THE HAGUE CONVENTION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIC, Issue 13332, 8 July 1907, Page 5

THE HAGUE CONVENTION.

ON THE SEA. Press Association-ByTelegraph-Copyright Received 4.18 p.m., July 7th. THE HAGUE, July 6. 8 At' the Hague Convention, the fourth committee discussed America's proposal in favour of general • inviolability of private property at sea. " ••■'■•■-?•■•••■■ Gemrany ■ was, prepared to support the. principle of immunity if means' were proposed ensuring' that protection would be efficacious.', Holland,/ Norway, Greece, the Argentine and other smaller States supported America. Sir Edward Satow,' formerly British Minister at Pjekin, argired that the question of immunity of belligerents' property and limitation of the- jright of commercial blockades were inseparably connected. Britain'did not consider ."the movement iu favour of the ' ideal'' object', the abandonmeu or war, sufficiently devejoped to enable her to associate herself with the doctrine of immunity'"of' privsitev property. Britain's desire" to sesi the ''lnterests of neutrals respected had Jed her to propose the abolition' Of contraband.

The Frertch delegates argued that th> capture of an 'Enemy's; commerce was far less inhuman than many methods of land \yaTfafe. ' :'■ ' tTlii 1 ' Russian representatives thought that the question was not ripe for decision without further consideration. The matter was finally adjourned. The second committee discussed France's proposal in favour of formal 'declaration of war before opening hostilities. The' Dutch ; delegates proposed that an interval of at least 24 hours .should elapse between a: declaration of war and an outbreak of hostilities. ' ' ; -. Russia and -Germany supported the French proposal, but a, decision was postponed on the British, American and Japanese representatives making reservations regarding the principle involved. THE AUCKLAND ASSOCIATION. ' ■'-.' Per Press Association. - AUCKLAND, July 6 Tha Auckland Peace Association passed a resolution asking the.Government o; New 'Zealand to suggest to the Imper'a? Government that I negotiations should -toe opened with the Powers, interested, to d-f----clare'/as' neutral ground the earth's surface' hvithin the boundaries of -the- Pacis;s Ocean, or such' part .'thereof as might be defined' by mutual agreement.