DECLARATION OF LONDON.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 37, 26 January 1911, Page 1

DECLARATION OF LONDON.

RATIFICATION TO BE DE-

LAYED.

GENERAL CRITICISMS. 'DRESS ASSOCIATION.-- COPYRIGHT. London, Jan. 25. Some newspapers announce that the ratification of the Declaration of London will be postponed until the Imperial Conference has dis cussed it. The ‘‘Berlin Post” declares that the campaign against the Declaration requires the foreign Powers to be reckoned with, because of the peril that would arise if ratification were refused, and the old privateering rights reaffirmed. The

"Post” adds that the recent British naval manoeuvres showed that with sacrifice an enemy’s fleet would make possible almost the complete destruction of the British mercantile marine. Such crippling of the mercantile marine would perpetually jeopardise British supremacy in the shipping trade.

The ‘‘Daily Mail’s” Ottawa correspondent reports that owing to meagre despatches the Declaration of London has attracted little at tention. The general opinion is that the dominions should not be overlooked in a matter of this kind. Sir Wilfrid Laurier has not studied the matter, and before he comes to a definite.decision Government experts will analyse the declaration. The South Australian Agent General, on being interviewed, said the declaration ought not to be ratified without due discussion. The "Manchester Guardian” regards the Declaration of London as unwise. It would mean the abandonment of the principle which England has defended for a cert tury. namely, that the onus of proof lay s with the captor, while the Declaration of London lays the burdim on the owner. If the declaration can be made binding it would be as easy to secure the prohibition of the capture of private property altogether. England has two courses, either to make the sea at wartime British territory, involving enormous cost, or to secure complete freedom of the seas to commerce.