The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1907-06-21
HOPE 70 OUT AIMING
AMERICAN DELEGATE RESERVES
RI3HT ) RAISE QUESTION,
SECOND SESSION AT THE HAGUE
Germany Proposes International prize
Court-Elaborate Precautions Taken
to Insure Safety Of Delegates from

|
to Insure Safety OF Delegates from
| Anarchistic Attempts,
| The Hague, June 2O.--The second
session of the peace conference, to
complete the organization and create
| the four general committees. whore
the actual work will be done, began
| behind closed doors. The program
was carefully arranged in advance in
order to avoid the possibility of sur.
prises being sprung.
M. Nelidoff of Russia communicated
to the conference dispatches from EN-.
peror Nicholas and Queen Wilhelmina,
| thanking the conference for its mes.
| sages sent on the opening day, greet
Ing the delegates and expressing the
hope for a successful result of their
deliberations.
All the penipotentaries later pre-.
Bented their credentials. The Chi.
nese ambassador wrote that he would
be unable to be present because Of
the state of his health, and he will be
presented by General John w, Foster
M. Nelidoff made few remarks in
memory of the late M. de Staal, the
former Russian ambassador in Lon.
don, and then the rules of the confer
ence. including publicity for the
plenary sessions. were presented and
unanimously adopted
The surprise of the session was the
formal reservation by General Horace
Porter on behalf of the United States,
of the right to present the question OF
the limitation of ornaments. Together
with this, he also reserved the right
to introduce the subject of collection
of contractual debts by force.
While this reservation was made
quite naturally, in accordance with a
notice served on Russia during the
preliminary negotiations last spring
and in order that silence now might
not be construed as acquiescence in
the restriction of the work of the con.
ference to the limits of the Russian
program, II is believed to indicate
firm resolve on the part OF the Wash
ington government, after seeing the
trend of the situation here. to raise
parent that the subject is going by
default.
1t can be stated positively, how.
ever, that no proposition has yet been
formulated by the American delegates,
but this action has renewed the hope
that the United States would bring up
the question of limitation and has
given great satisfaction to the pacific
lists.
Sir Edward Fry also served notice
that Great Britain reserved the right
to introduce subjects outside the pro-
gram, but less significance is at
tached to his action.
Anothe, interesting feature OF the
session was Baron Won Bieberstein's
notification that Germany intended to
offer the proposition of an interna-
tional prize court, to which appeals
could be made at the time Of mari
time war and the decision of which
onded this proposition on behalf or
the United States and Sir Edward Fry
declared that Great Britain proposed
to advance a project on similar lines.
The fact that the first definite prop
osition submitted to the conference
should emanate from Germany and re-
ceive the prompt and cordial support
of the United States and Great Brit
ain created an especially good impress
sion.
Beyond these two matters, the SEES.
sion was perfunctory In character,
Four committees were created, as pre-
arranged, and'the rules formulated ex
cept on permitting countries to vote
by proxy. adopted. The United
States was hopored b., Two honorary
presidencles and Mexico, Argentina
and Brazil each obtained recognition.
Elaborate precautions still are be.
ing taken TO insure the safety of the
delegates from anarchitstic attempts.
as we'll as to prevent eavesdropping.
Before the sitting the old castle was
thoroughly searched and all the doors
leading to the Hall of Knights were
sealed. A force OF twenty police &C.
eupied the cellar underneath, ready to
respond to an electrical call placed
on President Nelidoff's table, --. 4