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No. 55. New Zealand, No. 359. My Lord, — Downing Street, 25th August, 1914. With reference to my despatch, No. 387, of the 3rd October, 1913, I have the honour to request Your Excellency to inform your Ministers that the ratification of the King of the Belgians of the International Convention for the Suppression of the White Slave Traffic of the 4th May, 1910, was deposited in the archives of the French Government on the 30th July last. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, G.C.M.G., M.V.0., &c.

No. 56. New Zealand, No. 371. My Lord, — Downing Street, 28th August, 1914. With reference to my telegram of the 19th instant, I have the honour to request Your Excellency to inform your Ministers that His Majesty's Government referred to the Law Officers of the Crown the question of the jurisdiction of Prize Courts over enemy ships which were liable merely to detention under the provisions of the Hague Convention, No. VI, of 1907. 2. The advice of the Law Officers of the Crown is that it is clear from such cases as Lindo v. Rodney (2 Douglas 613) that British Prize Courts have been accustomed to exercise jurisdiction in respect of ships of the enemy found in British ports at the outbreak of war, the reason for such jurisdiction being that such ships are dealt with under the exercise of the jus belli. No change has been made in the jurisdiction of the Prize Courts, and all that has been effected by the Hague Convention, No. VI, of 1907, is that the parties to that Convention have agreed upon a less rigorous method of treatment of such vessels than was formerly in vogue. The jurisdiction of the Prize Court is not affected, and the result of the Convention is merely to vary the order which the Prize Court will make. Tn the opinion, therefore, of the Law Officers the British Prize Courts have jurisdiction to deal with such vessels, and should exercise their jurisdiction by making orders for detention in the manner contemplated in Order XXVIII of the new British Prize Court Rules. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, G.C.M.G., M.V.0., Ac.

No. 57. New Zealand, No. 379. My Lord, — Downing Street, 4th September, 1914. With reference to my despatch, No. 336, of the 6th August, I have the honour to transmit to Your Excellency, for the information of your Ministers, copies of an explanatory memorandum (as revised the 25th August) issued by the War Risks Insurance Office regarding cargo insurances. I have, &c, l. harcourt. Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, G.C.M.G., M.V.0., &c,

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