Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-06-07
WAR RULES WILL
Be CHANGED WHEN
STRUGGLE ENDS
Hage Convention Likely to
Have Its Hands Full in Pro-
viding New Set Of ReguIa-
lions for BeIIigerentS.
tA.soeIalea rres. carresponaene..,

thNNOfttttu IffhA tuFfespOnUfUre.t
Berlin, May 20---'rhe changes that
the present war may render neces-
sary in the DEGREES Of The Hague CON
vention are discussed at considerable
length in an article by Prof. slgurd
lbsen, which is prominently publish
ed in the Vossische Zeitung. New con-
ditions and developments without
precedent in former history. says Pro-
fessor Ibsen, must be provided for in
new regulations and treaties. In ma
val warfare, for example, he OBJ
serves.
1.-THE right to wage war at sea must
be regulated anew. In fact, this has
never been established on firm ba-
sis. But not one could have foreseen
that IL rested on foundation so ut
terly unstable as events have proved.
Warfare ut Sea.
There have been many attempts
to place the law for war at sea on a.
firm foundation. The second Hague
convention and the London confer
ence of 1909 drew up whole list OF
regulations In relation to sea warfare
which altogethap make complete
L
the difficulty was that many OF these
regulations were either rendered un-
workable By reservations or did not
gain the force of law through failure
to obtain recognition from the gov
ernments concerned This was the
fate of the most important volume of
declarations, the oft-quoted London
declarations, and England was able
very soon without announcing any
formal breach of the law to overstep
the boundaries OF the agreement.
Naturally Germany went in for re-
prisals, and the result is sea war-
fare which stands in contradiction 10
almost every international right that
has so far been laid down
However, uncertain the obliga-
tons were in the past, there were
certain limitations which could not
be overstepped. But it seems that at
present there is no limitation to the
claim of every state to do as IL
pleases. The law of contraband has
received a development which no one
foresaw The trade and the shipping
of neutral countries have been placed
under control which has become
humiiating. The sinking OF enemy
merchant ships, which formerly was
allowed only when unavoidable, has
now become a regular practice.
Submarine a Factor.
"This condition of things is due 10
the working of two factors. In the
first place, sea warfare has become
a much more intensive way than
heretofore anyone could have believ-
ed, battle of financial weapons,
bitter fight for the means Of exist
ence. In the second place the linz
provement of the modern means Of
war, in particular the submarines
and mines, has developed kind Of
war which is without precedent in
former history and which falls by
necessity outside the range Of inter
national law, which was adapted TO
conditions very different from the
present.
IAN this must be put right at the
next Hague conference It will be the
aim of the conference to make in
ternational law as far as possible
square with these new facts. More
than this one cannot say at the pres
ent moment. No one can say what
regulations will he drawn up for con-
traband, blockadcs, and other mat
ters Of this Kind. or what code of con
uhti tdH 10 uldNil up lOf com DdtdnlS
in this sphere Of warfare, or what
can be conceded to neutrals.
Present Rules Loose.
"These regulations must be drawn
up in the light Of experience and ac-
cording to the power and influence
which different states or groups OF
states can exercise. Anything, how
ever, VIII be better than the present
loose arrangement"
The writer, turning to the interna-
tiona regulations governing military
and field operations. maintains that
international rights have been ignor- |
ed by the French and English in their |
treatment Of enemy subjects and en- |
envy property in their countries.
AS to humanizing warfare, prefes- |
sor Ibsea has little hope OF interim |
tional law being able to accomplish |
much. Warfare. instead OF being
humanZed he remarks, 'must ne /
cessarily become more and more /
IN accordance with the
ceaseless development Of technical |
skill in the provision of new and
more perfect weapons. 1t IL an illu-
sion to believe that war can be waged
In gentler fashion. There is only one
worth considering and
that is to. see that no occasion arises
for war. This, however. Is not the
work of international LAWYERS but OF
IA. Al