New-York tribune., 1907-05-27
AMERICANS AT HAGUE.
Probable attitude of Delegates from
This Hemisphere.

WASHINGTON MAY 26-Probably IL will not be pos
sible TO know the exact strength of the American
contingent among the delegates to the Hague con-
ference until the doors thrown open on June Is.
At the first conference only two American states
were representative United States and Mexico
II all the republics of the Western Hemisphere take
advantage of the opportunity opened by the efforts
Of the Secretary of State of the United States there
will be twenty-one of the governments of the
Americas represented.
Some of these republics will have no representa-
tives the second conference, but even yet It is
impossible to tell with accuracy who will be the
absentees. On the whole, however, there has been
generous response from most of the American
publics to the Cars invitation and 1t is certain
that the American representation will be large.
Only twenty-seven countries signed the treaty of
July %. 1893. and unless there is enlarged
sentation at the second conference from the East
ern Hemisphere il might be possible for the
Americas to dominate the proceedings. If there were
the slightest sign of division in the Eastern ranks.
No power be admitted TO the second confer
ence unless it has adhered TO the convention OF
1889 So. on June IA. the day before the opening
OF the second conference. the delegates OF all the
American states that have accepted the invitation
will formally accomplish their adhesion to the ar
btration convention.
1t has been expected that all of the American
delegates will act in unison. Resident diplomatic
agents of the American states however say that
while on some of the most important propositions
the American delegates will agree in principle they
VIII ulIer Wluey IN matters OF detall. On lne
proposition looking to wider extension of arbi-
tration the American delegates will present
broken front. This is not the result of planning
or secret negotiations. for it is known that the
American states have advanced far beyond those
OF Europe in recourse to arbitration therefore there
Is nothing inconsistent in their attitude
Almost all of the American delegates are deeply
interested in the success of the efforts have the
conference indorse the famous Drago Doctrine.
which inhibits the use of force by nation to col
lect debts owing its citizens by another govern
ment. But there is wide difference among them
to the extent which the doctrine should be
or
principle shall be introduced a tenet of inter
national law. Even the most Sanguine among the
delegates realize that il is quite mproba BILE that
the conference could be induced to accept this doc
trine In its severity All Mr.. Root hoped to
plish to secure some general understanding
the extent to which force might be used in the
collection of debt and the conditions under which
IT might be applied: he did believe that there
would be total abandonment of the right to
force at all
II is believed that the American delegates of
all shades of opinion to what form the PROPOSE
ton should take before the conference
Limitation of aTniamen the South and
Central Americans deeply because of the restraint
upon their natural development that would be I'M
posed by the necessity of maintaining large
but not unit, support the effort to be made by
the United States delegates. If not by those from
England and Spain TO have this subject discussed.