NEW SEA LAWS CRITICISED.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1035, 26 January 1911, Page 5

NEW SEA LAWS CRITICISED.

« DECLARATION OF LONDON. IMPORTANT BRITISH PRINCIPLE SACRIFICED. ENGLAND'S TWO COURSES. By Tclceraph-Press Associallon-OopyriEnt. (Kec. January 25', 10.50 p.m.) , London, January 25. The "Manchester Guardian" regards the Declaration of London as unwise. It would mean tho abandonment of a principle which England has defended for a century, namely, that the onus of proof as to contraband of war lay with the captor, while the Declaration of London lays tho burden on the owner. If the Declaration can be made binding it will be easy to secure tho prohibition of the capture of private property altogether. Euglaud ha 9 two courses, either to mate the sea in war-time- British territory, which will involve enormous 'cost, or ■to secure the complete freedom of the seas to commerce HOW BRITAIN MIGHT-BE CRIPPLED, VIEWS OF CANADA, (Rec. January 25, 9.50 p.m.) London, January 25. Some of the- newspapers announce that the ratification of the Declaration of London will be postponed until the Imperial Conference has discussed its provisions. The Berlin' "Post" declares that the campaign against the Declaration requires that foreign -Powers should'reckon with the peril that ■ would arise if ratification were refused, and the old privateering rights reaffirmed. The "Post" adds that tho recent British naval manoeuvres showed that tho sacrifice of an enemy's fleet would make possible tho almost complete destruction of the British mercantile marine. Sucli a crippling of tho mercantile marine would perpetually jeopardise Britisli supremacy in the shipping trade. The "Daily Mail's" Ottawa correspondent reports that, ,owing to the meagre dispatches received concerning it, the Declaration of London attracted little attention in Canada. Tho general opinion is that'tho.'Dominions should not be overlooked in a'matter of this kind. " The Prime Minister, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, states that he has- -not studied tho matter, and, before- lie comes to a definito decision, Government exnerts will analyse the Declaration. • The South Australian Agent-General, Mr. Kirkpatrick, On being interviewed, said the Declaration ought not to beratified without due 'discussion. PROTECTION OR TRADE ROUTES. NEW RULES IN WAR TIME. By Teiecraph-Prcss Associatlon-Coprtillit. London, January 2i; Lord Inverclyde, head of the Cunard Line, addressing the Ship-owners' Association at Glasgow, asked whether, the Government's desire to ratify the Declaration of London was not equivalent to an admission that tho British Navy was unable to protect the trado routes. The first Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Arthur Wilson, was rather sanguine regarding the impossibility of invasion. Britain, however, was, entitled to command tho sea commercially, 'and the Navy must bo equal to tho necessity. Admiral Sir Edmund I'remantie condemns the Declaration, believing 'that nono of the signatories would observe it in war time. The International Court had no 'power to enforce its decision. Tho new blockade rules, adds tho Admiral, would much hamper British naval commanders.