The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1907-06-25
TAKEN
BY COMMITTEES
AT THE HAGUE
PROCEEDINGS AT SESSIONS IN
DICATE MATERIAL PROGRESS
BEING MADE.
SOUTH AMERICAN POWERS WARY
Are Suspicious of "Lislitations'' in
Using Force in Collection of
Certain Debts.

THE HAGUE, June 24.-.At the
third session of the peace conference
today General Porter presented a
hombardment of harbors with the
view of preventing useless damage
and loss of life.
The fourth committee Geneva
eonyention) met at 2.30 p. m. in the
Hall of Knights behind closed doors.
General Horace Porter, L. M. Rose,
David j. Hill, Brigadier General
George B. Davis, Rear Admiral Per-
ry, William |. Buchanan and James
Brown Scott were present. The presi-
dent of the four committees, Prof De
Martens, summarized the work ac-
complished by the convention of
1899 and the fields to be covered.
Prof. De Martens, in his speech,
recalled the men who woEl.ed for the
same purposes in 1899, and men
toned Andrew ID. White, head of the
American delegation to the confer
ence of 1899, whose original skepti-
cism, he said, was trar sformed at
the end of the conference into the
best hope for its success. The pro-
fessor referred to General Porter's
proposition, especially regarding the
bombardment of unfortitied towns by
naval forces.
Joseph H. Choate presented a
proposition regarding the enemies of
private property at sea.
Lord Reay and Sir Ernest Satow
presented proposition on the ques-
tion of neutral prizes; reserved the
right to present another proposition
for the definition of what consti-
tutes warship and presented a
statement on contraband of war.
The American delegation has not
yet given out the definite draft of
it's proposition for the collection of
contractural debts. This is causing
some uneasiness among South Ameri-
can countries, especially after the
publication of the minutes of the sit
ting of June 10, from which it ap-
pears that General Porter in an
nouncing the Americans proposition,
said:
"The United States will present a
proposition for concluding an agree
ment, in which 1T will Introduce some
limitations in using force for the col
lection of contractural, public and
ordinary debts"
The feeling among certain South
American powers is that the words
some limitations" show that it is
the intention of the United States so
to reduce the Drago doctrine as to
deprive it of its original character,
thereby destroying the purpose for
which 1t was ntended-protectio
against illicit European interference.
General Porter on the other hand
processes to be satisfied with the
work accomplished and is confident
of the support of the European and
South American countries in this
matter.
The American proposition relating
to private property of belligerents
were presented this afternoon by Mr..
Choate. Andrew d. White presented
a similar proposition in 1899, but
it was opposed by Great Britain and
France. Now it may be accepted
with the addition of regulations
granting the right of search, the
right to remove cargoes suspected to
be contraband, or in case of breach
of blockade.
The British proposition ON the sub
ject of neutral prizes establishes that
prizes must not be destroyed unless
deemed absolutely necessary.