New-York tribune., 1907-06-28
At THE HAGUE.

Observation of proceedings at The Hague from
dav TO day increases respect for the congress
and strengthens hope that much practical good
will come from its deliberations. We COM
mented approvngIy the other day upon the
American advancement of the Drago Doctrine
and expressed confidence that no serious objec-
ton would be made to the implied limitations
Of It, Now il is reported that Or. Drago him
self has drawn up a proposal which actually
makes the limitations Of his doctrine more
marked than In the American suggestion This
is welcome and will materially strengthen the
standing OF that doctrine before the world by
showing that there is no thought OF using it as
a screen for repudiation Of debts. The Amer
lean proposal left nations free TO force when
debtors would not submit their obligations TO
arbitration. Dr. Drago adds that force may be
used If the debtor state refuses 10 pay at the
behest Of It's own courts or 20 obey the mandate
of the tribunal at The Hague. With such I'M
derstandings there should be no objection any
where TO the acceptance Of the doctrine u
part of international law.
The reproach that this peace" congress is
chiefly busyng itself with matters relating to
seems not to be deserved. Besides the
DragO Doctrine which is disunctively lrenlc
many other matters relating directly to the
maintenance Of peace have already been laid
before the congress. Germany has proposed
tIlIrt HCW dIlRSltS hutllllOn I'd LHe eAlbCllB
| Hague treaty looking to the peaceful settlement
| Of disputes, while France has presented two
| elaborate proposals OF twenty-five articles each
| with the same benefcent end in view. The Mex
lean representative hos also laid before the con-
! gress the South American arbitration treaty as
| a possible model for general arbitration treaty
! for all nations. 1t will be observed that it ex-
| cepts from arbitration questions involving na-
| tonal dignity or vital interests, which is judi
ciOus and, indeed essential If the scheme Is to
meet with general approval.
AS we anticipated, various topics suggested by
/ or growing out OF the Russo-Japanese War are
being brought 10 the consideration Of the con
/ gress. One Of these is the proposal made by
! Great Britain that the destruction OF naval
prizes shall be prohibited, even 10 the extent
that the captOr shall release his prize If he IS
not able to take it into prize court It will be
recalled that in the late war Russian ships de-
stroyed number Of prizes in what seemed much
like pure wantOnness and in circumstances
which made ii doubtful whether thev were law
ful prizes Great Britain suffered much from
those practices, and IT is not surprising that she
now seeks to make their repetition impossible.
Another proposal growing out of that war has
been made by France TO the effect that no nation
shall begin war without advanced and uneGuiv-
| ocal notice of its purpose. To that however.
strong and probably fatal opposition is ex
pressed and 1t seems likely that beIlIgerent
! powers viii not be deprived of the ADVANTAGES
which arise from being quick on the trigger -
The American proposal to exempt from naval
seizure all commerce except contraband of war
and blockade runners is in accordance with OK
pectations, but there is assurance that If will
be supported by many other powers, anv moro
than it was in 1S5G-at which time this countrv
offered a most important Quid pro quo to induce
It's acceptance. The British proposal. which
seems TO include the abandonment OF the prin-
clpie OF contraband and the right of search. is
stlIi more radical but must await further elp
cldation before its merits can rightly be .esti
mated The German proposal 10 extend tbp
hSed cross system to naval warfare and 10 ex
empt hospital ships, public and private. from at