Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-12-02
Earl Of Portsmouth Takes
Sharp Slap at Alleged Poll
icy Proposed by Lord Read
ing in America
DECLARATION OF LONDON
is MERELY ADVISORY
No Reason Why Decisions of
Prize Courts Should Not Be
Reviewed by International
Tribunal,


London. Dec. [ t6.0I p m1--Wita|
a view TO elicitlng the exact position
of Great Britain With regard TO the
declaration of London and To denying
or confirming reports that Lord Read
ing had made AN arrangement with
the United States for 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 fan back ON the old sea
laws Of our ancestors, which gave
them victory 2 lie added
Would Consider War only.
"The country wants to get rid Of
all this rubbish--thc declaration OF
London and The Hague convention
we want To sweep away all judicial
niceties and win this war by placing
British interests ana the interests q.
our allies as the only interests, first
and supreme
In reply, the Marquis of LlnsdoWnc,
minister without portfolio u The
British cabinet said
THE declaration of London has no
International validity and adoption "
u, 1t' H. H., .u,,o,,.. m. crentio, IN nm
,atarn,tiana, ,ri,nnot W. ho,rodont.
,''t "a ,,,a Ioa,a,,,ia, nriy ,,i,h y.r,, con.
siderable ana important modiiica-
tions. ANA wt adopted it only par
-, ,'',, '
~ ,
N't""SVhp''' WIN ''"
Regarding the reported 'IDl.s'
mens win the niled states lho MoI
quis OF LansdoWne referred to tne
communication ol SIT huWaIu NI'l'
the foreign secretary on july "l' ias''
stating that it was open To Naa"lHs
ton to claim that disputes IN feBaru
TO the decisions ot prize courts shuulu
be submitted FOR review hy an lnle'-
national tribunal and remarked tna'
Sir Edward Greys statement ohly
committed Great britain to Ieho' 7
to arbitration as proper means TOT
the settlement OF disputes as pIoNlo'u
in the arbitration treaty 'ohe'uueu
with the United states last year.
Guidance Necessary
Lord lansdoWne pointed out that
England was fiBhting IN co-operaloh
with her allies ana that uniformity lh
the conduct of naval warfare was en-
inently desirable. il was mo- less ac-
sirable that the prize courts OF the al
lies should have some principle laid
down for their guidance. The decla-
ration Of London was ready to hand
and was the only aVailabic summary
of views held by a great number OIL
people In regard To these questions
and II was therefore, adopted win
modification.
There were a great many questions
said the minister which would nave
TO be discussed Mter the war ana
freedom of the seas might be dls-
eussod like the others.
Right Principles TO Control
As to Sir Edward Grcys oiier. OF
July 81, to refer disputes to arhitra-
tion Lord Lansdowne said.
THAT doctrine, to which no sane
citizen Of this country could object mi
principle, could be defended ON the
ground that il was wrong In the order
to ask any neutral to agree to accept
in principle that the last word was
60 be said by thc prize court ot "a bel
ligerent power In a matter which
might have arisen outside the iuls-
diction Of the belligerent.
Approves Arbitration
81 80 further and say that In all
such eases where thorc has been fail
ure 70 obtain % satisfactory solution
through the law courts, and where di-
plomacy has been unable 70 arrive at
AN adjustment IL is right aud re7son-l
able that the principle Of arbitration
roopi,nd ans, ,nnfirn,otinr If is ~ b4