MARITIME WAR.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 89, 8 January 1908, Page 7

MARITIME WAR.

' PRIZE COURT. , BRITAIN MAKES RESERVATIONS. SMALL STATES' CLAIMS. '' tX IStSOEAPH—rEKSS ASSOCIATION—COFYEIGHJ. (Rec. Jan. 7, 11.20 p.m.) London, January 7. A Blue Book, which has been issued dealing Hague Conference, Bhows that the latest dospatoh of Sir Edward Grey,, Minister'for Foreign AfKirs, expressed the satisfaction of tho Government at tho recognition in principlo of tho need of an International Court of Appeal with regard to naval prizes. At tho same time, tho Mink stor points out that many difficulties remain to be overcome before such a Court can be-, como effective. . Sir Edward Pry, tho eminent jurist, and a British delegate at the Conference, complains that the ' machinery of tho Conference., is extremely dilatory and confusing. Ho refers to small backward States claiming equality with tho most poworful and • enlightened Governments, • and adds that, if suoh claims be persisted in they, may. drivo tho greater I'owers to act in many oases by themselves.

"The Times" correspondent at Tho Hague pointed out, when the International Prize Court proposal was adopted, that—" Tho fatal dofcct is that there are no."universally acknowledged laws of maritime war, for tho Court to apply; and, pending an agreement upon such international legislation, there is little prospect that | the greatest of naval Powers, Groat Britain, will ratify the c<jnvontion." A great naval .'country shrinks from'parting with any,-of..its powers at sea in war-time till it knows' what it ,is parting, with. ,