Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-10-31

called the circumstances that at the
time. when. on August "a. 1898, his
M, tasty. the emperor Of Russia, sent
FOX 1, his invitation to the nations to
meet in the interests of peace, the
limited States and Spain had merely
halted In their struggle, to devise terms
OF peace. While at the present moment
no armistice between the parties now
contendlns is in sight, the fact of an
existing war is no reason why the ma
lions should relax the efforts they have
s successfully made hitherto toward
the adoption OF rules OF conduct which
may make more remote the chances Of
future war between them. In 1899 the
conference of The Hague dealt solely
with the larger general problems which
confront all nations and assumed no
function of intervention or suggestion
between the United States and Spain.
1t might be the same with n reassem-
bled conference at the present time. Its
efforts would merely lie in the direction
Of further codification of the universal
ideas Of right and justice which we call
international law; it's mission would be
TO give them future erect.
Bring Matte Before Powers.
"The Observation-Disclosures that you VIII
bring the foregoing considerations 10
the attention Of the minister for for-
| eign affairs of the government 10
| which you are accredited, and IN dls-
cret conference with him ascertain 10
| what extent that government Is dis
posed to act in the matter.
"Should his excellency Invite sug-
restion as to the character of the
questions to be brought before the
proposed second peace conference, you
may say to him that, at this time, 1t
would seem premature ITO couple the
tentative invitation thus extended
with a categorical programme of sub
iects of discussion. 1t Is only by conn
| parison Of views that q general &C
cord can be reached as to the matters
to be considered by the new confer
ence. 1t is desirable that In the for
mutation Of program, the distinc-
ton should be kept clear between the
matters which belong to the province
of international law and those which
are conventional as between in6ivid-
ual governments. The nnal act OF
L
1899, kept this distinction clearly in
sight. Among the broader general
questions affecting the right and JUS
tice OF the relation of sovereign states
which were then relegated to a fur
Their conference were: The rights and
duties of neutrals; the inviolability OF
private property in naval warfare; and
the bombardment of ports, towns and
villages by a naval force. The other
matters mentioned in the final act take
the form of suggestions for considera-
ton by interested governments.
1.-THE three points mentioned cover a
large field. The first, especially, touch
| ing the rights and duties of neutrals,
| is of universal Importance. Its rightful
disposition affects the interests and
| well being Of all the world. The neut-
raj is something more than an onlook
er. His acts Of omission or commission
may have an influence-.indirect, but
tangible-on a war actually in pro-
gress; whilst on the other hand he may
suffer from the exigencies of the bellig
gerents. 1t is this phase of warfare
which deeply concerns the world at
large. Efforts have been made, time
applicable to its more material aspects,
as in the declarations of Paris. AS re-
Gently as the 2Sth of April, of this year,
the congress Of the United States "a
dopted resolution reading thus:
Resolved, by the senate and houses of
representatives of the United States IF
America in congress assembled, That
1t is the sense of the congress of the
United States that it is desirable, in
the interest of uniformity Of action by
the maritime states of the world In
item of war. that the president en-
deavor to bring about an understand
ing among the principal maritime
powers, with view OF Incorporating
into the permanent law of civilized
nations the principle Of the exemption
Of all private property at sea, not con-
traband of war, from capture or de-
struction by belligerents.
Approved April %. 1904
Large Field Lies Open.
"Other matters closely affecting the
rights of neutrals are: The distinction
to be made between absolute and con-
ditional contraband of war. and the in
volatility Of the official 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 1t has acquired
during recent times; namely the treat
ment due to refugee belligerent ships
in neutral ports.
ut may also be desirable to consider
and adopt procedure by which states
nom signatory to the original acts of
The Hague conference may become adj
herring parties.