The sun., 1903-12-08

| 1t will be possible wholly to prevent war,
or that Just regard for national interest,"
and honor will In all cases permit ol the
settlement of international disputes py
| arbitration; but by a mixture OF prndeno
and firmness with wisdom we think 1t is
| possible to do away with much OF the provo
| cation and excuse for war, and at least II,
| many cases to substitute some other aIa
more rational method for the settienehU
| good an example OF what can be done ~
| the direction of such settlement tha' IL
should be encouraged In every way
| EXEMPTION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY AT SEA
FROM CAPTURE BY BELLIdERENT POWERS
Further steps should be taken. In Presl-
dent McKinley's annual Message OF pee. o,
| 1893, he made the following recommendation
"The experiences of the last year brihg
| foroibly home to us a sense OF the burdens
| and the waste of war. We desire, III com
mon with most civilized nations, to reduce
| TO the lowest possible point the damage
| sustained in time OF war by peaceable trace
| and commerce. 1t Is true we may suner
in such cases less than other communities
but all nations are damaged more or less
by the state Of uneasiness ana aPpreneilslon
into which an out break OF hostilities throws
the entire commercial world. IL shoulo
be our object, therefore, to minimize, SO
far as practicable. this inevitable loss ana
disturbance. This purpose can propaply
best be accomplished by an international
agreement to regard all private property az
sea as exempt from capture or destruction
by the forces of beligerent Powers. The
United States Government has for many
years advocated this humane and benehceh'
principle, and is now in position to recon-
mend it to other Powers without the nm
putation of selfish motives. l therefore,
suggest for your consideration that the
Executive be authorized to, correspond
with the Governments of the princlpai
maritime Powers with view of incorporat,
ing into the permanent law OF clvlllzeo
nations the principle OF the exemption OF
all private property at sea, not contraband
of war, from capture or destruction by
bellgerent Powers,
cordially renew this recommendation.
The Supreme Court, speaking on Dec. H.
1890, through Peckham, j., said;
1T is, we think, historically accurate 10
say that this Government has always been:
in its views, among the most advanced OF
the Governments of the world In favor OF
mitigating. as to all non-combat the
hardships and horrors of war. To accom-,
plsh that object il 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.
advocate this az matter OF humanity
and morals. 1t is anachronistic when
private property is respected on land that
1t should not be respected at sea. More
over, it should be borne III mind that ship
ping represents. internationally speaking,
much more generaized species of private
property than h the case with ordinary
property on and-that is property found
property found on land really to belong
to any one nation. Under the modern
system of corporate ownership the nag OF
a vessel often differs from the flag which
would mark the nationality of the real
ownership and money control of the vessel;
and the cargo may belong to individuals
of yet different nationality. Much Ameri-
can capital is now invested in foreign ships:
and among foreign nations it often happens
that the capital of one is largely invested in
the shipping of another. Furthermore as
Il practical matter, it may be mentioned that
while commerce destroying may cause
serious loss and great annoyance. it can
never be more than subsidiary factor III
now we'll recognized by all of our naval
experts. The fighting ship, not the com
merce destroyer is the vessel whose featS
add renown to a nations history, and estab--
sh her place among the great Powers of
the world.
MEETING OF lNTERPARIIAMENTARY UNION
FOR INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION.
Last year the Interparlamentary Union
for International Arbitration met at Vienna,
900 members of the different legislatures of
civilized countries attending. 1t was pro-
vided that the next meeting should be in
extending an invitation. Like the Hague
tribunal, this interparliamentary union is
one of the forces tending towards peace
among the nations OF the earth, and it is
entitled TO our support. thrust the invitation
can be extended
RELATIONS WITH TURKEY.
Early in June, having received intelli-
gence, which happily turned out to be err
roneous, of the assassinat ion OF our Vice
Consul at Beirut, Idespat ched small squad
, ron to that port for such service as might
be found necessary on arrival. Although be
attempt on the life of our Vice-Consul had
not been successful, yet the outrage was
sympt omatc of a state of excitement and
disorder which demanded immediate at
tention. The arrival OF the vessels had the
happiest res ult A feeling of security at once
took the place of the former alarm and dis
quiet our officers were cordially welcomed
by the consular body and the leading mer-
chants. and ordinary business resumed its
activity The Government of the Sultan
gave a considerate hearing to the represeN-
tations of our Minister; the official who was
regarded as responsible for the disturbed
condition of affairs was removed. Our rela-
/ tions with the Turkish Government remain
friendly our claims founded on ineQuitable
treatment OF some of our schools and mis-
sons appear TO be in process of amicable
adjustment.
RELATIONS WITH CHINA.
The signing of the new commercial treaty
with China, which took place at Shanghai on
the sth Of Octo ober, is cause for satisfaction.
This act. the result of long discussion and
negotiation, places our commercial relations
with the great Oriental empire on more
satisfactory footing than they have ever
heretofore enjoyed. 1t provides not only
for the ordinary rights and privileges OF
diplomatic and consular Office rs, but also
for an important exten sion of our commerce
by increased facility of access to Chinese
ports and for the relief of trade by the re-
moval of some Of the obstacles which have
embarrassed it in the past, The Chinese
Government en- cages, on fair and equitable
conditions, which will probably be ac-
cepted by the principal commercial nations.
to abandon the levy of "liken" and OF her
transit dues throughout the empire, and to
introduce other desirable administrative
reforms. Larger facilities are to be given
to our citizens who desire o carry on mining
enterprises in China. We have secured
for our missionaries a valuable privilege.
the recognit ion Of their right to rent and
lease in perpetuty such property as their
religious societies may need in all parts of
the empire And. what was an ndispen-
sable condition for he advance and develop.
ment of our commerce in Manchura. China,
by treaty with us, has opened to foreign
commerce the cities Of Mukden, he capital