DECLARATION OF LONDON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXII, Issue 15524, 26 January 1911, Page 7

DECLARATION OF LONDON.

RECENT SPEECHES. A SHIPOWNER'S VIEW. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON" January 24. Lord Invcrclyde, a director of the Curiard Company and of other shippins.', firms, addressing the Shipowners' Association at Glasgow, asked whether the Government's desire to ratify tho Declaration of London was not equivalent to an admission that the Navy was unable to protect the trade routes. Admiral Wilson, ho said, was too sanguine regarding tho impossibilities of invasion. Britain was entitled to the command of the sea commercially, and the Navy must be equal to any necessity. ADMIRAL FREMANTLE'S CONDEMNATION. Admiral Fremmitle condemns the Declaration, believing that none of the signatories would observe it in war time, and the International Court could have no power to enforce its decision. Ho is also of opinion that the new blockade rules would much hamper British naval commanders. RATIFICATION TO BE POSTPONED. (Received January 25, 9.50 p.m.) LONDON, January 25. Some newspapers announce that the ratification of the Declaration of London will bo postponed until the Imperial Conference has discussed it. A GERMAN THREAT. LONDON, January 25. The " Berlin Post" declares that the campaign against the Declaration requires foreign Powers to reckon with the peril that will arise if ratification is refused and old privateering rights are re-affirmed. The "Post" adds that the recent British naval man&uvres showed that the sacrifice of an enemy's fleet would make possible the almost complete destruction of the British mercantile marine. Such crippling Of the mercantile marine would perpetually jeopardise British supremacy in the shipping trade. OPINION IN CANADA. LONDON, January 25. The Ottawa correspondent of the "Daily Mail" reports that owing to the meagre dispatches the Declaration of London has attracted little attention. The general opinion is that tho 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 Soutli Australian Agent-General in an interview said that the Declaration ought not to be ratified without due discussion. A NEWSPAPER OPINION. (Received January 25, 11 p.m.) LONDON, January. 25. The "Manchester Guardian" regards the Declaration of London as unwise. It would mean tho abandonment of a principle which Britain had defended for a century, namely, that the onus of proof lay with the captor, while the Declaration of London lays the burden on the owner. If the Declaration can be made binding it would be as easy to secure prohibition of capture of private property altogether. Britain has two courses, either to make the sea in wax-time British territory, involving an enormous cost, or' secure complete freedom of the seas to commerce.