The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-10-20

rate deleg alton was chosen. headed by
Sir Edward Fry. some time Lord Justice
OF Appeal and a member If the permanent
Fagu court. The wrench delegation was
headed bv leon Bourgeois. tire Austrian
by X. Mercy de Kspos-N.ere the italian
by Count Ternelli -Rrussti iii yergnano,
h German by Baron Marschall Won iiber-
stein. VI. Nelido~ headed the Russian
representatives. and he. in compliment
10 the Gar, "a promoter Of the conference.
was elected its president. IN the distribu-
ton Of honors Mr.. hoate was made hon
orarv senior president OF the third COM
mission. which had 10 do with most OF the
~ractical questions Gs to the cor 'ict O.
wa~.
There were four comm ssions altogether.
and in these all the real work was done.
They were practically large committees.
They discussed each proposition submitted
TO the &C; ference and either killed il or put
IL in shape to be voted on by tn. on erence
at large.
BY far the most important Questions dis
cussed were those backed by the Cnitsd
States delegates. These we're the estahIish.
ment OF compulsory arbitration as a subsfi-
tIte for or At least as a preliminary to war:
az IA VI pTINdTe DTODaTfv
at sea az 1t ID on land. excepting contraband
Of war. and the Drago doctrine regarding
the collection OF private debts by armed
force exercised by a strong Power against
q weak one. Ire last OF these. as proposed
draft approved at Rio de Janeiro.
All OF these proposals. and indeed eyerv-
thing IA was proposed. met with strenuous
opposition from one or more Powers. Az
the outset Russia seemed 70 he the chief
obstructive. opposing everything which did
not seem 10 ht her peculiar needs and de-
sires. Later Marschall Won Bieberstein
came to the front az the chief obstructor:
in the later sessions he made no bones about
showing that Germany did not mean 10 per
init any legislation that would lessen the
hamper her in a contest with France or Eng
land or aid them in any way.
AnOther hopeless system OF obstruction
resulted from the equal representation
Of the minor powers with the great ones
in the conference. By combining such
states as Rumania and Ecuador were able
to defeat any proposition, no matter how
vital to the interests Of great nations like
France. Germany n England Ii was
the small States. especially those of Latin
America, that rendered Intellectual all efforts
to establish a great permanent international
tribunal to which all disputes might be
submitted They demanded equal repre-
sentation on the bench, to which of course
the great Powers could not consent, and
failing to get IL. they virtually killed the
proposition. England. France and the
United States. on the whole. stood together
for all plans looking to the preservation
OF peace, but i'm general on practical, work.
ing propositions they were overwhelmingly
outvoted. The commission, when il became
impossible to reach any real result on any
given proposal. usually salved It's conscience
by a sentimental vote in favor Of the prin-
This course finally so Disguised
Mr.. Choate and the American delegates
10 vote when OIL October II the commits
sion adopted a milk and water memorandum
forth that many OF the Powers
that the time was ripe for
mutually accepting certain questions as
for obligatory arbitration"
Al the tenth pieDaiy session OF the con-
ference. held on Thurs lay. an imposing
array OF propositions was adopted as it's
inai act. IL - altogether doubtful what
amount TO. 10 what extent they are
mere declarations Of principle without
binLing force AMI to what extent they are
mere improvements in the conventions
existing c1nnot he known until
the ext OF the articles as signed by the
delegates IL revealed. IL is certain thgt
Mr.. Chcate'a proposal for the immuniLy
OF merchant ships at sea during war has not
put in force and the arbitration court
plans have been rendered abortive by fail
IRE to name the judges or even to decide
on their number or method OF choice. The
question OF asylum 70 warships in neutral
ports appears TO have been settled on a
vile open basis, 50 that accord
ing to the latest sdvices il would he in the
power OF Russia TO give United States war
ships complete SHELTER and TO allow them