PEACE CONFERENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2198, 30 September 1907, Page 2

PEACE CONFERENCE.

CONVERSION OF -MEHCiJANT-

MEN

SEVERAL MATTERS HELD

OVER.

Rcceived Sept. 29, 4.12 p.ui. THE HAGUE, Sept. 28. A plenary sitting ox tho Peace Conforenee approved draft conventions relating to the treatment of captuied inercliun-tnien and crown of the eiuiiiy, exempting from capture coastal fishing bo ate. Tilio Conference' was unable to agroo regarding the ciuestion whether merchantmen limy bo converted into warships on the high seas, but approved regulations partly dealing with tho general question of conversion. Tho Powers we.ro urged to apply as far as possible in naval warfare tlio principles, of the Convention. of 1899 covering land warfare. Each of time prevented agreement on tho question of contraband, also on tho inviolability of an enemy's private property at sea and the destruction of neutral prizes. SUBMARINE MINES.

INSINUATION AGAINST GREAT BRITAIN. United Press Association —Copyright (Received Sept. 29, *1.12 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 28. “The Times,” referring to the Hague Convention, complains of the hypocrisy in tho tactics employed to defeat Great Britain’s submarine mines proposals, and the constant insinuation that Britain was selfishly desirous to secure the safety of her ocean trade and her desire was to deprive smaller Powers of a cheap weapon of defenco.