THINGS LEFT UNDONE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 4, 30 September 1907, Page 5

THINGS LEFT UNDONE.

HAGUE CONFERENCE. , CRITICISM OF BRITISH ■! MOTIVES. SUBMARINE MINES. (Received Sept. 28, 4.12 p.m.) Tho Hague, September 2S. A plenary sitting of tho Peaco Conference approved drafts of conventions rolating to the treatment, when captured, of an onemy's merchantmen and crews; also exempting from capture coastal fishing boats. Tho Conference is unable to agree regarding the question whether merchantmen may bp converted into warships on tho high, seas, but approved ?, regulation partly dealing with the general question of conversion ol vessels into warships. The Powers are urged by the Conference to apply to naval warfare, a 5 far as possible, tho principles of the convention of 189'J covering land warfare. Lack of time prevented agreement on the question ot contraband, also on tho inviolability or an enemy's private property at sea and tho destruction of neutral prizes. The Hague, September 27. A committee has rejected British attempts to adequately rogulato submarine mines, and lias adopted a form of regulation highly unsatisfactory to shipping interests.

London, Septombor 28. .."Tlio Times," referring to the lague Convention, complains of tho hylocrisy of tho tactics employed to defeat Britain's submarine mines proposals Thoro has been, it is stated, a conitant insinuation that Britain i: .lolfishly desirous to securo, by restrictions in the use of submarine mines tho safety of her ocean trade, an: :hat she further desires to deprive imallor Powers of a cheap weapon j: dcfonce.