THE BRITISH BLOCKADE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2830, 22 July 1916, Page 9

THE BRITISH BLOCKADE

AND THE DECLARATION OF LONDON OUR NEW SEA LAW • A Gazette Extraordinary just issued notifies that the King has issued an Order-in-Council, which states that whereas in 1914 he declared that during the present hostilities the provisions of the Declaration of London should, subject to certain' additions and modifications specified, be adopted and put in force by his Government, which provisions had since been modified from time to time, and whereas the orders of modification may have given rise to 6ome doubt as to the intention <of His Majesty as also as to that of his Allies to act in strict accordance with-the law of nations. It. is, therefore, considered expedient to withdraw the orders 60 far as they are now in force. His . Majesty, .therefore, orders that the Order-in-Council of 1914 should be withdrawn, and declares that it is and always has been, his intention (as it is and has -been that of his Allies) to exercise his belligerent rights at sea in strict accordance, with the law of nations. As 'on account of the'changed conditions of commerce and. the diversity of practice, doubts might arise in certain-matters as-to the rules which His Majesty, and his Allies regard as being in conformity with the law of nations, it is, therefore, expedient to deal with such matters specifically, and it is ordered:-that • the" - following provisions shall be observed.

. (a). The hostile destination required for the condemnation, of contraband articles shall, be presumed to exist until the contrary is" shown,' if the goods are consigned to or for an enemy authority or an agent of the enemy State, or to or for a person in territory belonging to or occupied by the enemy, or to or for a person who during the present hostilities has forwarded contraband goods to an enemy authority or nn agent of the enemy State, or to or for a person in territory belonging to or occupied by the enemy, or if the goods are consigned to order, or if the ship's papers do not show who is the real consignee of the goods. (b) The principle of continuous voyage or ultimate destination .shall be applicable both in cases of contraband and of blockade. "

(c) A nentral vessel carrying contraband with papers indicating a neutral destination which, notwithstanding the destination shown on the papers.'proceeds to an enemy port, shall be liable to capture and condemnation if she is encountered before tie end of : her next voyage. (d) A vessel carrying contraband shall be liable to oapture and condemnation if the contraband reckoned either by value, weight, volume, or freight forms more than half the cargo.

And it is, hereby further ordered as follows:— "

(1) Nothing herein shall be deemed to affect the Order-in-Council of the elawnth of March, one thousand nine hundred and fifteen, for restricting further the commerce of the enemy or any of His Majesty's proclamations declaring articles to be contraband of war during the present hostilities.

(2) Nothing herein shall affect the validity of anything • done under the Orders-in-Council hereby withdrawn.

(3) Any cause or proceeding commenced in any Prize. Court before the making of this Ordei'may, if the Court thinks just, be heard and decided under the provisions of the Orders hereby withdrawn so far as they were in force at Ihe date when such cause or proceeding was commenced, or would have been applicable iu such cause or proceeding if this Order had not been made.