IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15184, 1 July 1911, Page 9

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

NAVAL PRIZE BILL. SECOND READING DEBATE. "Presa Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, June 29. In the House of Commons Mr M'Kinnon Wood, in moving the second reading of the Naval Prize Bill, said: "If wo refuse to ratify it we shall run the risk of having food declared absolute contraband. We should have,to build moro Dreadnoughts, and there would be an end of the hope of limitation of armaments." He attached great importance- to tlio oversea dominions' Prinio Ministers' approval of the Declaration in its broad aspects. Mr Wood added sarcastically that their opponents said much Ices about the opinions of the Dominions' representatives since- their approval had been gained for the Declaration. Amid cheers and counter-cheers ho deprecated the use of the dominions as pawns in the party game. It was impossible to defer ratification until a'Royal Commission had confirmed the Declaration. He added that Admiral Wilson and Admiral FisheT and four previous Directors of Naval Intelligence favoured tho Declaration, and their opinions carried more weight than thesa of Assenting Admirals. Sir R. B. Finlay, K.C., derided the notion that the Declaration of London would end tho competition of armaments. The proposed constitution of the Prize Court was outrageous. Incompletely surrendered British principles on questions of contraband and the destruction of neutrals. Though Great Britain had tho support of America and Japan, article 20 was simply <an adoption of the German draft. Ratification of the Declaration would be a national calamity. The Government has granted an additional day for the Prisw Bill debate, but hopes to terminate it on Monday. Th'<> First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr" M'Kenna, said the Declaration did not Ibind Great Britain in the slightest as regards allowing belligerent rights to merchantmen which were converted into cruisers on the high seas. The court had no jurisdiction as between belligerents. J'he Declaration affected neutrals atone. Be added: "If wo were at war with, a Power which had converted her merchantmen into warships on tho sea, then Ave should bo free to deal with those merchantmen as before the signing of the Declaration "