New-York tribune., 1907-06-23
WORK AT THE HAGUE.
DELEGATES PROPOSALS.
Ne5o Rules of War-The Drago
Doctrine Introduced.

The Hague, June 22.-The first and second
committees of the peace conference met in the
Knights Hall behind closed doors at o'clock
this afternoon. General Horace Porter, u NJ.
Rose. David ]. Hill. William l. Buchanan,
James Brown Scott, Brigadier General George
B. Davis, U. S. A. and Rear Admiral Charles
s. Sperry, U. s. N. present.
NJ Bourgeois. president of the first commit
arbitration, strengthening the Hague tribunal
and freeing it from international prejudices
touchlng also on compulsory arbitration. He
was frequently applauded.
M. Bourgeois paid graceful compliment TO
the United States and President Roosevelt for
thelr part in setting in motion the new juris-
dlction Regarding the task before the COM
mission of perfecting the convention of 1899, he
observed that the rules of 1899 might be modi-
hed to kind of summary of procedure
NM Beernaert and Asser opened tho work of
the second committee, pointing out the humani-
'arla s>rlnciples introduced in the rules of land
warfare and the possibility of still further
diminishing its destructiveness
M Beernaert in his speech congratulated the
countries of the American continent in joining
Europe in the blessed work of peace which, he
SAID, was good augury for the success of the
conference
The second committee divided into two
subcommittee One presided over by NJ
Beernaert, will deal with the improvements OF
the rules of land warfare. The other presided
over by NJ Asser will deal with the rights and
duties or neutral powers in times of war, and
also with the opening of hostiities.
In the first committee NJ. de la Barra the
Minister of Mexico to Belgium, read a study on
conventions for compulsory arbitration, which
was received with general applause.
The German and English delegations pre-
sented separate propositions the subject Of
the proposed international prize court. and the
French delegation presented a plan on the sub
JeCt of arbitration
The first committee also divided into two
sub-committees. both presided by NJ. Bour-
geois one on arbitration and the other on the
prize court.
In the second committee. the French delega-
tlon announced the presentation of two projects
one referring to the rights and duties of neutral
powers and the other to the opening of hostili-
ties.
The Russian delegates presented proposition
on the subject Of the opening of hostties
The committee. evidently in order to avoid
hurting the feelings of the Japanese concluded
that up TO the present there is no existing inter-
national understanding on the subject of the
opening of hostities, holding that each country
can affirm that it's point of view in this con-
nection is correct. The committee must there
fore decide w-.ether to maintain the status quo
or establish international rules for opening hos
tilites
The German delegation presented a proposal
regarding the treatment of neutraIs in the ter
ritory Of belligerents
In the second committee General Horace Por-
ter presented a proposition not TO collect debts
by force whenever the debtor nation expressed
a wish To submit its obligations and their extent
to arbitration
Germany proposed amendment to the rules
OF the conference Of 1899 regarding the pacific
settling of disputes
Baron dEstournelles de Constant proposed an
amendment TO the rules of 1899 regarding COM
missions OF inquiry and also recommended the
simplihcation Of the procedure.
Sehor Barra suggested that the resolutions Of
the conference held in Mexico In 1899 OF the
conference of Rio de Janeiro Cf 1906 and the con-
ventions existing between South American coun-
tries be utilized in drawing up a compulsory
arbitration convention
\ leading penipotentiary speaking said to-
night:
The machinery is now moving 10 the general
satisfaction. all the countries are sincerely ami
mated by a desire for reciprocal understandings
and a wish to avoid irritating questions finding
for each problem formula beforehand acceptable
70 all Thus the discussions will certainly be at
tended by earnest endeavOr without disagreeable
Incidents.
Tho success Of this system has been rendered
easier by the delegations being intrusted TO the
most tactful and most distinguished There
fore the American proposition, relating 10 con-
tractual debts, which contempLates only those be-
tween private citizens of country and the gov
ernment OF another II is predicted will adopted
with few slight amendments