Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-01-08
BELL-ANS
Absolutely. Removes
Indigestion. One package
provesit 25cat all druggists.
NO CODE FOR

Secretary Lansing that the present
imperfect code of rules defining re-
lations between belligerents and neu-
trails reflect "over appreciation if the
needs of the belligerents.
They believe the process Of treating
the subject of neutrality should be re-
versed and dealt with from the point
of view of the neutral.
As a result, Secretary Lansing some
months ago requested the American in
stitute of international law to study the
problem of neutral rights and duties
seeking to formulate in terms the
principle underlying relations of bel
ligereley to neutrality rather than the
express rules governing the conduct of
q nation at war to a nation at peace. -
Today it was learned"a proeet will
be submitted January % at Havana as
a basis for approaching discussion of
ways and means TO carry out Lans-
Iings suggestions.
I Details of the project are withheld
pending the meeting of the institute in
Havana which was called there at the
invitation of the Cuban government,
Lansing recommended, however, that
the subject be divided into two parts,
InsAlely, "the rights of neutrals ON the
high seas and the duties of neutrals
dependent upon territorial jurisdic-
ton"
"Tho institute, being composed of
neutral nations, is especially fitted to
do this from the proper point of view;
Lansing said in his communication,
and with the definite purpose of pro-
tecting the liberty of neutrals from un-
justified restrictions on the high seas
and from the imposition of needless
burdens in preserving their neutrality
on land.
1t is pointed out today that the pres
ident's work is not done for the pur-
pose of enforcing any new "cede" up
on the belligerents, should the present
war continue, but to be put forth when
Ipeace comes as a substitute for the
present rules, which, according to Pres
ident Wilson have the position of neu-
trails in this war "well night intoler-
able"
Secretary Lansing, when he suggest
ed study of the subject by the instr
tute, set forth in a memorandum the
following opinions based upon expert
ences suffered by this government in
its diplomatic intercourse with bellig-
erents since 1914:
"These rules governing relations
between belligerents and neutralsl
which have grown up during the past
125 years and have been in some cases
differently interpreted by courts of
different countries have been frequent
ly found inadequate to meet new con
ditions of warfare, and as a result ev-
cry war has changed, modified or add
ed to the rules, generally through the
process of judicial decisiins.
"The prize courts of belligerents
have thus become the Interpreters of
belligerent rights and neutral obliga-
tions and their interpretations evidence
and unconscious prejudice arising out
of over-appreciation of the needs if
belligerents.
Writers on international law have
relied upon these prize court decisions
in dealing with the subject of neutral
lty, so that they have laid down rules
formulated directly from belliger-
ent Is point of view. In additiin to
hese influences affecting a code to
govern the conduct and treatment of
neutrals, international conferences and
congress have generally confided he
drafting of rules relating to belliger
ents and neutral rights to military and
naval experts who naturally approach
the subject from the belligerents stand
point. f"
The American institute Of interna-
tional law includes five representatives
from each of the twenty one, North,
South and Central countries.
Elihu Root is honorary president--of
the institute and James Brown Scott
president. The American members in
clude Root, Scott, Robert Bacon, Sec
retary Lansing and Leo S. Rowe.