PRIVATE CONTRACTS IN WAR TIME.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1872, 4 October 1913, Page 5

PRIVATE CONTRACTS IN WAR TIME.

' ♦ UNDERWRITERS' POINT OF VIEW. By Teleifraph—Press Association—Oosyrirht (Reo. 3, 10.15 p.m.) Madrid, October 8. The International Law Awoointion Conference has discussed the effect of war om private contracts. An interesting point was raised on S!t Edward Beauchamp's declaration at tho last International Conference on Maritime Law at in May last —that the English underwriters would execute their liabilities without discrimination with regard to policies underwritten before or after tho declaration of war. Mr. Leslie Scott, M.P. (Liverpool), said that Sir Edward Beauchamp expressed ' the commercial view, but he questioned whether it afforded a solution. If the loss were occasioned by a capture, effected by a British cruiser, were the British underwriters prepared to make good an enemy's losses infliotod by tho British Navy? Herr Scivokina;, a Gorman delegate, doubted the validity of an agreement whereby tho underwriters waived their right to raise the defence that tho plaintiff was an alien enemy, but saw no reason why the payment of marine polioies should not bo mado at the conclusion of peace. A committ-eo was appointed to in-, vestigate tho matter.