RULES OF WAR.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 17, 19 July 1907, Page 5

RULES OF WAR.

LIMITATION OF ARMAMENTS. TO BE RAISED BY BBITAIN. A MIXED RECEPTION. By Telegraph. — Pices Association. — Copyright. (Received July 19, 8.2 a.m.) THE HAGUE, 18th July. The British delegates to the Peace Conference will ask the convention to cdopt the resolution su.bmit.tcd to tho last conference respecting the limitation of armaments, as the question has now becomo moro urgent. Baron Marschall "Yon Biebcrstein ntateel that Germany did not consider the question pressing. M. Bourgeois, tho French representative, personally favouis the British position ; but France considers the question academic. The proposal submitted to the first Haguo Conference was that the present effect ivo armament of - the Powers should not bo increased, and .that provision should be made for a reduction of them in the future. The decision come to by the commission appointed to deal with this point was — "The commission considers : First, that it would bo very difficult to determine, cvoii^ for a period of five years, the figuro of effective forces without regulating at the same time the other elements af- J focting national defence. Secondly, that it would be no less difficult to regulate by an international convention tho elements of that defence as organised in each country according to very different views. Thirdly, that the restriction of those military burdens ! which at present weigh upon the world io greatly to be denied for thp national and /moral welfare of humanity." PRIVATE PROPERTY AT SEA. DISCUSSION AT THE HAGUE. , ) EXEMPTION FROM CAPTURE NOT CARRIED. THE HAGUE, 18th July. At the sitting of the Fourth Committee of The Hague Convention yesterday a vota was taken on the proposal submitted by Mr. J. H. Ghoate, on behalf of tho United States : "That piivato property, except contraband of war, bo exempt from capture nt sea, unless in tho event of ships attempting to enter blockaded ports." The proposal was supported by the delegates representing Germany, Austria," Italy, Switzerland, ' Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, Luxemburg, Brazil, Uruguay, Cuba, Ecuador, Hayti, San Domingo, China, Siam, Persia, and Turkey. Delegates from the following countries voted against the resolution: — Britain, France, Russia, Spain, Portugal, Japan, Mexico, Panama, Columbia, San. Salvador, and Uontcnegro. Tho Chilian representative abstained fran.^ptjng, and there were eleven absentees. The result of the division amounts to a negative vote, since' an absolute majority was necessary to carry the proposal. A NECESSARY PRELIMINARY. DEFINITION OF CONTRABAND. (Received July 19, 8.2 a.m.) THE HAGUE, 18th July. During the discussion 'at the Peace Convection of tho United States proposal regarding the inviolability of private property at sea (which was rejected), Britain and' Germany insisted on the necessity of first settling the question of what constituted contraband and blockade, beforo dealing with the abolition of prizes. Professor dc Martons (one of tho Russian delegates) argued that the aboli- , tion of privateering would enable merchants to benefit from a state of war.