International Law by Wheaton's Elements
International Law by Wheaton's Elements
International Law by Wheaton's Elements
WHEATON'S ELEMENTS
INTERNATIONAL LAW
appeared in 190If.
WHEATON'S ELEMENTS
OF
INTERNATIONAL LAW.
FIFTH ENGLISH EDITION,
BY
WITH AN INTRODUCTION
BY
The Rt. Hon. SIR FREDERICK POLLOCK, Bt., D.C.L., LL.D.,
LONDON :
1916.
si4^s<r-2?s?
(
V )
PREFACE
TO THE FIFTH ENGLISH EDITION.
713803
vi PREFACE TO THE FIFTH ENGLISH EDITION.
In conclusion, it
may be said that, by reason of the
large quantity of new matter added — which amounts,
—
indeed, to more than 200 pages and the great number
of alterations made, the present editor ought perhaps to
be regarded as a co-author of this edition of the book,
rather than as an editor in the usual sense of the term.
COLEMAN PHILLIPSON
Inner Temple,
October, 1915.
ix )
CONTENTS,
PAGE
Preface to Fifth English Edition v
Index of Cases Cited xxvii
Introduction xxxix
PART FIRST.
DEFINITION, SOURCES, AND SUBJECTS OF INTER-
NATIONAL LAW.
CHAPTER I.
Natural law 2
Natural law and Divine law 2
Natural law and intercourse of States 3
Law of nations and natural law —view of Grotius 3
—view of Hobbes and Pufendorf 5
Law of nations and reason and usage —view of Byn^kershoek... 6
—
Systeni of Wolf presumed consent 8
Difference between Wolf and Grotius as to origin of the volun-
System of Heffter 12
Distinction between public and private international law 13
Is there a universal law of nations ? 14
Jus and lex 15
Is international law true law ? 15
Opinion of Savigny 18
International status of non-Christian nations 19
Definition of international law 22
Sources and evidences of international law 22
(1) Writings of jurists 22
Authority of text- writers 22
X CONTENTS.
PAGE
Sources and evidences of international law — continued.
(2) Treaties 24
(3) Ordinances and other municipal acts 25
Marine ordinances 26
Courts of Admiralty 27
International law and mimicdpal law 27
(4) Decisions of Courts 29
(5) Official legal opinions 29
Official manuals of warfare 30
(6) Records of international transactions 31
CHAPTER II.
PAGE
The Papacy 56
The former Germanic Empire and Confederation 57
Egypt 57
Status before the British occupation 57
Status after the British occupation 58
A
British protectorate 62
Position of Cuba 63
Tributary and vassal States 64
The Barbary States 64
North American Indians 66
Certain Asiatic States 68
Protected States in India 69
Single and united States 69
' ' ' *
Personal and real unions 70
' '
Incorporate unions 72
Anomalous unions 72
Federal unions 73
' '
Staatenbund 73
' '
Bundesstaat 74
Germanic Confederation 74
The German Empire 79
The United States of America 80
The Swiss Confederation 84
PART SECOND.
ABSOLUTE INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS OF STATES.
CHAPTER I.
PAGE
—
Right of intervention continued.
War between Spain and her American colonies 96
The Monroe Doctrine 97
British interference in the affairs of Portugal, 1826 101
The European Powers and Greece 102
The European Powers and Turkey 105
The Eastern Question 107
The European Powers and the Belgic Revolution of 1830... 122
Intervention in Mexico, 1861 123
The French garrison in Rome 124
Independence as to internal government 125
Mediation for settling internal dissensions 125
Treaties of mediation and guarantee 125
Proposed mediation in the American Civil War 126
Independence as to choice of rulers 126
Exceptions arising out of compact or other just right of inter-
vention 127
Quadruple alliance of 1834, and the Spanish Peninsula 127
CHAPTER II.
PAGE
Extra-territorial operation of municipal law —continued.
Proceedings; lex fori 151
Foreign Sovereign, ambassador, army, or fleet abroad 151
Position of public vessels 152
Distinction between public and private vessels 157
Other property of foreign Sovereigns 161
Suits by foreign Sovereigns 162
Merchant vessels and the local jurisdiction —French law ... 163
Doctrine of extra-territoriality 165
Merchant vessels in foreign ports 168
Exceptions to exemption of public vessels 170
Jurisdiction over vessels on the high seas 172
Former i'mpressment of seamen 1 73
PAGE
—
Independence of the State as to its judicial power continued.
Extent of the judicial power over resident aliens 228
Anglo-American law 229
French law 229
Proceedings against absent parties 230
Rule of decision and of procedure in contracts 230
Bankruptcy 231
"Wrongs comlmitted abroad 232
—
Contracts obligation and form 233
Foreign judgments in personal actions 234
English, American, and French law 234
Foreign divorces 236
The matrimonial domicile 237
CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER IV.
Rights of Equality.
PAGE
Legal equality of States 261
Equality modified by compact and usage 261
Royal honours 262
Precedence among princes and States 262
The great Republics 263
Monarchs not crowned and semi-sovereigns 263
' '
CHAPTER V.
Rights of Property.
PAGE
Eight of fishery 287
Convention between Great Britain and France 287
Conventions between Great Britain and United States 287
Later fishery disputes between Great Britain and United
States 290
Fishery dispute between Great Britain and France 291
Claims to other portions of the sea 291
Straits 292
The Black Sea, the Bosphorus, and the Dardanelles 292
The Sound and the Belts 295
The Baltic Sea 297
Controversy as to dominion of the seas 298
The Behring Sea dispute 300
Territorial waters 302
Ports,mouths of rivers, etc 302
The marine league 303
Straits and Sounds 303
The Dardanelles 304
Rivers 305
National rivers ; 305
International rivers —^innocent passage and use of banks ... 306
Modification of rights by compact 307
The Scheldt tolls 307
Treaty of Vienna ajs to the great European rivers 308
The Danube— various treaties 308
The Rhine 310
The Mississippi 312
Claim of the United States 312
The St. Lawrence 315
Anglo-American controversy 316
Treaties 319
African rivers 320
International canals 320
Suez Canal 321
Panama Canal 324
CONTENTS. XVll
PART THIRD.
INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS OF STATES IN THEIR
PACIFIC RELATIONS.
CHAPTER I.
Rights of Legation.
PAGE
Permanent diplomatic missions 329
Right to send and obligation to receive public ministers 329
To what States rights of legation belong 330
Effect of civil war or contest for the sovereignty 330
Communication with rebels 331
Conditional reception of foreign ministers 331
Classification of public ministers 332
Diplomatic precedence 333
Letters of credence 335
Full power 336
Instructions 336
Passport 336
Duties of a public minister on arriving at his post 337
Audience of the Sovereign or chief magistrate 337
Diplomatic etiquette 337
Privileges of a public minister 338
Inviolability and exterritoriality 338
Exemption from the local jurisdiction 339
Exceptions^ 340
Instances of expulsion of ambassadors 343
Exemption extends to house, property, family, and suite... 346
Public minister passing through the territory of a State other
than that to which he is accredited 349
Consuls —position and privileges 352
Termination of public mission 354
Letter of recall 355
CHAPTER II.
PAGE
When refusal to ratify is justified 363
When begin to bind
treaties 364
The treaty-making power dependent on municipal law 365
How far auxiliary legislation necessary to the validity of a treaty. 365
American Courts on commencement pi treaties 366
Freedom of consent and validity of treaties 367
Kinds of international compacts 368
Transitory, dispositive, or executed conventions 368
Executory conventions (fcedera) 368
Transitory conventions perpetual 368
Effect of war—Anglo-American controversy 369
Executory conventions
—when they expire 377
Eevival of treaties 378
Treaties of guaranty 378
Treaties of alliance 380
Kinds and examples 380
Casus foederis of the alliance 386
Kecent examples of operation 388
Hostages for the execution of treaties 389
Interpretation of treaties 389
Eules for interpretation 389
Mediation 390
International arbitration 391
Arbitration treaties 392
Instances of arbitration prior to the Hague Conference 393
The Hague Peace Conference, 1899 : Convention for the
pacific settlement of international disputes 395
The Hague Peace Conference, 1907 Eevised and enlarged
:
PART FOURTH.
INTEENATIONAL RIGHTS OF STATES IN THEIR HOSTILE
RELATIONS.
CHAPTER I.
PAGE
Trading with the enemy continued.
—
Debts contracted during the war 439
Contracts with neutrals to be performed in enemy's country 439
Trade of allies with the common enemy 440
AIJ contracts prohibited 441
War or trade domicile 442
Resident aliens liable to reprisals and acts of war 442
Species of residence constituting such domicile 443
Resumption of native character 445-
Meaning of
*
alienenemy
'
—recent cases 463
Locus standi of enemy aliens 465-
CHAPTER II.
PAGE
Prisoners of war —continued.
Release on parole 481
Army followers 482
Bureau of information 483
Relief societies 483
Privileges of prisoners of war 483
The sick and wounded 484
Geneva Conventions 485
Treatment 485
The dead 486
Exchange of information 487
Medical units —extent of protection 488
The personnel 489
The material 491
Convoys of evacuation 491
The Red Cross and flag 492
Application of the Convention 494
Means of injuring the enemy on land 495
Means limited 495
Special prohibitions and —^military necessity
restrictions .... 496
Explosive bullets 498
Expanding bullets 498
Aircraft projectiles 499
Poisonous gases 499
Poisoned weapons 499
Treacherous conduct 500
Ruses of war —use of enemy flag and uniform 501
Quarter 502
Other forbidden weapons 503
Enemy's legal rights and actions 503
Services of enemy subjects 503
Inciting enemy soldiers to desert, etc 503
Treatment of enemy territory 504
Devastation and destruction 504
Sieges and bombardments 507
Spies and espionage 510
Non-hostile intercourse between belligerents 512
Truce or armistice 512
Capitulations for surrender 514
Military occupation 519
Occupation, conquest, and sovereignty 520
Military law and martial law 522
'
War ' *
and war treason
crimes
'
528
Occupation and the local law 529
Exacting unlawful information and oath of allegiance 530
XXll CONTENTS.
PAGE
Military
—
occupation continued.
Family honom* and rights 531
Private property 531
Pillage , 533
Collection of taxes 534
Contributions 534
Requisitions 535
Treatment of property 536
State movable property, military material, etc 536
Things liable to seizure 537
Submarine cables 538
Immovable State property » 5S9
Penalties imposed by the occupant 543
Hostages 544
CHAPTER III.
PAGE
Capture and destruction of prizes 579
Use of false colours 579
Title to property captured 580
How capture is effected 583
Joint capture of prize 584
Destruction of prizes at sea 586
Kansom of captured property 587
Recaptures and salvage 589
Recapture from pirates 589
captor not an enemy 590
enemy 593
Laws of different countries 595
Necessary conditions 600
Prize Courts 604
Their functions 604
Property lying in the ports of an ally 604
Property carried into a neutral port 604
Jurisdiction —how far exclusive 605
Effect of unjust sentence 606
Relation to municipal law 607
Conclusiveness of decisions 613
As municipal tribunals 614
The proposed International Prize Court 616
Naval bombardment 619
The Hague Rules 620
Aerial bombardment 622
Submarine mines 623
The mines Convention 623
Mine-laying in the Great War 627
CHAPTER IV.
PAGE
—
Neutrality in land warfare continued.
Wireless telegraphy stations in neutral territory 641
Export of arms, etc 642
Loans to belligerents 642
Levying of troops on neutral territory 643
Arming and equipping vessels, etc 644
British Foreign Enlistment Act 645
Internment of belligerents, prisoners, wounded 647
Neutral persons 650
Neutral property 658
Neutrality in maritime warfare 563
Fundamental principles 654
Captures within neutral waters 654
Extent of maritime jurisdiction 660
Prize Courts in neutral territory 662
Neutral territory as base of operations 663
Supply of war material, etc 664
Fitting out or arming vessels in neutral territory 666
Neutrality laws of the United States 666
Breaches of American neutrality laws 672
English neutrality laws 674
American Civil War
Violations of, in 675
—
The Geneva arbitration The Alabama, etc 675
Foreign EnKstment Act, and cases under it 681
Belligerent vessels in neutral ports 686
Neutral impartiality 689
Twenty-four hours' stay 690
Repairs in neutral ports 692
Supply of provisions and fuels 693
Prizes in neutral ports 695
Internment of belligerent vessels 697
Neutral commerce and belligerent rights 698
Neutral vessels on the high seas 698
Distinction between public and private vessels 699
Enemy goods on neutral vessels 700
Neutral goods on enemy vessels 700
'
The doctrines free ships free goods,'
'
and enemy ships
enemy goods' 702
Contraband of war 714
Meaning 714
Earlier classification and views 715
Naval stores —how far contraband 716
Articles of promiscuous use 722
Provisions 722
Anglo-American treaty of 1794 —contraband articles ... 724
CONTENTS. XXV
PAGE
Contraband of war —continued.
What goods are contraband 730
Anglo- American practice 730
Classification of contraband goods 732
Contraband trade no breach of neutrality 735
Contraband in Russo-Japanese war 737
The Declaration of London (1909) 738
Absolute contraband 739
Conditional contraband 740
The free list 741
* '
Doctrine of continuous voyage 742
Earlier application 743
Present application 745
Penalty for carrying contraband 751
Effect of ignorance of outbreak of war 753
Unneutral service 754
'Hostile aid' 755
Transport of enemy military persons 757
civil officials 758
despatches 759
Rules of Declaration of London 761
Lesser offences 761
More serious offences 762
Enemy combatants on neutral vessels 764
Neutrals carrying on trade closed to them in time of peace 765
The 'rule of the war of 1756' 765
The law of blockade 767
Views of earlier writers 767
Legal aspect of blockade-running 768
Extent of blockade 7 70
Lnpartiality 771
What constitutes a violation of blockade 772
Presence of blockading force —effectiveness 772
Knowledge of the party notification— 776
Cessation of blockade 782
Act of ingress or egress 784
Intent to violate blockade 785
Duration of the offence 787
Range of capture under Declaration of London 787
' '
Continuous voyage inapplicable 788
Penalty for breach 789
The right of visit and search. Convoy 789
The customary law 790
The Armed NeutraHty of 1800 792
Divergent views 793
Forcible resistance by the master 793
XXVI CONTENTS.
PAGE
The right of visit —
and search. Convoy continued.
Neutral goods in an armed enemy vessel 794
Neutral vessels under enemy's convoy 795
British practice 797
Declaration of London on convoy 798
Destruction of neutral prizes 799
Rules of Declaration of London 800
As to the vessel 800-
the cargo 801
compensation 802
CHAPTEE V.
Treaty of Peace.
APPENDICKS.
A. British and American Foreign Enlistment Acts 8ia
C. Treaty of 844
Washington
D. Anglo-French Agreement, 1904 859-
INDEX 867
INDEX OF CASES CITED.
{This Index includes references not only to judicial cases, but also ta
arbitrations, international and diplomatic incidents — in peace aiid
ivar — relating to ships, persons, States, etc.)
Halley, The (1867), 232, 233. Indian Chief, The (1800), 445, 455.
Hamilton v. Dallas (1875), 245. Industrie, The (1904), 764.
Hampton, The (1866), 575, 577. Ingle V. Continental Insur. Co. of
Hampton v. McConnel (1818), 236. Mannieim (1914), 464.
Hanger v. Abbott (1867), 438, 439. Inglis V. Sailors' Snug Harbour
Hardner v. WoodrufE (1872), 412. (1830), 246, 248.
Hardy, Le v. La Voltigoante International, The (1871), 682.
(1799), 572. Invincible, The (1814), 663.
Harford v. Morris (1776), 148. — (1816), 604, 669.
Harmony, The (1800), 444. Ionian Ships, The (1855), 54.
Harrison v. Sterry (1809), 146. Iowa V. Illinois (1893), 306.
Harvey v. Farnie (1880), 149, 238, Isaacson v. Durant (1886), 248.
239 243
Haver v. Yaker (1869), 367.
Hawksford v. Giffard (1886), 235.
