Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-06-29
EXEMPTION OF
PRIVATE PROPERTY
]. H. Choate Makes Eloquent Plea
Against Capturing it on
High Sea.
HIS SPEECH A GREAT SUCCESS
The Impression Seems to be That tie
American Proposition VIII DC
Unanimously Approved.

The Hague. June 2s.--The sitting to-
day Of the fiIsi committees of the peace
conference AFFORDED an opportunity for
Joseph Fl. Choate to deliver an eloquent
speech upholding the exemption OF
private property. except eontraoand.
srom capture on the high sea, The sue
cess of his speech left the impression
that the American proposition, which
in the conference of 1893 was only taken
for considera ton, this time VIII be APP
proved unanimously.
The sitting began with consideration
of the following question.
''Fhst--Do practise and LEGISLATION
admit of bclligerent states transform
ing merchantmen into warshipsf
.'Second-ln case OF merchantmen be-
ing transformed into warships what
are the legal conditions which belllBel-
ents will have to observe?
Thirds the present practise relat-
ing TO capture and oOniiscation Of mer-
chantmen sailing under hostile nag 10
be maintained or abolished?
Count Tornielli. Italian. and sir Ea-
ward Fry, British, observed Una. ~
nrInclple the FIRST question was generaI-
ly admitted and thus II was onlS neces-
sary to define conditions for the trans
formation of merchantmen.
Then began the debate on the exenhp-
tion of private property at sea Sarpn
Macchio, Austrian. supporter lio
American proposition. ~,
Senior Barbosa, Brazil, gave p 10,
torlcal survey of the attitude OF the
United states from the time of ben
iamln Franklin and eulogized the posi-
lion assumed by the United states,
which he declared was the view OF ths
whole American hemisphere ne salu
mat when under the declaration con-
tained In the treaty OF PARIS OF 1000 tue
signatory powers declared TOT lnc 40,
lltion OF priyateering the American
delegates refuse To give their assent on
the ground that It did not declare ~
pressly that private property at sea
wns inyiolable. Senior Barbosa con-
Guided by declaring that Sy the orders
OF his government he associated NM
self with the American proposal.
Mr. Choate then made a speech phsed
on the American declaration at the con-
ference of 1899. He referred TO the DIR
ferent occasions IN which the United
states had proclaimed her support or
| the doctrlne-by treaties with Prussia
| In 1915, with Bolivia In 1898 and with
| italy IN 1871. Ho enumerated the CIR
cumstances under which this principle
received the approval Of jnrisls and me
| sympathy OF nations, while eminent au-
| thoritlos like Palmcrston, Golden,
| Bmntschlei Nasselrode. Wolsley and
| Martens had pronounced themselves IN
favor OF II,
Long before the FIRST conference in
| 1866, Mr.. Chonte said. Russia DO
| clared the matter worthy of oonsid-
Grafton, saying that the success of tbs
American principle would be .
crown OF glory TO modern diplo-
macy" His survey showed thar tbs
United states had followed the same
policy for over century, earnestly
urging In the lirst days OF It's existence
that the principle be adopted. He re-
called the vote of the Brussels confer
enca In 1874 on the immunity NJ prI-
waite property on land ana asked that
the 8ame principle be extended Il
private properly az sea.
Sir. ChOato sought 20 prove that al
neutral powers We're Interested IN The
question ana the tendency was 10 re-
strict war 10 Its proper domain. TIL,
rrivateering OF former years was los
ing more ana moro In importance In
view OF the great technical perfec'
lions Of the present dAy. The speak
a. declared.
one might say the game Is begin.
n.ns 10 be worth the candle"
AIR. Choato concluded by saying
that President Roosevelt attached
such importance TO the question thai
he wished 10 evolve an expression OF
opinion on II by vote OF all the
countries represented ~ the confer
ence Mr. Choate spoke IN English
IA Fromageot, France, translatlns
Count Tornlelli said that Italy fay-
ros the American proposition.
The discussion WAS then adjourned
until the next meeting OF the com.
mittee on next Wednesday,
Mr. ChOate Immediately after the
sitting left for Amsterdam.
After Mr. Choafe's speech. M Nell.
don said that the American PROPOSE
tlon would defeat its own purpose. as
the exemption of private property
would have only the effect Of render
ing wars mere frequent, On the