The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-15
RATIFIED BY THE SENATE
TREATY RELATING TO THE CONDUCT
OF WAR ON LAND AND SEA.
One of The Hague Conference Agree
ments Which Nearly All the
Nations Approved.

WASHINGTON, March 14.-The Senate
spent an hour in executive session to-day
on the convention growing out of The
Hague peace conference relating TO the
conduct of war on sea and land and finally
ratified the agreement without division
The discussion turned entirely on the con-
duct of the war in the Philippines and re-
lated especially to General Funstons cap
ture of Aguinaldo Senator Teller inquired
whether, if this treaty had been in force at
the time, the method of Aguinaldo's cap
ture could have been justified He quoted
the provision in the treaty relating TO the
conduct of spies and said that he did not
mean himself to say that General Fun
ston's course would not have been regular,
but merely to secure the opinion Of SEN
ators who had given attention to the treaty
and who were also familiar with the details
of Aguinaldos capture.
Senator Burton replied TO the inquiry,
speaking especially for General Funston,
and said he was sure the proceeding on the
generals part had been not only humane,
but that it had been in accordance with the
rules of civilized warfare. 1t true he
said, that General Funston and his force
had acted somewhat in the capacity of
the line OF honorable warfare.
Senator Hoar also spoke at some length
regarding this provision in the treaty. He
referred to Aguinaldo's capture and said
would have a tendency towards elevating
the conduct of modern warfare.
Some of the members of the committee on
foreign relations said briefly that the rati-
fication of the treaty would place this coun-
try in accord with the highest thought or
the times and expressed the hope that the
treaty would receive the unanimous sup
port of the Senate. Those who raised ques-
tiOns apropos of the discussion disclaimed
any intention TO prevent favorable action.
The countries party TO the treaty are Ger
many, Austria, Belgium, Denmark Spain,
the United States, Mexico France. Great
Britain, Greece. Italy, Japan, Luxembourg
Montenegro, Netherlands, Persia, Portugal
ROumania, Russia, SerVia, Sweden and
Norway, Turkey and Bulgaria. The provi-
sions of the treaty are binding only on the
contracting powers in case of war between
two or more of them and ceases to be bind
ing when a mountaineering power joins
either of the belligerents.
The most important feature Of the treaty
the contents of which have been generally
known, is that prohibiting the use Of dunn
dunn bullets. Among other things specially
prohibited are:
To employ poison or poisoned arms.
To kill or wound treacherously individuals
belonging to the hostile nation or army
To kill or wound enemy who, having
laid down arms or having no longer means
n.
To declare that no quarter will be given.
To employ arms, projectiles or material
of nature TO cause superfuous injury
To make improper use OF flag of truce,
the national flag or military ensigns ana
the enemys uniform, as well as the dis
tinctive badges of the Geneva convention.
To destroy or seize the enemy's property
unless such destruction or seizure be i'm
peratively demanded by the necessities of
war.
Ruses of war and the employment of
methods necessary TO obtain. information
about the enemy and the country are con-
sidered allowable.
The treaty provides as follows regarding
spies: IAN individual can only be con-
sidered a spy If acting clandestnely or on
false Dretenses he obtains or seeks to OBJ
tain information in the zone of operations
of a belligerent with the intention of COM
municating it to the hostile party. Thus
soldiers not I'm disguise who have pene-
trated into the zone of operations of a
hostile army TO obtain information are not
considered spies. Similarly the following