The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-08-11
CHECKED BY HAGUE MEETING
INTERNATIONAL PRIZE COURT
PROJECT HELD UP.

NNhssh AN&s WV HeN.h ~ w ssV "
ference Could Have been Done Better
I'm Another way-The American Arms
trstion Plan May Como to NauSht.
Special Cabls Despatch 10 rss Sun.
The HAGUE, Aug. l0.-The brief wave
Of optimism that followed the presentation
Of Mr.. Choate's project for q permanent
arbitration tribunal seems to have spent
itself and the conference enters the eighth
week, struggling against a strong ebb
tide. There ID a feeling Of scepticism
bordering on evaporation among these
delegates to whom the grandiose notion
Of a worlds peace parliament sitting under
the patronage Of the Gar Of Russia 10 not
very edifying. They feel more strongly
each day hat the class Of manufactured
article which the conference can turn out
Ia not the kind Of product for which the
machinery Of h conference was made.
To illustrate their meaning important
representatives who hold this view refer
to the conference held at Washington
eighteen years ago Tor framing rules Of
the road at sea. The procedure adopted
then was leading. The maritime powers
vent delegates chosen for their experience
in navigation to frame an international
arrangement which all subordinate sea
poWcIb Dhfo sl1CS ACC6Dt6u.
TIL delegates never pretended to be en-
gagged In any epoch making contribution to
the peace Of the world yet none Of the techni-
cal delegates here doubtsR ut that the small
handful Of things on which they have
reached an agreement could have been
more expeditiously settled by sue a con
ference. They desire that that mode be
taken for the discussion of the one article
aIxoaI. a,rz.~I -. thA ,.n,~ ,onfor.,o~
namely. the creation Of an international
prize court to adjucate on merchant ships
taken in war. Unless this scheme Ia re-
altogether 10 may. although approved
unanimously. be talked to death by the
preposterous loauacity Of such orators as
Senior Barbosa Of Brazil.
What the practical element in the con-
ference very relevantly insists upon is that
IN international prize court was in process
Of being brought into existence without any
reference to the present Hague tribunal.
There are still nine cases outstanding from
the Russo-Japanese wal Of ships captured
where the courts Of the owners and the
courts Of the captors arrived at an OPP
posite decision, and diplomatic notes have
failed to remove the deadlock. Il was
NtoWh ~ hdbo 90 bhfc civ u ivbU tihdb
cases were to 60 to the international court.
and all that the present conference has
done is to delay the establishment Of that
court.
The advancement of the idea Of a per-
manent arbitration court can hardly sx-
pect any more useful help from the present
conference. It's parents are ready to ad-
init that II will be a very delicate plant, but
,l>oI Shnt "a &. l;s,I.,;ns ,1thsz. also and
should rave a chance. The fact that il is
displscing nothing else is not counted
altogether in it's favor. Sceptics, who are
numerous. reply that there is no very con-
crete demand for it. II is premature and
dragged in nov to have the conference
blamed for utter barrenness.
In this atmosphere Of doubts and ques-
tioniugs there is no d~isparagement Of Mr..
Choste or Secretary Root for bringing the
scheme forward. They rave had the oour-
age to plant publicly and officially the
seed OF the science OF international law and
their friends may hope to see it flourish
in more friendly surroundings than the
network Of cross purposes to which a great
part OF this conference has reduced itself.
Gen. j. w. Foster. one OF the delegates
to the Hague conference for China, is in
London for a few days. He says he is
satisfied with the progress made by tho
conference. While no one ever believed
that the conference would lead to the abo-
lition of war. the measures which are certain
Of being passed will unq~uestionably have the
effect OF securing peace.
Gen. Foster said he wished to correct the
impression which had gone abroad through
certain newspapers that acrimony and i'll
feeling prevailed among the delegates.
This was absolutely untrue. There had
been sharp debate when there were diver
gent interests. but there had been the best
Of feeling and not the slightest discord.