Seward daily gateway., 1925-04-29
SUBMARINE ACTIVITY
 WILL BE DISCUSSED
 AT RIO CONFERENCE

WASHINGTON, D. C., Apr. 29.- Oneof the issues of the World War and of the Washington Arms Confer ence of 1921 has been revived for discussion at the Pan-American con ference of jurists, to be held some time this year at Rio de Janeiro.
 Application to submarines of rigid rules of visit and search is contem- plated in the draft convention on maritime neutrality prepared for con- sideration at Rio as part of cod ification of American international law.
 "Belligerent submarines are not un- der any circumstances exempt from the rules" says the draft convention, after specifying that merchant craft overhauled by war vessels may not be attacked except on refusal to sub- init to visit and search after warning, or when they refuse to proceed as di- rected after seizure. If a subma- rine can not capture merchant vessel in conformity with these rules existing international law requires it to desist from attack and from seizure and to permit the latter to continue on it's way"
 The rules also specify that merch- ant ships may not "be rendered un- seaworthy until crew and passen- gers have been first placed in safe ty."
 There are 29 articles in the pro- posed convention which the pream- ble says is necessary to safeguard especially commercial freedom and to relieve neutrals of the useless burden and responsibilities under which they labor today in observance of maritime neutrality" The rights and duties of neutrals covering prize rules, internment and other matters are set forth, but chief interest lies in an appended clause headed ''The American republics express the fol lowing voeux." The French word is translated variously in diplomatic us age to mean "hopes" or "recommen dations." Among states which fol low are:
 That it be formally forbidden to maintain commercial blockade, in any manner whatsoever, of the ports of belligerents and the maritime zones bathing their own costs.
 "The inviolability of private prop erty at sea; merchant ships of bel ligerents as well as of neutrals must tion, and still less be sunk for any reason or pretext whatsoever. Ii the said ships carry contraband of war, the latter shall be either con fiscated or destroyed by the captor
 That the right of search be abol ished and that it be established that the local authorities of each Ameri can republic shall wise the papers ot merchant ships which depart from the said republic destined for a bel ligenent port. Belligerent ships can not stop the merchant ships of neu tral American republics or those be- longing to the other belligerent except to demand the production of the ships papers thus vised. Bel ligerent ships may, in spite of the regularity of said papers, proceed to search the merchant ships. Ii it results from the search of the ship that the ship does not carry con traband of war, the searching ship may be condemned to pay compen sation for the injury caused If the ship searched carries contraband, the American republic whose authori ties have vised the false passport must pay compensation. If the ships are not furnished with papers duly vised, they may be searched accord. ing to existing international prac- tice without occasioning indemnity