DECLARATION OF LONDON.

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 July 1911, Page 5

DECLARATION OF LONDON.

1 FURTHER DEBATED. [per PRESS ASSOCIATION. COPYRIGHT.] LONDON, June 30. In the House of Commons, The Rt. Hon R. McKenna said that of the hundred and twenty Admirals against the Declaration of Londoir, sixty-five were promoted after retirement ; twenty-seven others had never been employed -and only twenty-three had hoisted their flags as Admirals. Only eleven had administrative experience as admirals, which the public hastily supposed were attached to the whole list. Lord Charles Boresfoi’d protested against the sneers against the admirals. He said that Britain’s great danger was a sudden attack by converted merchant ships. The crew of such vessels, armed with a couple of twelve pounders, could strike terror into the hearts of shipowners. If the food sup ply was cut off for even a short time, there would be a panic and possibly a revolution. If the Declaration was ratified, a hundred small cruisers ought to be immediately laid down. Sir Rufus Isaacs K.C., said that it was important to bear in mind that the Declaration did not deal with the right of belligerents. The general public had not realized this. The debate was further adjourned.