The Oamaru Mail. THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 1911.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10675, 26 January 1911, Page 3

The Oamaru Mail. THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 1911.

being signed two The Declaration years ago has given Of London. Vise to a great deal of alarm and not a little' suspicion throughout the British Empire. Even the outside dependencies have taken to abusing it. It is strange, a little, to read that the officers, of state seem to bo under the impression that the protests from this part of tho world aro not backed up with reasons as weighty as the protests are pointed. But they are; and, whether they aro or are not, one thing is certain —no protest need be backed up by anything but the facts of tho case.. Tho Council of the Chamber of Commerce of London lately considered the matter and had no difficulty in coming to a conclusion. We learn from the public prints that the Committee was composed of leading commercial, mercantile, shipping and insurance representatives, so that their word may be regarded as possessing the weight that belongs to the statements of men who understand what they aro, talking about. After careful consideration they reported that tho "Declaration had been framed without sufficient regard to the fundamental difference between the situation of'.Great Britain and that of Continental countries, chiefly in relation to the matter of food 'supplies." Having so reported they made tho following recommendations: That the effect of the Declaration is to alter the Law of Nations as hitherto maintained in a manner entirely unprecedented, and to expose to capture or deliberate destruction food supplies borne to any port of Great Britain in neutral vessels. That the absence of any provision in the Declaration for preventing the conversion of merchant vessels into commerce destroyers on tho high seas constitutes a. valid reason for praying his Majesty s Government to decline to ratify the Declaration, or to proceed with the Naval Prize Bill- That tho admission of the principle of destruction of neutral prizes would bo in tho highest degree prejudicial to the interests of this country. Now the Declaration of Paris-^lßs6—after abolishing privateering, declared that the neutral flag covers the enemy's merchandise with the exception of contraband of war. That neutral' merchandise with the exception of contraband of war is not capturable under the enemy's flag, and the blockades must be effective. It follows therefore that with the exception of blockade-runners neutral vessels may now carrv'the whole food supply of 'Great Britain in tho teeth of any enemy, and that neutral bottoms carrying contraband of war raav not be destroyed. The change made by or sought to be made by the Declaration of London enables a belligerent practically to declare what is contraband of war and what is riot, in which case it is possible that foodstuffs and coal may be. declared contraband. In this manner tho existence, of Great Britain mav be exceedingly endangered. Neutral vessels at present found to bo carrying contraband may not be destroyed, but if tho Declaration of London is ratified the case will bo very serious for the Power possessing tho most merchant ships. British ships, both those registered in Britain and those registered at the outside ports, ■will be sure to carry things not contraband of war in the ordinary sense, but they may be declared guilty of carrying contraband and destroyed, if the Declaration of London is ratified. Privateers mav be abolished technically, but the armed merchantmen become cruisers at sea, are. practically privateers, and tho nation that has most to suffer from privateering is, of course, the British. The British protests against such permissions of privateering may be. regarded as certain to be strong. It is easy to see that tho whole, of the conditions of tho Declaration of London are devised in the interest of all the Powers but Britain. It will be astonishing then if Britain accepts them. It is more astonishing, however, that there has been any delay in the Uncompromising refusal of them. The oversea dominions arc interested, for, as Admiral Fremantle lias declared they own a mercantile marine stand■ing: fourih in importance in the world. The"'harm that would come to that /marine from the change proposed in international law is too obvious to require anything more than a strong expression" of protest.