greater. The only
real effect is gained by warships
in maintaining a blockade. Nowadaystke
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 interruption may destroy accumula-
tions of human wealth and skill requiring
a generation to make good, while the
losses cannot be confined to helligerents
alone, but must affect more or less directly
the whole world"
Mr.. White warmly repudiated the suppo-
sition hat the Americans were animated
by selfish considerations. They were emil
nently practical, ne SAID, out 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 ac-
ceptance of the American proposal injure
any nation. On the contrary, it would
strengthen all.
MThe head of the American delegation con-
cluded with an eloquent appeal to the
i%urists, 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 a 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
fed at the result. The delegates could not
have anticipated a practical issue at this
time. The maximum success possible was
a full and free opportunity OF placing the
American view on record, and of contlnu-
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 ~insuperable Difficult
ties, is now ~triumphantly attained.