One would have supposed it to be notorious that the facts which distinguish the one case from the other are, first, that the capture of the _Malacca_ was effected by a vessel not entitled to exercise belligerent rights; and, secondly, that Great Britain is prepared to claim the incriminated cargo as belonging to the British Government. Capture by an unqualified cruiser is so sufficient a ground for a claim of restoration and compensation that, except perhaps as facilitating the retreat of Russia from a false position, it would seem, to say the least, superfluous to pray in aid any other reason for the cancellation of an act unlawful _ab initio._ I have not noticed any statement as to the actual constitution of the prize Court concerned in the condemnation of the _Allanton._ Under Rule 54 of the Russian Naval Regulations of 1895, a "Port Prize Court" must, for a decree of confiscation, consist of six members, of whom three must be officials of the Ministries of Marine, Justice, and Foreign Affairs respectively. An "Admirals' Prize Court," for the same purpose, need consist of only four members, all of whom are naval officers. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, T. E. HOLLAND. Oxford, July 25 (1904). _(Note upon the Declaration of London)_ The British delegates to The Hague Conference of 1907 were instructed that H.M. Government "are ready and willing for their part, in lieu of endeavouring to frame new and more satisfactory rules for the prevention of contraband trade in the future, to abandon the principle of contraband of war altogether, thus allowing the oversea trade in neutral vessels between belligerents on the one hand and neutrals on the other, to continue during war without any restriction," except with reference to blockades. This proposal, fortunately, was not accepted by the Conference, which was unable even to agree upon lists of contraband articles, and recommended that the question should be further considered by the Governments concerned, _Parl. Paper, Miscell._ No. 1 (1908), p. 194. This task was accordingly among those undertaken at the Conference of Maritime Powers held in London in 1908-1909, which resulted in a Declaration, Arts. 22-44 of which constituted a fairly complete code of the law of contraband. Reference has already been made, in comments upon letters comprised in previous sections, to this Declaration, the demerits and history of which are more fully dealt with in section 10, _infra_, pp. 196-207. * * * * * SECTION 6 _Methods of Warfare as affecting Neutrals_ _(Mines)_