Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 3, 1907, (In two parts), Part II

The Netherlands Minister to the Secretary of State.

[Translation.]

Royal Legation of the Netherlands,
Washington, October 13, 1904.

Mr. Secretary of State: Articles 1, 2, and 3 of the convention signed at The Hague on July 29, 1899, for the adaptation of the principles of the Geneva convention to maritime warfare have, as Your Excellency is aware, defined the conditions under which hospital ships are permitted to fulfill in time of war their humane mission.

With a view to facilitating this task and reducing its cost as far as practicable, the Government of the French Republic has taken the initiative of a proposition looking to the exemption, by means of an internatinal agreement, from the payment of all dues and taxes usually collected in ports for hospital ships filled out under the above-mentioned conditions, and to that end has asked the Government of Her Majesty the Queen to call a meeting of delagates of the powers signatory to the international act of 1899.

The cabinet of The Hague, glad to cooperate in the adoption of an eminently beneficent and useful measure, has decided to join in the action of the French Government.

I am, in consequence, instructed by the minister of foreign affairs at The Hague, by order of Her Majesty the Queen, to invite the Government of the United States of America to be represented by one or more plenipotentiaries at the conference that will meet at The Hague during the month of December next and the date of which will be fixed later.

Your Excellency will find herewith a copy of a draft of a convention which seems likely to supply a basis for the deliberations of the forthcoming meeting.

While thus complying with my instructions, I venture to add that I hope Your Excellency will kindly let me know, at your earliest convenience, what reception will be given to this invitation by the Cabinet of Washington.

Be pleased, etc.,

Van Swinderen.

[Inclosure.]

draft of convention.

The undersigned, plenipotentiaries of the powers signatory to the convention concluded at The Hague on July 29, 1899, for the adaptation of the principles of the Geneva convention of August 22, 1864, to maritime warfare, duly authorized to that effect by their respective governments.

Considering that articles 1, 2, and 3 of the first-named convention have sanctioned the principle of the intervention of the Red Cross in naval wars through the neutralization of relief ships:

Have agreed on the following provisions:

sole article.

The hospital ships mentioned in articles 1, 2, and 3 of the convention of July 29, 1899, for the adaptation of the principles of the Geneva convention of August 22, 1864, and who should have received an official commission to that effect from their Governments and whose names should have been notified in advance to the contracting powers shall be exempted in the ports of the said powers, in time of war, from the payment of all dues and taxes except those that are established for the use of the various services of the ports, such as pilotage dues.

The said ships shall be subject to the visitation and supervision provided by the laws and regulations of the place for the prevention of the transportation of contraband of war.