GREAT    BRITAIN.                        
   565
                                     [Inrioure.]

                       The Earl of Derby to Lord A. Loftus.

No. 175.]                                          FOREIGN OFFICE, July 4,
1874.
  My LORD: Her Majesty's government have considered, with all the attention
which
so important a proposal deserves, the project of the Emperor of Russia for
a confer-
ence to be held at Brussels to discuss the rules of military warfare.
  Her Majesty's government highly appreciate the humane motives by which
His Im-
perial Majesty is actuated in making this proposal, and concur in the earnest
desire
evinced by His Imperial Majesty to mitigate the horrors of war.
  At the same time Her Majesty's government are not convinced of the practical
neces-
sity for such a scheme for the guidance of military commanders in the field,
and can-
not but fear that, unless the discussion is conducted in the most guarded
manner, the
examination of any such project in a conference at the present juncture may
re-open
causes of difference and lead to recrimination between some of the delegates
appointed
to take part in it.
  Nor do Her Majesty's government fully understand the scope which is intended
to
be given to the deliberations of the delegates.
  The proposal of a conference at Brussels was first made by the Society
for the Ame-
lioration of the Condition of Prisoners of War, and was confined to that
subject. Be-
fore, however, Her Majesty's government had expressed any opinion on the
expediency
of accepting the invitation thus given, they were requested by the Russian
government
to suspend their action in the matter until the draught project then in preparation
by that government was completed.
  This project has proved to contain a detailed scheme for the conduct of
military op-
erations, of which the treatment of prisoners of war occupies but a small
part. Prince
Gortchakow, moreover, in his dispatch of the 17th April, states that "le
projet que
nons soumettons A l'examen des cabinets n'est qu'un point de depart pour
les ddlibdra-
tions ultdrieures qul, nous aimons ' l'espbrer, prepareront le terrain d'une
entente
gdn6rale."
  That Her Majesty's government would be happy to join with the government
of the
Emperor of Russia in any measure for the prevention of unnecessary suffering,
is shown
by Great Britain having already, with that object, acceded to the declarations
relating
to the Geneva Cross and the use of explosive bullets; and Her Majesty's government
would not, therefore, now be prepared to take exception to a discussion in
a confer-
ence of delegates of such details of warlike operations in the field as it
might be found
useful and practicable to advise upon, but Her Majesty's government are firmly
deter-
mined not to enter into any discussion of the rules of international law
by which the
relations of belligerents are guided, or to undertake any new obligations
or engage-
ments of any kind in regard to general principles.
  Her Majesty's government deem it to be of great importance that they should
frankly
make this statement at the outset, and this has become the more necessary
since ru-
mors are current that onw government at least has contemplated sending a
naval dele-
gate to the conference, under the impression, apparently, that naval matters
may be
introduced as subjects of consideration and discussion.
  Her Majesty's government feel assured that such an extension of the scope
of the
conference would be fatal to any agreement on the particular details of military
regu-
lations which it is the desire of the Emperor of Russia to have considered,
and they
are certain, therefore, that in protesting against it, in antidipation, they
will only be
acting in accordance with His Imperial Majesty's views and wishes for a successful
is-
sue to the conference which he has proposed should be assembled.
  I have accordingly to request your excellency to state to the Russian government
that, before agreeing to send a delegate to the conference, Her Majesty's
government
must request the most positive and distinct assurance from that government,
as well
as from the governments of all the powers invited to take part in the conference,
that
their delegates at the conference shall be instructed to confine themselves
to the con-
sideration of details of military operations of the nature of those dealt
with in the
project of the Russian government, and shall not entertain, in any shape,
directly or
indirectly, anything relating to maritime operations or naval warfare.
  I have to add that this dispatch will be communicated to the governments
of all the
powers invited to take part in the conference, and a similar assurance requested
from
each of them.
  Your excellency will read this dispatch to Prince Gortehakow, or whoever
may be
acting for him in his absence, and furnish him with a copy of it.
      I am, &c.,                                                    
 DRY