The Historical Examination Of The American “Principle Of The Immunity Of Private Property At Sea In The War”

Before World War Ⅰ, American advocates “the principle of the immunity of private property at sea in the war”. It is the freedom of commerce in time of war. The principle of the immunity of private property was a logical extension of the liberal position on neutral rights. It has a profound historical root, which is highly related with American liberalism, expansionism, mercantilism and strong individualism. It has been practiced in American foreign policy with other countries. The effort to secure international acceptance of “the principle of the immunity of private property at sea in war” became a focus of concern for American.At the first Hague Peace Conference in 1899 and the second Hague Peace Conference in 1907, American reaffirmed its principle of the immunity and hoped to secure international acceptance of the principle. Because of a shortage of American power and oppositions from England, it finally does not implement.After World War Ⅰ, American abandoned the role of passive and withdrawn neutral and became belligerent. “The principle of the immunity of private property at sea in the war” gradually fade out the attention of the United States. But the spirit of the liberalism is fused to American later in Marine policy and continues to play a role in other form.