There is a world of significance in the reservation of
Baron Marschall, the chief German delegate, who said that Germany would never, save in case of imperative necessity, resort to the employment of these terrible engines of
destruction. It was interesting, however, to find that Russia and Japan were at one in desiring entirely to prohibit floating (unanchored) mines. It was finally resolved on Thursday that the scheme should undergo further revision in order that it might be again presented to the Committee in a form warranting the hope of its acceptance by the Conference. Attempts to secure unanimity as to the consti- tution of the new Arbitration Court have hitherto failed, and the net result so far is the carrying of a resolution submitting to the Governments the results which have been attained, and recommending that the Court should be constituted whenever agreement could be reached. In regard to the conversion of merchantmen into vessels of war no agreement could be reached on the question of the place of conversion ; but the project unanimously adopted by the Comitg d'Examen provides that converted merchantmen must conform to the laws and customs of war, on the ground that they cannot otherwise claim the privileges of belligerents.