Haycraft v. U. S., 533.
Heathfield v. Chilton (1767), 27. Jack v. Jack (1862), 239.
Heinrich Case (1873), 259. Jacobs V. Credit Lyonnais (1884),
148.
Helen, The (1801), 600.
— (1855), 770.
James Cook, The (1810), 789.
Janson v. Driefontein Mines Co.
Helena, The (1801), 64.
Henderson, Re (1887), 235. (1902), 435, 466.
Henrick and Maria, The (1799), Japanese House Tax Case (1905),
399
604, 663.
The (1906), 161.
Hercules, The (1819), 583. Jassy,'
Herzog, The (1900), 734, 745, 749. Jauncey v. Sealey (1686), 226.
Jecker v. Montgomery (1851), 438,
Hiawatha, The, 772.
Hill V. Good, 149. 603.
Hilton V, Guyot (1894), 24. Jeune Eugenie, La, 213.
Johanna Emilie, The (1854), 558.
Hipsang, The (1904), 800.
Hobbs V. Henniiig (1865), 733. John, The (1818), 584, 808.
V. De Beauchesne John Anderson (1879), 172.
Hodgson (1858),
John Brown Case (1819), 165.
241, 245.
John Gilpin, The (1863), 785.
Hoffnung, The (1805), 783.
Holden v. Joy (1872), 67, 68. John and Jane, The (1802), 601.
Holmes v. Jennison (1840), Johnson v. Mcintosh (1823), 271.
188,
Jonge Klassina, The (1804), 455.
191.
Hoop, The (1799), 427, 428, 441,
— Margaretha, The (1799), 721,
731.
588.
Hope, The (1813), 436.
— Petronella, The (1799), 776.
Horatio, The (1806), 600.
— Pieter, The (1801), 743.
Horizon, The (1807), 593.
— Thomas (1801), 766.
Hornet, The (1870), 674.
— Tobias, The (1799), 731, 751.
Hovt V. Gelston (1818), 41, 645. Joseph, The (18t4), 433.
Huascar, The (1877), 210. Josephine, The (1801), 574, 575.
Hudson V. Guestier (1810), 602, Juffrow Catharina, The (1804), 434,
448.
604, 663.
Hullet V. of Juffrow Maria Schroeder, The
King Spain (1828),
162. (1800), 785, 787.
Huntress, The (1805), 593. Julia, The (1814), 441, 462.
Hurtige Hane, The (1801), 15. Jumeaux, Les (U. S. v. Guinet)
Hyde v. Hyde (1866), 150. (1795), 667, 668.
Jupiter, The (1817), 672.
Justitia, The (1886), 683.
770, 771.
— V, Lynch (1903), 185.
INTRODUCTION
peace.
In Wheaton's Elements we have an exposition of such
w. d
xiil INTRODUCTION.
F. POLLOCK.
Lincoln's Inn,
PAET FIEST.
CHAPTER I.
nations, which determines the law that regulates the reciprocal Law.
relations of States. The origin of this law must be sought in the
principles of justice, applicable to those relations. While in every
civil society or State there is always a legislative power which
As Natural Law
independent communities acknowledge no common buporior,
applied to the
T
,
1 t A'
they may be considered as hvmg
•
p •
-1
m
•
Oentium {d) .
Grotius distinguished the law of nations from the natural law Law of
^ J^ Tfv (»• •• 1-11 Natious dis- TIT •
Tiousiy said, "As the laws of each particular State are designed
to promote its advantage, the consent of all, or at least the greater
number of States, may have produced certain laws between them.
1(2)
DEFINITION AND SOURCES
(k) Senior, Edinburgh Review, No. of the World (London, 1913), i>p. 195
150^ pp. 310, 311. seq.
(I) Hobbes, De Give, cap. xiv. § 4. (m) Pufendorf, De Jure Naturae et
For an Article on Hobbes (by J. E. Gentium (1672), lib. ii. cap. 3, § 23.
G. de Montmorency), see Great .Jurists For an Article on Pufendorf (by
C. Phillipson), see ibid., pp. 305 seq.
DEFINITION AND SOURCES
says thej depend, either upon natural law, which gives to public
ministers a sacred and inviolable character, or upon tacit consent,
as evidenced in the usage of nations, conferring upon them certain
Law of
Bynkershoek (who wrote after Pufendorf, and before Wolf
Nations
derived from and Vattel,) derives the law of nations from reason and usage
reason and
('
ex ratione et usu '), and founds usage on the evidence of treaties
usage by
Bynkershoek. and ordinances ('pacta et edicta'), with the camparison of ex-
amples frequently recurring. In treating of the rights of neutral
(w) The Flad Oyen (1799), 1 0. (o) Wheaton, History of the Law
Rob. 140. of Nations (New York, 1845), p. 96.
OF INTERN ATIOXAL LAW.
"
navigation in time of war, he says, Keason commands me to
be equally friendly to two of my friends who are enemies to each
other; and hence it follows that I am not to prefer either in war.
Usage is shown by the constant, and, as it Avere, perpetual custom
which sovereigns have observed of making treaties and ordinances
upon this subject, for they have often made such regulations by
treaties to be carried into effect in case of Avar, and by laws en-
acted after the commencement of hostilities. I have said 'by,
'
are bound to submit to the natural law itself, and the new la.w
thus introduced, so far as it does not conflict with the natural law,
ought to be considered as the common law of all nations. This
law we have deemed proper with Grotius, though in a
to term,
somewhat voluntary Law of Nations" (/).
stricter sense, the
"
Wolf afterwards says, that the voluntary law of nations
derives its force from the presumed consent of nations, the con-
ventional from their express consent, and the consuetudinary from
their tacit consent" (w).
(s) De Foro Legatorum, cap. xix. {t) Wollius^ Jus Gentium (1749),
§ 6. Pref. § 3.
(«) Wolfius, Prolog. § 25.
OP INTERNATIONAL LAW. 9
rests its obligation upon the general consent of nations, as evi- origin of the
denced in their practice. Wolf, on the other hand, considers it Lawof^^
as a law which nature has imposed upon all mankind as a necessary Nations.
part of his rights to the body of the society, and that there should
exist a supreme authority capable of commanding all the members,
of giving to them law^s, and of punishing those who refuse to obey.
ing upon those States only which have given their tacit consent
to it.
(z) Droit des Gens, Prcliminaires, («) Droit des Gens, Preliminaires,
§§ vi. vii. viii. ix. ^ ix.
P-i DEFINITION AND SOURCES
together the positive law of nations. They proceed from the will
of nations; or (in the words of Wolf) "the voluntary, from their
remedy (e).
Heffter does not admit the term international law ('droit in-
enmity and
of other nations, without exposing to hazard its own
existence. The motive which induces each particular nation to
observe this law depends upon its persuasion that other nations
will observe towards it the same law. The 'jus gentium' is
frequently differ from each other concerning the ideas which they
have formed of international law, and even among us it may be
changed by the lapse of time, of which there are numerous exam-
ples. The basis of international law is natural law, which has
"
been modified according to times and local circumstances (/).
"
Montesquieu, in his Esprit des Lois, says, that every nation has
a law of nations—even the Iroquois, who eat their prisoners, have
OHO. They send and receive ambassadors; they know the laws of
war and peace; the evil is, that their law of nations is not founded
upon true principles" (k).
There is then, according" to these writers, no universal law of
nations, such as Cicero describes in his treatise De Repuhlmt,
binding upon tlie whole human race which all mankind in all
—
ages and countries, ancient and modern, savage and civilized,
Christian and Pagan, have recognised in theory or in practice,
have professed to obey, or have in fact obeyed (/).
A
French writer has questioned the propriety of using the Jus and Lfx.
' '
the cas(; between nation and nation. The word 'gens,' imitated
from the Latin, does not signify in the French language either
people or nation" (m).
The same writer has made
the subject of serious reproach Is inter-
it
guage, the 'right of nations,' or the laws of war and peace (w).
The eminent legal reformer, Jeremy Bentham, had previously
expressed the same doubt how^ far the rules of conduct which
obtain between nations can with strict propriety be called
'laws' (o). And one of his disciples has justly observed, that
(k) Esprit dos Lois, liv. i. ch. 3. Diritto delle genti (Italian). Diroito
(I)The Madonn-a Del Burso (1802), das Gentos (Portuguese). Volkerrecht
4 O. Rob. 172; The UuHUje Hone (German). Volkenregt (Dutch). Fol-
(1801), 3 C. Rob. 326. ^
keret (Danish). Folkratt (Swedish).
{ni) Rayneval, Institutions du droit Derocho des gentes (Spanish),
de la nature et des gens (1811), liv. I. (o) Bentham, Morals and Legisla-
noto 10, p. viii. tion, vol. ii. p. 258 (ed. 1823).
(;/) Droit des gens (French).
16 J)EFINITION AND SOLRCKS
(r) Expressed in The Franconia (11. (u) Zoueli, Juris et judicii fecialis,
V. Ketjn) (1876), 2 Ex. D. 63. sive Juris inter gentes. (Oxford,
(«) Address at Saratoga Springs, 1650.) See the Article on Zouch by
N. Y., 1896; Law Quarterly Review, C. Phillipson in Great Jurists of the
Oct. 1896. World, pp. 220 At p. 224 this
(0 —
(1480 1546).Relectiones theo-
seq.
"terminological innovation" is re-
logicffi (Lyons, 1557). For an Article f erred to; but it was not meant to
on him by C. Phillipson, see Journal convey that Zouch was the first in-
of Comparative Legislation, July, 1915. ventor of the phrase.
w. 2
18 DElflXITlON^ AND SOUliCES
'
Opinion of According to
Savigny, "there may exist betw^een different
nations the same community of ideas which contributes to form
the positive unwritten law ('das positive liecht') of a particular
nation. This community of ideas, founded upon a common origin
and religious faith, constitutes international law as we see it
(v) CEuvrcs de D'Agucsseau, tome ii. (x) Savigny, System des heutigen
p. 337 (ed. 1773). romischen Reehts, Band I., Buch 1,
(if) Bentham, Principles of Morals Kap. ii. § 11.
and Legislation, vol. ii. p. 253.
OF IXTEIIXATIOXAL LAW. 19
Qlhc gradual process by which the Chinese Empire has been Intornatioual
" "^'^'
brought to acknowledge the independence and equality of other christian
nations" dates from the mission of Lord Macartney to Pekin in nations.
trading at Canton. A
second mission under Lord Amherst in
1816 failed to reach the Emperor owing to the refusal of the
British Ambassador to perform the kow-tow. In 1834 the
Britisli Government sent out a resident minister to Canton to
superintend the foreign trade thrown open by the lapse of the
East India Company's monopoly. The war of 1840, forced upon
<^reat Britain by a persistent policy of outrage to hor subjects,
resulted in four treaty ports besides Canton being opened to
-commerce. But it was not until the ratification in 1860 of the
Treaty of Tientsin of 1858, following upon the capture of Pekin
hy the English and French troops, that regular diplomatic inter-
•courscwas established between China and the foreign Powers.
By this instrument the Emperor of China agreed to the residence
in his capital of a representative of the Queen of England with a
proper establishment and freedom from the obligation to perform
aaiy ceremony derogatory to his position; provision was made for
the establishment of a European consular service, and for the
residence of a Chinese minister at the Court of St. James. A
similar treaty was concluded with France, and in course of time
witli the United Slates, with tlic other European nations, and
with Japan.
(^) Cf. Wheaton, Hist. Law of Nations, p. 533; Holland, European Concert
in the Eastern Question (Oxford, 1885), p. 245.
3(2)
20 DEFlNlTiON AND SOUliOES
Definition of
"international law, as understood among civilized nations, may
intcTuational
law. bo defined, from one point of view, as consisting of those rules of
conduct which reason deduces, as consonant to justice, from the
nature of the society existing among independent nations, sub-
ject to such definitions and modifications as may be established
b}' general consent (c)..>'In 1896 Lord llussell of Killowen (the
Lord Cliief Justice of England) gave this simple definition: the
rules accepted by civilized States as determining their conduct
towards each other; and as such it has been adopted judicially (d).
A distinction is sometimes drawn between the customary, un-
written, or 'common law' of nations, based on long-established
usages and customs, and the written or conventional laAV, based on
express international declarations, treaties, and conventions.
Sources and The various sources and evidences of international law in these
evidences of
international different branches are the following: —
law.
1, Text writers of authority, showing what is the approved
Writings of
jurists. usage of nations, or the general opinion respecting their mutual
conduct, with the definitions and modifications introduced hy
general consent.
Without wishing to exaggerate the importance of these writers,
or to substitute, in any case, their authority for the principles of
reason, it may be affirmed that they are generally impartial in
their judgment. They are witnesses of the sentiments and usages
of civilized nations, and the weight of their testimony increases
year passes without the rules laid down in their worlds being
tliat
(c) Madison, Examination of the (d) West Rand Central G old Mining
British Doctrine which subjects to Co. V. Rex, (1905) 2 K. B. 407. Cf.
Capture a Neutral Trade not open in R. V. Keyn (The Franconia) (1876),
Time of Peace (London ed. 1806), 2 Ex. D. at 154.
p. 41.
or INTEllNATIONAL LAW . 23i
tively small. In the days of Grotius, when his own works, and a
few other treatises, were almost the only source from which any-
taining the principles and rules of law, cannot make the law. <To
bo binding, the law must have received the assent of the nations
who arc to be bound by it. This assent may be express, as by
treaty or the acknowledged concurrence of governments, or may
be implied from established usage"
(e).y'
On the other hand, it has been pointed out that "the founders
of international law, though they did not create a sanction, created
a law-abiding sentiment. They diffused among sovereigns, and
the literate classes in communities, a strong repugnance to the
(e) 2i. V. Ket/n {The Vranconict) 273, 281, per Lord Coleridge, L. C. J.
(1876), 2 Ex. D. 202. Of. West Hand {Ji) Wharton, Digest, § 8. See also
Central Gold MinirKj Co. v. Rex, Ileffter, ed. 1883, note by Geffcken,
(1905) 2 K. B. 391,' 401-2, 407, per § 2, p. 3.
Lord Alverstone, L. C. J. (*) J. Kent, Commentary on Inter-
->(/) Maine. International Law, p. 51. national Law (1878), p. 19.
iff) R. V. D>fdle>/ (1884), 14 Q. 15. I). .
DEFINITION AND SOURCES
ought to be, but for trustworthy evidence of what the law really
is'' (k). With regard to private international law, the works of
writers like Savigny in Germany, Story in the United States, and
Westlake in England, have done much to establish a systemutie
branch of jurisprudence.
2. Treaties of peace, alliance, and commerce declaring, modi-
signatory thereto. Thus certain new^ rules may be laid down and
as sucli are to be observed only in the relationships between thej
may be left to gather the general law of nations from" its ordinary
sources in the authority of institutional writers; or they may be
furnished with a positive rule by their own sovereign, in the form
of ordinances, framed according to what their compilers under-
stood to be the just principles of international law.
The theory of these ordinances is well explained by Sir William
Grant: "When Louis XIV. published his famous Ordinance of
1681, nobody thought that he was undertaking to legislate for
Europe, merely because he collected together and reduced into the
shape of an ordinance the principles of marine law as then under-
stood and received in France. I say as understood in France, for
They have not taken them as positive rules binding upon neutrals;
but they refer to them as establishing legitimate presumptions,
from which they are warranted to draw the conclusion, which it
is necessary for them to arrive at, before they are entitled to pro-
Marine ordi- The i^rinciples laid down in marine ordinances must not be
nauces not "
necessarily assumed have necessarily a universal application.
to They fur-
universal.
nish, however," says SirR. Phillimore, "decisive evidence against
any State which afterwards departs from the principles Avhich it
has thus deliberately invoked; and in every case thus clearly
{p) Kindersley v. Chase (1801), re- Mansfield, have borrowed very freely,
ported from the MS. in Marshall, and which is often cited by Sir W,
Insurance, vol. i. 425. The commen- Scott (Lord Stowell) in his judgments
tary of Yalin upon the marine ordi- in the High Court of Admiralty.
nance of Louis XIV., published in Valin also published, in 1763, a sejia-
1760, contains a most valuable body of rate Traite des Prises, which contains
maritime law, from which the Eno^lish a complete collection of the French
writers and judges, especially Lord prize ordinances down to that period.
