The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1899-05-26
HAGUE CONFERENCE.
The Choice Of Presidents Of the Va
riOus Committees Approved.
MEASURES TO PRESERVE SECRECY.
The Question Of international Law Likely
to BE Discussed BY the Delegates
The Code Prepared for Sub
mission.

The Hague, Nay 24.-The chiefs Of
the delegations to the peace conference
held a private meeting yesterday morn
ing at the "hOuse In the woods and
afterward informed their colleagues of
the arrangements made for a choice of
presidents OF the various committees
as agreed upon Monday evening. The
delegates approved Of the selections
made. The conference held a plenary
sitting at noon. The selections were
then officially ratified without incident
The three committees held their first
sessions IN the afternoon, these being
devoted solely to inaugural fOrmalities
and an exchange Of ideas with regard
to procedure. They Twill meet again
on Friday. NJ. de Staal, head Of the
Russian delegation and president of
the conference, attended the meeting
of the arbitration committee, sitting
next to n. Leon Bourgeois, head Of the
French delegation
The measures to preserve the secrecy
Of the deliberations have been re-
doubled Only the delegates and secre-
taries are admitted to the precincts of
the Huis Ten Bosch. Both entrances
to the gardens are closed with barred
gates which are guarded by sentries
under the command Of non-cOmmis-
stoned officers IN full Uniform Every
applicant for admission is called upon
to produce an orange cOlored card
issued to the delegates and to give the
secret password
Queen Wilhelmina, Of the Neither
lands, accompanied by her queen
mother, arrived yesterday evening and
drove through the streets, their majes-
ties being warmly greeted by the pOpu-
lace. This afternoon the queen VIII
receive the chiefs Of the various dele
cations who viii be presented by n. de
Beaufort, minister Of foreign affairs.
All the delegates have received invita-
tiOns to a grand reception this evening,
when the delegation chiefs viii intro
duce their colleagues and the wives of
the latter to the queen.
ATIONAL, Law.
London, May 24.-The correspondent
of the Morning Post at The Hague says:
The question Of International law is likely to
be discussed by the conference. An eminent
professor says that international jurisdiction
has never been of1cially recognized despite the
resolutions OF peace congresses, nor can an in
ternatiOnal agreement bind nations to enforce
DEGREES pronounced according 70 such law. The
code prepared for the submission TO the
conference provides that the autonomy
Of nations IS inTiOlable; that there is no
right of conquest as between them: that
they possess the right OF legitimate defense
and are subject to the same principles Of law
and equity as individuals; that no nation has
right TO declare war upon another, and that dis
putes between nations are 70 be settled by legal
methods. The colonial section Of the code deals
with the formation OF colonies 1t recognizes
their right 70 claim autonomy OF independence,
though other nations may intervene when, in
their opinion the administration is unsatfs-
factory OF the mother country does not heed the
CO lOnial Representations.