Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-01-24
Declaration of Rights is
Drawn to Force Fair
Dealings
BASIS OF PRINCIPLES
United States Famed Document in
Intended for Pan-American Nations
During Present Crisis.

Washington, Jan. 23-An impress
sive declaration to the civilized world
of the principles of right and JUS
tice which should be followed in the
conduct international affairs has been
made public by the American Insti-
tute of international Law. The docu-
ment is entitled "The Declaration of
Rights of Nations" and is founded on
the United States Declaration of In
dependence. Adopted in executive ses-
sion by the Institute at its recent con-
vention, held here under the auspices
of the Pan-A American Scientific Con-
gress, although it lacks the formal
ratification of the 21 American Re-
publics, and therefore is not an off,
.cial document. its trainers believe that
it. correctly sets forth the official
views of all the American Common
wealths.
Before the Institute was called upon
to consider it, the declaration was
submitted to and approved by the
chief authorities on international law
in the South American Republics, in
Guiding Ambassador Suarez and Dr..
Alexandra Alxarez. of Chile. 1t was
unanimously adopted January by the
Institute, whose membership of 1O5
is made up of five experts on inter-
nationa! law from each OF the u
American Republics. and will be fur
ther considered at the next meeting
of the Institute in Havana, next year
Importance is given it, not. only be.
cause it is a statement of the opinion
of the most eminent authorities of the
q countries of the Western Hcmi-
sphere, but that the members of the
Institute from the United States
whose views it therefore represents;
are Secretary of State Lansing. Dr.
James Brown Scott chairman of the
joint neutrality board of the State and
Navy Departments; Robert Bacon
former Ambassador to France, and
DR.. Leo S. Rowe. of the University
of Pennsylvania.
ED11n1,-i,,p. +ho la cf
week of Secretary Lansings sugges-
tion that the Institute study the ques-
tion of neutral rights and neutral
duties, and the publication of the
memorandum in which he expressed
his attitude toward circumstances
under which several of the Ameri-
can Governments have suffered keen
ly through the operations Of Euro
pean belligerents, the Declaration i:
regarded here as having the greatest
international significance. The fac
that it was framed by a body whose
members present the best interna
tional law opinion of the American
countries is taken as magnificent IN
dication of Pan-American solidarity
Although framed by private body
the Declaration nevertheless IS un
derstood to express the attitude to
ward international law of the Am
erican continent, inasmuch as 1t!
| trainers are drawn from among tn
most eminent authorities on inter
national law in their respective coun
tries. No European nation is men
toned in the Declaration nor does
contain any reference, direct or IN
direct, to the incidents which hav
affected the North and South An
erican countries during the preser
war. Nevertheless, it is taken as
announcement of tEe position OF tn
Americas with regard to violation Q
neutral territory and the rights
neutral citizens and States.