Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-07-01
Nations Generally Believe Pfi-
vate Property at Sea Should
Be Immune From Capture
and ConfiScation.
SOUTH AMERICANS
INCLINED TO DISAGREE
Having No Ships to Be Cap
tured They Fear Proposed
Change Would Deprive Them
of Powerful Weapon,
LBy Morning journal Special Lsnsed wire. |

LBy Morning Journal Special I.ensed Wlrc.l
The Hague. June 3O.--Proftlng by
the holiday. the leading plenlpotenti-
aries met privately today to exchange
views on the principal questions be-
fore the peace conference. Joseph H.
Choate and General Horace Porter
aconversed at length with Sir Edward
Frye and Sir Ernest Satow, of the
British delegation; Professor Demar-
tens of Russia; Count Torneili of italy
and DIR. Krleger Of Germany, while
William l.. Buchanan. who was the
chairman of the American delegation
which attended the pan-American
congress, discussed affairs with sew
eral of the South American dele
oates
Some opposition seems to be raised
against the proposition of the invio-
liability Of private property at sea by
several Latin-Ameriean countries,
which having no merchant marine,
think that the abolition of the right
of capture and of privateering VIII
deprive them of q weapon dreaded by
their enemies, The whole triple al-
Nance, however, strongly suppGTT thts
proposition. Indeed. among the nu-
merous secret documents distributed
today in sealed envelopes to the dele
gates are definite. declarations to that
effect.
The Australian delegation issued the
following declaration:
The inviolability Of private prop
erty at sea having been The object OF
many serious works and judicial stu
dies is now so generally acknowledged
that a new discussion Of this prlnci-
pie is merely a pitulation, more
or less Identical with those uttered
many times by the most competent
and erudite scholars. Austria. taking
into account private interests and the
essentially humanitarian object of this
principle adopted II long ago, II
therefore wishes to state that 1t will
follow the most liberal point of view
regarding the capture and confisca-
tiOn of merchantmen
Italy makes the following state
ment:
ITALY. being among the signatory
powers Of the declaration OF Paris,
March 80. 1856. regarding the abOli-
ton Of privateering strongly ad-
heres to the doctrine so tenaclously
supported by the United states In
the conference OF 1899 italy stated
her position. but as the present con-
ference might not be In a position to
make position completely favorable
to the inviolability of private property
at sea. the Italian delegation express
their desire that middle course pro-
position be presented and discussed
Baron Marschal Won Biebersteln
head of the German delegation, stated
to the Associated Press that Ger
many's attitude In this matter was
entirely favorable.
The other American proposition
the collection of pecuniary debts with
out the employment OF force, is gain
ing favor. II will he discussed on
Tuesday
General Porter will explain It's true
scope but II Is understood that some
amendments Will be proposed
Furthermore the American delega-
tlon, among various suggestions ia
strengthen the court Of arbitration
at the Hague, Is credited with the in
tentlon of proposing that the perma-
nent arblters here be judges Instead
of dipliomatlsts
The idea that the peace conference
be held at Fixed periods finds Opposi-
tlon. especially from some OF the
| lending powers. who are OF the opin-
ion that Il will be impossible TO pre-
arrange the meetings OF the confer
ence. which would be unable TO as
aemble and work pr0htably under cer-
tain circumstances, az for instance
during war.
From the documents which were
distributed today Il appears that the
powers are determined to take thls
opportunity OF settling the question OF
the Transformation OF merchantmen
into warships. In order 10 avoid 9
repetition OF incidents such as thai
Of the seizure Of the steamship Ma
lacca by the Russians IN the Russo
| Japanese war. which resulted solely
from want Of international agree
ments
The Russians. evidently remember
/ ing their later experiences. Wish TO de-
fine q warship as "any vessel COM
manded BY naval officer, With 3
crew subject 10 the military code"
The Russian statement With regard
| to a wnfship further says.
"auch vessel must ny a war fiaf
by order Of rs government which ap
plies from the moment Of the issu'
of such an order. and the vessel mus
be inscribed IN the list uf warehlps Il
that country"
The british dchniglon Il more pre-
else and ls likely to be supported b
the United stateR Germany and Italy
f The Japanese proposition couhne
1.-The Transformation ~ merchautmel