The Washington herald., 1908-02-28
HAGUE TREATIES IN
President Submits to Senate
Results of Conference.
AMERICANS DECLINE THREE
Ten Conventions and One DeclarE-
tton. However, Received Approval
OF Delegates from This Country.
Progress fn Humanising War
shown in Subjects DeaIth with

/ President Roosevelt sent to the Senate
yesterday authenticated copies of thirteen
treaties and one declaration. adopted by
The Hague Peace Conference last sum
mer.
OF the thirteen conventions, ten were
signed by the American delegation. The
three treaties which the American dele
gates declined to sign were a treaty re-
/ lating 10 the treatment Of the enemy s
merchant ships at the outbreak of hos
tilities. treaty regarding the conversion
OF merchant ships into ships OF war. and
treaty relating TO the rights and duties
of neutral powers in war.
In the acte finale adopted by the-con-
ference the American delegation made a
reservation In regard 20 an expression
of the view Of the conference respect
| ing compulsory arbitration. This reserva-
ton was made because the delegates re-
garded the expression in favor OF coni-
pulsory arbitration as a mere expression
Of opinion. which was not accompanied
by any substantial treaty.
On Use of War Balloons.
The declaration. signed by the Ameri-
can delegation and submitted TO the Sen
ate along with the thirteen treaties. re-
lated 10 the launching Of prOjectiles from
balloons and airshipS.
! The treaties were accompanied by a let
ter of transmittal written by Secretary
CT State Root and the report OF the
American delegates, written by DR.. James
Brown Scott. solicitor of the State De
partment.
The thirteen treaties adopted relate TO
the following subjects:
A convention fer the raeifc settlement q inter
national conflicts being amendment Of the core
/ spending agreement Of july y. lss9.
convention relative % tho recovery Of con-
tractual debts.
A convention concerning the laws and customs CT
I war on land.
A convention concerning the rights and duties Of
neutral states and individuals in land warfare.
oonyentian regarding the treatment Of the
euemys merchant ships AZ the outhresk q hosttieS
! A convention regarding the transformation q
merchant hips into vessels of var.
| A convention in regard 20 the placing o. sub
| marine mines.
| A convention cluoeruirg the bornhardment Of IN
I defended towns b. naval forces.
A convention for the adaptation o. the principles
| Of the Geneva convention 20 maritime wartaTe-
oo1TCHtiOn imDuslnE certain restrictions upon he
| night u capture In maritime war.
convention providing for the establishment Of AZ
/ international Irino ourt.
A convention defining the rights and daties Of uc0
Z tral states IN maritime
What the Conference Did.
The clauses OF the arbitration eonven-
tion OF 1899 were materially amended By
the last conference. Thirty-two new
articles were added. twenty-eigi.t Of
which relate 10 the International Comnis-
sion OF Inquiry. and embOdy the results
OF experience gained in the operations
OF that tribunal, especially that secured
from the Dogger Bank Incident
The convention in regard TO the re-
eovery of debts was especially urged by
the American delegation, and il was
vigorously supported by the South and
Central American delegates. who were the
chief benehciaries Of the undertaking
The treaty establishing an international
prize court Of appeal was suggested by
Germany and supported by the American
delegation. The treaty regarding the
rules OF war on land enlsrges the i'm
munities Of noncombatants, the status oI
! prisoners OF war was ameliorated. thC
existing prohibition upon the lombard
ment of unfortifed towns was extended e
Include all means and methods which may
be resorted 10 with a view 10 the reduc.
ton OF a fortified place.
Defines Rights OF NeutraIs.
The rules prescribing the rights and
duties Of neutral states are comprised In
eleven articles, in which, after providing
for territorial inviOlability. the Organiza-
ton of troops or the establishments Of re-
cruiting offices in neutral territory is pro-
hibited as is the passage through such
territory Of organized bodies Of troops
or conveys of provisions or munitions OF
war.
The treaty regarding submarine mines
was calculated 20 secure for commercial
vessels a substantial immunity from in.
jury by floating or anchored mines. The
new articles restricting the right OF li4;>-i-
time capture guarantee an immunity from
capture 10 postal correspondence between
neutral and benigerent states. and t.
vessels engaged in coast fisheries, scien-
tific, religious, or philaRthropic missions
and those engaged in minor coasting
trade.
The American delegation withheld it.
vote on the convention regarding the con
version OF merchant ships into vessels o,
war on account OF lack of clearness in The
{ draft of the convention