DECLARATION OF LONDON.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1072, 10 March 1911, Page 5

DECLARATION OF LONDON.

HOUSE OF LORDS DEBATE. LORD SELBORNE ON DANGERS TO THE DOMINIONS. FOOD AS CONTRABAND. Uy Tclcsraph—Press Association-Corrrlsiht. (liec. March 10,| 0.15-a.m.) London, March 9. Lord Desborough, in initiating a debato ill the flou.sc of Lords on the Declaration of London, vigorously denounced the Declaration.

Lord, Desart, from the cross benches, made a Ion? and impressive speech. He said that the British envoys had done everything to induce the foreign Governments signing the agreement to assist in the establishment of an international prize court. If Great Britain changed her mind now it would imperil all future negotiations. The Declaration substituted fixed rules for chaos. The conversion of merchant vessels into ships of war was the most serious point affecting Great Britain. If the question was one of gaining advantage as neutrals or belligerents, neutral interests must go. He supported the Declaration, believing that it would largely benefit neutrals without sacrificing a single belligerent right.

Lord Selborne, taking South Africa as an example, pointed out the danger to the Overseas Dominions under the Declaration. It was perfectly certain that tho enemy's cruiser captains would claim foodstuffs to bo contraband when going into the British ports of South Africa, as undoubtedly they would be bases for armed forces. Ho did not wonder at representations coming from Australia, where similar circumstances might arise. It was impossible to secure the moral support of tho Dominions if Great Britain made such an agreement without considering them. The debate' was adjourned.