The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1909-12-08

| the tribunal In the decision OF prize
cases was, however, left in an uncer-
tain and therefore unsatisfactory state.
Article Z 81 the convention provided
that the court was 10 be governed by
the provisions of treaties existing be-
tween the belligerents, but that in
the absence of such provisions the
court shall apply the rules OF inter
national law. If 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, 1t was
deemed advisable not to intrust legis-
lative powers to the proposed court,
but to determine the rules Of law prop
erly applicable ina 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. %, 1909, In which
the following powers participated:
The United States, Austria Hungary,
France, Germany. Great Britain. Italy,
Japan, the Netherlands. Russia ana
Spain. The conference resulted in the
declaration OF London, unanimously
agreed to and signed by the participant
ing powers, concerning, among othef
matters, the highly Important subjects
Of blockade, contraband, the destruc-
ton of neutral prizes and continuous
voyages.
The declaration Of London Is an emf
nently satisfactory codification OF the
international maritime law, and It Ii
hoped that its reasonableness and fair-
ness viii secure its general adoption,
as we'll MS remove one Of the difiicul-
ties standing in the way OF the estab-
lishment OF an international prize
court
Under the authority given in the
supdry 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 on
the 28th of September last and result
ed in the signature ad referendum or
q convention for the unifcation OF GER
tain regulations with regard to mari
time assistance and salvage and con-
yention for the unitication OF certain
rules with regard to collisions at sea.
Two new projects of conventions
which have not heretofore been CON
sidered in diplomatic conference
namely, one concerning the limitation
or the responsibility of shipowners
and the other concerning marine mort
cages and privileges-have been sub
mitted by the conference to the diff
ferent governments.
The conference adjourned to meet
again on April II. 1910
The international conference for the
purpose Of ErratnUtiA. uniform legisia'
ton concerning letters Of exchange,
which was called by the government
of the Netherlands to meet at The
Hague In September. 1900, has been
postponed to meet at that capital In
June, 1910. The United States will be
appropriately represented in this con-
ference under the provision therefor
| already made by congress
The cordial invitation Of Belgium e
be represented by fitting display Of
/ Americas progress in the useful arts
/ and inventions at the worlds fair tc
be held at Brussels in 1910 remains &c
be acted upon by the congress. Mind
| ful Of the advantages TO accrue to our
/ artisans and producers in competition
with their continental rivals, | renew
the recommendation heretofore made
that provision be made for acceptance
Of the invitation and adequate repre-
sentation in the exposition.