A SAFETY BELT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23940, 16 October 1939, Page 7

A SAFETY BELT

TERRITORIAL WATERS REPUBLICS OF AMERICA IMPORTANT DECISIONS (British Official Wireless) (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegrahp—Copyright) RUGBY, Oct. 13. Interest has been aroused in naval circles in London by unofficial reports received of important decisions reached at the Panama Conference of the Republics of America to the effect that a neutral or safety zone of variously stated decths from the coast is to be established.; It is understood that the zone if in no way intended as extension of territorial waters, but belligerents are to be invited to accept the limitation 'of their operations which would be involved by the scheme.

This way of proceeding, it is agreed among experts here, is clearly the wisest, since, while belligerents, and particularly the Allies, may be anxious to assist all neutral countries in keeping war from the proximity of their coasts, it must be for them to decide whether or not to accept restrictions which would limit their enjoyment of certain well-established rights. On the other hand, neutral States are entitled, and bound to demand, that belligerents shall abstain from hostilities in their territorial waters, and it is not a hostile act if a neutral repels, even by force, an attack upon his neutrality.

During the Great War Norway, Sweden, Spain and Holland forbade belligerents’ submarines to enter their territorial waters except in case of distress.

Movements of Foreign Ships

Authorities on naval history point out that in olden times many extravagant claims were put forward by various nations concerning the limit of their territorial waters, but since those days such claims have been drastically modified, and it is now generally recognised that no country can properly claim jurisdiction over, large areas of ocean, nor the right to control or exclude the movements of foreign ships on the high seas. This applies equally to belligerents’ operations, though a belligerent can, of course, restrict his operations of his own free will if he so wishes.

Since the Great War the importance of the limit of territorial waters had been brought to the notice of the public in several ways, among others by reason of the National Prohibition Act of America. Resulting from a discussion with Great Britain an agreement was reached at Washington in 1924 whereby the United States was given the right to board and examine any British vessel suspected of being engaged in liquor smuggling at a distance from the coast that could be traversed by that vessel in one hour. By the same agreement Britain and America declared their firm intention to uphold the principle that three marine miles extending from the coastline Outwards and measured from low water mark, should constitute the proper limits of territorial waters. Similar agreements weresubsequently entered into by America with Germany and Sweden. Certain bays, straits and canals have from time to time been the subject of a special'international agreement, so that when the questions of jurisdiction and sovereignty arise careful reference must be made to any agreements applicable to a particular case. The width of the general belt of territorial waters is now widely accepted as being three miles. POLISH DESTROYERS ASSISTING BRITISH PATROLS LONDON, Oct. 13. A high authority revealed that three Polish destroyers—namely, the Blyskawica, the Grom and the Bruza —have been co-operating with the Royal Navy since the outbreak of war in the English Channel patrols, and are doing extraordinarily good work. The fighting spirit of the personnel is of the highest. JUGOSLAVIA AND GERMANY NEW TRADE AGREEMENT PARIS, Oct. 14. (Received Oct. 15, at 11 p.nv.) The radio reports that Jugoslavia and Germany signed a new trade agreement under which the volume of trade will be 40 per cent, lower than hitherto.