RULES OF WARFARE. THE PROPOSED MODIFICATION. HOW IT AFFECTS BRITAIN.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19, 24 January 1911, Page 7

RULES OF WARFARE. THE PROPOSED MODIFICATION. HOW IT AFFECTS BRITAIN.

WILL THE FOOD SUPPLY BE IN DANGER ? By Telegraph. — Press Association. — Copyright, i (Received January 24, 10.20 a.m.) LONDON, 23rd January. The Westminster Gazette says the Declaration of London gives a code of international law instead of a rule hitherto dependent on combatants. If the declaration is accepted, the bulk of the raw materials for our industries will be exempted from seizure. Britain's food supply, says the Gazette, would, in war-time, be better with the declaration, inasmuch as the French and German courts have decided that foodstuffs can be absolute contraband of war, which position is abandoned under the declaration. The Gazette adds- : — "Britain's safety lies in her power to keep the sea open, not in any International agreement." OPPOSITION GROWING. POSITION OF OVERSEAS DOMINIONS. LONDON, 23rd January. The Daily Mail says Australia's protest against the Declaration of London is merely a foretaste of the opposition which will come from every quarter of the Empire when the real inwardness of the new code of war and its Imperial menace is revealed. The Dominions, says the journal, have been overlooked throughout, and no provision has been made for the appointment of their judges, though Greece, Colombia, and Uruguay have been given the right to nominate one judge each in various years. Yet the shipping of the Dominions is sixth in the shipping world, and why should, Australia and Mew Zealand be treated as inferior States in civilisation to Colombia? The Daily Chronicle says the Declaration is of transcendent importance. Its immense complexity is cause for delay until a conference affords time for reflection. Article 34 is decidedly ambiguous. If Articles 33 and 34 had been as explicit as Sir Edward Grey's letter to the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce of 13th October, there would be no ground for misconception. It was a great gain that, the raw material for nearly all Britain's industries could not be declared contraband. A SOUTH AFRICAN VIEW. GOLD SHIPMENTS LIABLE TO SEIZURE. CAPETOWN, 23rd January. The Cape Times says it is not surprised that Australia has protested against the Declaration of London. It recommends the South African Union Government to consider the matter, and points out that bullion may >be treated as conditional contraband and made liable to seizure. The South African gold shipments often amount to a' million and a half, and would offer a tempting prize to a raiding cruiser.