The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-07-06
AMERICAN PLANS
At THE HAGUE
Afternoon Session Given to
Proposals of Joseph
H. ChOate.
EXEMPTIONS ON HIGH SEA
MANY DELEGATES EXPRESS
THEIR OPINIONS.

noon sitting of the committee on the
Geneva convention was given over to
discussion Of the Mexican proposition
presented by Joseph F. Choate on June
"A. regarding the inviolability of private
property on the high seas. The COM
mittee sat under the presidency of Pro-
lessor de Martens. NJ. Nelidoff (Rus-
sia), president of the conference, was
present. Joseph F. .Choate, General
Horace Porter. L. NJ. Rose and William
/. Buchanan Of the American delega-
ton. and David J. Hill, American min
lister TO the Netherlands, were in at
tendance.
The American proposition is as fol-
lows:
The private property of all citizens
OF SlgnatOry powers, with the excep-
ton of cOntraband of war, shall be ex-
empt on the high seas or elsewhere
from capture or seizure by the armed
vessels or military forces of said
powers Nothing in this rule implies
in any way to the inviolability of YES
sells which will attempt TO enter a port
blockaded by the naval forces of said
powers, nor Of the cargo of said yes
sells
w. II. Nebaufert CHolland) then read
a declaration that the Dutch govern
nent adhered to the American princi-
pie.
Brazilian Makes Talk.
Ruy Barbosa CBraziD then delivered
a LONG. speech in which he explained
that the statement made by him on
June Is had been wrongly interpreted
as an unconditional ashesion to the
American proposition. He wished to
make it clear that Brazil was not the
cats-paw of America. but that she sup
ported this American principle for the
reason That capture never brought vic
tory TO any one.
Professor De Marten then read a
declaration presented i'm writing by the
Argentine delegation. saying they were
favorable TO conservation of the right
OF capture
Sir Ernest Satow then made declar-
alton on behalf of Great Britain. He
said he realized the serious character of
the arguments in favor of inviolability
OF private property on the high seas.
but the discussion showed the evidence
and logical tendency toward abolition
of the commercial blockade. Sir Ernest
demonstrated to what an extent the
limitation of blOCkadeS would cOmpli-
cate matters and create new causes of
dispute as a result of which the dis
cussion between belligerents would
give rise To fresh irritation which might
tend to prolOnE the war instead of
shortening il. The inViola biIity of prom
erty and the limitation of blockades are
1nseparable questions, the English rep
IesentatiVe continued. and Great
Britain for the moment does not find
the movement toward the ideal aim
namely the abolition Of war. sufficient
~ accentuated to be able to associate
herself with the American doctrine
What Great Britain thinks neces-
~ 44--
trails; that is why she proposed the
abolition of contraband." said Sir
Ernest
Germany for Choate.
Baron NarschaH Won Bfeberstefn
Germany began his remarks by SET
ting forth that Germany never had
been in favor of the capture of private
property at sea, and consequently Mr.
Choate's idea would certainly find a
sympathetic echo throughout Ger
many But regarding the categorical
question of aboIishing the right of cap
tuTe, this seemed TO him to be closely
affiliated with two other questions.
namely, that of cOntraband and the
violation of a blockade, two questions
which would have at once to be defined
as otherwise any proclamation of the
immunity of private property would be
in vain and the actual system of to-
day would remain in force.
Germany would be ready to coIlabo-
rate in the protection of private prop
eTty at sea, but on condition that the
question how to make this protection
tfficacious be first elucidated.
NJ. Tcharykof. in his turn, declared
the Russian delegation had profound
respect for the ideas set forth by Mr..
ChOate. which so creditably represent
ed the traditions Of the United States. /
but they did not think the question
was yet ripe for solution. Much pre-
paratOry judicial work was necessary /
To reach a general understanding of |
this matter, and the Russian deIega- |
ton did not believe the conference |
would succeed i'm advancing the uueS-
ton from its present status.
DR.. Hagerup then voiced the adher- |
ence of Norway to the American doc |
trine. He referred to the important
commercial interests of Norway at sea, |
and said his country. although small i'm |
area. was surpassed in the matter of |
maritime commerce by only a few other /
nations Norway will vote for the /
American proposition that the question |
of cOntraband be examined.
Th2 Portuguese delegation subscribed /
10 the statement made by the German |
delegates, expressing the belief that it 4
is first necessary to solve the questions |
Of blockade and cOntraband.
TrIana Breaks Away.
Perez Trana, a member of the deIega- /
ton from the United States of Colombia
made a speech of extreme length. He said
Colombia must refuse to subscribe to /
the proposition of the [ nited States"
NJ Triana explained that for a nation |
like Colombia, with a merchant marine |
and with hardly any naval strength. that /
there is everything to lose and nothing to
gain by the suspension of the right to cap
tuTe private property on the high seas In /
conclusion, NJ. Triana made irOnical refer
ence to President Roosevelt. He said:
President Roosevelt may consider him
self happy mortal if, when he descends
from the presidential chair which for its
prestige, power and potentiality may be
compared TO the thrones of kings and en-
peTOrs, or al later period the hour OF the
setting sun of a life filled with energetic
activity, he may with uplifted head and
laying his hand upon his heart declare be-
fore the history of the world that on every
and all occasions and at all times he has
respected the rights of the weak of ms
tice and of humanity, even to the detri-
ment of the political interests and ambf-
tons of his own country. When a man
possesses that degree OF moral authority
/, folHr !