^
OF INTERNATIONAL LAW. 27
usago of nations, for no State has the right of laying- down rules
which shall bind other States that have not consented to
them(ri).
Courts of Admiralty are really municipal courts that pro- Com-tsof
""'^^ ^*
nounce judgments in conformity with the law of nations (s). It
is the duty of the judge presiding in such courts "not to deliver
"
who It is quite true that whatever has received the common
said:
consent of civilized nations must have received the assent of our
country, and that to which we have assented along Avith other
nations in general may properly be called international law, and
as such will be acknowledged and aj^plied by our municipal
tribunals when legitimate occasion arises for those tribunals to
decide questions to which doctrines of international law may be
relevant. But any doctrine so invoked must be one really accepted
as binding between nations, and the international law sought to be
Where that opinion has been adverse to the sovereign client, and
has been acted on, and the State which submitted to be bound by
it was more powerful than its opponent in the dispute, we may
equity, which does the more honour to their author as they wen-
addi'cssed to a monarch who gave but little encouragement to those
national law.
CHAPTER II.
powers of war and peace in that quarter of the globe without the
direct control of the Crown, and still less could it be so considered
since it was subjected to that control. Those powers were exer-
cisedby Company in subordination to the supreme
the East India
(a) Cic,
De Eep. i. 25. Cf. his Chapters on the Principles of Inter-
Philipp. iv. 5, 6. Grotius, De Jur, national Law, chap. x. ;
in Collected
Bel. ac Pac., lib. i.
cap. i. § xiv. 2. Papers (1914), pp. 194 seq. Among
Vattel, Prelim. § 1, 1, ch. 1,
et liv. existing bodies which hold a position
§ 1. Burlamaqui, Droit naturel, torn, in some measure analogous to that
ii. part 1, ch. 4. Heffter, liv. 1, § 16. formerly held by the East India Com-
Texas v. White (186«), 7 Wallace, 720. pany may bo mentioned the North
(b) See The Secretary/ of State for Borneo Company, incorporated by
Imlia Sahaba (1859), 13 Moo. P. 0.
V. Eoyal Charter 1881; the British East
22. The company's powers and autho- Africa Company, 1888; the New
rity were largely curtailed in 1834, Guinea Company of Berlin, 1885; and
and finally abolished in 1859. For the German East Africa Company,
the relation of the Empire of India 1888.
to International Law, &ee Westlake,
NATIONS AND SOVEREIGN STATES. 33
Meaning of In the constitution of the United States, the term State most
State in the
American frequently expresses the combined idea of people, territory, and
Constitntion.
government. A
State, in the ordinary sense of the constitution,
is a political community of free citizens, occupying a territory
of defined boundaries, and organized under a government sanc-
tioned and limited by a written constitution, and established by
the consent of the governed. It is the union of such States, under
a common constitution, which forms the distinct and greater
by that constitution as the United States,
political unit, designated
and makoF of the people and States composing it one people and
one country (e).
The terms But the peculiar objects of international law are those direct
sovereign and relations w^hich exist between nations and States; that is, the sub-
State nsed sy-
nonymously, jects of international law are, properly speaking, only States,
—
or the former
used meta- for they alone are vested with international personality. Wher-
phorically for ever, indeed, the absolute or unlimited monarchical form of
the latter.
government prevails in any State, the person of the prince is
necessarily identified with the State itself: 'I'Etat c'est moi.'
Hence the public jurists frequently use the terms sovereign and
State as synonymous. So also the term sovereign is sometimes
used in a metaphorical sense merely to denote a St,ate, whatever
may bo the form of its government, whether monarchical or
republican, or mixed.
Sovereignty
defiiied.
Sovereignty is the supreme power inherent in a State, by which
that State is governed. According to the definition of Grotius,
sovereignt} h ''the power whose acts are iioL feuhjoet to the con-
"
trol of another (^). The supreme power may be exercised
. . .
internal public law, droit public interne,' but which may more
m respect to allni
•
T'l--
other political societies,
T'li
by the
it is
sovereignty.
lated has, therefore, been called external public law, droit public
i'xterne,' but may more properly be termed international law.
The recognition of any State by other States, and its admission
into th(! general societ}' of nations, may depend, or may be made
to depend, at the will of those other States,
upon its internal con-
form of government, or the choice it may make of its
stitution or
rulers. But whatever be its internal constitution, or form of
government, or whoever may be its rulers, or even if it be dis-
tracted with anarchy, through a violent contest for the government
between different parties among the people, the State still subsists
in contemplation of law, until its sovereignty is completely extin-
(r/) De Jure Belli ac Pacis, lib. i. (A) Kliiber, Droit des Gens moderne
r-. 3, § 7. do I'Europe, § 23.
3(2)
36 NATIONS AND SOVEREIGN STATES.
very soon after the war begun, from motives of humanity and
expediency by the United States. The whole territory controlled
by it was thereafter held to be enemy's territory, and the inhabi-
tants of that territory were held in most respects for enemies. But
itwas never recognised as an independent Power (I).
The external Sovereignty of any State, on the other hand, may Recognition
and^_complete.
So long, indeed, as the new State confines its
action to its own citizens, and to the limits of its own territory, it
States, the new State becomes entitled to the exercise of its exter-
nal sovereignty as to those States only by whom that sovereignty
has been recognised (m) .
Tho identity of a State consists in its having the same origin Identity of a
tho same; it neither loses any of its rights, nor is discharged from
any of its obligations (o) .
party (p).
Parties to
civil v/ar
If foreign State professes neutrality, it is bound to allow
tlie
property {q). But the exercise of those rights, on the part of the
revolting colony or province against the metropolitan country,
may be modified by the obligation of treaties previously existing
between that country and foreign States (r) .
the conjoint effect of internal revolution and foreign conquest, internal and
subsequentlv
^ confirmed, or modified and adiusted
"^ ' J by international external ./
violence
compacts. Thus the House of Orange was expelled from the confirmed bj
*^®**>'-
Seven United Provinces of the Netherlands, in 1797, in conse-
quence of the French Revolution and the progress of the arms of
France, and a democratic republic substituted in the place of the
ancient Dutch constitution. At the same time the Belgic pro-
vinces, which had long been united to the Austrian monarchy as
a co-ordinate State, Averc conquered by France, and annexed to
the French republic by the treaties of Campo Formio and Lune-
ville. On the restoration of the Prince of Orange, in 1813, he
assumed the title of Sovereign Prince, and afterwards King of the
(s) Wheaton, Hist. Law of Nations, (t) Wheaton, Hist. Law of Nations,
p. 492. pp. 538—555.
40' NATIONS AND SOVEREIGN STATES.
pendence,
how con-
ncAV State is not acknowledged by other Powers, it may seem
sidered by doubtful, in an international point of view, whether its sovereignty
other foreign
States.
can be considered as complete, however it may be regarded by
its own government and citizens. It has already been stated,
that whilst the contest for the sovereignty continues, and the civil
war rages, other nations may either remain passive, allowing to
both contending parties all the rights which war gives to public
enemies; or may acknowledge the independence of the new State,
forming with it treaties of amity and commerce; or may join in
alliance with one party against the other. In the first ease,
neither party has any right to complain so long as other nations
maintain an impartial neutrality, and abide the event of the
contest. The two last cases involve questions which seem to
belong rather to the science of politics than of international law;
but the practice of nations, if it does not furnish an invariable
rule for the solution of these questions, will, at least, shed some;
(w) Motley, Life and Death of John Droit des Gens, tome i.
i^p. 370 — 498.
Barneveld (1874), chap. i. It was the cause of war being declared
(a;)Wheaton, Hist. Law of Nations, by England. Letters of liistoricus,
Pt. § 12, pp. 220—294.
ill. Ch. de p. 32.
Martens, Nouvelles Causes celebres du
XATIOXS AND SOVEREIGN STATES. 41
On
it is
the outbreak of a rebellion or insurrection in any country. Recognition
primla, facie the duty of foreign States to take no part in the
belliger-
andin-
.of ^ncy
matter, an3~Eo allow events to follow their own course. But the dependence,
facts of the case frequently render it necessary for other nations
to take cognizance of the exist^ince of the insurrection. When
•countries are intimately connected wdth each other, through situa-
tion or commerce, a revolt of any magnitude in one materially
affects the rights and interest of the others, and entails upon them
the necessity of pursuing some definite course of conduct towards
the disturbed State. This may be done either by recognising
the insurgents as belligerents, or by acknowledging them to be
independent. There is, however, a very material distinction be-
tween the state of facts whicli will call for the former, and that
which will justify the latter mode of recoguition.
When a rebellion has assumed such proportions that it may, Belligerency.
Avithout abuse of language, be called a war, and when it is carried
on by some species of organized government or authority, in full
possession of the territory where it claims to exercise authority,
neutral States may then recognise such revolted government as a
belligerent. simply the assertion of a fact, and ought
This is
drag neutral nations into the conflict. Moreover, the higher con-
siderations ofhumanity require a de facto Avar to be acknoAvledged
as such. If the conflict continues entirely unrecognised as a Avar,
(z) Lord Russell to Lord Lyons, 6th (Boston, 1866), n. 15. Pari. Papers,
May, 1861. Pari. Papers, N. America, N. America, 1873 (No. 2), p. 75. Pari.
1873 (No. 2), p. 79. Papers, N. America, 1876 (No. 3),
(^a) Mountague Bernard, Neutrality p. 19. Whiting, War Powers under the
of Great Britain during American U. S. Constitution (43rd ed.), p. 333.
Civil War, j). 115. See also Bluntschli (c) Annual Message to Congress,
in Revue de Droit International, 1870, 1869. See Pari, Papers, N. America,
pp. 455. 456. 1872 (No. 2), p. 17.
(b) Wheaton, ed. by R. II. Dana
NATIONS x\ND SOVEREIGN STATES. 43
in April, 1861; on the 13tli of April Fort Sumter had fallen, and
on the 19th President Lincoln declared the ^^orts of the seven
provinces to be blockaded. No official copy of the proclamation
of the blockade was received in England till the 10th of May,
and Her Majesty's Proclamation of Neutrality, recognising the
Confederates as belligerents, was not issued until the 14th of that
month (d). When the intimate relation between the two countries
is considered, it seems
hardly possible to deny the propriety of
The rebellion "sprang forth suddenly from the
this recognition.
Minerva in the full panoply of war^" and the
parent brain, a
Supreme Court of the United States decided it was a war from
the commencement of hostilities (e). The very fact of declaring a
blockade was a virtual admission of the existence of a Avar; and
after this, what objection could there be to foreign nations recog-
foreign nations must look. The question with them ought to be,
is there a bond fide contest
going on? If it has virtually ceased,
the recognition of the insurgents is then at their discretion. It
was upon this principle that England and the other Powers
poiulence, and does not come ^Yithin the preceding rule. In both
cases the Powers intervened to settle the
disputes, and without this
assistance the insurgents would not have succeeded. In the case
of Greece, the intervention was based on the of
ground humanity,
and for the suppression of piracy and anarchy. In that of
Belgium, the Powers, by their own act at the treaty of Vienna,
had united that country to Holland; but finding the union incom-
patible, they intervened to dissolve it. Later cases of intervention
exercised in the form of recognition of independence are those of
Cuba in 1898, and Panama in 1903. In the former, the United
States declared the people free and independent, without recog-
great Power as the United States gives them its full sympathy,
and is j)repared to recognise their independence at the earliest
possible moment, this may give the rebellion a very different
of another State.
I. Treaties are divided by text writers into personal and real. Treaties.
mutual relations between the two States, which may have induced
them to enter into certainengagements. Whether the treaty be
termed real or personal, will continue so long as these relations
it
fft^lie^^''^
^" ^^^*-' reparation of Belgium and Hollaiid, the United States
deemed herself justified in withdrawing from an agreement to
providing for the payment of the debts of the territorj' ceded. ^^^^^^7
Thus, when Holland and Belgium were united in 1814, it was ceded by
18G4, and of Venice in 1866, she, in each case, took upon lierself
the debts of those provinces {z). In some cases territory has been
transferred free from the general debt of the State it belonged to.
This was the case when Saxe-Coburg ceded Lichtenburg to Prussia
in 183.4,and when Austria, Sardinia, and some of the other Italian
States, rectified their boundaries in 1844 {a). On the cession of
Alsace and Lorraine by France, in 1871, Germany refused to take
upon herself any share of tire French national debt (h). By the
treaty of Berlin, 1878, the portions of Turkish territory given to
Serbia and Montenegro were charged with a share of the Turkish
debt. The portions given to Russia were not so charged, being*
taken as part payment of a war indemnity demanded by Russia
from Turkey (c). After the war of 1898 the United States /de-
clined to assume any part of the Cuban debt, acting on the prin-
was, substan-
48 NATIONS AND SON'EllEIGN STATES.
ill
respect of the southern part of Sakhalien, which was ceded by
" "
Kussia with all public works and properties thereon (d).
Public domain
jjj^ ^g ^^ ^j-^g public domaiii and private rights of property,
confiscated, the fact must be taken for right. But to work such a
transfer of ^proprietary rights, some positive and unequivocal act
of confiscation is essential.
If, on the other hand, the revolution in the government of the
State is followed by a restoration of the ancient order of things,
both public and private property, not actually confiscated, revert
to the original proprietor on the restoration of the legiti-
mate government, as in the case of conquest they revert
to the former owners, on the evacuation of the territory occupied
by the public enemy. The national domain, not actually alienated
by any intermediate act of the State, returns to the sovereign
along with the sovereignty Private property, temporarily seques-
.
Where
the price or equivalent of the property sold or exchanged
has accrued to the actual use and profit of the State, the transfer
may be confirmed, and the original proprietors indemnified out
of the public treasury, as was done in respect to the lands .of the
emigrant French nobility, confiscated and sold during the revolu-
tion. So, also, the sales of the national domains situate in the
German and Belgian provinces, united to Franco during the revo-
lution, and again detached from the French t^^rritory by the
treaties of Paris and Vienna in 1814 and 1815, or in the countries
(I) Neutrality of Great Britain dur- (m) Kliiber, Droit des Gens moderne
ing American Civil War, p. 107; see de PEurope, §24; Ileffter, Das Euro-
Cobbett, Cases and Opinions on Int. j)aische Volkerreclit, § 19.
Law (1909), vol. i. pp. 49 seq.
4(2)
52 NATIONS AND SOVEREIGN STATES.
and Eussia over the city of Cracow (1815 — 1846), of Great Britain
over the Ionian Islands —
(1815 1866).
City of The
Cracoir city of Cracow, in Poland, with its territory, was declared
(1815—1846). by the Congress of Vienna to be a perpetually free, independent,
and neutral State, under the protection of Russia, Austria, and
Prussia {n) By the final Act of the Congress of Vienna, Article
.
placed; and to give more weight to this protection, all the Ionian
ports were declared, as to honorary and military rights, to be
under the British jurisdiction; commercial agents only, or consuls
charged only with the care of commercial relations, should be
accredited to the United States of the Ionian Islands; and they
should be subject to the same regulations to which consuls :and
Commercial agents were subject in other independent States (g).
On comparing this act with the stipulations of the treaty of
Vienna relating to the republic of Cracow, a material distinction
will be perceived between the nature of the respective sovereignty
During the Crimean war two Ionian vessels were captured by Status of
{q) Martens, Nouveau Eecueil, tome (r) Martens, Precis du Droit des
ii. p. €63. Gens, liv. i. ch. 2, § 20. Note «,
3mc edition.
54 NATIONS AND SOVEREIGN STATES.
Islands were ceded to Greece in 1864, and have since ceased to exist
as a semi-sovereign State {t).
Other semi- Besides the free city of Cracow and the United States of the
sovereign Ionian Islands, several other semi-sovereign or dependent States
States.
