The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-10-31
"BlG STICK" IN
THE JUNK ROOM
Continued from Page u

confront all nations. and assumed no
function of Intervention or suggestion
in the settlement of the terms of peace
between the United States and Spain.
It might be the same with reassem-
bled conference at the present time. Eff
forts would naturally lie in the direc-
ton of further codifiCation of the uni
versal ideas Of right and justice which
we call international law; its mission
would be TO give further effect.
Instructions to Ministers.
The president directs that you Will
bring the foregoing considerations TO
the attention of the minister for foreign
affairs of the government TO which you
are accredited and in discreet confer
ence with him ascertain to what extent
that government is disposed TO act in
the matter.
Should his excellency invite sUgges-
ton as to the character of the ques
tons to be brought before the proposed
second peace conference, you may say
to him that, at this time it would seem
premature to couple the tentative inVi-
tatiOn thus extended with categorical
programme of subjects of discussion. 1t
is only by comparison Of views that
general accord can be reached as to the
matters to be considered by the new
formulation Of a programme the dis
tinction should be kept clear between
the matters which belong to the prov
ince of international law and those
which are conventional as between in
dividual governments. The final act
Of The Hague conference. dated July %.
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 future
congress were: The rights and duties of
neutrals; the inviolability OF private
property in naval warfare and the
bOmbardment of ports, towns and vii
lagos by a naval force. The other mat
ters mentioned in the final act take the
form of suggestions for consideration
by interested governments.
Rights OF Neutrals.
The three points mentioned cover a
like field. The first, especially. touch
ing the rights and duties of neutrals. is
of importance It's rightful disposition
affects the interests and well being of
all the world. The neutral is something
more than an OnlOOker. His acts Of
omission or commission may have an
nfluence-indirect, but tangible-on a
war actually in progress; while on the
other hand he may suffer from the ext
gencies OF the belligerents. IL is this
phase OF warfare which deeply con-
Germs the world at large. Efforts have
been made time and again to formulate
rules of action applicable TO its more
material aspects. as in the declarations
Of Paris. As recently as the 28th of
April of this year the congress of the
United States adopted a resolution
reading thus:
Resolved. By the senate and house
of representatives of the United States
of America in congress assembled:
That il is the sense Of the congress
of the United States that il is desir-
able. in the interest of uniformity of
action by the maritime states of the
world in time Of war, that the Dresi-
dent endeavOr to bring about an under
standing among the principal maritime
powers with a view of Incorporating
into the permanent law OF civilized ma
lions the principle of the exemption of
all private property at sea. not contra !
band Of war, from capture or destruc- |
ton by belligerents.
Approved April IS. 1904
"Other matters closely affecting the |
rights of neutrals are: The distinction
TO be made between absolute and condi-
tional cOntraband Of war, and the in |
of the official and private |
Of neutrals,
Duties of Neutrals.
"As for the duties of aeutrals toward
the belligerent. the field is barely less |
broad. One aspect deserves. mention. |
from the prominence it has acquired /
during recent times, namely the treat |
ment due to refugee bei1igerent ships in
neutral ports.
1T may also be desirable to consider
and adopt procedure by which the /
states on-eignatOry to the original |
acts of The Hague conference may be- !
come adhering parties.
You viii explain to his eXceIlencv. |
this minister Of foreign affairs, that the |
present overture for a second confer
ence to complete the proposed work of /
the first congress is not designed to su-
persede other calls for the consideration |
Of special topics such as the PROPOSE |
ton of the government of the Neither |
lands. recently issued to assemble for
the purpose Of amending the provisions |
,gith respect to hospital ships Like all /
to change in the light of practical ex- |
perience, and the fullest elaboration n |
desirable to that end.
Finally, you will state the pressi- |
dents desire and hope that the indy |
Ing memories which cling around The /
Hague as the cradle of the benefieient !
work which had its beginning in 1899 /
may be strengthened by holding the sec
ond peace conference in that historic |
city.
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