CONTRABAND OF WAR.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 24 January 1911, Page 5

CONTRABAND OF WAR.

THE DECLARATION OF LONDON. LONDON PRESS" COMMENTS. INTERESTS 'OF OVERSEAS DOMINIONS. A SSOCIATION-- —CoPTKIOHT LONDON, Monday. The ' 'Daily Mail" says ' that Australia's protest against the Declaration of London is merely a foretaste- of opposition from every [quarter of the : Empire when the real inwardness of the new code of war and its Imperial menace is revealed. The dominions have been overlooked throughout, and no provision is made for the appointment of their judges, though Greece, Colombia, and ■ Uurguay are given the right to' nominate one judge each..in various- years. Yet the shipping of the dominions is sixth in the shipping of the world. Why should Australia and New Zealand be treated as inferior in civilisation'.; toColombia ? The "Chronicle" says the Declaration is of transcendent importance, and its immense complexity will cause delay until the Imperial 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 oh the 13th of October, there would be no ground for misconception. It is l a. great gain that the raw material' for (nearly all 'Britain's industries should not 'be declared as contraband. _ ' OPINION IN SOUTH AFRICA. ANOTHER" PROTEST. : CAPETOWN, Monday. The "Cape Times" says it is not sur- , prised that Australia has protested, and recommends the South African Union Government to consider the matter. It J \ points out that bullion may be treated as conditional contraband, and ho liable to seizure. South African (gold shipments often amounted to a million and a I half, and offer a tempting prize to a | raiding cruiser. > ADVOCACY OF "RATIFICATION. THE NEUTRALITY! OF FOOD STUFFS. (Rsc Jan. 24, 10.50 a.m.) LO'NDON, Monday. " The Westminster ' Gazette " 3 ayß tL*at the Declaration of London /V'.ve a code of international law instendof leaving us as hitherto, dependent ,o n combatants, who, if the Declaration were ratified, would find that the bulk of raw .materials for our industries were K exempted from seizure.. The paper adds that the food supply would be ' better safeguarded with the Declaration inasmuch as the French and German Courts had agreed that foodstuffs could be declared absolute contraband, which position .would have to be abandoned under the Declaration. Britain's safety lay in the power to keep the sea o.nen; not in any international agreement. \