The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-06-10
UNCLE SAM TAKES
GREAT INTEREST
Delegates From This Country
to Hague Conference Have
Explicit Instructions.
ARBITRATION THE THING
PERMANENT TRIBUNAL PROVES
DISAPPOINTING.

Washington. D. c.. June 9.-Naturally,
having in wav fathered the second
Hague conference, the Washing
ton government has shown the deepest
interest in every detail of the program
of important subjects to be considered
by that conference. OF the first or
der of importance, according to the
American view, is the proposal that
improvements be made in the provi-
sions of the existing convention reia-
tive TO a peaceful settlement of inter
national disputes as regards the court
OF arbitration and the international
commission of inquiry. Instructions of
the American delegates on this point
are known to be explicit. They are to
do everything in their power to in
fiuence the conference to enlarge the
powers of the permanent Hague tribu-
nal i'm dealing with arbitration cases;
and. above all, the effort is TO be made
TO bring more business before the tribu-
nal for the settlement of their dis
putes.
Only Four Cases.
The president and Secretary Root are
disappointed at the very small issue
from the august tribunal. Since it's
creation it has passed upon just four
cases First was the Plus case. invOlv-
ing the disposition of the fund set apart
by Mexico TO satisfy the Catholic
church in California for church prop
erty taken over by the state. Second
there was the settlement of the question
growing out of the blockade of the Ven
ezuela ports by the allied powers
Third was the Alaskan boundary ques-
ton between America and Great Brit
ain. Fourth was the decision of a ques-
Z ton that. had arisen between Japan and
Great Britain as to the exemption from
taxation of foreign jewellers in Japan.
All but the last of these cases were of
American origin. In other words, al
though serious international disputes
have arisen and been adjusted diplo-
matically or by force of arms since the
creation Of the Hague tribunal, Amer
lea and Great Britain have been the
only parties to resort to arbitration.
Will Take Advanced Position.
The American delegates will also take
an advanced position in the discussion
aud treatment of the second article in
the Hague program, namely. the adj
diriOns TO the laws and customs of war
on land. Details of these propositions
relate to the opening of hostilities, the
rights of neutrals or land, etc.
II is understood that an attempt will
be made by the American delegates to
secure some general agreement as to
tho issuance of a declaration of war in
ample time before the beginning of &C
tuai hostilities to insure reasonable pro-
lection of the rights of neutral resi-
dents IN the belligeTent countries and
for neutral trade.
No country has take a more advanced
position than America in the liberal
treatment on the high seas in time of
war: therefore the American delegates
will give strong support to the third
article of the program, which in sub
stance proposes to minimize the exer-
else of the right of bOmbardment and
the seizure of private property at sea
Private Property on the Seas.
On the latter point it may be recalled
that America was the first among ma
on the seas should be treated exactly
as is property on land in time of war;
that it should be exempt from seizure.
If not made UP of cOntTabaHd of war.
and if seized to meet naval necessities,
proper compensation should be made
10 the owners America also takes a
very liberal view of cOntraband of war
and her delegates will seek to limit the
list by international agreement (sOme-
thing never heretofore accomplished,
so as to avoid unjust seizures of private
property.
In the Spanish war America was par
ticularly irduIgent in the treatment of
Spanish ships that were caught in for
cign ports at the outbreak of war. and.
1t NAV be added, Spain Teciprocated IN
the same spirit. The effort will be
made 70 give what was a mere courtesy
at that time the force of international
law by some appropriate enactment at
The Hague conference.