Bismarck daily tribune., 1903-12-07

SSns McNluiey annual message
OF Dec. 5. 1895. he made the following
Recommendation:
The experiences of the last yeat
bring forcibly home to us a sense of
the burdens and the waste of war. We
desire. in common with most civilized
nations. to reduce to the lowest possi
bic point the damage sustained in time
or war by peaceable trade and com
merce. 1t is true we may suffer in
ouch cases less than other communities.
out all nations are damaged more or
less by the state of uneasineSs and an
prehenSion into which an outbreak of
hostilities throws the entire CONNER
elal world. 1t should be our object.
therefore, TO minimize SO far as prac-
fcable this inevitable loss and dis
turbance. This purpose can probably
best he accomplished by an interna-
uonal agreement to regard all private
property at sea as exempt from cap
ture or destruction by the forces of
belligerent powers The United States
government has for many years ad-
Vocateu this humane aud Deneticent
prlncIrle and is now in position to
recommend ii 10 other powers without
the lmputaiion of selfish motives.
therefore suS for your considera-
ton that the executive be authorized
to correspond with the governments of
the principal maritime powers with "A
view of Incorporating into the perma-
nent law of civilized nations the prin-
clple of the exemption of all private
property at sea not contra band of war
from capture or destruction by bel
ligerent powers"
l cordially renew this recommends
ton.
Exemption Of Private Property at Sea.
Ihe supreme court. speaking ON Dec.
IL, 1899. through peckham f.. said:
1T is. We think, historically accurate
to say that this government has al
ways been in its views among the
most advanced of the governments of
the world in favor OF mitigating. as to
ali noncombatants. the hardships and
horrors of war. To accomplish that
OBJECT ii has always advocated those
rules which would in most cases do
away with the right to capture the
private property of an enemy on the
high seas"
l advocate this as a matter of hu.
manity and morals. 1t is anachronis
NC When private property is respected
on land that it should not be respected
at sea. Moreover. il Should be borne
in mind that shipping represents. in
ternationally speaking. a lnuch more
generalized species of private property
than is the case with ordinary proper
~ on land-that is. property found at
sea is much less apt than is the ease
with property found on land really 10
belong 10 any one nation Under the
modern system of corporate ownership
the flag of vessel often differs from
the flag which would mark the nation
ality of the real ownership and money
control of the vessel. and the care
may belong 10 individuals of Yet d +
ferent nationality. Much America
capital is now invested in foreign s.ip
and among foreign nations oftel
happens that the capital of one is Iargc
|
Furthermore, as q practical matter it
may be mentioned that. while commerce
destroying may cause serious loss and
great annoyance, it can never be more
AN subsidiary factor in bringing to
rms Il resolute foe. This is now well
recognized by all of our naval experts
The fighting ship not the commerce
lpStroyar iS fbo vaccol xvboco footc o 4
renown to nations history and es
tablsh her place among the great pow
ers of the world
Last year the Interparliamentary Tn
ion For International Arbitration me
+, at Vienna. GOO members of the differ
ent legislatures of civilized countrie:
attending. 1t was provided that tn,
next meeting should be in 1904 at st
Louis. subject to our congress extend
ing an invitation. Like The Hagu,
tribunal, this interparliamentary unior
is one of the forces tending toward
peace among the nations of the earth
and it is entitled to our support.
trust the invitation can be extended.
Relations With Turkey.
Early in July, having received intel
I ligence, which happily turned out to be
a erroneous. of the assassination of oul
. vice consul at Beirut l dispatched a
small squadron to that port for such
service as might be found necessary
on arrival. Although the attempt on
. the life of our vice consul had not been
g, successful yet the outrage was symp
;, tomato of state of excitement and
, disorder which demanded immediate
attention The arrival OF the vessels
had the happiest result A feeling OF
i, security at once took the place of the
former alarm and disquiet. Our Off
;, GERS We're cordially welcomed by the
consular body and the leading mer
| chants and ordinary business resumed
, its activity The government of The
sultan gave IA consderate hearing Il
the representations of our minister; tn,
, official who was regarded as responsi
BILE for the disturbed condition of af
fairs was removed Our relations Wit
the Turkish government remain friend
I .s.lf