RULES OF WAR.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 116, 8 February 1908, Page 5

RULES OF WAR.

WHY PRIVATE PROPERTY SHOULD NOT BE IMMUNE. . AN IMPOTENT NAVY. SEA POWER COULD NOT END A WAR. /jr TELEOUArn—mass association—coriniQHT. (Rec. Feb. 7, 10.50 p.m.) • London, February 7. Mr. F." E. Smith (Unionist) .moved an amendment to tho Address-in-Roply regret- : ting'that! the British plenipotentiaries at-Tho Hague Conference Vero not; authorised to forward tho reduction of international 'armaments by: assenting to tho principle of immunity; of, an ,enemy's merchantmen (except carriers of contraband) from capture in war time.

Sir Edward; Grey/ Secretary for Foreign Affairs, said that . until tho Powers agreed to such' a,: reduction,,of. armamonts as is jikily to diminish .tho■■■apprehension'of . war, the Government : was bound to consider the subject rais'etl in the amendment from the standpoint, of,tho .oxisting situation. Neutrals would havo no, interest in enforcing a convention with, respect to.enemies',, private, property in war timo. , .■...■, Britain's ability to end.a war, said iho Minister, depended entirely on her sea power; If private property "was iiiimuno, an onomy's means of ; communication 'Sould' 'bo kept open and undisturbed.'' The:right; of commercial blockade would also be surrendered, and an enomy's whole trade would be .unmoloSted. It was difficult to sce ;how,>in/ SUch circumstances; hostilities would over end; The Government' could not incur thp risk . of, diminishing the, Navy's effective means, 0f : coercing an enemy. (Cheers.);; : The amendment was withdrawn. . ' V