THE HAGUE CONFERENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 233, 30 September 1907, Page 5

THE HAGUE CONFERENCE.

I THE HAGUE, September 28. A plenary sitting of the Peace Conferi ence approved of the draft Conventions I relating to the treatment of a captured enemy's merchantmen and crews, exempt- \ ing from capture coastal and fishing Ibcwts. The Conference was uriable to agree on the question of whether merchantmen may be converted into warships on the ' high seas, but approved of a regulation I partly dealing with the general question of conversion. I The Powers are urged to apply as far as possible in naval warfare the principles of the Convention of 1899, covering land warfare. Lack of time prevented an agreement oh the question of contraband, and also on the inviolability of an enemy's prij vate property at sea and the destruction of neutral prizes. LONDON, September 28. "The Times," referring to the Hague Convention, complains of the hypocrisy of the t.ctics employed to defeat Great Britain's proposals respecting submarine mines, the constant insinuation that Great Britain is selfishly desirous to secure the safety of her ocean trade, and that it is her desire .to deprive the •smaller Pow_3 of a cheap weapon of deJfence.