Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-12-08

n.y. held nj The Hague adopted. ! con.
vention tor the sesta blishment OF % IN
ternational, prize, court upon the Joint
proposal Of delegations OF the United
states. France. Germany and Great
Britain. The law to be observed by
tie tribunal in the decision Of prize
cases was, however. left In an uncer-
tain and therefore unsatisfactory state.
Article 7 of the convention provided
that the court was to be governed by
the provisions Of treaties existing be-
tween the belligerents, but that I'm
the absence, Of such provisions the
court shall apply the rules Of inter
national law. II no generally recog-
nized rule exists the court shall give
Judgment in accordance with the gen.
eral principles Of justice and equity"
As, however, many questions IN inter
national maritime law are understood
differently and therefore interpreted
differently in various countries, It was
deemed advisable not to tntrust iegis-
lative powers to the proposed court,
but to determine the rules Of law prop
erly applicable in conference OF the
representative maritime nations. Pur-
suant to an invitation Of Great Britain
a conference was held at London from
Dec. 2, 1908, to Feb. 28, 1909, in which
the following powers participated:
The United States, Austria Hungary,
France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy,
Japan, the Netherlands, Russia and
Spain. The conference resulted In the
declaration Of London, unanimously
agreed to and signed by the participat-
ing powers, concerning, among other
matters, the highly important subjects
Of blockade, contraband, the destruc-
ton Of neutral prizes and continuous
voyages. al -. ..>.,.
The declaration Of London is an emil
nently satisfactory codification Of the
International maritime law, and 1t is
hoped that its reasonableness and fair
ness will secure it's general adoption,
as well as remove, one OF the dih3cu ,l
ties standing In the way Of the estab-
ashment of an international prize
court.
+, Under the authority given in the
sundry civil appropriation act, ap-
proved March 4, 1909, the United
states was represented at the inter
national conference on maritime law
at Brussels. The conference met Of,
the 2sth Of September last and result
ed In the signature ad referendum Of
4 convention Tor the unidcation' Of Ger
tain regulations With regard to mari
time assistance and salvage and d con-
ventfon TOR the unihcati0n Of certain
rules with regard to collisions ut sea.
Two new projects Of conventions
which have not heretofore been con
sideFed In "A diplomatic confefence-
namely. one conc ttniiing the Limitation
or the responsibility or shipownefs
! and the other CONCERNING marine mort
cages and pr1vileges-hAve been sub
Matted BY the conference to the dhI
ferent governments =
The conference adjourned to meet
again ON April II, 1910.
The International conference Tor the
purpose Of promoting uniform lesisia-
tion concerning letters Of exchange.
WHICH "6S CAueO " <sS0 0Vs
OF, the Netherlands 70 meet 1T The
Hague in September, 1903. has been
postponed to meet At thHt capital In
June, 1910. The United States VIII be
appropriately represented in this COZ
terence under the provision therefor
already made by congress. ~
The cordial invitation Of Belgium to
. - -
American progress IN the useful arts
and inventions at the. worlds fair to
be held at Brussels in 1910 remains to
be acted upon BY the congress. Mind
ful Of the advantages to accrue to our
artisans and producers ID competition
With their continental rivals. renew
the recommendation heretofore made
that provision be made for acceptance
or the Invitation and adequate repre-.
sentation I'm the expedition.
msse.annae ~ T1R w0Aanm