The United States Attempt To Standardize The Laws Of Naval Warfare In The Late 19th And Early 20th Centuries

Since the 19 th century,with the guidance and promotion of science and technology,industries and economies in various countries have developed at an unprecedented speed.The naval and naval battles of various countries ended the era of sailing wooden warships and completely entered the era of steam steel warships.By the beginning of the 20 th century,there was a clear imbalance in the national strength among countries.Countries began to expand their naval armaments based on their economic and military capabilities.It caused confusion in the naval warfare and international maritime order.Since the 1856 "Declaration on the Naval Law of Paris",the international naval warfare law has not formulated new naval warfare laws because of changes in naval operations.At this time,after the American-Spain War,the United States gradually became a new generation of naval power.It urgently needed the status of a strong maritime nation in line with its own strength and began to challenge the British-dominated world maritime order.The re-regulation of naval warfare laws through international conferences has become an important means for the United States to compete for control of the sea.At the first Hague Conference in 1899 and the second Hague Conference in 1907,the United States respectively changed the position of new naval weapons,neutral rescue ships,status of merchant ships in naval battles,naval operations,and maritime private property immunity.The issue was proposed in order to promote the international naval warfare rules in the direction of benefiting their own interests.The United States stands on the neutral position and advocates expanding the rights of neutral countries as much as possible.Its main rival,the United Kingdom,stands in the aspect of safeguarding the rights of belligerent countries and puts forward different proposals.Other major maritime powers,Russia,Germany,France,and Japan,sway.Between neutral and belligerent countries.Due to the disparity in the positions of various countries at the meeting,the efforts made by the United States to regulate the naval warfare laws have had little success and have not fully achieved their desired goals.Despite this,at the critical period of development of the naval warfare law in the late 19 th century and early 20 th century,the U.S.attempt laid the foundation for the future development of the international naval warfare law and contributed to the development of the international law of the sea.Moreover,the behavior of the United States regulating the naval warfare laws has also affected the changes in its foreign policy decisions,and has promoted the transformation of national diplomatic roles and international status.