TO PROMOTE PEACE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8858, 8 July 1907, Page 2

TO PROMOTE PEACE.

Per Press Association.—Copyright, £ The Hague, July 6.

At tlie Peace Convention the fourth committee discussed America’s proposal in favor of the general inviolability of property at sea. Germany was prepared to support the principle of immunity if the means proposed ensured that protection would be efficacious.

Holland, Norway, Greece, the Argentine, ana other smaller States supported America’s proposal. „ Sir Ernest Satow, formerly British Minister at Pekin, argued that the question of immunity of belligerents’ property and the limitation of the right of commercial blockades were inseparably connected.

Great Britain did not consider the movement with favour or the ideal object of abolition of war sufficiently, developed to enable her to associate herself with the doctrine of immunity of private property. Britain’s desire to soo tho interests of neutrals respected had led her to make tho proposal of tho abolition of contraband.

Tho French delegates argued that the capture of the enemy’s commerce was far less inhuman than many methods adopted in land warfare.

Russia's representative thought that the question was not ripe for decision and that further consideration of the matter was necessary. This was finally adopted. The second Gqmjnitteo discussed France’s proposal ip favour of formal declaration .ol wqr before opening hostilities.

The Dutch delegates proposed that an nterval of at,least 2*l hours should e lapse between tho declaration of war and outbreak of hostilities.

Russia aud Germany supported the French proposal, but decision was postponed on the British, American and Japanese representatives making resarya* tions regarding the principle.