The International Peace Conference, convoked in the
best interests of humanity by His Majesty the Emperor of All the
Russias, assembled, on the invitation of the Government of Her Majesty
the Queen of the Netherlands, in the Royal House in the Wood at The
Hague on 18 May 1899.
The Powers enumerated in the following list took
part in the Conference, to which they appointed the delegates
named below:
(Here follow the names of delegates)
In a series of meetings, between 18 May and 29
July 1899, in which the constant desire of the delegates
above-mentioned has been to realize, in the fullest manner possible,
the generous views of the august initiator of the Conference and the
intentions of their Governments, the Conference has agreed, for
submission for signature by the plenipotentiaries, on the text of the
Convention and Declarations enumerated below and annexed to the
present
Act:
I. Convention for the peaceful adjustment of
international differences.
II. Convention regarding the laws and customs of
war on land.
III.Convention for the adaptation to maritime
warfare of the principles of the Geneva Convention of 22 August 1864.
IV. Three Declarations:
1. To prohibit the launching of projectiles and
explosives from balloons or by other similar new methods.
2. To prohibit the use of projectiles, the only
object of which is the diffusion of asphyxiating or deleterious gases.
3. To prohibit the use of bullets which expand or
flatten easily in the human body, such as bullets with a hard
envelope, of which the envelope does not entirely cover the core or is
pierced with incisions.
These Conventions and Declarations shall form so
many separate Acts. These Acts shall be dated this day, and may be
signed up to 31 December 1899, by the Plenipotentiaries of the Powers
represented at the International Peace Conference at The Hague.
Guided by the same sentiments, the Conference
has adopted unanimously the following Resolution:
"The Conference is of opinion that the
restriction of military charges, which are at present a heavy burden
on the world, is extremely desirable for the increase of the material
and moral welfare of mankind."
It has besides formulated the following ' Voeux ':
1. The Conference, taking into consideration the
preliminary step taken by the Swiss Federal Government for the
revision of the Geneva Convention, expresses the wish that steps may
be shortly taken for the assembly of a special Conference having for
its object the revision of that Convention.
This wish was voted unanimously.
2. The Conference expresses the wish that the
questions of the rights and duties of neutrals may be inserted in the
program of a Conference in the near future.
3. The Conference expresses the wish that the
questions with regard to rifles and naval guns, as considered by it,
may be studied by the Governments with the object of coming to an
agreement respecting the employment of new types and calibers.
4. The Conference expresses the wish that the
Governments, taking into consideration the proposals made at the
Conference, may examine the possibility of an agreement as to the
limitation of armed forces by land and sea, and of war budgets.
5. The Conference expresses the wish that the
proposal, which contemplates the declaration of the inviolability of
private property in naval warfare, may be referred to a subsequent
Conference for consideration.
6. 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.
The last five wishes were voted unanimously, saving
some abstentions.
In faith of which, the Plenipotentiaries have
signed the present Act, and have affixed their seals thereto.
Done at The Hague, 29 July 1899, in one copy
only, which shall be deposited in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs,
and of which copies, duly certified, shall be delivered to all the
Powers represented at the Conference.
(Here follow signatures)
Document compiled by Dr S D
Stein