CONTRABAND OF WAR. BRITAIN'S POSITION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 33, 8 February 1908, Page 5

CONTRABAND OF WAR. BRITAIN'S POSITION.

SHE CANNOT AFFORD TO TAKE RISKS. By Telegraph. -Pn-«* Awcciutlon.-Conviiclit. LONDON, 7th February. Mr. F. K. Smith, Conservative member for Walton Division of Liverpool, moved an amendment to tiio Address-in-Reply regretting that tho plenipotentiaries at The Hague wera not authorised to forward the reduction of international armaments by assenting to the principle of immunity from capture of an ohemy's merchantmen, except such as were, carriers of contraband in wartime. ( Sir Edward Grey, Secretary of State for Foreign Affaiis, replied that until the Powers were agreed on siuh a reduction'of armaments as would bo likely to diminish tho apprehension of war the Government was bound to consider the subject _of the amendment from the tfcandpoint of ' tho existing situation. Neutrals could have no interest in enforcing a convention with respect to an enemy's private property in war-time. Britain's ability to end a war depended entirely on her sea power. If private property were immune, an encjny's mean's of communication would be open and undisturbed, the right to maintain a commercial blockade would also bo surrendered, and an enemy's whole trade would bo unmolested. It was difficult to see how, hostilities could even, in those circumstances, eni. Tho Government could not incur tho risk of diminishing tho navy's effective means of cocrcinj an enemy. (Cheevs). •The amendment was withdrawn.