The Declaration of London

Horowhenua Chronicle, 20 September 1916, Page 2

The Declaration of London

o,— ■. TOTAL A BANDONMENT. "Westminster. June 28. The sitting of the Holiest l of Commons opened to-day with the welcome announcement by Lord ißobert Cecil of the total abandonment of the (Declaration of London. He announced that the chief purpose of the conferences which he recently attended in Paris was to consider whether it was desirable for tlie Allies to continue their partial adoption and enforcement of the Declaration of London. The British and French Governments had decided in the negative, and lie hoped, that the other Allied Governments would concur in this decision. In due course a joint statement will bo issued explaining the reasons for this step,. Lord Robert Cecil further explained that he had discussed with the French Government various minor matters connected with the blockade, in order that the naval operations of the Allies should be co-ordinated to the utmost possible extent. N ORIGIN OF THE DECLARATION. The Declaration of London was the name given to a code drawn up in 1900 by the Powers for the use of an International Prize Court at The Hague. The Hague Conference of 1907 had determined on an International Prize Court, but did not isettle the code of maritime law to be administered in it. Great Britain subsequently invited the Power to a conference to settle the law to. be administered, and a code was drawn up. In this country great objections were, taken to the Declaration as tending to destroy the maritime power of Great Britain, with the result that the Naval Prize Bill, which authorized the Declaration and the establishment of an International Court, so far as Great Brita'n was concerned, and had been passed by the House of Commons, was thrown out by the House of Lords. At the opening of the War the Government adopted the rules of'the Declaration. subject to certain conditions and modifications and additions, as a working code of prize law. in spite of its history. The result has been end-le-s confusion. I