New-York tribune., 1918-11-18

ternational conference after interna-
tional conference representatives of the
United States have urged with the elo-
quence of those who are the convinced
disciples of liberty"
Secretary Lansing's mind was also
working at that time on the subject of
the greater freedom Of the seas. He
wrote a letter in January, 1917, to the
American Institute of International
Law, in session at Havana, Cuba, in
which he said
Judicial decisions, text writer's and in
ternational agreements have given all the
advantage to the belligerent and have
shown little regard for the rights of neu-
trails. 1t would appear that it is time
to reverse this process of treatment of
the subject of neutrality and to deal with
it from the point of view of the neutrals.
At Mr.. Lansing's suggestion DR.. Ale
jandro Alvarez, secretary general of the
institute, Chilean jurisconsult, had
prepared new sea code for the in
stitute's Endorsement. Here are some
illuminating excerpts from it:
Article
Neutrality, especially maritime neu-
trality, must hereafter be regulated not
merely on the basis of the rights of bel
lgerents, but especially on that of the
rights of neutrals, by safeguarding COM
mercal liberty and releasing neutrals
from the useless burdens resting on them
with view to observing neutrality.
Article II
When war is declared the neutral states
of the entire world shall, upon the re-
quest of the Administrative Council of
the Permanent Hague Court, meet in
conference, in order:
1. To take all necessary measures to
maintain the freedom of commerce and
navigation of the neutral countries.
g. To determine the list Of articles to
be regarded as contrahand.
8. To see especially to the observance
of all neutral rights and duties estab-
lished in these present rules and to exer-
else any other powers granted them by
the said rules.
Article VII
The commercial blockade, both of the
belligerent ports and the maritime zones
along belligerent coasts, is formally for
bidden, no matter what the means by
which the blockade is to be effected.
Article VIII
The right of private property in the
open sea is inviolable. Bellgerent and
neutral merchant vessels may in no case
be confscated nor sunk, under any pre-
text whatever. If carrying contraband,
this may be confscated or destroyed by
the captor.
Article TX
The right Of search is abolished
Here is somewhat PRACTICAL re-
vision of the rules of warfare at sea.
It destroys naval power. 1t ends block
ades. 1t would have given Germany
exactly what she wanted four years ago,
and would perhaps have enabled her to
win the war. 1t penalties the nations
whose military strength is on the water
and plays into the hands Of those best
able to make war on land.
It is nearly two years since Mr.. Will
son put out his first version of the
freedom of the seas. " He claimed that
his first vague programme was in har-
mony with American tradition. How can
any one say that his final programme
has American tradition behind it?
"Absolute freedom of navigation upon
the seas, outside territorial waters,
alike in peace and in war, except as
the seas may be closed in whole or in
part by international action for the
enforcement of international coven-
ants" (Article II. Fourteen Peace Con-
ditions.)
Here is the full growth Of the con-
ception of an internationalized ocean
Is it any wonder that Great Britain
SHE'D at it? Is there any reason why
the United States, the second maritime
power in the world, should try to have
it incorporated in terms of peace die
tated to Germany?