— —
were and some are still recognised by the public law of
Europe.
The j^riiicipalities of Moldavia, Wallachia, and Serbia, under
the suzerainty of the Ottoman Porte and under the protectorata
of Russia, as defined by the successive treaties between these two
(t) Hertslet, Map of Europe, vol. iii. (y) Convention of 19th Aug. 1858.
p. 1610. Hertslet, Map of Europe by Treaty,
(?^) Wheaton, Hist, of the Law of vol. ii.
p. 1329.
NATIONS AND SOVEREIGN STATES. 56
The Papacy. Until 1870 the Pope exercised the rights of temporal sove-
reignty, in addition to his supreme spiritual authority over the
Roman Catholic Church; and as a temporal sovereign he was a
member of community. In 1870, however, Home
the intiernational
was occupied by an Italian army, and was made the capital of the
Kingdom of Italy. The Papal States disappeared and the tem-
poral power of the Papacy came to an end. In 1871 the Italian
Parliament enacted a statute, called the Law of Guarantees, which
regulated the international status of the Pontiff. It ensures his
ing neither territory nor temporal subjects (even his houses are
not his own and his attendants owe no allegiance to him as to a
sovereign), he cannot enjoy international rights or be subject to
international obligations. Thus, having no international per-
sonality, he is an object rather than a subject of the law of nations.
Whatever rights the Italian statute has guaranteed him, it cannot
invest him wdth international personality. However, it is im-
possible to consider him as an ordinary person in reference to
international law, inasmuch as a large number of States have
The former Germanic Empire was composed of a great number The former
of States, which, although enjoying what was called territorial
Empire,
superiority, (' Landeshoheit,') could not be considered as com-
pletely sovereign, on account of their subjection to the legislative
and judicial power of the emperor and the empire. Tliese were
all absorbed in the sovereignty of the States composing the late
Germanic Confederation, with the exception of the Lordship of
Kniphausen, on the North Sea, which retained its former feudal
relation to the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, and might, therefore,
have been considered as a semi-sovereign State (/c) .
Egypt had been held by the Ottoman Porte, during the domi- Egypt.
nion of the Mamelukes, rather as a vassal State than as a subject
province. The attempts of Mehemet Ali, after the destruction
of the Mamelukes, to convert his title as a prince-vassal into abso-
lute independence of the Sultan, and even to extend his sway over
other adjoining provinces of the empire (1831), produced the
convention concluded at London the loth July, 1840, between
—
four of the great European Powers, Austria, Great Britain,
—
Prussia, and Russia, to which the Ottoman Porte acceded by
the firman of 1841. In consequence of the measures subse-
pation
*
/io»^n\ Af. •• nin
Court (187c}). Alter exammmg all the hrmans ol the Porte, British
«it^
Before the
,
and the other authorities on the subject, his lordship said that
occupation.
"
the result of the historical inquiry as to the status of His High-
ness the Khedive is as follows: That in the firmans, Avhose
Irade, and his son, Tewfik, was aj^pointed in his room. Under
tlio nevv Khedive the Dual Control of Great Britain and
France,
exercised through resident controllers, entitled to sit at the council
After the of ministers, was revived. In 1881 disturbances and disorder,
occupation.
consequent upon a nationalist ferment, aided by military revolt,
compelled Great Britain, after an offer of co-operation to Prance
had been declined, and Turkey hesitating, to intervene, with
armed forces, for the restoration of order and in suj)port of Tewfik.
By October the country was in 230Ssession of the British army of
—
occujjation, the rebel soldiers having been defeated at Tel-el-
Kebir,
— and was under the de facto control of the Queen's Govern-
ment. By a decree of the 18th January, 1883, the Dual Control
was abolished. In 1884, Great Britain i:)roposed that the country
should bo neutralized (o).
In August, 1885, Sir Henry Drummoiid Wolff was sent to
Constantinople on a special mission having reference to the affairs
of Egypt. It was the wish of Her Majesty's Government to
recognis(! in its full significance the jDosition which was secured
to the Sultan as sovereign of Egy]3t by treaties and other instru-
ments having a force under international law. But the general
object of the mission was, in the first instance, to secure for this
country the amount of influence Avhich Avas necessary for its own
imperial interests, and, subject to that condition, to provide a
strong and efficient Egyj^tian government, as free as possible from
foreign interference. Especial attention was drawn to the un-
satisfactory position of Egyptian finance, upon Avhich the facilities
for foreign interference, furnished by the international obliga-
tions attaching to so many branches of Egyptian administration,
between Her Majesty and the Sultan, (1) that each of them respec-
tively should send a High Commissioner to Egypt; (2) that the
Ottoman High Commissioner should consult with the Kliedive,
or with a functionary designated by His Highness, u2>on the
best means for tranquillizing the Soudan by pacific measures, the
two to keep the English High Commissioner currently informed
of the negotiations, and as the measures to be decided upon would
form jDart of the general settlement of Egyptian affairs, such
measures were to be adoj)ted and placed in execution in agreement
with the English High Commissioner; (3) that the two High
Commissioners should re-organize, in concert with the Khedive,
the Egy2)tian army; (4) and, in the same way, examine all
branches of the Egyptian administration, and introduce the modi-
fications they might consider necessary within the limits of tlie
firmans: (5) that the international engagements contracted b}'
the Khedive should be approved by the Ottoman Government in
so far as they should not be contrary to the privileges granted by
the firmans; (6) that so soon as the two High Commissioners
should have established that the security of the frontiers and the
good working and stability of the Egyptian government were
assured, they should present a report to their respective Govern-
ments, who Avould tlien consult as to tlie conclusion of a convention
(r) Sir H. D. Wolff to Lord Salisbury. Pari. Papers, Egypt, No. 66.
NATIONS AND SOVEREIGX STATES. 61
Egypt a fully
constituted
rpj^ig anomalous position came to an end durino-
° the Great War
British of 1914-1915. On December 17, 1914, the following official
Protectorate,
announcement was made: "His Britannic Majesty's Princijial
Secretary of State for Foreign Afi'airs gives notice that, in view
of the state of war arising out of the action of Turkey, Egyi^t is
(o) For a French view of the then Commons, Aug. 10, 1882, Hansard,
English occupation, see J. Coeheris, 3rd series, vol. cclxxiii.; Lord Salis-
Situation de I'Egypte et du Soudan bury 's speech at the Mansion House,
juridique et politique (Paris, 1903). Nov. 9, 1898.
{b) Cf. the debate in the House of (c) See infra. Appendix D.
NATIONS AND SOVEREIGN STATES. 63
Since the treaty of June 12, 1901, by which Cuba was made Position of
over to the Cuban people, it has occupied a position with respect ^^^*-
to the United States which seems to bring it within the category
of international Protectorates. It may manage its own internal
and external affairs, but it is precluded from entering into any
euch treaty with a foreign Power as may endanger its indepen-
dence; and it undertakes to contract no debt for which the current
revenue will not suffice, and to concede to the United States the
right of intervention to preserve Cuban independence, to maintain
a government adequate for the protection of life, propert}^ and
individual liberty, and the right to use its harbours as naval
stations (e). In 1906, when a revolution broke out on the island
(d) See further, Phillipson, Inter- (e) Annual Register, 1901; fifty-
national Law and the Great War sixth Congress, c. 803; Statutes at
(London, 1915), chap. xvi. Large, vol. xxxi. p. 897. Cf. Moore,
Digest, vol. vi. § 910.
64 NATIONS AND SOVEREIGN STATES.
and the then President resigned his office, the United States inter-
vened, entered into military occupation of the country, appointed
a provisional governor, and removed various abuses. As soon as
the administration of the newly-elected President was firmly
established, the American governor and troops were withdrawn
(1909). There is little doubt that the United States will take
over the islanid self-government should prove a failure.
if its
Tributary and Tributary States, and States having a feudal relation to each
other, are istill considered as sovereign, so far as their sovereignty
is not affected by this relation. Thus, it is evident that the
tribute,formerly paid by the principal maritime Powers of
Europe Barbary States, did not at all affect the sovereignty
to the
and independence of the former. So also the King of Naples had
been a nominal vassal of the Papal See, ever since the eleventli
century: but this feudal dependence, abolished in 1818, was never
considered as impairing the sovereignty of the Kingdom of
Naples {i) .
Former Tho political relations between the Ottoman Porte and the
relatione
Barbary States were of a very anomalous character. Their occa-
Ottoman sional obedience to the commands of the Sultan, accompanied
* ^^
Barbary
with the irregular payment of tribute, did not prevent them from
being considered by the Christian Powers of Europe and America
States.
''
ing itself, and that they had uniformly been treated as such since
the first settlement of the country. The numerous treaties made
with them by the United States recognise them as a people capable
of maintaining the relations of peace and war, and responsible in
their political capacity. Their relation to the United States was
nevertheless peculiar. They were a domestic dependent nation;
their relation to the United States resembled that of a ward to his
kee]3 out the agents of foreign Powers, who might seduce them
into foreign alliances. The British Government purchased the
alliance and dependence of the Indian nations by subsidies, and
(n) Fletcher v. PecA;, 6 Crancli, 146. Funds, 117 U. S. 288, 308, where the
(o) The Cherokee Nation v. The history of the Cherokees is traced in
State of Georgia (1831), 5 Peters, 1. the course of the judgment of the
See also The State of Georgia v. Sta1^- Court; Worcester v. State of Georgia
^ow,€ Wallace, 71; the CheroTcee Trust (1832), 6 Pet. 515.
NATIONS AND SOVEREIGN STATES. i>7
dependent allies. A
weak power does not surrender its indepen-
dence and right to self-government by associating with a stronger
and taking its protection. This was the settled doctrine of the
Law of Nations, and the Supreme Court therefore concluded and
adjudged, that the Cherokee nation was a distinct community,
occupying its own territory, with boundaries accurately
described, within which the laws of Georgia could not rightfully
have any force, and into which the citizens of that State had no
right to enter but with the assent of the Cherokees themselves, or
in conformity with treaties, and with the Acts of Congress (p) .
More recent cases have established that the Indians residing Present status
within the limits of the United States are subject to their autho- Indians,
rity and form a dependent political community. The Federal
power can govern Indians by Act of Congress, the States having
no control so long as Indians retain their tribal organization, and
do not separate themselves from their tribe (g). An Act of Con-
gress, March 3rd, 1871, declared: "No Indian nation or tribe
within the territory of the United States shall be acknowledged
or recognised as an independent nation, tribe, or Power, with
whom the United States may contract by treaty; but no obliga-
tion of any treaty lawfully made and ratified with any such
Indian nation or tribe prior to March 3rd, 1871, shall be hereby
invalidated or impaired" (r). Since this Act was passed, agree-
ments with Indian tribes have been made, subject to the approval
of Congress (s) The Indians are, however, protected in the terri-
.
Law, vol. iii.p. 383 (12th ed.). (1886), 118 U. S. 375; The Cherokee
(^q) V . S. V. Sogers (1846), 4 Nation v. Southern Kansas Rail. Co.
Howard, 572; Machey v. Coxe (1855), (1890), 135 U. S. 641; Talton v. Mayes
18 Howard, 104; Holden v. Joy, 17 (1896), 163 U. S. 372.
Wallace, 211; U. S. v. Holliday, 3 (r) U. S. Revised Statutes, Title
Wallace, 407 ; Abbott, National Digest, Indians, xxviii. eh. 2, sect. 2079.
vol. iii. tit. Indians; Crow Dog, In (*) Moore, Digest, vol. i. p. 37.
re, 109 U. S. 556; The Cherohee Trust
5(2)
68 NATIONS AND SOVEEEIGN STATES.
Japan, and to make treaties with foreign Powers only with the
latter' s approval. A further treaty between the two parties,
November, 1905, established a Japanese protectorate over Korea,
in that Japan acquired the right to control Korean foreign rela-
(t) U. S. Ee vised Statutes, ch. iii. Wharton, Digest, § 208; Calvo, Bk. II.
sect. 2118; Worcester v. State of § 69.
Georgia (1832), 6 Peters, 515; Clark (^) Wharton, loc. eit. ; Nafire v.
V. Smith, 13 Peters, 195; Latimer v. U. S., 164 U. S. 657.
Poteet, 14 Peters, 4; U.S. v. Joseph, (2;) Annual Eegister, 1895, 1897.
4 Otto, 614. (a) Annual Eegister, 1886, p. 334.
0^) Ibid. ch. iv. sect. 2133. (6) Hertslet, Com. Treaties, xviii.
Ix) Ibid. sect. 2137. See also the p. 299; and see ibid. xix. 163, xx. 233.
cases of Holden v. Joy^ 17 Wallace, (c) Ibid, xviii. 288.
211 ; U. S. V. 6^00^, 19 Wallace, 591 ;
NATIONS AND SOVEREIGN STATES. 69
In British India there are more than 600 Native States, whose Status of the
tion, nor are they regulated by any uniform code of rules. The
Protected Princes are strictly precluded from forming any con-
nection or engagement either among themselves or with foreign
Powers. In the words of Sir William Lee- Warner, s" They
cannot enter into a treaty of extradition with their neighbours
without the intervention of the British authority; they cannot
receive commercial agents; they are even unable to allow
Europeans or Americans to enter their service without the con-
sent of the paramount Power; they have no direct intercourse
with the consular agents or representatives of foreign nations
accredited to the government of India; and they cannot receive
from foreign sovereigns decorations or orders except under the
regulations prescribed for British subjects." But they are not
subject to legislation by the Governor-General in Council or by
the Legislative Councils of the Presidency in which they are
situated, nor is the law of British India administered within their
borders. They enjoy and exercise under the sanction of the
British Government the functions and attributes of internal sove-
upon the relations between itself and the Native States under the
suzerainty ,of the king. Whether this declaration is rigidly
correct or is completely followed in practiceperhaps be
may
doubted, but it is clear that the Native Princes of India have
no international status in the sense in which it is used in this
volume (<^). But for purposes other than those involving public
international relationships, and more especially with regard to
matters falling within the sphere of private international juris-
prudence, these Native States of India are considered separate
political communities possessing an independent civil, criminal,
and fiscal jurisdiction (e). ^^
States be single, or may be united together under a
may common Single or
1
j> i 1 , united States,
sovereign prince, or by a lederal compact.
{<£) See Lee- Warner, The Protected Papers, 1914); ihid. pp. 020 seq., a
Princes of India (1894); the quota- paper on the Native States of India,
tion in the text is at p. 245 (a second as a review of Lee- Warner's second
edition of this work was published edition; Notification published by the
in 1910 under the title, The Native Government of India, Aug. 21, 1891.
States of India); Westlake, Chapters (e) Sirdar Gurdyal Singh v. The
on the Principles of International Law Rajah of FaridJcote, (1894) App. C.
(1894) (reprinted in his Collected 670.
70 NATIONS AND SOVEEEIGN STATES.
* '
Personal 1. If this union under acommon sovereign is not an incor-
union under ' '
the same jjorate union, that is to say, if it is only personal in the reigning
'
sovereig-n .
or even
sovereign ;
if it is real,' yet if the different component
parts are united with a perfect equality of rights, the sovereignty
of each State remains unim^paired (/) .
so vereig-n .
retain their respective constitutions and internal sovereignty, and
and tli(} finance involved therein, and their final vote on these
2 An incorporate
' '
State of the Russian Empire, called The Section for the affairs
'
In the first case, the several States are connected together by a Confederated
compact, which does not essentially differ from an ordinary treaty ^^f-*.^^.'
®^^^
of equal alliance. Consequently the internal sovereignty of each its own
member of the union remains unimpaired; the resolutions of the ??staaten-^
federal body (acting through a Diet or Congress) being enforced, ^i^nd').
aiot as laws directly binding on the private individual subjects,
guaranteed domi-
to each other the possession of their respective
nions within the union, and engaged to defend, not only entire
Germany, but each individual State, in case of attack. When
w^ar was declared by the Confederation, no State could negotiate
separately with the enemy, nor conclude peace or an armistice,
without the consent of the rest. Each member of the Confedera-
tion might contract alliances with other foreign States, provided
they were not directed against the security of the Confederation,
or the individual States of which it was composed. No vState could
make war upon another member of the union, but all the States
were bound to subniit their differences to the decision of the Diet.
