The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-18
FORMAL VOTE FOR FREE SHIPS
RUr WR. CHOATE'S HAGUE VIC
TORY rs REALLY 4 DEFEAT.
~ chance Of the Conference EmbOdStng
Exemption Of Private Property at sea
in Any Convention Frsmed Naval
Powers Not Ready Morally Important.

Exemption Of Private Property at sea
in Any Convention Framed Naval
Powers Not Ready Morally Important.
special Gable Despatch 10 TIE SUN.
TIE HAGUE. July i7.-Mr. Choste's pro-
rosal regarding private property at sea
IN time Of war was brought TO a vote in the
fourth commission Of the peace conference
to-day, and although 1t was nominally
carried 10 was virtually defeated. Mr..
Choate demanded a precise vote without
further speeches. but some OF the delegates
wished TO make explanations and they
had TO he heard.
Senior Urruti', for Spain, announced
the acceptance of the abolition Of privsteer-
ing Sir Ernest Satow reiterated Great
Britain's view that the questions Of block
ade and contraband must be settled first
~ otherwise nothing could be done toward
sbolishing prizes. They were willing. he
said, TO listen TO the eighth command
meat. hut could not forget the tenth. He
opposed the Belgian compromise sub
shutting seizure and sequestration for
o~onfiscation.
VI. Bourgeois rested on the French view
He suggested a preliminary examination
Of he Belgian proposal. hut Mr.. Choate
again insisted upon q direct vote. Presi-
dent Martens. summing up the position.
pointed out that the authorities and history
conficted IN the principle in question. and
said, among other things. that the abolition
Of privateering might co~nceivably enable
merchants to benefit from a war in which
their country was involved. whereby land
communication might be broken.
Mr.. Choates proposal was h sub
mitted textually as follows
The private property OF the citizens or
subjects of the signatory Powers, with the
exception Of o~ontrsband OF war, shall lie
exempt from capture or seizure NJ sea by
the armed vessels or military forces Of
said ~signatory Powers, but nothing herein
contained shall extend exemption from
seizure to vessels and their oargoss which
may attempt 10 enter a port blooksded by
the naval forces Of any Of the said Powers
The vote stood 2i.for the proposal TO II
against il. Chile's representative was pres
ent. but abstained from voting. There
we're eleven absentees, including Argentina.
Paraguay. Nicaragua. Guatemala and
Bolivia.
Americas supporters were Germany.
Austria. Italy. Switzerland. Denmark. Hol-
land. Belgium, Sweden, Norway. Turkey.
Luxembourg. China. Persia, Siam, Brazil,
Uruguay. Ecuador. Cuba, Hsyti and San
Domingo. G~ermany's vote was qualified
by a reservation regarding blockade and
c~ontraband. which il held must be settled
first.
Those who voted against the proposal
were Great Britain. France. Russia. Spain,
Portugal. Mexico. Colombia, Panama. San
Salvador. Japan and Montenegro.
Although the victory 10 barren. inasmuch
az the proposal did not secure the support
Of even half the members OF the conference.
whereas an absolute mai GRITTY is necessary
for its adoption, Mr.. Choate and hls col
leagues are pleased with the result AZ an
important expression OF opinion.
II Ia foreseen. however. that it can be
nothing more than an expression Of opinion,
as there IL no probability that the com
mission will recommend tho conference
to embody it in any convention or final act,
in view OF the opposition OF the great naval
powers.
Moreover. il is practically certain that
many of the Powers which supported the
lVllNlDit tIti'bOulrh III nv tCroiuttoh "'uih
not sign n protocol making il effective.
1t is calculated that America 3 supporters
represent populations reaching a total
q $4,000. 900, including Sl0,O0 900 Chinese.
While the opposition represent 72s, 900 .0OO.
Including sOl, OOo. 900 Indians. 1t is pointed
ont, however, in behalf Of the opposition
hat il is IA case rather for weighing than
tor counting.
80 LANsarN Eru sN0Nn uuInlNatAh IN Nj
Neiidoh. president of the conference, the
British proposal for the limitation of arma-
ments. 1t is substantially a repetition
Of that presented by NJ, Bourgeois in 1870
and then approved unanimously. but Is
more urgent in ,onc. being worded almost
imperatively. II will be submitted at some
p.enary session of the conference, but the
!l'a has not been fixed.
u Nehioff informed the elegates Of the
'crms ri the proposal 40 as to enable them
q consult with their Governments and
discuss il among themselves. There is no
greater probability 10Y than heretofore
e the achievement Of anything practical
from the proposal.
After the vote on the American proposal
there vas an important discussion of its
,.usr licences regarding the Belgian. Dutch
,al brazilian proposals affecting the right
{ capture and the question of indemnihca-
lOa
NM NIar'ens and Bourgeois were Of the
,1inlrr. ,ha: with a view TO n compromise
ing committee might proceed to a discus
s1ou ID rhssa matters. but Mr.. Choate pointed
80 t.4dt in view Of the large and unexpected
r'I.Hri v for the American fadical proposal
h'NoDl nor be justified In accepting more
less Cnlor1ess notifications
Sl Ernest Satow minated thai Great
'.,'oIu could not discuss proposals which
we're essentially notifications Of a principle
"af had totally rejected. The British
'7 rIrt' ons did not admit Of a compromise
'"gardIng capture. The subsidiary pro-
'o,Ia stand over until the next meeting.