DECLARATION OF LONDON.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1034, 25 January 1911, Page 7

DECLARATION OF LONDON.

■WHERE BRITAIN GAINS. By Tolcsraph—Press Associative—Copyright. London! January 23. The "Westminster Gazctto" says the Declaration of London gives a code of international law as to contraband of war in placo of the rules of individual combatants. If the declaration is accepted, the, bulk of the raw materials for.our industries;will be,exempted: from seizure. ... . Britain's, food-. (supply, .says . tho "Gazette," would, in war time, be better with, thp declaration, inasmuch as tho French and German Courts havo decided that foodstuffs can bo absolute contraband of war, which position is abandoned under tho declaration. Tiio "Gazette" • adds:—"Britain's safety lies in her power to keep t)j.o sea open, not in any international agreement." PROSPECTS OF RATIFICATION. (Rec. January 24, 9.20 p.m.) London, January 24. Tho "Daily News" says if tlio Imperial Conference supports Australia in its protost against tho. Declaration of London,- tho deoision will practically kill the Declaration as far as England is-concerned. ■ The Declaration, says tho "Nows," does not placo-Britain in a worse position as regards, raw material and foodstuffs, and, .it, would bo a pity if, tlio Declaration wero obstructed because it is less progressive than it might lie. MR. TAVERNER INTERVIEWED. Tho "Daily News" interviewed Mr. Tavemer, Agent-General for Victoria, who declared that the ratification of the Declaration as it stands would bo a "heathen policy." Germany and Franco wero self-supporting, but Britain was incapable of providing food for her millions who wero dependent upon other countries, notably .Australia. i,