The San Francisco call., 1907-06-25
PEACE DELEGATES To CALL
ON HOLLANDS QUEEN
WiIheIrnina VIII Receive
Conferees in House
in the Woods
COMMITTEES VI E E I
General Porter Advocates
Alienation of Port
Bombardrnent
COMMITTEES NJ E E T

THE HAGUE. June 24-Queen VIII
helmina arrived today from Castle Loo
and drove I'm a closed carriage from
the railroad station to the royal palace,
passing through the Hall OF Knights.
She Will remain here only two DAYS
and will receive the delegates to the
peace conference at the House IN the
Woods. royal villa situated ABOUT
one and a half miles from The Hague.
The International peace conference OF
1899 met in this villa
The third committee of the interpeace
! conference met in the Hall OF Knights
behind closed doors. General Horace
Porter Brigadier General Davis. Rear
Admiral Charles Perry. w. /. Buchanan
and James Brown Scott were present.
President Count Tornilli delivered a
short inaugural speech, saying that his
appointment was due not as an honor
to him personally. but TO Italy. which
was the cradle Of international law
and which had adopted the most liberal
and broadest views In Legislation re-
garding warfare upon the seas
He pointed out the importance -
the problems submitted TO the con-
nittee. chiefly those relating 70 rhs
private property OF beIIizsrerfs. con
verting merchant ships into Warshlps.
the treatment OF beiIigers1t shfps IN
the harbors Of neutrals ard the laying
of mines at sea.
General Porter presented ? proDo-
sition on the subject OF the lombard
ment OF harbors. with the view q pre-
venting useless damage and loss Of
life.
FOURTH COMMITTEE MEETS
The fourth committee Geneva con
ventiont met st 2.30 p n IN the Hail
of knights behind closed doors Cen
eral Horace Porter, L u. Rose. David
]. Hill, Brigadier General George b
Davis. L. 8 A: Pear Admiral Charles
s. Sperry William 7 Buchanan and
James BroWn-Scott were present. The
president Of the fourth committee. Pro-
fessor de AaeFtens. summarized the
work accomplished by the convention
OF 1888 and the fields to be covered
Professor de Maertens in his speech
recalled the men who worked for the
same purpose in 1899. and mentioned
Andrew D White. head of the Ameri-
can delegation to the conference OF
1899. whose original skepticism. the
speaker said, was transformed at the
end OF the conference into the best
hope for its success. The speaker re-
ferred to General Porter's proposition.
especially regarding the bombardment
of unfortified towns by naval forces.
Joseph H Choate presented a propo-
sition regarding the enemy's private
property at sea.
Lord Reay and Sir Ernest Satow pre-
sented a proposition on the subject Of
neutral prizes, reserved the right to
present another proposition for the
definition Of what constitutes a war
ship and presented statement on con-
traband of war.
AMERICAS PROPOSITIONS
The American delegation has not Yet
given out the definite draft OF it's prop
osition for the collection of contractual
debts. This Is causing some uneasiness
among South American countries. es-
pecially after the publication this even
ing of the minutes OF the sitting of
June 1s, from which il appears that
General Porter, in announcing the
American propositions, said;
"The United States will present
proposition for concluding an agree
ment in which 1t will introduce some
limitations in using force for the col
lection of contractual, public and ordi-
nary debts"
The feeling among certain South
American powers is that the word
some limitations show that it is the
intention of the United States so to
reduce the Drago doctrine as to de-
prive II of its original character. there
by destroying the purpose for which it
was intended-protection against Illicit
European interference.
General Porter. on the other hand.
seems to be satisfied with the work ac-
complished. and is confident of the
support of the European and South
American countries in this matter