Proposed Congress of Neutral Nations. 129 neutral country, being already regarded as inacceptable because contrary to equity and justice, the congress could present a new duty, that of the union of all neutral countries in face of conflicts of the magnitude of the present from which injuries so direct and so grave are suffered, in order to organize for the protection of their own interests, a duty of which the logical consequence would be a new law, that of mediation, which would then be exercised with all the restrictions and limitations of circumstance and time which would make it compatible with the respect due to the rights of belligerents. Mediation, thus strengthened, would have effects considerably more effective than the mediation usually tried in international practice. Although the latter has a certain character of officiousness and can not make way without the consent of one of the belligerents, mediation by a league of neutral countries, without losing that character, offers something of more weight by representing, along with the good offices of impartial states, the voice of those who on their part labor for the safeguarding and defense of their injured interests. The conclusions that the congress would dictate would next be submitted to an assembly of all nations and unanimously recognized, as they can not fail to be, because of their justice and convenience. Since the belligerent nation to-day will be the neutral country to-morrow, they will be incorporated into international law as an effective victory of civilization and pledge of future peace. One step further in this direction and one will arrive at the creation of a permanent entity which would represent upon the first rumors of a conflict, the league of neutral countries, and by making itself heard according to its right. it would be able in the majority of cases, to prevent the rupture or at least to limit the extension, the duration, and the range of hostilities. In the presence of the existing conflict, which embraces the people of Europe and Asia, the initiation of a congress of neutral countries belongs to the nations of America. In the possession of a neutrality absolute and above suspicion, by their geographic position, by the ample bonds which unite them to all the belligerent nations, by their character of peaceful powers, by their traditional efforts for the success of international arbitration, and by the grave injuries being suffered because of this very war, both in their present situation and in their future progress, the American nations are called to the signal duty of mediation. CARACAS, October, 1914. 79596-17-9 INDEX. (See Territory.) Accepting commissions. passage of, by belligerent aircraft forbidden_ take place in_- American international law_- (See also Aircraft.) Aerial territory. (See Aerial domain.) Aeroplanes. (See Aircraft.) Aggression, merchant vessels armed for. (See Armed mer- chant vessels.) Allegiance, renunciation of (see also Persons). Allied jurisdiction, reconversion of auxiliary vessels may American seas, belligerent operations in, deplored__. American States: attitude of, on arbitration__ attitude of, on peace_. embargo on arms shipped to- geographic position of neutrality regulations of, cited as precedents_-_. special duties of, as neutrals__ Antwerp, Belgium, navigation to__. Appeal to the people: Switzerland, proclamations United States, proclamation_ Arbitration, attitude of American countries on_. armed merchant vessels admitted to ports of territory on Straits of Magellan_. Armed fleet (see also Vessels) _ Armed forces: acting as legation guards in Peking to observe treaty. forbidden to embark on vessels in Panama Canal Zone_ 33 32, 61, 72 115, 118 74, 79 129 10 33, 47, 59, 63, 68, 73, 84, 108, 122 12, 75 131 102 evidence that vessel is armed for aggression____ evidence that vessel is armed for protection__ 31, 93, 102, 111 neutral to be notified of purpose of armament.. permitted in neutral ports__ 31, 111 30, 31, 94, 111 convoys of, not to cross neutral territory. neutral officials not to supply belligerent with. Asylum in neutral territory: land warfare-- combatants in civilian clothes. disabled combatants. escaped prisoners of war. noncombatants__ maritime warfare- to belligerent war vessels- duration at discretion of neutral government_ 11 (See also Base of operations; Prizes; Sojourn.) Austria-Hungary: belligerent in war of 1914. (See Neutrality proclama- characterized__. Auxiliary vessels. (See Base of operations; Vessels.) Aviation. (See Aerial territory; Aircraft.) Aviation station Balloons. (See Aircraft.) 73 Baltic Sea, entrance to, considered territorial waters_____ 50 arming belligerent vessels in neutral territory for- 10, 11, 12, 33, 35, 48, 51, 52, 55, 59, 27, 64 63 92, 116 92, 117 11, 25, 57, 100, 116 United States, memorandum relating to.. 91 joint resolution relating to--- 100 merchant vessels regarded as suspicious__. repair of belligerent war vessels forbidden without authorization___. repeated use of territory essential_. responsibility for use of neutral territory as_. Uruguay, decree relating to---. 115 use of neutral territory as forbidden___ 32, 52, 61, 92, 100, 115 Battleship (see also Armed fleet; Vessels, war) - Bays: definition of territorial.. prescriptive. ten-mile opening. (See also Territorial waters.) 107 63, 107 107 107 Belgium: belligerent in war of 1914. (See Neutrality proclama- characterized_ 42 Belligerent nationality, persons of. (See Aliens in neutral 34 28 Belligerent vessels in neutral ports and waters. (See Asy- lum; Base of operations; Coaling; Provisioning; So- Belligerent warship. (See Vessels, war.) Belligerents, rights of (see also Blockade; Capture; Con- of neutral ports forbidden_ Bluefields, Nicaragua, telegraph station at.. Bolivia, war with Chile, 1879. (See Chile, War with Peru Boundary waters, limits of.. Brazil: armed merchant vessels admitted to ports of- base of operations---. dismantling of radio apparatus on vessels in port re- 123 nationality of corporations_ 14 neutrality regulations__. 10 |