The Washington herald., 1907-06-20
ITALY TO KEEP PEACE
Holds Balance for Harmony
at The Hague Meeting.
COURT FOR NAVAL PRIZES
America and England Announce
support of Germany's Proposition
Joseph ChOate VIII Present QueE-
tiOn Of Collecting Public Debts.


/ now been soberly taken in hand by its
/ Older statesmen.
/ Three of the four presidents Of its COM
missions are veterans. and lest NJ.
Bourgeois display overmuch mlddle-aged
ardor in directing the arbitration COM
mission, he has been given Edward Fry,
/ an octOgenarian English Quaker, as an
honorary colleague.
The center of interest In to-day's pro-
| ceedings was the selection Of the third
commission. Most of the practical ques-
tons Of international policy which the
great powers admit VIII be within the
official programme are under the control
Of this body
The choice OF the chief Of the Italian
delegation (TorniellD as president places
italy In the position she occupied at the
Algeciras Conference. The European gov
ernments now accept her as the one
power among them which can maintain
harmony between the Dreibund and the
combination Of powers. headed by Eng
land. which is orrayed against Germany.
Rules Affecting COmbntants.
This third commission will seek to Sc
cure an agreement on questions affecting
bombardments blockades the property
Of neutrais, and legal questions arising
during a state Of war. Its immediate i'm
portanca is worry great. compared with
the extension Of the arbitration court or
rules affecting combatants in land or sea
warfare.
Senor Drago. Of Argentina, author Of
the Drag1 doctrine. Is one Of the vice
presidents Of Torniellrs commission
which has for its honorary senior presi-
dent Joseph ChOate. whose honorary col
leagues are the chiefs Of the Chinese and
Turkish delegations. The Drogo doctrine
is material for the third commission. and
il is expected that it will be raised in n
modified form, with a serious chance OF
acceptance.
International Prize Court.
Baron Won Bierberstein proposed the
first substantive addition TO the official
programme. It will be remembered that
Norway. when it accepted Russia's pro
gramme. mentioned a desire TO raise the
question Of the constitution Of an inter-
national court Of appeal for naval prizes
Her action was due 10 the likelihood that
much maritime commerce would be car
ried under the Norwegian flag II great
powers engaged in war on the Atlantic
and there being 10 likelihood Of herself
becoming belligerent
Germany has. TO the unconcealed dis
pleasure OF the Norwegian delegation
adopted her proposal at the outset Of the
conference Probably. as the Kaiser was
showing be was not infeXibly opposed TO
arbitration on the spoils Of war.
America and England Agree.
Mr. Fry Immediately announced on be-
half Of England that she would support
an International appeal court for prizes
Mr. Porter Immediately supported the
proposal on behalf Of the United States
and It is assured Of acceptance. It will
be submitted to the Bourgeois commits
sion
Then Mr.. Choate's letter was read an
n0Unciug that he would present 10 the
first OF another commission the question
Of the collection Of public debts by force.
lie said he might also present other ques-
tions not mentioned In the programme. It
is expected that this presentation Of the
Drago doctrine will concern chiefly the
third commission
Italy Exposes Ferrera.
Rome, June I9.-It is learned that Senior
Ferrera. Of the Cuban delegation TO The
Hague, whose presence is objected 70 by
the Italian delegation. is a Neapolitan.
He belonged 10 the Socialist revolution
airy party at Naples, where he was tried
for revolt against the police in 1894. but
was acquitted
He later Joined the Cuban revolution
and was appointed a general He sub
sequently returned to Naples and was
graduated IN law. He was again tried
there for writing a violent article pub
lIshed in a local paper and was sentenced
10 six months Imprisonment, which he
evaded by returning 10 Cuba The SEN
tence was subsequently remitted
Hence when he returned to Naples this
month Italy did not request his exclu-
sion from The Hague conference, but
unofic!ally gave notice OF his sntecedents
to several Of the friendly powers He
Is not considered 20 be an active anar-