The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-03
.BELL|GERENT SHIPS
 IN NEUTRAL PORTS Peace Conference Adopts Ger
 many's Six Propositions CHOATE ON COLLECTIONS Japanese Present Proposition on the 
CHOATE ON COLLECTIONS
Japanese Present Proposition on the Treatment of Belligerent Ships In Neutral Waters--T~ ~enty-four.
 Hour Limit of Stay.

The Hague, July 2.-The sub-commit- tee of the peace conference on the treat ment of belligerent ships in neutral har- bors met today, Count Tornelli, Italy, presiding N. Nelidoff, president of the conference was present. The committee discussed six articles of the German prop osition making additions to the convention of 1899 for the adoption of the Red Cross convention to sea warfare. Count Tornel- Ii remarked that after the war with Au- staria in 1866, Italy was the first to ac- knowledge the necessity to adopt in sea warfare the same rules as in land war fare.
 The chief difficulty to be met he added was not the recognition in a sea war of the principle supported by the Americans of the inviolablity of private property at sea.
 The six articles practically were ac- cepted, although subject to elucidations pr changes in the final wording. Turkey an nounced her desire for a modification of the emblem of the Red Cross allow ing her to use the crescent instead of the cross, and Persia presented a request to use the red sun and lion, instead of the cross.
 On official note issued today says that owing to the delay in the translation of the speech of Joseph II. Choate on the inviolabilty of private property at sea, the meeting of the committee on mari time war fixed for tomorrow has been postponed until Friday.
 The subcommittee on arbitration met this afternoon, M Bourgeois presiding. MT. Choate and J. Brown Scott were among those present The American proposition will be taken up again July 6. Holland presented a proposal that twenty-four hours must elapse before q declaration of war or the presentation of an ultimatum and the opening of hostii- ties and also providing that the neutral powers must be notified of declaration of war
 Mir. Choates proposition to .ldd ;he words, "and to the desirable end that signatory powers sould offer their good offices and meditation to article of part II of the convention of 1S99 was ap- proved unanimously.
 The Japanese presented a proposition on the subject of the treatment of belligerent ships in neutral ports or waters which read
 T. Bellgerent SnlpS cannot use neutral ports or waters for any military purpose.
 "2. Beligerent ships cannot remain ill neutral ports or waters longer than twenty-fours hours, except in the case of putting to sea being dangerous.
 More than three belligerent ships be- longing to the same state cannot enter d neutral port
 A. Belligerent ships are strictly forbid den to strengthen their forces in any manner while In neutral ports, or waters, or to take on board ammunition, coal or provisions.
 '5 Warships not conforming with these rules shall be disarmed and retired for the remainder of the war by the neutral power, whose port ports they may have entered"
 Joseph H. Choate of the United States presented definite draft of his proposi- ton regarding the collection of debts, embodying the principles already pub lished.
 M. Bourgeois of France, president of the arbitration committee, received MT. Choates proposition, and ordered it to be printed and distributed to all the dele- gates before being reoad in the sitting of the subcommittee on arbitration.
 The members of the Korean delegation ceived by Mir. Choate and General Porter, same reasons advanced by M. Neidoff
 The Nieu Courant says another reason for the refusal on the part of the Amer ican delegates arises from the strained relations between Japan aa-A Amarica.