PEACE CONVENTION

Otago Witness, Issue 2785, 31 July 1907, Page 31

PEACE CONVENTION

i-i COLLECTION OF DEBTS. THE ABOLITION OF OONTRAB^ND. DUTIES OF NEUTBALS^IN NAVAL WARFARE. ' " COLLECTION OF DEBTS. THE HAGUE, July 25. Great Britain and Germany support the United States' proposal for the collection of contractual debts, which, is regarded as a, lees extreme measure than the Drago Doctrine. Lord Reay explained before the Fourth Committee the motives inducing Great Britain to advocate the abolition of contraband, laying stress on the fact of the complications resulting from capture becoming so dangerous that they were not compensated by any real utility. There is, however, little prospect of Great Britain's proposal being adopted owing to German and Japanese opposition. .. July 28. At the Peace Convention the Third Committee discussed- the British proposal dealing with the duties and obligation* of neutrals in naval warfare. Sir Ernest Satow explained that Great Britain desired to establish a uniform rate for the treatment of belligerents, in neutral ports and waters. He wished to avoid friction, and to assure impartiality. The debate was adjourned. The first sub-commiUee- of the First Committee adopted by 37 votes to- 7 the proposal submitted by the United States regarding the collection of debts. The Drago Doctrine is a proposition which the South American Republics seek to establish as a part of international law. It is to the effect that no monetary claim due to a subject of a foreign Power shall be collected by force employed by that Power. The doctrine was formulated in the Argentine Republic t>y Senor Carlos Calvo, a well-known jurist, and enunciated by Dr Luis. Drago, Minister of Foredgn Affairs, at the time when Great Britain, Italy, aJid Germany, with the concurrence of the United States Government, were blockading a Venezuelan port for the purpose of collecting certain debts.