New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-06
SEA PROPERTY In WAR.
THE AMERICAN PROPOSAL
England, Germany and Russia OPP
pose the Motion Of Mr. ChOate.

The Hague July 5,-The entire afternoon sit
ting Of the committee on the Geneva conven-
ton was given over to a discussion OF the Amer
lean proposal. made by Joseph II. Choate
June "a. regarding the inyioability OF private
property on the high The committee sat
under the presidency of NJ. Martens. II. Nel-
DON CftuSsian), president of the conference; 10
seph II. Choate. General Horace Porter, L. NJ.
Rose and William I. Buchanan. OF the American
delegation, and David J. Hi. American Min
lister to the Netherlands, were among those
present Many delegates surrounded the place
reserved for the American representatives, who
were busy IN answering confidential inquiries
regarding the scope and extent Of the American
doctrine.
Immediately after the opening of the sitting
Mr. Choate said that the American delegation
regretted 1t was unable to conform with the de-
cison reached by the president that all pro-
poSais be submitted by the end Of this week
Tor the reason that some of them were not vet
ready. THESE he asked TO be allowed to submit
4ater NJ Martens consulted with the com
mittee, which gave it's consent The discussion
Oh tle american motion then begun II is
follows: - !"
The private property of all citizens OF signatorv
powers with the exception OF contraband Of war
shaH De eXemPt on the high or elsewhere
from capture seizure BY the armed vessels o.
military forces Of said powers Nothing in this
rule implies in any way the inviolabty OF vessels
which attempt TO enter port blockaded by the
naval forces said powers or OF the cargo - go
vessels - $3.50
W II ue DeduIOrt (HOIIanQ) then read q dec
4aration that the Dutch government adhered
TO the American principle considering that it
showed great progress toward the prevailing
Humanitarian ideas. Ruy Barbosa BraziD then
/ MADE long speech. in which he explained that
! the statement made by him on juno IS owing
/ to the semi-seCrecy OF the conference had been
wrongly interpreted as an unconditional ad-
heSlon 10 the American proposal He wished
! 10 make il clear that Brazil was not the cats
; paw OF America. but that she supported this
/ American principle for the reason that Captura
{ never brought victory 10 G/y one. This had
! been proved in the Of France which In
/ 1870 had paid over six millions for having
captured an insignificant number Of boats
/ Capture. the Brazilian representative declared
was more harmful 10 insular than to CONT
mental 60 lntries, because the latter we're IN a
position TO make good their losses by land
communi alton In many cases caDt,Ire ,yas
/ extremely unjust. because the vesSt\ were in
! sured by foreign companies and oSly these
| companies suffered. in spite of III fact that
! they were owned in neutral states
AMENDMENTS BY BRAZIL.
/ Sehor Barbosa said he did not agree with
! the theory that a threat TO commercial inter-
ests might be hindrance to war Reasoning
like this he said. would justify the re-estabIish
ment OF privatecring. The reduction Of arma-
ments being premature. the nations must DO
satisfied with reforms such tho one pro-
! posed by the Americans. AS a general under
/ standing could not be reached on the American
| proposal. he begged TO introduce several amend
| ments which would constitute n temporary
solution of the matter. along the lines so far as
| possible. OF applying the principles Of land war
! fare 10 private property at
Sir Ernest NJ. Satow made declaration on be-
! half OF Great Britain He said that he realized
| the serious character OF the arguments in favor
| OF the invioabty Of private property on the
| high seas. but the discussion showed a tendency
toward the abolition of the commercial blockade.
B Sir Ernest demonstrated to what extent the
/ limitation OF blocEades would complicate mat
! ters and create new causes OF dispute. as II re-
/ suit of which the discussions between be!liger-
! ents would give rise To fresh irritation which
might tend TO pvolong the war instead OF short
| euiug II. The invlolability of property and the
, limitation OF blockades were inseparable ques-
! lions, and Great Britain did not find the move
ment toward the ideal aim-namely. the aboli-
! ton OF war-suflciently marked To be able TO
associate herself with the American doctrine
What Great Britain thinks necessary TO
! establish" Sir Ernest then said. lis respect for
| the interests OF neutrals. That is why she pro-
/ posed the abolition OF contraband-"
! Baron Marschall Won Bieberstein Germany
began his remarks by setting forth that Ger
many never had been In favor Of the capture or
private property At sea. and consequently Mr.
Choate's idea would certalu.5 hnd sympa-
thetic echo throughout Germany. The cate
gorical question of abollshing the right L" Az
/ ure however, seemed TO him 10 De cIose'E 'I-
lied with two other questions namely lhaI Oh
( contraband and the violation OF a BLOCKADE Two
! ouestions which would have at once TO be de-
fined as otherwise any proclamation OF the I'M
munity OF private properly would De Ill Niii''
and the system Of to-day would remain III
force Germany would be ready TO collaborate
tn the protection OF private property at sea-
{ h,+ on condition that the question how 70 mako
tbis nrotectlon eflcacious be first elucidated.
! NJ ,Tcharykoff said that the Russian ueieea
ton had profound respect for the IDEAS set lor 10
nv, Mr. Choate which so creditapiy repiesetito
/ +ba traditions of the United States out IL 'iiu
NOT mink the question was yet ripe for solution.
Much nreparatory Jurid!cal work was necessary
aaoI, :, General understanding of this matter.
d IN. Russian delegation did not believe tho
/ soroDca would succeed in advancing the ques-
ton from it's present status
NORWAY SUPPORTS AMERICA.
! Dr + Hagerup then announced the adherence
oF Norway TO the American doctrine lie re-
ferred TO the important commercial interests Oh
Norvav at sea- and said that his country, al
! though small in area was surpassed in the mat
! fer of maritime commerce by only a Re" otuer
nations. Norway. possessing sea 'oilhase u 'n
total of four million tons, was deeply interested
( IN This question and was favorable to the In
volatility of private property on the hlsh seas
| as principle. 1t to-day and always had
been a Scandinavian doctrine. Norway would
vote for the American proposal on condition that
the question of contraband be examined
The Portuguese delegation subscribed to tho
= statement made by the German delegate, eX-
pressing the belief that it was first necessary
; fo solve the questions of blockade and contra
band.
Senior Perez Trina q member OF the delegation
| from tho United States of Colombia made a
long speech. He said in part;
I speak as an American, and claim for tha'
word the whole breadth OF its historical and geo.
graphical meaning It covers the entire continent.
| the north, the centre and the south, as well as
the islands Of the American sea- ~, nj.