Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-07-27
iSUMS UP ITS WORK
PEACE CONFERENCE GIVES RE.
SUITS OF DELIBERATIONS.
AN ARBITRATION COURT
First Declaration Recommends a Con-
Vention for Pacific Settlement Of In
ternational Disputes Of
Subjects to Be Considered at a Fu-
ture Conference.

Inc hague, july Z0.-1ne final act
embOdying the results of the interna-
tional peace conference, after an enum-
Grafton of the names and qualifications
Of all the delegates, says:
''In the series of meetings in which
the above delegates participated, in
spired throughout by a desire to realize
in history a possible measure incorpo-
rating the generous views of its angus,
initiator, the conference has adopted for
the approval Of their respective govern
pended:
"a convention for the pacific settle
ment of international disputes.
"a convention concerning the laws
and customs of war on land.
"a convention for the adoption OF
laws against the use of asphyxiating or
deleterious gases from balloon projec-
tiles and the prohibition of bullets that
expand in the human body"
The final act contains five express
sions Of opinion as follows:
''The conference considers that linn
itations of the military charges which
at present Cypress the world are to be
desired for an increase of the material
and moral welfare Of mankind.
"The conference expresses the opin-
ion that the question of the rights and
duties Of neutrals should be inscribed
on the program of the conference to be
held at an early date.
The conference expresses the opin-
ion that questions relative to the type
and calibre of rifles and naval artillery
! as examined by it be the subject of
study by the different governments
with view of arriving at a solution by
a future conference.
The conference expresses the wish
that an early convention be called to
revise the Geneva convention.
The conference has resolved that
questions relating to the inviolability OF
private property in war on land and
the Commandment of towns or villages
in naval war be reserved for future
conferences"
The convention is signed by all the
plenary delegates. The delegates met
last evening and re-examined the text
of the final act in order to decide what
reservations were to be made. It was
decided that the three declarations
must be separately signed, the formula
accompanying which will be decided
upon today.
The American delegates met Monday
nd SI- ODD ha+
article q be fully defined so that the
word may not imply any obligations
on the part of the United States to in
terfere in European affairs and vice
versa. The discussion among the
French delegates, who framed the ar
ticle, and the Americans lasted several
hours. Efforts are now being made to
find a suitable word to substitute for
duty which will meet the wishes of
the American delegates without weak
ening the purport of the article.
1t viii Not Bind Us.
Washington, d. c., July 25.-The
United States will not be bound by
the decision of The Hague conference
TO prohibit the use of dum-dum bullets
in warfare. So far we have not been
obliged to resort to the use Of this bull
let, but the ordnance officers have
been making experiments to secure an
Increased stopping effect for the small
calibre ball used in the Krag-Jorgenson
and the experiments have proceeded
somewhat on the lines Of the dum-dum
bullet. The specific reason why Capt.
Crosier of the American delegates
voted against the proposal to prohibit
the dum-dum was because the dele
gates general instructions forbade
them to pledge this government to any
line Of action that would deprive the de-
partment of inventive genius in war
fare. Adhesion 10 the protocols is
volun tary. Great Britain, it is under
stood, will also refuse to prohibit the
use Of the dum-dum bullet.