BRUSSELS CONFERENCE. An important international conference of the Powers of Europe held in Brussels, Belgium. July 27, 1874. It was called on the suggestion of the Russian Emperor, with a view to ameliorate and render more humane the rules and usages of war. The United States did not send a representative, and Great Britain sent but one, after notifying the Powers that she opposed any consideration of the rules of naval warfare by the Conference. All of the leading nations of Europe were represented. A draft code, or project. was prepared by Russia and submitted to the other governments before the meeting. with the understanding that it should be freely discussed, and that, in ease a tumultuous conclusion was reached, a new decla ration. embodying the opinion of Europe thus manifested. should be published by the Powers.
Upon many topics the representatives were agreed, but upon others the differences of opin ion were found to be irreconcilable. There was general unanimity as to the definition of com batants. non-combatants, and spies: as to the legitimate means of injuring an enemy; con cerning the conduct of sieges and bombardments, the treatment of prisoners of war, as well as of the sick and wounded, Bags of truce, capitula tions, and armistices.
The representatives could not agree, however, as to what constitutes hostile occupation of in vaded territory. The view taken by England and
:some other States was that a territory was not to lie deemed occupied by an invader, unless he had force enough to repress any insurrection; while Germany and other States held that the rule applying to naval blockades did not apply to occupation of invaded territory. It need not he. at every moment. effective. It was enough that the invading army had broken down organized opposition. and had assumed complete control for a time, even though it had advanced to other sections. Another point of difference related to the right of a people to rise en masse and oppose invaders, even though not organized as a part of a regular military force. here, again, England sided with the small States, and refused to concur in a policy which, in her opin ion, would tend to paralyze patriotic resistance by the masses of an invaded nation.
Although the Conference fell far short of ac complishing the purpose for which it was called. it marks an important advance in international law. See IIAGuE PEACE CONFERENCE; BELLIGER ENT; SPY, Cie.. INTERNATIONAL LAW, and the authorities there referred to.