Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-06-06
REGULATIONS FOR
HAGUE CONVENTION
With Peace Restored in Europe, Pre-
diction Made Governments Will
Adopt New Rules.
NEW CODES MUST BE DRAWN

Correspondence Of The Associated Preesb
BERLIN. June S-The changes that the
present war may render necessary I'm the
decress OF The Hague convention are dis
cussed at considerable length in an
article by Prof. sigurd Ibsen. which II
prominently published in the vossische
Zeitung. New conditions and develop
ments without precedent IN former his
tory. says Prof. Ibsen. must be provided
for in new regulations and treaties In
naval warfare. for example. he observes:
The right to wage war at sea must
be regulated anew. In fact. this has
never been established on a firm basis.
But no one could have foreseen that u
rested on a foundation so utterly unstable
as events have proved.
There have been many attempts to
place the law Tor war at sea on firm
foundation. The second Hague conven-
ton and the London conference of 1909
drew up a whole list Of regulations IN
relation to sea warfare which altogether
made a complete book Of statutes on the
subject But the difficulty was that
many OF these regulations we're either
rendered unwofkable BY reservations or
did not gain the force Of law through
failure to obtain recognition from the
fate of the most important volume Of
ldeclarations. the ost-quated London dec
larations, and England was able very
soon without announcing any formal
breach of the law to overstop the
boundaries Of the agreement Naturally
Germany went in for FefrisaIs and the
result is sea warfare which stands Ia
contradiction to almost every lnterna-
eonsi right thate has 30 far been laid
down.
! sinking ships Regular Prncttce.
/ However uncertain the obiigationa
were in the past there we're certain
Limitations which could not be over-
stepped. But II seems that at present
there IL no limitations 10 the claim OF
/ every state TO do as II pleases. The law
bf contraband has received develop
inent which no one forcsaw. The trade
and the shipping OF neutral countries
have been placed under control which
BIAS become humlliatlng. The sinking OF
enemy merchant ships. which formerly
Yas allowed only when unavoidable. has
I now become irregular practice.
This conditien OF tnin-s ~ due TO tho,
working Of two factors. In the first
place. sea warfare has become a much
more intensive war than heretofore any
enc could nave believed, a battle OF finan-
eiai weapons. bitter fight for the means
pf existence. In tine second place the Inn
proyement OF the modern means OF wsr.
b particular the submarines and mines.
has developed kind Of war which is
Without precedent IN former history and
rhich falls by necessity outside the range
on International Inv. which was adapted
70 conditions very different from the
present
IL Humanising warfare.
AN this must be put right at the next
Hague conference. II will be the aim OF
the conference 20 make International law
as far as possible square with these new
facts. More than this one cannot say
AZ the present moment No one can
say what regulations will be drawn Nm
for cQntraband. blockades. and other
matters Of this kind. or what code of
conduct can be drawn up for contestants
IN this sphere OF warfare. or what can
b conceded to neutrals
These regulations must be drawn up
IN the light OF experience and according
20 tho power and Influence which differ
ent states or groups OF states can ex-
ercise. Anything, however will DO bet
ter than the present loose Arrangement"
The writer. turning 10 the international
regulations govsFning military and Sold
operations, nlatai1ina that international
rights have been ignored BY the French
and English In their treatment OF enemy
eubjects and enemy property in their
countries.
AZ 10 humanizing warfare. Prof
lbsen has little hope OF international law
being able 70 accomplish much. WAR
fare. instead OF being humanized." he
lemarkn. must necessarily become more
and more frightful, In accordance with
the censeless development Of technical
skill IN the provision Of new and more
perfect weapons. II Is nm Illusion 20 be-
Deve that war can be waged IN gentier
lAshion. There 10 only one proposition
kofth considering, and that n TO SEQ
thaf no occasion arises for war. This.
however. il not the work of interna-
topaI lawyers. but OF politicians aud
tipipmatsr