This body was to endeavour to settle them by mediation; and if
unsuccessful, and a juridical sentence became necessary, resort was
to bo had to an arbitral tribunal, (' Austragal Instanz,') to which'
the litigating parties were bound to submit without appeal (r).
(o) Acte final du Congres de Vienne, (ji) Acte fiinal, Art. 58. Wiener
Art. 53j 54, 55. Deutsche Bundesacte, —
Schluss-Acte, Art. 12 15.
vom 8 Juni, 1815, Art. 1. Wiener {q) Acte final, Art. 62.
Schluss-Acte, vom 15 Mai, 1820, Art. (r) Acte final, Art. 63.
1,6.
76 NATIONS AND SOVEREIGN STATES.
(s) Wiener Schluss-Acte, Art. 32. (t) Bundesacte, Art. 19. Acta final,
Art. 108—117.
NATIONS AND SOVEREIGN STATES. 77
tion with the five great European Powers, parties to the Final
Act of the Congress of Vienna, 1815, were habitually maintained
by permanent legations from those Powers to the Diet at Frank-
fort, yet the Confederation itself was not habitually represented
Such of the confederated States as had possessions without the states with
limits of the Confederation, retained the authority of declaring
bevond^the
and carrying on war against any Power foreign to the Conf edera- Confedera-
tion, independently of the Confederation itself, which remained
neutral in such a war, unless the Diet should recognise the
existence of a danger threatening the federal territory. The
sovereign members of the Confederation, having possessions with-
out the limits thereof, were the Emperor of Austria, the King of
Prussia, the King of the Netherlands, and the King of Denmark.
Whenever, therefore, any one of these sovereigns undertook a
war in his character of a European Power, the Confederation,
Avhosc relations and obligations were unaffected by such Avar,
remained a stranger thereto; in other words, it remained neutral,
even if the war was defensive on the part of the confederated sove-
reign as to his possessions without the Confederation, unless the
Diet recognised the existence of a danger threatening the federal
territory {y) .
(m) Kliiber, Offentliches Eecht des {y) Wiener Schluss-Acte, Art. 4<j,
Beutfichen Bundes, §§ 461, 463. 47. Offentliches Recht des
Kmber,
ix) Kliiber, § 148, § 152 a. Wiener Bnnde^ S^ 152
rjeutsohen liundes,
ueutsclien T)2 t.
f
Schluss-Acte, § 49.
78 NATIONS AND SOVEREIGN STATES.
tigation was, that the co-State was not in the right, the Diet would
make the most serious representations to induce it to renounce its
pretensions, would refuse its interference, and, in case of necessity,,
would take proper means for the preservation of peace
all If, on .
The Grermanic It follows, that not only the internal but the external sove-
Confedera-
tion a reignty of the several States composing the Germanic Confedera-
eystem of remained unimpaired, except so far as it might be affected
confederated tion,
States.
by the express provisions of the fundamental laws authorizing
the federal body to represent their external sovereignty In other .
amongst whom the votes are divided in such manner that Prussia
has, with the former votes of Hanover, Electoral Hesse, Holstein,
Nassau and Frankfort, seventeen votes, Bavaria six, Saxony four,
Wiirtemberg four, Baden three, Hesse three, Alsace-Lorraine
three, Mecklenburg-Schwerin two, Brunswick two, and seventeen
smaller States, one each {g). The totality of such votes can only
be given in one sense, and there are sixty-one votes in all.
The Presidency of the Confederation belongs to the King of
Prussia, who bears the name of German Emperor, and who repre-
sents the empire internationally, declares war, makes peace, enters
into treaties, and receives ambassadors. The consent of the Coun-
cil is necessary for declaring war, unless the territory of the empire
is actually attacked (/i). The Imperial Diet is elected by uni-
versal land direct election (^), and its proceedings are public (A;).
The army and navy of the whole empire are single forces under
the command of the Emperor {l).
Thus, Germany has now become a 'compositive' State, and
the independence of its various members is merged in the sove-
This was the treaty of the kind, and was soon followed by
first
others with the same object, e.g., by Prussia with Anhalt and
the Zollverein,' and by the year 1855, the exertions of that State
had absorbed into this league the whole of Germany, except
Austria, the two Mecklenburg Duchies, Holstein, and the Hanse
Towns (t?). In 1867, the Zollverein was re-constituted by a
treaty which came into force on the 1st of January, 1868, and
was to continue till the 31st of December, 1877. In 1868, the
Mecklenburg Duchies and Liibeck joined the league, which, as
Austria had then been excluded from the affairs of Germany,
embraced all the German Empire except the free towns of Ham-
burg and Bremen. The constitution of the German Empire of
1871 expressly kept in force the treaty of July, 1867, and con-
firmed the right of Hamburg and Bremen to remain as free ports
outside the customs frontier, until they should apply to be ad-
mitted therein (o). This application Avas made in 1888, and
Hamburg and Bremen entered into the Zollverein in October of
that year (p) Since 1906 this customs union embraces practically
.
Mittelberg.
(w) Martens, Nouveau Kecueil, vol. let, Map of Europe, vol. iii. pp. 1939,
vii. p. 167. State Papera, vol. xiv. 1941. Statesman's Manual, 1877, tit.
p . 8 3 . G ermany .
contrary notwithstanding .
resort, from whose decision there is no appeal; but, like all other
courts, it only decides the questions of law that litigants bring
before it. The American Constitution a code of positive law;
is
and is, moreover, the law having the liighest authority in the
Union. Acts of Congress do not correspond to English Acts of
Parliament. The latter are supreme; and the only business of an
English Court, when an Act comes before it, is to fix upon it the
interpretation which the legislature is supposed to have intended.
In America, a litigant may appeal to the Supreme Court against
an x^ct of Congress, and the Court may declare whether the Act
is constitutional or not. If the Court pronounces an Act to be
(r) Const., Art. iii. § 2. (s) Wheaton, ed. by Dana, note 31,
p. 79.
NATIONS AND SOVEREIGN STATES. 83
any bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law impairing the obli-
gation of contracts; grant any title of nobility; lay any duties on
imports or exports, except such as are necessary to execute its
local inspection laws, the produce of which must be paid into the
national treasury; and such laws are subject to the revision and
control iof Congress. Nor can any State, without the consent
of Congress, lay any tonnage duty; keep troops or ships of war
in time of peace; enter into any agreement or compact with
another State or with a foreign Power; or engage in war unlesg
actually invaded, or in such imminent danger as does not
admit of delay. The Union guarantees to every State a repub-
lican form of government, and engages
to protect each of them
(t} J. Story, Commentarieg on the Loan mid Trust Co., 158 U. S. Rep.
Constitution of the United States, 601. A account of the American
full
vol. i. p. 266 (4th ed. Boston, 1873). judicial system will be found in Bryce,
(u) State of Mississippi v. Johnson, The American Commonwealth, chaps.
4 Wallace, 475; PollocJc v. Farmer's 22 and 42 (Revised ed. 1910).
:
6(2)
NATIONS AND SOVEREIGN STATES.
'
'
poses, even more completely than the German States; but the the United
tending to give them a more democratic character; and several change the
attempts were made to revise the federal pact, so as to give it more of 1815.
'
In 1848, the Swiss Constitution was remodelled, but the essen- Changes in
tial principles of the pact of 1815 were maintained. The Cantons Constitution
in 1848 and retained their sovereignty, except where it was limited by the
'
(«) See Calvo, liv. ii. § 55. (c) Of. J. M. Vincent, Government
lb) Annual Eeg. 1874, p. 288. in Switzerland (London, 1900).
Calvo, loG. eit.
87
PART SECOND.
CHAPTER I.
of self-
Right
defence
Among these is the right of self-defence. This again involves
modified by the right to require the military service of all its people, to levy-
the equal
troops and maintain a naval force, to build fortifications, and to
rights of
other States, impose and collect taxes for all these purposes.) It is evident that
or by treaty.
the exercise of tliese absolute sovereign rights can be controlled
(c) Martens, Recueil des Traites, See Hertslet, Map of Europe, vol. ii. \
torn. ii.
p. 4€9. pp. 856, 882.
AND INDEPENDENCE. 89
Russia agreed that the Aland Islands in the Baltic should not be
and that no military or naval establishment should be
fortified,
maintained there (e) . Eussia and Turkey also ugreed at the Peace
of Paris, 1856, not to maintain any military-maritime arsenals
on the coast of the Black Sea, but this clause of the treaty was
abrogated in 1871 (/).
^Tn pursuance of the fundamental right of self-defence, certain Self-defence
/?
^ disregard of the rights of other States may sometimes be resorted
to on the ground of urgent necessity Thus in 1807 England
1
fi<'t8.
.)
seized the Danish order to prevent its falling into the hands
fleet in
(e) Ibid. vol. ii. p. 1272. (^) Of. Pari. Papers (1843), vol.
(/) Art. xiii. See Hertalet, vol. ii. Ixi.; J.B. Moore, International Arbi- ^^^""^^
p. 1256; vol. iii. p. 1920. trations (Washington, 1898), vol. iii.
pp. 2419 seq.
90 RIGHT OF SELF-PRESERVATION
Right of in- Tlie right of every independent State to increase its national
military and naval forces may giye just ground of alarm to its
"
Sir W. Harcourt says of intervention: It is a high and sum- Legal aspect
^^ i^ter-
/W' mary procedure which may sometimes snatch a remedy beyond
/ the reach of law. Nevertheless it must be admitted that in the
j/y case of intervention, as in that of revolution, its essence is ille-
_^
r' gft ^,tx, and its justification is its success. Of all things at once
^ the most unjustifiable and the most impolitic is an unsuccessful
jf intervention" (?). Chateaubriand, in a speech in the French
f
Chamber on the Spanish war of 1823, asserted that "no Govern- t
J(ik) Senior, Edinb. Rev. No. 156, eh. 12, § 41; Moiiiteur, loth Feb.
^
Art. 1, p. 329. 1823; Manning, Law of Nations,
r {l) Letters of EQstoricus, p. 41. p. 98; Amari, Nouvel expose du prin-
/ {ni) See Halleck, International Law cipe de non-intervention, in Revue de
/(ed. Sir G. S. Baker, 1908), vol. i. Droit Int. 1873, p. 352.
pp. 104, 105; Alison, Hist, of Europe,
92 RIGHT OF SELF-PRESERVATION
The same remarks will apply to the more recent, but not less Wars of the
important events growing out of the French Revolution. They Revolution
furnish a strong admonition against attempting to reduce to a
rule, and to incorporate into the code of nations, a principle so
prove the inefficacy of all the attempts that have been made to
establish a general and invariable principle on the subject of
intervention. It is, in fact, impossible to lay down an .absjjlu.te
^i^le on this Subject; anid every rule that wants that quality 'must
necessarily be vague,, and subject to the abuses to which human
passions will give rise, in its practical application.
Congress of The measures adopted by Austria, Russia, and Prussia, at the
Troppau and
of Laybach. Congress of Troppau and Laybach, in respect to the Neapolitan
Revolution of 1820, were founded upon principles adapted to give
AND INDEPENDENCE. 95
sity, and to be limited and regulated thereby; and did not admit
that it could receive a general and indiscriminate application to
allrevolutionary movements, without reference to their immediate
bearing upon some particular State or States, or that it could be
made, prospectively, the basis of a;n alliance J) The British Govern-
ment regarded its exercise as an exception to general principles
of the greatest value and importance, and as one that only properly
(^) Lord Castlereagh's Circular Despatch, Jan. 19, 1821, Annual Register,
vol, Ixii. Part II. p. 737.
96 EIGHT OF SELF-PRESERVATION
War between Both Great Britain aoid the United States, on the same occa-
Spain and hi r
Ajnerican sion, protested against the right of the Allied Powers to interfere,
colonies.
by forcible means, in the contest between Spain and her revolted
American Colonies. The British Government declared its deter-
mination to remain strictly neutral, should the war be unhappily
prolonged; but that the junction of any foreign Power, in an
enterprise of Spain against the colonies, would be viewed by it
as constituting an entirely new question, and one upon which
itmust take such decision as the interests of Grea^t Britain might
require. It declared that it could not enter into any stipulation,
binding itself either to recognition of the inde-
refuse or delay its
This policy of the United States has acquired the name o£ the The Monroe
"
Monroe doctrine," from its having received its most explicit
enunciation in President Monroe's seventh annual message to Con-
"
gress, Dec. 2, 1823.. In the wars of the European Powers,"
said the President, "in matters relating to themBelves we havia
never taken any part, nor does it comport with our policy to do so.
It is only when our
rights are invaded or seriously menaced, that
we resent injuries or make preparations for our defeii^. With
the movements in this hemisphere we are of neoesslty^more inti-
Annual Message to
{t) President's p. 218. Calvo. Droit International,
(Congress,2nd Dec. 1823. Cf. J. D. Bk. III. §§ 143, 144.
Richardson, Messages and Papers of (u) Calvo, loc. cit.; Wharton,
the Presidents of the United States, Digest, §§ 45, 57.
10 vols. (Washington, 1896), vol. ii. 0^) Richardson, loc. cit. p. 209.
AND INDEPENDENCE. 99
taking joint action with the other great Powers, its forces were
represented both in the garrison of the Pekin Legations and in
the subsequent military occupation.
It is generally admitted that the United States exercises a certain
permanently occupied.
s#
of treaty.
deemed it politic, in the case of Spain; interference on behalf of
Portugal was their duty, unless they were prepared to abandon
the principles of naltional faith and national honour (c) .
/ (e) Canning's Speech in the House of Commons, 11th December, 1826, Annual
iilegister, vol. Ixviii. p. 192.
AND INDEPENDENCE. 103
Intervention
diately affected by the internal transactions of a particular State,
1 1 1 1
.
p ,
.
1 •
1 r»
on moral and
•
1
but where the general interests oi humanity are intringed by the humanitarian
excesses of a barbarous and despotic government. These prin- ^''o^^'^**-.
ciples are fully recognised in the treaty for the pacification of
Greece, concluded at London, on the 6th of July, 1827, between
France, Great Britain, and Russia. The preamble of this treaty
''
sets forth, that the three contracting parties were penetrated with
the necessity of putting an end to the sanguinary contest, which,
made, at the same time, to the two contending parties, the demand
of an immediate armistice, as a preliminary condition indis-
!J^ war, in order to secure the freedom of religious worship for the
votaries of their faith in the bosom of Catholic communities, to
whose subjects it was denied. Still more justifiable was the inter-
ference of the Christian Powers of Europe to rescue a whole
nation, not merely from religious persecution, but from the cruel
alternative of being transported from their native land, or exter-
minated by their merciless oppressors. The rights of human
AND INDEPENDENCE. 105
between the Ottoman Empire and the other European States have gt. Britain,
only recently brought the former within the pale of that public ^r^ssia*
law by which the latter are governed, and which was originally Russia 'in the
founded on that community of manners, institutions and religion, affairs of the
which distinguish the nations of Christendom' from those of the Ottoman
^^
Mohamimedan world (e). Yet the integrity and independence of 1840.^^^^'
that empire have been considered essential to the general balance
of power, ever since the crescent ceased to be an object of dread to
the western nations of Europe. The 'above-mentioned inter-
ference of three of the great Christian Powers in the affairs of
Greece had been complicated by the separate war between Russia
and the Ottoman Empire, which was terminated by the treaty of
Adrianople, in 1829, followed by the treaty of alliance between
the two empires, of Unkiar-Skelessi, in 1833. The casus foederis
of the latter treaty was brought on by the attempts of Mehemet
Ali, Pasha of Egypt, to assert his independence, and of the Porte,
which sought to recover its lost provinces. The status quo, which
had been established between the Sultan and his vassal by the
arrangement of Kutayah, in 1833, under the mediation of France
and Great Britain, on which the peace of the Levant depended,
and with it the peace of Europe was supposed to depend, was thus
constantly threatened by the irreconcilable pretensions of the two
great divisions of the Ottoman Empire. The war again broke
(d) Another treaty was concluded ruary, 1830, and accepted by Greece
at London, between the same three and the Ottoman Porte. King Otho
Powers, on the 7th of May, 1832, by was expelled in 1862, and, after some
which the election of Prince Otho of difficulty in finding any one to fill
Bavaria, as King of Greece, was con- his place. Prince George of Denmark
firmed, and the sovereignty and mounted the Greek throne and took
independence of the new kingdom the title of King of the Hellenes in
guaranteed by the contracting parties, March, 1863.
according to the terms of the protocol (e) Vide supra, p. 18.
signed by them on the 3rd of Feb-
106 EIGHT OF SELF-PEESERVATION
out between them in 1839, and the Turkish army was overthrown
in the decisive battle of Nezib, which was followed by the deser-
tion of the fleet to Mehemet Ali, and by the death of Sultan
Mahmoud II.
