Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-04
CONFERENCE MAY
SOON RECONVENE
RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT MAKES
UNEXPECTED MOVE
Ambassador Baron Rosen Presents
Proposal to Secretary Root lndi-
eating That Netherlands Off
ciaIs Have Consented
BY Associated Press.

WASHINGTON. April 3-UneX-
pectedly the Russian government to-
day made another movement toward
the reconveniug of The Hague confer
once, when Baron Rosen the Russian
ambassador 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
assented to the proposal
1t had been supposed that owing
to the complexity of the problems in
Volved in the arrangement of even a
tentative program for the conference,
and the delays caused by the neces-
sity of persuading the Swiss govern
ment to make the time and program
for the approaching Red Cross con-
Nention conform as far as possible to
The Hague project, it would scarcely
be possible for the conference to as
semble earlier than a late date next
fall.
There were reasonable objections.
however, to such Il date, and it was
intimated that it might be necessary
to defer the convention until next
year. The matter had been left in
large part to the governments of Rus
sa and The Netherlands to adjust,
the first named because the proposal
for the conference had originated with
Emperor Nicholas, and the latter for
the reason that the host should be
consulted when it concerned a mat
ter of dates for the conference.
May Agree on Date
The fact that they have agreed
makes it probable that the other sig
natory powers to the original Hague
convention, which accepted the invi-
tation to attend the next conference
will agree to the proposed date, al
though the short period of time avail
able will make if necessary for some
of the powers which have given little
attention to the subject recently to do
some rapid diplomatic work in order
to arrange programs according to
their own desires. 1t is certain that
the proposed Russian program as
conveyed to the state department to-
day by Baron Rosen will at least call
forth some projects differing material
ly in scope and detail from the Rus
sian plan.
A casual review of the proposal dis
closes nothing that is calculated To
arouse oposition on the part Of the
United States government but unless
the Algeciras conference has material
ly modified the views of certain of
the European great powers, there is
a notable disinclination to enter into
any engagements that would further
restrict the independence of action Of
a power in international matters.
The first paragraph of the Russian
program is regarded as tending
toward the restriction, in that it makes
it easier for powers to engage in
mediation or arbitration, and in con-
sequence enables Il majority of the
powers to force a settlement upon one
of their number when it would much
rather protect the use of sterner dip
lomatic measures, and even proceed
to the verge of forcible compulsion.
Several of the Russian proposals
are really in substance the same as
those proposed by The Hague confer
ence itself as proper for cOnsidera-
tion by another conference, but there
is a suggestion of the last great war
in the reference TO a regulation for
"open hostilities," for the Russians
have never admitted the legality in
international law of the Japanese at
tacl. 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
shipping and cargo will find ready
seconding by tn egtate department,
for this government has been fore
most in advocating this for many
years.