New-York tribune., 1907-07-20
SLOW WORK AT HAGUE.
COREA 4 LE4DING TOPIC.
Sessions Of subcommittee Gen.
Porter Opposes British Notion.

The Hague. July 19.-The abdtcation Of the
Fn7peror g. Corea was the general topic Of con-
versatiou among the delegates to the Peace
Conference to-day A majority of them inclined
10 the belief that even If the Emperor had been
dethroued. # should be considered an indispcns-
able measure TO give tho japanese q free hand
in establishing q modern system for develonine
the rsa5U-Ces Of Corea-
II Sang sui, former Premier Of Corea, who Is
still here, said: 1T is another japanese infan7v
which twenty million Coreans soon win avenge /"
one plenipctentiary. who is skeptical about the
work II the peace conference, observed. .oThe
Rbdtcation Of the Emperor is the only result vet
attained by the conference"
Some dissatisfaction Is being sro,,,, ,ooo7,,,,r
the lack Of progress made by the conference.
especially with the British delegation which Nv,
its noa-committal attitude durpg discussions
Is said IN some quarters not only TO DELAY the
work but to tenl toward retrogression on most
OF The proposals.
General approval is expressed by the delegates
% 'he speech Of General Horace Porter. Amer
'car at the afternoon session when he Demon
s'T2teo that the adoption Of a proposal by Lord
Htay' Great Britain that neutral vessels fur
hlshing provisions 70 beIigerents should be
captured would mean the placing OF ell neutral
iheFchentinen At The mercy Of any belIigerent
warship.
The Panaman delegation to-day Informed
President NeIidoff Of its desire to change its
Vo1e Of July Il on the American proposal re-
garding the inviolability OF private property az
sea favorable TO the proposition. This action
approves the motion. by a vote OF % TO 10.
COMMITTEES Make LITTLE PROGRESS.
Two of the most important subcommittee Of
the peace conference.-the to which vas re-
ferred the subject rights and obligations Of neu-
trails on land and that dealing with tne question
Of private property at sea contraband. etc.-held
protracted meetings to-day but did not reach
any definite decisions. The first named COM
Tnittee took up the French proposals that q nell
tr9l state can only be responsible for the acts Of
subjects Of which a belligerent complains If the
acts are committed on It's own territory; that
while neutral state connot tolerate the foru1a-
ton Of fighting force on It's own territory it's
responsibility is not involved by the fact that
some Of ftS subjects take service with belIiEer-
ent, that neutral state is not bound 70 prevent
subjects exporting arms and ammunition for the
use Of a belligerent, and that prisoners escaping
from the territory OF the belHgerenr which capt
ured them into neutral territory must be lfSer-
ated. Greet Britain, Germany and Belgium as
Fociated Themselves with the principle Of the
French proposal. hut suggested amendments in
editing All the questions finally were referred
TO q special committee.
The committee private property at sea
voted down the Belgian proposal that mercan-
tile vessels seized by beitgerent must be re-
stored at the conclusion Of q war while dis US
money ard providing for the in5ernnt1cation OF
owners OF seized property by the state 10 which
they belong was adjourned FOR q fortnight None
Of the deiegates- had instructions on this Quee-
ton.
NJ Martens, Of the Russian delegation moved
that while the committee recognized the gener-
sentiments Of the proposal regarding the i'm
Tnunity Of private property sea, IN view OF the
divergeocy OF opinions and especially the want
OF experience in the matter. the conference
should express the wish that at the beginning
OF each belligerent states might declare
whether they would renoUnce the practice OF
making pTizes- In view OF the hesitation with
which the resolution was received N. Msrts--
withdrew il.
Discussion followed on the definition OF war
ships, but this question, together with the whole
programme Of the committee. finally was re-
ferred 10 an examining commit ee, Of which
Rear Admiral Charles &. 6perry, L. 2. N. IS a
member. Discussing the treatment Of neutral
vessels furnishing provisions 10 belngerents
LORD Reay Great Britain) proposed that they
should be caprured- General Horace PorteE
CAuerican) opposed this proposal, saying that
the adoption of such q measure would mean
that the fate Of neutraIs would be inIrllsted &c
the caprice OF a subordinate officer. and that il
would represent an exorbitant extension Of the
rights Of belIigerents.