Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-04-04
CALLS HAGUE MEETING
Gear Of Russia Urges a Confer
ence of the Nations at
the Hague.
T COMES AS A SURPRISE
General Impression Had Gained Foot
hold That Meeting Would Be Post
poned for Year = Russia Now
Urges An Early Convention - Some
Diplomatic Work Necessary.

Diplom attic Work Necessary.
Washington April 4.-Unexpectedly
other movement toward the reconven-
ton of The Hague conference when
Baron Rosen, the Russian ambassa dor,
presented to Secretary Root a pro-
posal for the reconvention of the con-
ference at The Hague early in th.
coming summer. and Indicated that the
Netherlands government had assented
to the proposal. 1t had been supposed
tina. owing to the compleNity of the
problem Involved in the arranglnen. Of
even a tentative program for the con-
ference and the delays caused by the
necessity of persuading the Swiss gov
eminent to make the time and pro-
gram for the approaching Red Cross
convention conform as far as possible
to The Hague project, it would scarce
ly be possible for the conference 10 as
semble earlier than a late date mex.
fall. There We're seasonable objac-
tons, however, to such a date, and it
was intimated that it might be neces-
sary to defer the convention until next
year. The matter had been left in large
part to the governments of Russia aud
tue Netherlands to adjust; the first
named because the proposal for the
conference had originated with Enper-
OF Nicholas, and the latter for the rea-
when it concerned the matter of the
DATE for the. conference.
The fact that they have agreed makes
1T probable that the other signatory
powers to the original Hague confer
ence which have accepted the invitation
to attend the next conference will agree
to the proposed date altho the short
period of time available will make it
necessary for some of the powers which
have given little attention to the sub
ject recently, to do some rapid diplo-
matte work in order to arrange pro-
grams, according to their own desires.
For it is certain that this proposed
Russian program as conveyed to the
state department yesterday by Baron
Rosen will, while not meeting positive
projects differing materially in scope
and detail from the Russian plan. A
casual reading of the proposal discloses
nothing that is calculated to arouse OPP
position on the part of the United
States government, but unless the Alge-
ciras conference has materially modi-
fed the views of certain of the Euro
pean great powers, there is notable
dissemination to enter into any engage
ments that would further restrict the
independence of action of a power In
international matters. The first para
graph of the Russian program is re-
garded as tending toward this restric-
ton, in that it makes it easier for pow
ers to engage in mediation or arbitra-
ton and in consequence enables ma
jority of the powers to force a settle
ment upon one of their number when 1T
would much rather protract the use OF
strong diplomatic measures and even
proceed to the verge of forcible COM
pulsion.
Several Russian proposals are really
in substance the same as those pro-
posed by The Hague conference itself
as nroper for consideration by another
conference. but there is a suggestion
of the last great war in the reference
to a regulation for opening hostllltles
for the Russians have never ADMITTED
the legality in international law OF the
Japanese attack upon the Russian war
ships in Chemulpo harbor and at Port
notice.
The suggestion relative to the recog-
milton of private property rights ~
shipping and cargoes will find READY
favor with the state department for
this government has been foremost IN
advancing this for many years.
The Russian program provides taaI
all political questions shall be excluded
from the conference and makes the fol
lowing provisions:
Amelioration of provisions of the
convention concerning the settlement
of international controversies, as far
as the court of arbitration and the in
yestigation committees are concerned.
Additions to the laws and usages OF
land warfare, among others, opening
of hostilities rights Of neutral on land,
declarations of 1S99-renewal of one OF
them.
Compilation of convention regard
ing the laws and usages of naval war
fare relating to the special operation
of naval warfare, such as lombard
ment of forts by naval forces; location
of torpedoes; change of merchant YES
sells into warships; private property OF
belligerents at sea; time allowed mer-
chant vessels to leave neutral or hos
tile ports after the beginning of hos
tilities; rights and duties of neutrais
at sea; among others, the question OF
contraband; rules to which belllgerent
vessels must submit in neutral ports;
destruction from uncomfortable causes
of merchant vessels captured as prizes.
Into this convention would be in
serted provisions concerning land war
fare which would apply to naval war
fare: supplements to the convention
for the adaptation to naval fights of the
principles of the Geneva convention
held in 1864.