Hague Convention of 1907
The second conference, in 1907, was generally a failure, with few major decisions. However, the meeting of major powers did prefigure later 20th-century attempts at international cooperation.
The second conference was called at the suggestion of President Theodore Roosevelt in 1904, but postponed because of the war between Russia and Japan. The Second Peace Conference was held from June 15 to October 18, 1907, to expand upon the original Hague Convention, modifying some parts and adding others, with an increased focus on naval warfare. The British tried to secure limitation of armaments, but were defeated by the other powers, led by Germany, which feared a British attempt to stop the growth of the German fleet. Germany also rejected proposals for compulsory arbitration. However, the conference did enlarge the machinery for voluntary arbitration, and established conventions regulating the collection of debts, rules of war, and the rights and obligations of neutrals.
The Final Agreement was signed on October 18, 1907, and entered into force on January 26, 1910. It consisted of thirteen sections, of which twelve were ratified and entered into force:
- I: The Pacific Settlement of International Disputes
- II: The Limitation of Employment of Force for Recovery of Contract Debts
- III: The Opening of Hostilities
- IV: The Laws and Customs of War on Land
- includes the Annex on The Qualifications of Belligerents, Chapter II: Prisoners of War
- V: The Rights and Duties of Neutral Powers and Persons in Case of War on Land
- VI: The Status of Enemy Merchant Ships at the Outbreak of Hostilities
- VII: The Conversion of Merchant Ships into War-Ships
- VIII: The Laying of Automatic Submarine Contact Mines
- IX: Bombardment by Naval Forces in Time of War
- X: Adaptation to Maritime War of the Principles of the Geneva Convention
- XI: Certain Restrictions with Regard to the Exercise of the Right of Capture in Naval War
- XII: The Creation of an International Prize Court
- XIII: The Rights and Duties of Neutral Powers in Naval War
Two declarations were signed as well:
- Declaration I: extending Declaration II from the 1899 Conference to other types of aircraft
- Declaration II: on the obligatory arbitration
The Brazilian delegation was led by the statesman Ruy Barbosa, whose contribution was essential for the defense of the principle of legal equality of nations. The British delegation included the 11th Lord Reay (Donald James Mackay), Sir Ernest Satow and Eyre Crowe. The Russian delegation was led by Fyodor Martens.The Uruguayan delegation was led by José Batlle y Ordóñez, great defender of the compulsory arbitration by creating the idea of an International Court of Arbitration, and an alliance of nations to force the arbitration.
Korea made a futile effort to take part in the conference, in an incident known as the Hague Secret Emissary Affair. King Gojong dispatched Yi Jun, Yi Sang-Seol and Yi Wi-Jong as envoys to the second peace conference, to argue that Eulsa Treaty was unjust and ask for help from the international society to recover Korea’s diplomatic sovereignty. An American missionary, Homer Hulbert, also travelled to The Hague to argue against the treaty. All four men were denied entry.
Read more about this topic: Hague Conventions Of 1899 And 1907
Famous quotes containing the words hague and/or convention:
“We hear about constitutional rights, free speech and the free press. Every time I hear those words I say to myself, “That man is a Red, that man is a Communist.” You never heard a real American talk in that manner.”
—Frank Hague (1876–1956)
““We’ll encounter opposition, won’t we, if we give women the same education that we give to men,” Socrates says to Galucon. “For then we’d have to let women ... exercise in the company of men. And we know how ridiculous that would seem.” ... Convention and habit are women’s enemies here, and reason their ally.”
—Martha Nussbaum (b. 1947)