In this state of things, the w-estern Powers of Europe thought
they perceived the necessity of interfering to save the Ottoman
Empire from the double danger with which it was tlireatened; by
the aggressions of the Pasha of Egypt on one side, and the exclu-
sive protectorate of llussia on the other. A. long and intricate
negotiation ensued between the five great European Powers, from
the voluminous documents relating to which the following general
The Ottoman Empire has been an endless source of disturbance The Eastern
Question.
to th'3 peace of
Europe ever since this treaty of 1840.
It occupies
a peculiar and anomalous position, and all attempts to esta,blish a
jects, either on the ground that the Porte would not redress the
away, leaving the country split up into small and defence! CfSis
communities. But her geographical situation Avould make such
a result dangerous to the peace of Europe. If the authority of the
Sultan were removed, his territories might pass into the hands of
Russia, Austria, or some other great State, and this might
seriously alter the balance of powder in Europe. The great im-
portance of keeping Constantinople and the Straits of the
integrity. And
was further stipulated in the Treaty of Paris
it
''
that if there should arise between the Sublime Porte and one or
solemnly entered into could be set aside at the mere wish of one of
the contracting parties, all public faith was at an end; and no
p. 1893. p. 1904.
(m) I bid. p. 1898.
AND INDEPENDENCE. Ill
as these had failed, the Czar was resolved to undertake this work
himself, and had therefore given his armies the orders to cross the
frontiers ofTurkey; in other words, had declared war(g). To
"
thisLord Derby replied on the 1st of Maj^, that the course on
which the Russian Government had entered . . . . is in contra-
vention of the stipulation of the Treaty of Paris, 1856, by which
Russia and the other signatory Powers engaged, each on its own
part, to respect the independence and territorial integrity of the
Ottoman Empire"; that by so doing the Czar had separated
himself from the European concert hitherto maintained, and had
violated the Declaration of London, 1871 (r). Nevertheless, the
war proceeded, and resulted in the overthrow of Turkey.
Roumania and Serbia threlv off the sovereignty of the Porte,
joined Russia in the war, and declared themselves independent.
(o) Pari. Papers, Turkey, No. 9 (q) Pari. Papers, Turkey, No. 18
(1877), p. 2. (1877), p. 2.
(p) Pari. Papers, Turkey, No. 12 (r) Ibid. p. 3.
(1877), p. 5.
AND INDEPENDENCE. 113
Before the final consent of Russia was obtained, a secret under- Secret agree-
standing was entered into between her and England, by which the England with
^^^
latter agreed not to oppose certain of the demands of Russia at S^^f^^
the Congress. This was divulged by a shorthand writer in the
temporar}^ employment of the Foreign Office, and published in an
evening newspaper, and its effect was somewhat to lower the
prestige England had recently gained as the champion of inter-
national law. But the understanding itself contained nothing con-
trary to that law. The fact that England would not resist certain
(s) See Lord Salisbury's Despatch of 1st April, 1878. Pari. Papers, Turkey,
No. 27 (1878).
W. 8
114 RIGHT OF SELF-PRESERVATION
Tiiis convention was only to last while Russia retained her oon-
qiie.sts in Armenia (i).
Congress of The Congress met at Berlin, and on the ISth of July, 1878, a
whole question was agreed to.
final treaty for the settlement of the
This entirely superseded those parts of the Treaty of San Stefano
which the Congress considered to concern the Powers, leaving in
force only twelve clauses of minor importance, relating to law-
suits in Turkey, prisoners, ratification, the indemnity, and so
on (w), and materially altered the stipulations of the Treaty of
Paris. Roumania, Serbia, and Montenegro were declared inde-
pendent, and certain portions of territory were added to each. A
new principality, under the name of Bulgaria, was formed out of
the region lying between the Danube and the Balkans. It was
declared autonomous and tributary under the sovoreignty of the
Sultan, but with a Christian government and a national militia;
and its position is somewhat similar to that occupied by Roumania
and Serbia before the war. An anomalous province, called Eastern
Roumelia, was formed south of the Balkans. The Sultan was
left the right of defending the frontiers of this province, but
8(2)
116 EIGHT OF SELF-PRESERVATION
(c) Pari. Papers, Turkey, No. 1 (1886); Ibid. Turkey, No. 2 (1886).
AND INDEPENDENCE. 117
pality of Bulgaria should remain in the hands of one and the same
person, the Mussulman villages situated in the Canton of Kirdjali,
as well as the Mussulman villages situated in the Bhodope dis-
trict, were to be separated from Eastern Roumelia; and this in
lieu of tho*right of theSublime Porto, as laid down in the first
paragraph of Article XV. of the Treaty of Berlin (e); the neces-
sary delimitation to be carried out by a Turco-Bulgarian Com-
mission. (3) A
Turco-Bulgarian Commission was to be directed
to examine the Organic Statute of Eastern Roumelia, and to
modify it, with due regard to the exigencies of the situation and
local requirements. All the interests of the Imperial Ottoman
treasury were likewise to be taken into consideration. The labours
of this latter Commission were to be completed in four months,
and the result submitted to the sanction of the Conference.
Until these modifications should have been sanctioned, the task
of administering the province, in accordance with the forms
demanded by the then present condition of affairs, was to be en-
trusted to the wisdom and fidelity of the Prince. (4) All other
dispositions of the Treaty of Berlin relative to the Principality of
A few days later Prince Alexander, who had contended for a Later history
" ^* Bulgaria.
personal nomination of himself in place of the Prince of
Bulgaria," but had been defeated in this respect by Russian oppo-
sition, announced his submission to the international act, and his
readiness to nominate delegates to the commissions (g) The state .
(d) Pari. Papers, Turkey, No. 2 (/) Pari. Papers, Turkey, No. 2
(1886). (1886); Hertslet, Map of Europe,
(e) That is, of the right to garrison No. 611.
the Balkans. (^) Pari. Papers, Turkey, No. 2
(1886); Ibid. Turkey, No. 1 (1887).
118 EIGHT OF SELF-PEESERVATION
cepted the position and entered the country. His election was not
confirmed by the Porte and the signatory Powers until March,
1896. In 1908, Bulgaria, which had on several occasions dls-
(70 Pari. Papers, Turkey, No. 1 (Jc) Pari. Papers, Turkey, No. 2
(1887). (1887).
(0 Ibid.
AND INDEPENDENCE. 119
patible with the independence of the State and the rights of the
Crown. On the 13th April, the conclusion of the arrangement
with regard to Eastern Roumelia (o) was communicated to the
Greek Premier, with the expression of a hope that Greece would
comply Avith the unanimous wish of Europe for the maintenance
of peace. The disarmament being still delayed, certain ships of
the allied squadron were sent to the Piraeus. On the 6th May, a
final note was presented inviting the assurance, in the course of a
week, that orders had been promulgated to place the Hellenic land
and sea forces on a peace footing. The answer being unsatisfac-
tory, the representatives of the Powers and the Turkish Minister
left Athens en the following day. On May 8th, the Charges
d' Affaires communicated a notice of the blockade of the east coast
of Greece and the entrance to the Gulf of Corinth against all ships
under the Greek flag. Any ship under the Greek flag endeavour-
ing to violate the blockade was to be liable to deten,tion (/}) . The
Greek troops having retired from the frontier by the end of the
month, and Greece having notifled her Ministers at the Courts of
the PoAvers of her actual proceedings in the way of disarmament,
and the process of demobilization proceeding rapidly, the blockade
was raised on June 7th. Shortly afterwards the Ministers of the
Powers returned to xlthens (g).
Serbia, On 6th March, 1889, Milan, King of Serbia, abdicated in
.
Greek war of The inability of the Porte to maintain order in Crete, and to
1897.
restrain the Christian and the Mohammedan from cutting one
another's throats, led, in February, 1897, to the intervention of
(t?) Pari. Papers, Greece, No. 1, (1886); Ibid. No. 2 (1886); Ibid.
No. 2, No. 3, No. 4 (1886). No. 1 (1887); Ibid. No. 2 (1887).
{q) Pari. Paper, Greeee, No. 4 (s) Pari. Papers, cited preceding
(1886). note; Pari. Paper, Greece, No. 2
(r) Pari. Papers, Turkey, No. 1 (4,886); Ibid. No. 4 (1886).
AND INDEPENDENCE. 121
Interference The
interference of the five great European Powers represented
great Euro-
ii^the Conference of London, in the Belgic Revolution of 1830,
pean Powers affords ail example of the application of this right to preserve the
general peace, and to adapt the new order of thing's to the stipula- "' ^^'^ Belgic
•
PI •
T^ r> 1 TT- •
1 1 1 • Revolution of
1 1 1
•
tions 01 the treaties oi raris and Vienna, by which the kingdom i830.
of the Netherlands had been created. We have given, in another
w^ork, a full account of the long and intricate negotiations relating
to the separation of Belgium' from Holland, which assumed alter-
(?0 Wheaton, Hist, of the Law of {y) Convention of Oct. 31, 1861,
—
Nations, pp. 538 555. Art. ii. Hertslgt, Treaties, vol. xii.
{x) Annual Register, 1862, p. 5. p. 475. -^ —
124 RIGHT OF SELF-PRESERVATION
"
M. Calvo justly says that this intervention constitue pour les
gave rise to new disputes in 1768; but they were again adjusted by
the intervention of the mediating Powers. In 1782, the French
Government once more united with these Cantons and the court of
Sardinia in mediating between the aristocratic and democratic
parties; butappears to be very questionable how far these
it
torn.
(/) Flassan, Hiatoire de la Diplomatie Fran^aise,
torn. v. p. 78; vii.
Proposed
m 1862, a proposition was made by France to England and
jj-^
mediation -,-,.,, f .
the American Russia, that the three countries should offer their friendly media -
. .
ivj War.
|.-Qj^ ^^ the contending parties in the American Civil War. The
moment was deemed inopportune by Russia, and England declined
to accede to the proposal. "According to the information wo
possess," wrote Prince Gortchakow to M. D'Oubil, Russian charge
"
d'affaires in Paris, on the 27th October, 1862, we are led *to
believe that a combined movement
France, England, and of
Russia, however conciliatory it might be, and with whatsoever
precautions it might be surrounded, if it came with an official and
collective character, would incur the risk of bringing about a result
"
opposed to the pacificatory end which the three Courts desire (k).
The proposal would have been declined had it been made.. It
was thought in the Northern States that the policy of France was
hostile to the Union, and that the proposed mediation was only a
(w) Vattel, Droit des Gens, liv. i. cessor to Pope Leo XIII.; but it seems
ch. 5, §§ 66, 67. doubtful whether it amounted to more
(n) Kliiber, Droit des Gens Moderne than a protest to the effect that the
de I'Europe, Pt. II. tit. 1, ch. 2, § 48. election of Cardinal RampoUa would
This right of veto is said to have been be one that Austria would be unable
exercised by an Austrian cardinal, on to welcome. See Quarterly Review,
behalf of his emperor, at the conclave Oct. 1903, p. 443.
held in August, 1903, to choose a sue-
128 EIGHT OF SELF-PEESERVATION
treaty.
1. The
legality of the order in council permitting British sub-
engage in the military service of the Queen of Spain, by
jects to
exempting them from the general operation of the Act of
Parliament of 1819, forbidding them from' enlisting in foreign
military service, was not called in question by Sir Robert Peel
and the other speakers on the part of the opposition. Nor was
the lobligation of the treaty of quadruple alliance, by which the
British Government was bound to furnish arms and the aid of a
naval force to the Queen of Spain, denied by them. Yet it was
asserted, that without a declaration of war, it would be with the
greatest difficulty that the special obligation of giving naval aid
could be fulfilled, Avithout placing the force of such a compact in
opposition to the general binding nature of international law.
Whatever might be the special obligation imposed on Great
Britain by the treaty, it could not warrant her in preventing a
neutral State from receiving a supply of arms. She had no right,
without a positive declaration of war, to stop the ships of a neutral
country on the high seas.
2. It was contended that the suspension of the foreign enlist-
ment law was equivalent to a direct military interference in the
domestic affairs of another nation. The general rule on which
Gre^t Britain had hitherto acted was that of non-interference.
The only exceptions admitted to this rule were cases where the
necessity was urgent and immediate; affecting, either on account
of vicinage, or some special circumstances, the safety or vital
interests of the State. To interfere on the vague ground that
British interests would be promoted by the intervention, on the
had a right, if they chose to exercise it, to take part with either
of the two belligerent parties. Undoubtedly it was inexpedient to
exercise that right except under circumstanoes of a peculiar nature.
That right, however, was general. If one country exercised it,
another might equally exercise it. One State might support one
party, another the other party: and whoever embarked in either
cause must do so with their eyes open to the full extent of the
possible consequences of their decision. He contended, therefore,
that the measure under consideration established no new principle,
and that it created no danger as a precedent. Every case must be
judged by the considerations of prudence which belonged to it.
The present case, therefore, must be judged by similar considera-
tions. All that he maintained was, that the recent j)i'ooeeding
did not go beyond the spirit of the engagement into which Great
Britain had entered, that it did not establish any new principle,
and that the engagement was quite consistent with the law of
nations (p).
CHAPTEE II.
legislation, in respect to the personal rights and civil state and fe^Jislltion!^^
condition of its citizens, and in respect to all real and personal
collection of rules for determining the conflicts between the civil j^^i'^ational
and criminal laws of different States, is called private international
law, to distinguish it from public international law, which regu-
lates the relations of States {a) .
possesses principles.
(«) Foelix, Droit International Prive, seq.; J. A. Foote, Priv. Int. Juris-
§ 3; Story, Conflict of Laws, §§ 9, 10, prudence (ed. Phillipson, 1914), pp.
11; Kent, Commentaries, vol. ii. p. 39; xxxvii. seq.
Westlake, Priv. Int. Law (1912), pp. 1
9(2)
lJi2 EIGHTS OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGISLATION.
principle, that the laws of every State control, of right, all the
real and personal property within its territory, as well as the in-
habitants of the territory, whether born there or not, and that
they affect and regulate all the acts done, or contracts entered into
within its limits.
Consequently, "every State possesses the power of regulating
the conditions on which the real or personal property, within its
cases, how to folloAV the foreign laws, and to apply their ])ro visions.
The express consent of a Statie, to the application of foreign laws
within its territory, is given by acts passed by its legislative .'lutho-
rity, or by treaties concluded with other States.
Its tacit consent
is manifested by the decisions of its judicial and administrative
authorities, as well as by the writings of its publicists.
No obligation There is no obligation, recognised by legislators, public
^^^^^^
laws. authorities, and publicists, to regard foreign laws; but their
application is admitted, only from considerations of utility and
ex comitate,' ob reciprocam
of States
'
Huberus. lays down the following general maxims, as adequate to solve all
the intricate questions which may arise respecting it :
—
1 . The laws of every State have force within the limits of that
State, and bind all its subjects.
(/) Huberus, Prcelect. Jur. Civ., torn. ii. lib. i. tit. 3, De conflictu legimi.
