TLE PEACE CONFEHENCE

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12850, 8 July 1907, Page 7

TLE PEACE CONFEHENCE

PROTECTION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY AT SEA.

QUESTION OF DECLARATION OF WAR

United Pren A^ociiition— By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received July 7th, 4.18 p.m.) THE HAGUE, July 6. At the Ponce Convention, the Fourth Committee discussed America's propoeal in favour of tho general inviolability of private property at eon. Germany wan prepared to support tho principle- of immunity if means wore proposal ensuring that the protection would be efficacious. Holland, Norway, Greece, the Argon tine, and other smaller States supported America. Bir Ernest Satow, formerly British Minister at Pekin, argued that the questions of the immunity of belligerents' property and of the limitation of tho right of commercial blockades were inseparably connected Britain did not consider that the movement in favour of the ideal of the abolition of war was sufficiently developed to enablo her to associate herself with the doctrine of the immunity of private property. Britain's desire to see tho interests of neutrals respected had led her to propoeo tho abolition of contrabands.

The French delegates nrgued that the capture of an enemy's commerce was far less inhuman than many methods of land warfare. The Russian representatives thought that the question was not ripe for h decision. Further consideration of the mattor was finally adjourned. The Second Committee disclose:! France's proposal in favour of tho formal declaration of wnr before opening hostilities.

Tho Dutch delegates proposed that an interval of at least twenty-four hours should elapse between the declaration of war and the outbreak of hostilities.

Russia and Germany supported the French proposal, but a decision was postponed on the British, American, and Japanese representatives making reservations regarding tho principle