The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-18
BALLOT IS TAKEN
 ON PROPOSITION War Regulations Divide The
 Hague Delegates
PRIZE COURT IS DESIRED
M alter Regarding Limitation of Arm aments is to be Brought up and the Italian Delegate is Placed
 in a Delicate Position.

The Hague, July 17.-A vote on the principle of the American proposition regarding the inviolability of private property at sea was taken today by the committee of the conference deal Ing with the Geneva convention. Twen- ty-one delegates voted favorably, eleven were against the measure and there was one absentee. Great Britain, France, Russia. Japan, Spain and Por- tugal were in opposition while the triple alliance. although Germany made a reservation, was among the majority.
 Belgium presented a compromise pro- posal but Joseph H. Choate of the American delegation refused to accept It. saying that inasmuch as a majority admitted the principle of immunity, he could rot couasnt to the lfmitatiot ( this idea. especially as Great Britain and Russia already had declared they would not accept lt in any form. This made unanimity impossible.
 Prof De Martens fRussla), who pre- sided 1t the meeting, called attention to the fact that. although the American proposition was supported by ma iority of the votes passed. the popula tions of the countries voting against the principle was numerally largely in excess of those fayorng it.
 Limitation of Armaments.
 Merry Von Kapos Mere (Austria) and Count Tornielli Qtaly) followed tse example of Baron Marschall Won Bic berstein tGermany) in their reference to the British proposition regarding the limitation of armaments which is to be presented by Sir Edward Fry at the next plenary sittings of the confer ence. This places Slgnor Tittoni, the Italian minister of foreign affairs, In q somewhat embarrassing position, he is personally in favor of the British proposal. but he can not Ignore the at titude of his allies in the triple allls ance. The United States and Spain f.- vor the English views on this matter M Uelidon however, does not think that Russia can support the idea of limiting armaments at present in view of the condition today of her army and navy as q result of the Russo Jar panese war M. Bourgeois tFrance), personal ly faVors limitation, but the French government regards this question as academic ad impracticable.
 Efforts are being made to bring about an understanding with regard to the Brit ish and German propositions for q prize court through an Intermediary Italian suggestion which provides for perma- nent tribunal by grouping the states ac- cording 10 tonnage and allowing them proportional rights in regard to the ap- pointment of judges comprising the tri- bunal. The court. it is suggested. should include two admirals to be appointed by the Beligerents the admirals to be pres ent as advisors and not judges.
 The vote on the principle of invlolability Of private property at sea by countries was as follows:
 Germany Austria-H Hungary, Italy, Fur key, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Den mark Holland. Belgium, Luxemburg. Cuba. Brazil. Uruguay, Ecuador, Hayti. Dominlca, Persia and Siam voted with the United States.
 Great Britain. Russia. Spain, Portugal, Montenegro. Japan, Mexico. Colombia, Salvador and Panama voted against her.
 Chile abstained from voting
 The population of the countries favorng the American proposition amounts to SOL 00o0oO; that of the countries against 1t tot 729 0o0,0o0 people.
 Several delegates then proposed the ds- cussion of the Intermediary propositions made by Belgium, Holland and Brazil To this MT. Choatte said
 "We carried the vottc with an enormous majority; having had the whole, why take the halfy'