DECLARATION OF LONDON.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1115, 1 May 1911, Page 5

DECLARATION OF LONDON.

9 "DISTINCTLY UNFAVOURABLE TO BRITAIN." By Tclceraon—Press Association—Oopyricht (Rec. April 30, 5.5 p.m). London, April 29. Professor Hovgaard, a Danish officer, and Professor of Naval Architecture, declares that the Declaration of London is distinctly unfavourable to Britain. By reason of her geographical position, Germany is able to obtain food supplies by land or sea. The vaguo definition of article thirty-four hampers England's food supplies enormously. English shipping in war 1 time would be seriously disturbed, whilo German trade in the Baltic and Danish waters could be carried on as in peace time. ARTICLE 31. Article 31 of the Declaration of London reads as follows: — "Tho destination referred to in Article 33 is presumed to exist if the goods are consigned to enemy authorities, or to a contractor established in the enemy country who, as a matter of common knowledge, supplies articles of this kind to the enemy. A similar presumption arises if the goods are- consigned to a fortified place serving as a bnso for the armed forces of tho enemy. No tuch presumption, however, arises in the case of a merchant vessel bound for one of these places, if it is sought to prove that she herself is contrahand, lu cases where the above presumptions do not arise, the destination is presumed to be innocent. The presumptions set up by this article may be rebutted."