The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-25

Many Nations Expected to Defer Signing
the Observation-Disclosures alton Tribunal
Plan the Most Important of These-Rec-
omme nd ations for Future Conference
Ambassador white Says That the Results
Arc Better Than He Had Hoped For.
Speetai Cable De.path 10 The SUE.
THE HAGUE. July 24.-The expected meet
ing OF the Peace Conference tomorrow will be
the last for the transaction OF business. There
will be another meeting on Wednesday or
Thursday for the signing Of the ANAL protocol
| and conventions.
All the powers will sign the protocol, which
is merely a narrative OF the roceedines but
how many will sign the conventions Is mat
ter OF much speculation. It is expected that
many signatures will be deferred until the
homo governmen ts examine the conventions.
1t is assumed that the American delegates
will sign. subject to the Senats's constitutional
right to repudate the signatures. IT is doubt
cd whether Sir Julian Pauncefote. tho head OF
the British delegation. will receive instructions
by the date OF the final meeting.
The protocol enumerates the conventions
and declarations drawn by the conference in
the following terms:
First-A convention for the pacific settlement
Of international disputes.
Second-A convention concerning tho laws
and customs OF war on land.
Third-A convention for the adaptation to
| naval warfare Of the principles OF the Geneva
Convention OF 1884.
Fourth--Three declarations concerning %
the prohibition OF the throwing Of proJectiles
or explosives from balloons or by other analo-
gous means: w the prohibition OF the use OF
projectiles having for their sole object the
diffusion Of asphyxiatinG or deleterous gases.
IA tha nf h.. - I,,ll
that will expand easily in the human body.
The protocol then embodies tho following
expressions OF opinion:
Frst-The conference considers that the
limitation OF military cha rges. which at pres
ent Cypress the world. is greatly to be desired
for the increase OF the Material and moral wei
fare OF mankind.
Second-The conference expresses tho opn-
ion that the question Of the rights and duties
OF neutras should be inscribed on the pro-
gramme OF a conference to be hold at an early
date.
Third-The conference expresses the opn-
ion that questions relative to tho type and
calibre OF rifles and naval artillery. such as has
been examined by It. should be the subject OF
| study by the different Governments with the
view to arriving eventually at a uniform solu-
ton by means Of Q further conference.
Fourth-The conference. taking into con-
| sideration the preliminary steps taken by tho
Swiss Government for the revision OF the
Geneva Convention. expresses the wish that a
special conference be shortly convened for the
purpose OF revising this convention.
Fifth-The conference has resolved unan-
imously. with the exception Of 4 few absten-
tions. that the following questions should be
reserved for tho examination OF future con-
| ferences: l. A proposal tending to declare the
| inviolability Of private property during war on
land. and 2. A PROPOSAL regulating the Ques-
ton OF the bomhardment OF ports. towns and
villages by naval forces.
The American delegates take exception to
| Article XXVII.. binding the powers as a
duty" to appeal 10 the arbitration tribunal
when quarrelers are threatening to use force
| They desire to have the expression modified
| so that the United States may in no case
| be obliged to interfere in European al
| fairs or vice versa. A private consultation
lasting several hours was held to-day between
| NJ. Bourgeois and Baron Estournelles. as
| trainers OF the article. an d the Americans. The
matter was not settled finally. but efforts will
| be made to satisfy the United States without
weak ening tho force OF the article.
| Speaking to the eorrespondent to day on the
| general results OF the conference. Ambassador
| White. the head OF the American delegation,
| said: The results are better than l dared
| hope for at the beginning Of tho conference.
| Arbitration Is not only good. but 1t lays the
foundation for greater results. which future
conferences must develop 1t Is quite natural
| that arbitration should be acce pied in prnci-
| pie before disarmament, for which. In fact. it
paves the way"