The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-04-04
RUSSIA MAKES
THE FIRST MOVE
Great Powers Invited to Attend a
Second Hague Conference Early
in the Coming Summer.
ROOT TAKEN BY SURPRISE
PROPOSAL WILL PROBABLY BE
ACCEPTED.

Washington, April 3.-Unexpectedly
the Russian government today made
another movement toward the recon
vention of The Hague conference when
Baron Rosen, the Russian ambassa-
dor, presented to Secretary Root a
proposal for the reconvention of the
conference at The Hague early in the
coming summer, and indicated that
the Netherlands government had as
scented to the proposal. 1t has been
supposed that owing to the cOmpIexity
Of the problems involved in the ar
rangement of even a tentative pro-
gramme for the conference and the
delays caused by the necessity of per
suading the Swiss government to make
the time and programme for the ap-
preaching Red Cross convention con-
form as far as possible to The Hague
project, it would scarcely be possible
for the conference to assemble earlier
than q late date next fall. There were
seasonable objections, however, to
such a date, and it was intimated that
it might be necessary to defer the con-
ventiOn until next year.
Powers Will Accept.
The matter had been left in large
the Netherlands to adjust, the first
named because the proposal for the
conference had originated with En-
peror Nicholas and the latter for the
reason that the host should be con-
suited when it concerned a matter of
dates for the conference. The fact
that they have agreed makes it proba-
BILE that the other signatOry powers TO
the original Hague convention which
accepted the invitation to attend the
next conference will agree to the pro-
posed date, although the short period
of time available will make it neces-
saTy for some of the powers which
have given little attention to the sub
Ject recently TO do some rapid diplo-
matte work in order 10 arrange pro-
grafnnfes according 10 their~oWn de-
sires. For it is certain that this pro-
posed Russian programme as con-
veyed TO the state department today
by Baron ROsen viii, while not meet
ing positive objections. at least call
forth some projects differing material
ly in scope and detail from the Russian
plan.
Russian Programme.
A casual review of the proposal dis
closes nothing that is calculated to
arouse opposition on the part of the
United States government, but unless
the AlgeCiTaS conference has material
" modified the views of certain of the
European great powers, there is a
notable Discrimination to enter into any
enga gementS that would further re-
strict the independence of action of
power in international matters. The
first paragraph of the Russian
programme is regarded as tending to-
ward the restriction in that it makes
it easier for the powers to engage in
mediation or arbitration and in conse-
quenCe enables a majority of the
powers to force a settlement upon one
of their number when it would much
rather protract the use Of sterner dip
Iomatic measures and even proceed to
the verge of forcible cOmpuIsiOn. Sew
eral of the Russian proposals are really
in substance the same as those pro-
posed by The Hague conference itself
as proper for consideration by another
conference, but there is a suggestion
of the last great war in the reference
to a regulation for Opening hostili-
ties" for the Russians have never
admitted the legality in international
law of the Japanese attack upon the
Russian warships in Chemulpo harbOr
and at Port Arthur, without. it was
asserted, due notice.
The suggestion relative to the recog-
milton of private property rights in
and cargo will find ready
favor with the state department. for
this government has been foremost in
this for many years