Arizona republican., 1915-12-02
CRepubIioan A. p. Leased Wirel

LONDON, Dec. With a view to ,lioiting the exact position of Great Britain with regard to the Declaration OF London. and to denying or confirm ing reports that Lord Reading had made an arrangement with the United States for the reference of claims to an international tribunal the Earl of Portsmouth speaking in the house of lords today. asked;
 "If the Declaration of London is not in force, why in heavens name could We not fall back on the old sea laws of our ancestors, which gave them vic tory" He added: The country wants lo get rid of all this rubbish-the Dec Iar9tion of London and The Hague convention. We want to sweep away m judicial niceties and win this war hv placing British interests and the interests of our allies as the only inter ests. first and supreme"
 In reply, the Marquis of LansdOwne, minister without portfolio in the Brit ish cabinet. said:
 The Declaration of London has no in ternational validity and the adoption of the declaration by an order-in- council does not involve the creation uf an international tribune. We have adopted the declaration only with very considerable and important modifica- lions. and We adopted it only partially and for the guidance of our own courts"
 Regarding the proposed arrange ment with the United States, the Mar auis of Lansdowne referred to the com munication of Sir Edward Gres-. the l.- ing that it was open to Washington to claim that disputes in regard to the de- cisions or prize courts should be sub mittel for review by an international tribunal. and remarked that Sir Ed : ward Crey's statement only committed Great Britain to a resort to arbitra- uou as proper means for the settle ments Of disputes as provided in the arbitration treaty concluded with the United States last year.
 Lord Lansdowne pointed out that Euclard was fighting in cooperation with her allies and that uniformity in the conduct of naval warfare was ominentlv desirable It was no less de- eirable that the prize courts of the allies should have some principle laid down for their guidance. The Declara tion of London was ready to hand and was the only available summary of views held by great number of peo- rle in regard to these questions. and it Was, therefore, adopted with modi- fcauon-
 There were a great many questions. said the minister. which would have to be discussed after the war, and free dom of the seas might be discussed like the others. He did not call to mind any statement by Sir Edward Gray that he Was prepared to commit the Io-erument with regard to the ques- ton oT the freedom of the seas.
 As to Sir Edward Grey's offer of July 2l- to refer disputes to arbitration, Lord Lansdowne said:
 That doctrine to which no sane citizen Of this country could object in r~inciple. could be defended on the cround that it was wrong in the order .o ask any neutral to agree to accept ir principle tEat the last word was to he said by the prize court of a belligar- cnt power in a matter which might have arisen outside the jurisdiction of The Aelligerent.
 T go further and say that in all such eases where there has been failure to obtain a satisfactory solution through The law courts and where diplomacy has been unable to arrive at an adjust ment. it is right and reasonable that the principle of arbitration should be contemplated. Ii that view required any confirmation. it is to be found in the arbitration treaty concluded with The United States last year. and hay ing agreed to the unreserved submis- sion Of disputes of all kinds o-consti- tuition by a commission, as set out in rhal treaty. it seems 10 me it would he Illogical to decline to look to arbi- traitor if there was failure to arrive at an adjustment regarding the decision or 8m prize courts.
 Lord Lansdowne said with reference Co he report that Baron Reading, the lord chief justice had discussed the matter when in the United States.
 ~If am asked whether Lord Read ing in private conversation had dis cuSsed these questions with people whom he met. l am unable to say, and a ! did know I should not think il my duty to inform the house.
 Fhe order-in council of March H. aimed at preventing commodities ol any kind from reaching or leaving GeTmany during the war-Lord Lans- downe declared had greatly strength oned the hands of the government anC it was impossible to suggest that i had weakened the countrys position. | yhe Carl of Portsmouth would pay 2 little attention to the reports from al sides as to the economical pressure from which Germany was suffering, ht