EIGHTS OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGISLATION. 135
The main reason for this divergence lies in the fact that con- Reasons for
^® ^ ®"
tinental conveyancing has always supposed public acts as the rule,
rence.
and made but a comparatively sparing use of the private docu-
ments which constitute Anglo-American titles. The inconveni-
ence arising from the inability to dispose of land unless the owner
was in the country where it was situate, naturally led to the rule
that conveyances of immoveables are rendered valid by the lex loci
actus. On the other hand, the Anglo-American law prescribes
formalities which may be performed anywhere, and are not con-
trary to the law of any nation, and it therefore justly refuses to
give effect to transfers of land, unless such formalities have been
complied Avith(/(;). However, no one maintains that a form ex-
pressly imposed as an exclusive one by the lex situs, can ever be
dispensed with. Thus the French law of the 23rd March, 1855,
(ff) Huberus, liv. i. tit. 3, De con- General Trmt Co. \. River Plate Trust
flictu leg. § 15. Loan and Agency Co., (1892) 2 Ch.
(/O Robinson v. Campbell (1818), 303; Beschamps v. Miller, (1908) 1
3 Wheaton, 212; U. 8. v. Crosby, 7 Ch. 856. Wharton, Conflict of Laws,
Cranch, 115; Cop pin v. Cop pin (1725), p. 372; Foote, Priv. Int. Jurisp.
2 P. W. 291; Brodie v. Barry (1813), (1914), pp. 205 seq.
2 Ves. Beames, 127; McGoon v.
«fe
(*) Foelix, Droit International Prive,
Scales, 9 Wallace, 23; Frehe v. Lord § 52; Huberus, st^>-«.
Carbery (1873), L. R. 16 Eq. 461; (A;) Weatlake,Priv. Int. Law (1912),
Adams v. Clxitterbiich (1883), 10 Q. B. p. 226; Foote, loc. cit.
D. 403; Mercantile Investment ami
136 EIGHTS OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGISLATION.
the lex loci rei the character of the property, that is, whether
sitce is
Droit
^
The municipal laws of all European countries formerly pro-
d'aubaine.
hibited aliens from holding real property within the territor}' of
the State. During the prevalence of the feudal system, the acqui-
sition of property in land involved the notion of allegiance to the
was also during the same rude ages that the 'jus albinagii or
'droit d'aubaine' was established; by which all the property of a
deceased foreigner (moveable or immoveable) was confiscated to the
use of the State, to the exclusion of his heirs, whether claiming
ah intestato, or under a will of the deceased (o). In the progress
of civilization, this barbarous and inhospitable usage has been,
subjects (p).
' '
It is only of late years that the right of holding lands on the Rights of
(?j) Rotteck und Welcker, Staats- (r) Treaty of 1828 between the
Lexicon, Art. 6rfl!5^recA2;,, Band 6, § 362. United States and Prussia, Art. 14.
Vattel, liv. ii. oh. viii. §§ 112 —
114. Elliott, Am. Diplom. Code, vol. i.
Kliiber, Droit des Gens, Pt. II. tit. 1, p. 388. See U. S. Diplom. Gov. 1873,
ch. ii. §§ 32, 33. Von Mayer, Corp. vol. ii.
p. 1415.
Jur. Confsed. Germanicse, torn. ii. (5) Report of Naturalization Oom-
p. 17. Merlin, Repertoire, tit. ^w6«*«e, mission, 1869, p. 115.
(q) Kent, Coram, vol. ii. pp. 67—69 (t) Ibid. p. 128.
(5th ed.). (w) Ibid. p. 131.
138 EIGHTS OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGISLATION.
Austria {x), the Netherlands (y), and Sweden (z), only accord the
right on condition of reciprocity in the foreigner's country. The
constitution of the German Empire provides, that every person
belonging to one of the confederated States is to be treated in every
other of the confederated States as a born native, and to be per-,
mitted to acquire real estate (a) But as regards other countries,
.
(x) Civil Code of Austria, § 33. Nat. Comni. p. 131; and U. S. Diplom.
(y) Civil Code of the Netherlands, Cor. 1873, p. 1414.
§§ 884, 957. (g) 33 k 34 Vict. c. 14, s. 2.
(z) Swedish Statute of Inheritance, (h) Bloxmn v. Favre (1884), 9 P. D.
"Arfda Balken," eh. 15, § 2. 130. As to British colonies and de-
(a) Art. iii. Hertalet, Map of pendencies, see Rep, of Nat. Comm.
Europe, vol. iii. p. 1931. 1869, p. 137.
(6) Report of Naturalization Com- (0 Calvin's Case (1608), 2 State Tr.
mission, 18^9, pp. 114, 124, 129, 138. 639; Donegani v. Bonegani (1835), 3
(c) Ibid. p. 116. Italian Civil Code, Knapp, P. C. 63; Re Adam (1837), 1
Art. iii. Civil Code of Greece, Art. 5. Moo. P. C. 460. Fourteenth Amend-
(d) Ohio, Michigan, Illinois. ment to U. S. Constitution, U. S.
(e) Vermont, N, and S. Carolina. Statutes at Large, vol. xv. p. 706; and
(/) Connecticut, Maine, Delaware, Wharton, Digest, § 183.
Maryland, Virginia, Tennessee, Arkan- (h-) G. Brock to Sir C. L. Wyke,
sas, Indiana, Missouri. See Rep. of 26th July, 1868, Nat. Coram. Rep.
p. 143.
RIGHTS OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGISLATION. 139
Belgium (q), France (r), Greece (s), and Spain (f), children of
alien parents born there are enabled to acquire the nationality of
the country by a declaration, made within a year after their
parents were born there or not. If either of the parents was born
in France, such children are now regarded as French subjects from
their birth; but if only the mother was born there the children
As to personal property, the lex domicilii of its owner prevails J^'-*^ domicilii.
personam sequuntur.' Thus the law of the place, where the owner
of personal property was domiciled at the time of his decease,
(I) Civil Code of Portugal, tit. iii. (r) Code Napoleon; Code Civil,
Art. 18, No. 2. liv. i. c. i.
§ 9.
(m) Law of 28tli July, 1850, P. 0. (s) Civil Code of Greece, Arts. 17,
No. 44, Art. 1; Swedish law of Oct. 19.
1894; Martena, Nouv. Rec. Gen. 2nie (t) Royal Decree, 17th Nov. 1852.
Ser. XX. p. 823. (w) Law of 29th Jan. and 7th Feb.
(n) Civil Code of Italy, lib. i. tit. i. 1851, Art. 1; Law of 28th June, 1889.
Art. 8. {cc) Laws of 28th June, 1889, and
(o) Rep. of Nat. Comm. pp. 141
— 23rd July, 1893, and on the subject
149. generally, see G. Oogordan, La nation-
(p) Baden Landrecht, Art. 9. alite au point de vue des rapports
Iq) Oivil Code of Belgium, Art. 9. internationaux (Paris, 1890).
Law of 27th Sept. 1835, Art. 2.
140 EIGHTS OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGISLATION.
But these doubts were overruled in a later decision bj^, the Court
of Delegates in England, establishing the law, that the actual
where the testator had his domicile, that is to say, by the law of
England prevailing in that country; and this, although the will
various countries can be derived. But when the title to a par- chang-e of
ticular chattel is concerned, in a case not involving <^o™icile as
any universal
assignment, the law of its situation is absolute (c). In England
no change of domicile Avill avoid or affect a will which was valid by
the law of the testator's domicile at the time of its execution {d).,
Some American Union have adopted a dif-
of the States of the
ferent rule. Thus, in New York the law of the testator's last
domicile is held to govern the will(e'). The payment of legacy
duty is regulated by the lex domicilii; and, in general, the lia-
bility to pay succession duty or no is determined by the same test.
But the domicile of the settlor
is not, in this latter
respect, con-
clusive. may There
be such a settlement made of the property as
to give it a British character, and then the duty Avill be
payable
whatever be the domicile of the settlor (/) .
The Wills Act (Lord Kingsdown's Act) of 1861 provides that, Wills of
'"
Every will or other testamentary disposition made out of the subjects made
United Kingdom by a British subject (whatever may be the domi- 'inroad,
Personal
status.
The sovereign power of municipal legislation also extends to
the regulation of the personal rights of the citizens of the State,
and to everything affecting their civil state and condition.
It extends (with certain exceptions) to the supreme police over
allpersons within the territory, whether citizens or not, and to all
(A) In the goods of Lacroix (1877), (7c) In the goods of Gaily (1876),
2 P D. 95 1 P. D. 438. Of. Foote, p. 255.
(0 '24 & 25 Vict. c. 114, s. 2. (0 Cf Huberus,
. torn. ii. liv. i. tit. 3,
Do conflict, leg. § 2.
EIGHTS OF CIVIL AND CKIMINAL LEGISLATION. 143
acquired domicile.
Even supposing a natural-born subject of one country cannot
throv/ off his primitive allegiance, so as to cease to be responsible'
for criminal acts against his native country, it has been deter-
mined, both in Great Britain and the United States, that he may
become by residence and naturalization in a foreign State entitled
to all the commercial privileges of his acquired domicile and citi-
the rights of the parties under it are to be governed by the) lex loci
contractus (s) .
party by the other (x) It seems fairly established that the law
.
(p) Kent, Comment, vol. ii. pp. 182, Conflict of Laws, § 193. Wharton,
186, n. (5tli edit.); Foote, p. 220. § 190.
(q) Huberus, 1. i. tit. 3, De con- (u) Warrender v. Warrender (1835),
flict, leg. § 9. 2 01. & Fin. 488.
(/•)
66.
Foelix, § Westlake, Priv. {x) Bonati v. Welsh (1861), 2-1 New
Int. Law (1912), p. 77. Field, Inter- York, 157. See Le Sueur v. Le Sueur
national Code, § 575. Foote, p. 220. (1876), 1 P. D. 139.
(s) De Couclie v. Savetier, 3 John- (y) Phillimore, vol. iv. § 445.
son, Ch. Eep. 211. Wafts V. Schrmipton (1856), 21 Bea-
(0 Cf. Bicey, Conflict of Laws van, 97; Wright's Trusts (1856), 2
(1908), p. 640; and see Field, Inter- K. k J. 595. Westlake, loc. ctt.
national Code, § 577 (2iid ed.). Story, Dicey, p. 635. Foote, p. 312.
EIGHTS OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGISIATION. 145
where the property lies. The Supreme Court of the United States
has therefore determined, that hoth the government under its
Lex loci II. The municipal laws of the State may also operate beyond
contractus.
its territorial jurisdiction, where a contract made within the terri-
tory comes either directly or incidentally in question in the judi-
cial tribunals of aforeign State.
A. contract, valid by the law of the place where it is made, is,
citizens.
Thus, if goods are sold in a place where they are not prohibited,
to be delivered in a place where they are prohibited, although the
trade ih perfectly lawful by the lex loci contractus, the price can-
not be recovered in the State where the goods are deliverable,
because to enforce the contract there would be to sanction a breach
of itsown commercial laws. But the tribunals of one country
do not take notice of, or enforce, either directly or incidentally,,
the laws of trade or revenue of another State, and therefore an
insurance of prohibited trade may be enforced in the tribunals of
any other country than that where it is prohibited by the local
laws(pf).
Huberus holds that the contract of marriage to be governed Foreign
is
contracting, by the law of their own country. But according to English law.
the international marriage law of the British Empire, a clan-
destine marriage in Scotland, of parties originally domiciled in
10 (2)
148 EIGHTS OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGISLATION.
English law By the law of England, what is to be the law by which a con-
" "
The law of There can be.no doubt," said Lord Campbell, of the general
the domicile
rule that a foreign marriage, valid according to the law of a
regulates the
capacity of
the parties to
country where it is celebrated, is good
everywhere. But while
marry.
the forms of entering into the contract of marriage are to be
Marriages of By
the Foreign Marriage Act of 1892, it is provided that all
British
subjects marriages between parties of whom one at least is a British sub-
abroad. and solemnized in the manner therein provided in any foreign
ject,
4. As
every sovereign State has the exclusive right of regu-
Lex fori.
lating the proceedings in its own courts of justice, the lex loci
oonimctiU of another country cannot apply to such cases as are
properly to be determined by the lex fori of that State where the
contract is brought in question.
Thus, if a contract made in one country is attempted to be
1. The person
of a foreign sovereign, or head of a State, going territory of
into the territory of another State, is, by the general usage and another State.
(u) 55 & 56 Vict. c. 23. For pre- (z) Bynkershoek, De Foro Le^at.,
vious legislation on the subject, see cap. iii. § 13, cap. ix. § 10. In the
schedule to the Act containing the case of Duke of Brunswick v. Kinr/
statutes repealed. Foote, pp. 103 seq. of Hanover (1844), 6 Beav. 1, at p. 51,
(x) Foote, p. 107. Lord Langdale said: "On the whole
(y) Kent, Commentaries, vol. ii. it ought to be considered as a general
p. 459 (5th ed.). Foelix, Droit Inter- rule, in accordance with the law of
national Prive, § 76'. I>on v. Lipp- nations, that a sovereign prince, resi-
man (1837), 5 Cl. «fe F. 1; Scudder v. dent in the dominions of another, is
Bank, 91 U. S. 406. Of. Foote, exempt from the jurisdiction of the
pp. 474 seq. (where numerous cases Courts there." See infra, p. 329; and
are cited). see Mighell v. Stdtariof Johore, (1894)
152 EIGHTS OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGISLATION.
"m^F^^h^^
The above principles, respecting the exemption of vessels be-
longing to a foreign nation from the local jurisdiction, were
asserted by the Supreme Court of the United States, in the cele-
brated case of The Exchange (e), a vessel which had originally
belonged to an American citizen, but had been seized and confis-
cated at St. Sebastian, in Spain, and converted into a public armed
vessel by the Emperor Napoleon, in 1810, and was reclaimed by
the original owner, on her arrival in the port of Philadelphia.
troops of a foreign prince to pass through his dominions. In such foreign troopg
case, without any express declaration Waiving jurisdiction over through the
which ^^^i*®^-
the army to passage has been granted, the
this right of
jurisdiction over the troops during their passage, and permits the
foreign general to use that discipline and to inflict those punish-
ments which the government of his army may require. But if,
without such express permission, an army should be led through
the territories of a foreign prince, might the territorial jurisdiction,
be rightfully exercised over the individuals composing that army ?
Without doubt, a military force can never gain immunities of any
other description than those which war gives, by entering a foreign
who stipulates a passage for his troops, or an asylum for his ships
of war in distress, should mean to subject his army or his navy
to the jurisdiction of a foreign sovereign. And if this could not
be presumed, the sovereign of the port must be considered as
having conceded the privilege to the extent to which it must have
been understood to be asked.
of tho place; but certainly, in practice, nations had not yet asserted
their jurisdiction over the public armed ships of a foreign seven
on
'
capture, pointed out that the Courts of the United States had
"adopted unequivocally the doctrine that a public ship-of-war of
a foreign sovereign at peace with the United States, coming into
our ports and demeaning herself in a friendly manner, is exempt
from the jurisdiction of the country" (/). This is now the
general rule of international law; it must be taken, of course^
subject to certain qualifications that arise in time of war (m).
Proceedings Tlie point actually decided in the case of The Exchange was,.
against ships i
i r ^ ^
•
i i
• •
i
•
i i i
of war. that the local court would not inquire into the title by which the
foreign sovereign held his vessel; but it did not follow from this
that ships of war were to be exempt from the jurisdiction in all
cases when complying with the terms of the implied license under
which they entered the friendly port. The municipal law of
most countries prohibits subjects from taking proceedings against
the ships of war of their own country, except with the consent
of the government (n). But whether a subject of one State could
take legal proceedings against a ship of war of another State for
the purpose of enforcing a maritime lien, like salvage or damage,
or for establishing any other claini against such ship of war, has
ill order to preserve the peaee and harmony of nations, and the
private vessels entering the French ports for the purposes of trade, the local
appears to be inconsistent with the principles established in the jurisdiction,
judgment of the Supreme Court of the United States in the case The law of
of The Exchcmge ; or, to speak more correctly, the legislation of
Franco waives, in favour of such vessels, the exercise of the local
jurisdiction to a greater extent than appears to be imperatively
required by the general principles of international law. As it
disturbed.
