The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-31
conventional as between individual govern.

cohveneionai as between individual govern.
ments. u -.
The final act OF the Hague conference
dated July 20. 1850, kept this distinction
clearly In sight. Among the broader gen.
eral questions affecting the right and Jus.
tioe OF the relation OF sovereign States
which were then relegated to a future con.
ference. were: The rights and duties OF
neutrals; the inviolability OF private prop.
erty in naval warfare and the lombard.
ment OF ports, towns and villages by naval
force. The other matters mentioned In
the final act take the form OF suggestion fol
confederation by the Interested govern
ments.
The three points mentioned cover a
large field.
The first. specially touching the rights
and duties OF neutrals, Is OF universal i'm
portanoe. Its rightful disposition affects
the interests and well being Of all the world
The neutral Is something more than an
onIooker. His acts Of omission or COM
mission may have an influence-indirect
out tangible-on war actually In progress;
whilst on the other hand he may suffer
from the exigencies of the belligerents.
it 10 this phase Of warfare which deeply
concerns the world at large. Efforts have
been made time and again to formulate
rules OF action applicable to its more ma
terial aspects, as in the declaration Of Paris,
as recently as the 2sth of April of this year
the Congress Of the United States adopted
resolution reading thus:
Resolred by the Senate and House OF Rep
rssenfdtres OF the United States OF America
in Congress assembled. That it Is the sense
OF the Congress Of the United States that
IL Is desirable. In the interest OF uniformity
OF action by the maritime States Of the world
In time OF war. that the President endeavor
to bring about an understanding among the
principal maritime powers with a view Of
incorporating into the permanent law of
civilized nations the principle OF the eX-
emption OF all private property at sea. not
contraband Of war. from capture or destruc-
ton by beliRereRts.
Approved. April rs. 1904.
Other matters closely affecting the rights
of neutrals are: The distinction to be made
between absolute and conditional contra
band of war and the inviolability of the Off
cial and private correspondence of neutrals
AS for the duties of neutrals toward the
belligerent, the field is scarcely less broad
One aspect deserves mention. from the
prominence it has acquired during recent
'hicoi itiiicly' tllt 10 refugee
belligerent ships in neutral ports. 1t may
also be desirable to consider and adopt a
procedure by which States non-signatory
to the original acts of the Hague confer
ence may become adhering parties.
You will explain to his Excelency, the
Minister Of Foreign Affairs, that the pres
ent overture for a second conference to
complete the postponed work of the first
conference is not designed to supersede
other calls for the consideration of specia
topics, such as the proposition Of the Gov
eminent of the Netherlands, recently issued
to assemble for the purpose of amending
the provisions Of the existing Hague con-
vention with repect to hospital ships. Like
all tentative conventions, that one is open
to change in the light of practical expert
ence and the fullest deliberation is desira-
BILE to that end.
Finally. you will state the Presidents
desire and hope that the undying memories
which cling around The Hague as the cradle
OF the beneficent work which had it's be-
ginning in 1899. may be strengthened by
holding the second peace conference in
that historic city.
l am. sir, your obedient servant,
JOHN HAY