The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-09-13
RULES TO GOVERN
OPENING OF WAR
ADOPTED AT THE FIFTH SITTING
OF THE HAGUE CONFERENCE
FULL NOTICE MUST
Be GIVEN.
Destination Of War or vltimstum
Prerequisite to Beginning OF
1ostiiities.-Riahts and
Duties Of Neutral
States.

THE HAGUE, Sept THE NTH
plenary sitting of the Peace Confer
ence. NJ. NelidOff presiding, met to-
day in the knights Hall. The dele
gates we're not so numerous as on the
occasion OF former sittings, several OF
them having temporarily left The
Hague while awaiting a debate on
more important questions. The whole
American delegation was present.
3 The following rules regarding the
opening OF hostilities were adopted, a
few countries making reservations:
THE contracting powers agree that
hostilities must now begin without
previous unequivocal notice having
been given, either in the form OF a
declaration of war setting forth les
motive, OF in the form Of an ultimatum
with a conditional declaration of war.
"A state of war must be notified
without delay to the neutral powers
the effect for the latter beginning al
ter they receive notice II it is estaD-
lished that they undoubtedly knew
that a state of war existed"
The sitting also approved with some
reserves the agreements concerning
the rights and duties of neutral States
in time of war. The land rules In
clude the following:
THE territory of neutral States is
inviolable.
"Belligerents cannot establish WIRE
less telegraph stations in neutral ter
ritory or any means OF communication
with belligerent forces on land or sea-
volunteers cannot be enlisted or
body of combatants formed in neutral
territory.
"The expectation of provisions from
neutral States and transport OF pro-
visions for belligerents are forbidden.
"Belligerents are allowed to use
means of communication belonging to
seutrals or private companies.
Prisoners who escape to neutral
territory, if recaptured by troops,
must, after having asked for refuge in
a neutral State, be set fee.
"a neutral State can defend its neu-
trality by force without this constr
tuting an act of hostility
When the project regarding the
treatment of neutrals on belligerent
territory was brought up for discussion
Baron Won Bieberstein Germany OBJ
jected, saying that Germany could not
admit the principle supported by Great
Britain to employ neutrals in warfare
when the laws of belligerent State
permitted it. Germany, on the con-
trary, maintained that neutrals must
take no part in war.
On motion of Count Tournelli (ltaly)
the proposition on this subject was re-
turned to the committee for further
study with the hope of reaching an un-
derstanding acceptable to all.
The Bulgarian delegation submitted
the proposition of an amendment to|
the American proposal for the estab-
lishment of a permanent Court of ar
bitration. The permanent Court OF
Arbitration to sit at The Hague shall
be composed of fifteen Judges, a
third of whom shall be renewed every
three years, beginning from the day
of the organization OF the court. The
first and second renewal of the Judges
shall occur by drawing third OF the
number by lot, while the successive
renewals shall occur after the expira-
ton of nine years from the day of the
or reelection of Judge, as the
latter can always be reelected.