ThequestionnowcameupinourAmericandelegationastosigningthethreeconventionsintheActeFinal——namely，thoserelatingtoarbitration，totheextensionoftheGenevarules，andtothelawsandcustomsofwar。Wevotedtosignthefirst，tosendthesecondtoWashingtonwithoutrecommendation，andtosendthethirdwitharecommendationthatitbetheresigned。ThereasonforsendingthesecondtoWashingtonwithoutrecommendationisthatCaptainMahanfeelsthat，initspresentcondition，itmaybringonworseevilsthanitprevents。Heespeciallyand，I
think，justlyobjectstoallowingneutralhospitalshipstotakeonboardthewoundedandshipwreckedinanavalaction，withpowertothrowaroundthemthesafeguardsofneutralityandcarrythemofftoaneutralportwhencetheycanagainregaintheirownhomesandresumetheirstatusascombatants。
ThereasonforsubmittingthethirdtoWashington，witharecommendationtosignitthere，isthatconsiderableworkwillberequiredinconformingourlawsofwartothestandardproposedbytheconference，andthatitisbestthattheWashingtonauthoritieslookitovercarefully。
Iwasveryanxioustosignallthreeconventions，butthefirstisthegreatone，andIyieldedmyviewsonthelasttwo。
Thepowersaretohaveuntilthe31stofDecember，iftheywishit，beforesigning。