REJECTED!

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1311, 14 December 1911, Page 5

REJECTED!

■ « NAVAL PRIZE BILLMEASURE THROWN OUT BY THE LORDS. , . UNIONIST MOTION CARRIED, By Telerraph—Press AEaociation—Oopyrlghl (Rec. December 14, 0.35 a.m.) London, December 13. Tho House of Lords, by 145 votes to 4'l, has refused to read tho Naval Prizo Bill a second time. Lord Selborno (Unionist), in moving the rojoction of tho Bill, declared that it was perfectly preposterous that the Empire should have only Iho same representation on tho proposed International Prize Court as a Central American Republic. Tho Lord Chancellor (Lord Lorcburn) said tho Bill was infinitely .superior to the present law. Since tho conference which resulted in the Declaration of London was convened, at Britain's request, the rejection of tho Bill would placo tho Government in a difficult position in tho eyes of Europe. Lord LniiMlowne, Leader of tho Opposition, said he was not opposed to an International Prize Court, but the present one was constituted on a wrong principle, as oreat Britain was quite inadequately represented. No humiliation to the Government would be implied in aocuring timo for further consideration. WIIAT THE BILL PROVIDES. ofW i mi n ol A ject of tlle Bi " is t( > Bivo effect (o (he Convention entered into at meut o an International Prize Court to winch might be carried by »ay of appral judgment affecting neutral proporly or cui-Ro on board a neutral ship, lhis Prize Court is to be composed of el■ W,iT* m, °\" M aCcordi "K to an ''7 scheme.' It is not necessary to recall (he provision for (heir appoint- ™. a \< «<*Pt to say that the Judges anm,« ™f S' A U£t r;ri, France, Italy, Japan, anil R,] ?S ;n wil a irays sit: the atives of the other i'owerV, par! I' 3 t° 'kp Convention, sitting occaaVnalft, 3 " 0 " , '"!? to proscribed rotation. The International Court is to "apply the rules of International law. If no generalise cognised rule exists, the Court sl.atrivc judgment in accordance with the gra! If principles of justice and oquity»-a vacuo provision, he scope of which vi I te »'™ j W. if amil when tho p arliel of London VC, T OIl > ratlf J the D «=l".ition Sifi^^-"^^^ oi tne mil) it IS necessary to make several changes in our lav. At preint nrize cases go from the Admiraltv to tl 0 fudfis neealul is done by enacting tlnf n,» Supremo Pri 2c Court is to bo° composed miZ ta ? mP '^ crs of thc J«'li«a Comvll \L f rm ?, ,vl T lO f (lecisioll "" -aPPoal "ill ho to the International Court out in a J ra ?S cmcnt is calculated to work body of Tnt " g r rUU . a gencrall - v o >L?LI- er , natlollal nwritinio law. But o course it does not entirely prevent it l»nant poinh. There was markivl die agreement, for example a, tetht t\t fitiii SsfsSP«