The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-08-07

was Hon James Byrnes' address. en-
titled. Probable Changes in the Laws
of War"
He opened with quotation from
an English international jurlst writ
ten twenty-five years ago. who said
that he looked forward with much
misglving as TO the manner In which
the next great war would be waged,
but with no misgiving as to the char
acter of the rules which would be ac-
knowledged ten years after its termi-
nation. and the light of this quotation
the speaker considered the rules under
which the war is being waged. and the
probable changes in them after the
war Is over
Mr.. Byrne quoted from a letter of
William L. Marcy when secretary of
State in 1856, to the French minister.
in which Mr.. Marcy suggested the
! adjustment of the doctrine Of contra
band of war, and then said that at the
opening of the second Hague confer
ence of 1907. Great Britain made the
| following declaration:
The British Declaration.
In order to dimish the difficulties en-
countered by natural commerce in
| time of war the government of RI. b,
NJ. is prepared to abandon the princi-
| pie of contraband in case of war be-
tween powers which may sign A con-
vention to that effect" and this dec
! laration was in accordance with the
instruction issued 10 the British Dele
cation by Sir Edward Grey. the Brit
tsh Foreign Secretary.
In the committee of the Hague Con-
ference, which had the subject in
charge, aresolution in favor of the
British declaration was supported by
twenty five States. including Austria
Hungary. Great Britain and Italy. Five
States did not vote and Ave voted in
Observation-Disclosures France. Ger
many. Russia and the United States.
Thus the proposal TO abolish the
principle of contraband which had first
been made fifty years before by an
American secretary Of State was pre-
sented to the conference of nations by
a country which that secretary regard
ed as the chief beneficiary of the prin-
ciple, and was opposed by the represen-
tatives of his own country, who aligned
themselves with the chief military pow
ers of the, world"
Considers the Consequences.
He then considered the consequence
that may have hung upon the decision
of Germany and the United States
when Great Britain made this pro-
posal
He further said that In the letter
of instructions of Sir Edward Grey to
the British delegation he had instructed
the delegates If the proposal for the
| total abolition of contraband failed to
try to persuade the conference to adopt
a list of contraband articles restricted
within the narrowest limit. with prac-
teal extinction as the ultimate aim.
or to make regulations providing that
nations should publish during peace
a list of articles they would regard az
contraband. during war. and that no
changes would be made in the list
on the outbreak of, or during hostili-
ties and that certain articles should
be specified which in no event should
fall within the enumeration OF contra
band; for example, foodstuffs destined
for places other than beleaguered fort
resses and any raw materials required
fog the purpose Of peaceful Ind ustry."
May Abolish Contraband and Blockade
The speaker thought that there need
be no fear of the insistence by Great
Britain after the war that the orders
in council should be continued as per-
manent rules of naval warfare; that
In any war except a war in which prac-
tically all Europe was engaged 1t
would be impossible to enforce them;
that the world would see that the adop-
ton of the orders in council last March
meant that in the modern times, with
mines and submarines and aeroplanes,
that ola laws OF blockade and contra
nand were ineffective, and that the re-
suit would be before many years after
'he war 'nat contraband ana blockade
except as direct aid TO military opera
uohs' ana the capture OF private pro-
pertF al sea would all be abolished.
Golf Winners.
The silver cups offered by the ASSOC
cfatioh IN the golf tournament were
won by Mrs. T. Fl. Masten. Of Kansas
Clty. Mo-, and Mr.. Charles 3. Beckwith,