When no distinction was made in theory and practice between the status of private property of the enemy upon land and upon sea it necessarily followed that such property was liable to seizure and confiscation wherever found.

The seventh of the Hague conventions bears the title, “Convention relative á la Transformation des Navires de Commerce en Bâtiments de Guerre.” The convention really relates to vessels which have already been converted into war ships rather than to their conversion.

This subject, which was brought so forcibly to the attention of the civilized world by the operations of the Russo-Japanese war in the vicinity of Port Arthur, was one of the questions at the Hague conference last year, being thus brought for the first time to the attention of an international conference.

Among the six voeux to be found in the final act of the First Hague Peace Conference is the following:

The conference expresses the wish that the proposal to settle the question of the bombardment of ports, towns, and villages by a naval force may be referred to a subsequent conference for consideration.

We are here to give an account of the charge confided to us to draw up a text upon which to base your deliberations. Before giving a brief outline of each one of the propositions which we have the honor to submit, it may be useful to make some remarks of a general nature.

All progress towards world reform yet accomplished has been made at a slow pace. Only those who forget this are impatient at the outcome of the Hague conference of 1907.

The first volume of this American Journal of International Law has shown urbi et orbi that America possesses a number of prominent international jurists who are of equal rank to those of Europe as regards learning, idealism, constructive power, and literary skill.

The recent article by Dr. Scott under this title in the October, 1907, issue of this JOURNAL is a most able presentation of the view that the rules which govern the relations of states to one another are as properly to be termed laws as are the legislative declarations of national law-making bodies.

A Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, who has inherited a taste for epigrammatic expression, made a notable statement on a public occasion not long ago.