INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA. 311 



Each country had one vote in the conference and one vote in each committee, without 

 regard to numerical representation. The American delegation held 16 meetings in Lon- 

 don, at which the important propositions before committees were discussed and ample oppor- 

 tunity afforded to each commissioner to express his opinions. After full discussion, the 

 delegation then voted on the position which the United States should take as a nation. In 

 most instances the American delegation was unanimous. In no instance did the minority 

 exceed three, and it seldom exceeded one or two. The conclusions thus reached as a rule 

 were loyally sustained by the entire delegation. Other national delegations, of course, held 

 similar meetings. 



The scope of the work of the conference was, in effect, outlined in the Alexander 

 resolution of April 17, 1912. The Biritish list of questions before the conference was 

 mainly a statement in detail of the broad subjects covered by the resolution of Congress. 

 Only one material addition was made, that presented by the American delegation at the 

 outset, at the instance of Secretary Redfield, that the subject of prevention and detection 

 of fire on shipboard be included in the scope of the conference. The conference confined its 

 discussions and conclusions, except in a few matters, to ocean passenger steamships. While 

 there was some sentiment in favor of general action concerning cargo boats, it was decided 

 at the outset that this extension of the conference work would imduly prolong the con- 

 ference, and subsequent events justified this decision. 