In respect to acts of the first class, the French tribunals decline
to assert jurisdiction. The French law declares that the rights
of the Power, to which the vessel belongs, should be respected, and
tliatthe local authority should not interfere, unless its aidi is
demanded. These acts, therefore, remain under the police and
jurisdiction of the State to which the vessel belongs. In respect
to those of the second class, the local jurisdiction is asserted by
those tribunals. It is based on the principle, that the protection
accorded to foreign merchantmen in the French ports cannot divest
upon one of the seamen, for having made use of the boat without
by the American
leave; is of opinion that the jurisdiction claimed
consuls ought to be allowed, and the French tribunals prohibited
"
from taking cognizance of these cases (/) .
It has been laid down bymany AVriters that a ship of war is Doctrine of
belongs, and that when in the waters of another State not only
is the vessel herself exempt from the looal law, but the exemption
extends to all persons and things on board her (h) Although this
.
In the case of John Brown, a British subject, who was im- Case of John
Brown.
prisoned by the Spaniards at Callao in 1819, for assisting in a
Peruvian revolt, and who escaped on board a British ship of ^var
(?*) Report of Royal Commission on vol. i. p. 25. See also ibid., pp. %T,
Fugitive Slaves, 1876, p. 77. 54, 56. U. S. Papers on Foroign
(A) Opinions of Attorneys-General, Affairs, vol. i. p. 446.
RIGHTS OF CIVIL AXD CRIMINAL LEGISLATION. 167
(/) Report of Royal Commission on Fugitive Slaves, 1876, pp. 37, 43.
168 RIGHTS OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGISLATION.
Merchant
vessels in
A merchant vessel is not in the same j)osition as a ship of war.
foreign ports. Every State claims to exercise jurisdiction over its own merchant
vessels wherever they are, and even when they are in the waters
of another State. But when in a foreign j)ort they must also
obey the laws of the country to which the port belongs (m) They .
Case of The
Creole.
A 23eculiar case arose in 1841 . The brig Creole, an American
merchant vessel, sailed from
a port in Virginia with 135 slaves
on board. On the high seas some of the slaves rose, and took
possession of the vessel, killing a passenger, and wounding the
captain and several of the crew. They compelled the mate to
navigate the ship to Nassau. On arrival there the local autho-
rities, at the request of the American Consul, arrested such slaves
as were proved to have committed acts of violence, and the rest
escaped to the shore, but whether with connivance of the local
authorities or not did not appear. The United States demanded
that those who had gained the shore should be restored, but this
was refused by Great Britain, on the ground that they could not
be seized while they had committed no crime within British juris-
diction. The matter was finally referred to an arbitrator, who
awarded a pecuniary indemnity to the American owner for the loss
of his slaves (o). The difficulty of this case arises from the fact
that the Creole entered the port of Nassau under duress, and
against the will of her owners and master. Yet it can hardly be
maintained that even under such circumstances the local autho-
rities were bound to try and prevent the slaves from
going on
shore. The
ship was within British dominions, and the slaves
when trying to escape, violated no British law; but, on the con-
trary, were endeavouring to dissolve a tie looked upon with abhor-
rence by British law. The arrest of those who had committed
on a different ground. They were seized,
acts of violence rested
not because they had endeavoured to regain their liberty, but
because they had committed piratical acts (/>).
(p) Soe Calvo, Droit International, of Int. Law, voL ii. § 206.
voL ii. §§ 269, 550.
(r) Ellis v. Mitchell (1874), U. S.
{q) With regard to the British law Foreign Relations, 1875, p. 600.
and practice, of. Piggott, Nationality, (s) 120 U. S. 1.
ii. 17 — 32; for the law and practice vol. i. pp. 277 8eq.
Cobbett, Cases,
So also it has been determined by the Supreme Court of the The exemp-
United States, that the exemption of foreign public ships, coming ships^from the
into the waters of a neutral State, from the local jurisdiction, does local juris-
. .
diction does
not extend to their prize ships, or goods captured by armaments not extend to
fitted out in its ports, in violation of its neutrality, and of the
!Jj)ods^taken
laws enacted to enforce that neutrality. in violation
Such was their judgment in the case of the Spanish ship neutrality of
(«) Sirey, Recueil general de Juris- learned and eloquent pleading in this
prudence, tome xxxii. par tie i. p. 578.
; memorable case, in his Collection dee
M. Dupin aine has published his R^quisitoires, tome i. p. 447.
172 EIGHTS OF CIVIL AND CEIMINAL LEGISLATION.
the country Santtssima Trinidad, from which the car^o had been taken out,
into which 1 1
•
1 TT 1 •
they are on the high seas, by armed vessels commissioned by the Unitea
brought. Provinces of the Eio de la Plata, and fitted out in the ports of the
United States in violation of their neutrality. The tacit per-
mission, in virtue of which the ships of war of a friendly Power
are exempt from the jurisdiction of the country, cannot be so inter-
preted as to authorize them to violate the rights of sovereignty of
the State,by committing acts of hostility against other nations,
with an armament supplied in the ports, where they seek an asy-
lum. In conformity with this principle, the Court ordered
restitution of the goods claimed by the Spanish owners, as wrong-
fully taken from them (a) .
Jurisdiction 3.Both the public and private vessels of every nation, on the
olerTtfp«!blio ^^S^ ^^^ o^t of the territorial limits of any other State, are
^6^^'
and private subjccl to the jurisdiction of the State to which they belong '(&).
hig-h seas.
^^ Beg. V. Lesley (1860) (c) it was said: "It is clear that an
English ship on the high sea, out of any foreign country, is sub-i
ject to the laws of England; and persons, whether foreign or Eng-
lish, on board such ship are as much amenable to English law aa
Vattel says that the domain of a nation extends to all its just
This jurisdiction which the nation has over its public and
(a) The Santissima Trinidad (1822), son (1879), Moore, Digest, vol, i.
offences against its own municipal laws Piracy and other offences
.
against the law of nations, being crimes not against any particu^
lar State, but
against all mankind, may be punished hj the
competent tribunal of any country where the offender may be
(e) Sir L. Jenkins, Works, vol. i. Wheaton, 39; The Antelope (1825),
p. 714. 10 Wheaton, 122; et vide infra, pp.
(/) The Louis (1817), 2 Dods. Ad. 202 et seq.
238; The Marianna Flora (1826), 9
174 EIGHTS OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGISLATION.
(</) Edinburgh Review, vol. xi. September 23, 1807. Amerif^an State
Avt 1. Canning's Letter to Monroe, Papers, vol. vi. p. 103.
EIGHTS OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGISLATION. 175
his obligation, under all circutmstances, and for his whole life, to
render military service to the Crown ^vhenever required.
This statement, made in the words of eminent British jurists,
showed at once that the English claim was far broader than the
basis on which it was raised . The law relied on was English law ;
circumstances
practice ofimpressment fell into complete disuse in England after
the conclusion of the Napoleonic wars in 1815, and the alterations dispute arose.
in the municipal laws of each country, added to the naturalization
treaty between them, have altered the whole aspect of the ques-
tion (^) .
England no longer claims the perpetual allegiance of
her subjects; and even if she did, it is highly im^probable that she
would at the present day assert the right of taking them out of
foreign vessels on the high seas .
had also thepower of seizing anyone they found there who owed
allegiance to the British Crown (?). But the claim of England
had in reality nothing to do with the right of search The seamen
.
she seized were neither contraband of war nor enemy's goods; they
were seized simply because they owed allegiance. It so happened
that the only way of catching them was by taking them out of
foreign ships; and as they were not wanted during peaoe, there
was no need for asserting the claim except during war, when the
right of search existed. But these were circumstances which only
accidentally connected impressment with the right of search. The
two have nothing in common. It must, however, be remembered
that international laAV has not always been, and is not even now,
in all respects fixed and definite, and that the views of the present
day are not precisely the same as those held at the beginning of
the nineteenth century (m) .
Ca^e of The In 1861, the question as to how far a merchant vessel may b^
stopped on the high seas and persons taken out of hei' by the
officers of a foreign Government reappeared in a very different
Britain.
It was contended by the United States that the persons seized
and their despatches were to be considered contraband of war and
in the same position as naval and military persons (o), and that the
Trent being a neutral merchant vessel, it was the right of the
8a7i Jacinto, as a belligerent cruiser, to stop her for the purpose
of ascertaining her true national character, and of seizing any
contraband found on board. The detention of the commissioners
was, however, not persisted in, and they were delivered up on
considerations connected with com^plaints previously made by the
Unite<l States as impressment of seamen from' their
to the
vessels (p) Although
. American Government congratulated
the
the captain of the San Jacvnto "for the great public service he
had rendered," and although his acts were approved by mjany
eminent American jurists, the transaction cannot be regarded as
justifiable. The Trent was on a bond fide voyage from one neu-
tral port to another. She was a mail steamer, a class of vessel
peculiarly exempt from molestation, and instead of being cap-
tured and brought before a Prize Court, she was simply stopped
on the high seas, and certain arbitrary acts performed on board
her by the American captain.
One of the reasons alleged by the captain of the San Jacinto for
not bringing in the Trent for adjudication before a Prize Court
was, that he wished to spare the other passengers the inconvenience
(w) Pari. Papers, 18^2, N. America, point of fact, Sir W. Scott's dictum
Tol. Ixii. (No. 5), p. 3. in the former did not concern the
(o) The authority of Vattol was in- case of an ambassador sent to a neutral
voiced; he holds that a belligerent State on board a neutral vessel; and
may prevent his enemy from sending the latter was not applicable to the
ministers to solicit assistance. Eef er- question at issue, as the vessel involved
ence waa also made to passages found was found to have acted as an enemy
in the judgments in The Caroline transport.
(1807), € 0. Rob. 461, and The Oro- (p) Mr. Seward to Lord Lyons,
zembo (1807), 6 0. Rob. 430; but, in 26th Dec. 1861.
12 (2)
180 RIGHTS OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGISLATION.
ground for the capture of the vessel." Under this rule, it i^s
obvious that the envoys of the Southern Confederacy could not
have been forcibly removed from the Tremt.
iq) Of. Sir W. Harcourt, Letters of (;•) See Re Tootal's Trusts (1883),
Historicus, pp. 187 seq. See Moore, 2Z Ch..D.ZZ2', Abd-id-Messih \. Fcota
Digest, vol. vii. § 1265. (1887), 13 App. Cas. 431.
EIGHTS OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGISLATION. 181
Wang Hiya, 1844, between the United States and the Chinese China and the
" ^'"ited States.
Empire, it is stipulated (Article 21) that citizens of the United
States, who may commit any crime in China, shall be subject to
be tried and punished only by the consul, or other public func-
tionary of the United States thereto authorized, according to the
"
laAvs of the United States." Article 25: All questions in regard
to rights, whether of property or of person, arising between citi-
zens of the United States and in China, shall be subject to the
From a very early time, owing to the total difference of habits British
and religious feelings between the Europeans and Asiatics, it was Courts in non-
deemed necessary by their respective Governments to withdraw Christian
(s) De Steck, Essai sur les Consuls, Piggott, Exterritoriality, the law re-
sect, vii. §§ 30—-40. Pardessus, Droit lating to consular jurisdiction and to
Commercial, pt. vi. tdt. 6, ch. 2, § 2, residence in Oriental countries (1907).
eh. 4, §§ 1, 2, 3. As to English con- (0 See further Wharton, Digest,
suls, see Boyd, The* Merchant Shipping Appendix, § 125.
Laws, Index, tit. Consular officer; (u)The Laconm (1863) {Papayanni
Hall, Foreign Jurisdiction of the v. The Russian Steam Navigation OoS),
British Crown, chap. II.; Sir F. T. 2 Moo. P. O. N. S. 183.
182 EIGHTS OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGISLATION.
negotiation with and with the consent of the other Powers con-
cerned.
(c) 53 & 54 Vict. c. 37, s. 1. see Sir H. Jenkyns, British Eule and
(d) As to the origin of the system, Jurisdiction beyond the Seas (1902).
184 RIGHTS OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGISLATION.
4. To
the punishment of piracy and other offences against the
law of nations, by whomsoever and wheresoever' committed.
camiot punish an offence against its
It is evident that a State
(e) Cf. Imperial Japanese Government v. The P, ^' 0. Co., (1895) A. C. 644.
EIGHTS OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGISLATION. 186
arrest its own citizens in a place which is not within the jurisdici
tion of any other nation, as the high seas, and punish them for
offences committed within such a place, or within the territory
of a foreign State.
« , oi •
1
•
1 I
•
1 1
committed
against the law oi the otate in which they are committed; but they abroad.
may also be and frequently are offences against the law of the
State to which the offender owes allegiance (i) The following .
Act, the Commissioners for Oaths Act, 1889, and the Explosive
Substances Act, 1883 \n) . A
British subject who commits murder
or manslaughter abroad on land, whether within the King's domi-
nions or without, and whether he kills a British subject or not, can
be tried in England or Ireland wherever he may be apprehended .
the territorial limits of the State, but they are binding upon its tion.
citizens, wherever they may be. Thus, offences against the laws
of a State, prohibiting or regulating any particular traffic, may be
The public jurists are divided upon the question, how far a Extkadition
sovereign State is
obliged up persons, whether its own
to deliver
compacts {u) .
(s) Grotius, De
Jur. Bel. ac Pac, § 40. Schmaltz, Europaisches V61-
lib. §§ 3—5. Heineccius,
ii. cap. xi.
kerrecht, p. 160. Mittermaier, Das
Praelect. in Grot. j. t. Burlamaqui, deutsche Straf verfahren, Theil i. § 59,
tome ii. pt. iv. ch. 3, §§ 23—29. pp. 314—319. Heffter, Das Euro-
Vattel, liv. ii. ch. 0, §§ 76, 77. Ruther- paische Volkerrecht, § 63.
forth, Inst, of Nat. Law, vol. ii. ch. 9, (w) Mittermaier, ibid.
12.
Schmelzing, Systematischer (a;) See the communication of Jef-
&.rundriss des praktischen Europais- ferson to the French envoy Genet,
Chen Volkerrechts, § 161. Kent, Sept. 12th, 1793. The decision of
Comm., vol. i. pp. 36, 37 (5th ed.). Chancellor Kent, In re Washburn, 4
{t) Pufendorf, Elementa, lib. viii. Johnson, Ch. Rep. 166, is counter-
, cap. 3, §§ 23, 24. Voet, De Stat. balanced by that of Tilghman, C. J.,
§ 11, cap. 1, No. 6. Martens, Droit in Respub. v. Beacon, 10 Sergeant &
des Gens, liv. iii. ch. 3, § 101. Kluber, Rawle, 125; by that of Parker, C. J.,
Droit des Gens, pt. ii. tit. 1, ch. 2, in Respub. v. Green, 17 Mas. 515—
§ 66. Leyser, Meditationes ad Pan- 548 and by that of the Supreme Court
;
can be laid down at all, they must be founded only on the practice
of nations. A State is not likely to change its law or practice in
this respect, because it is not in accordance with the theories of
text-writers.
(y) E.g., Sir E. Clarke, Treatise on seq. The opinions of various Ameri-
the Law of Extradition (1904), can jurists and statesmen will be found
chap. i. in S. T. Spear, The Law of Extra-
ct-) Phillimore, vol. i. § 367. Heff- dition (Albany, 1885), chap. i.
ter,Droit International, p. 128. Moles- {a) Cf. Phillipson, Int. Law and
wortli, Foreign Jurisdiction, p. 37. Custom of Ancient Greece and Rome.
Calvo, vol. ii. §§ 325, 402. Creasy, vol. i. pp. 358 seq.
First Platform of International Law, (b) East India Co. v. Campbell
§ 208, &c. Hall, International Law, (1749), 1 Ves. 247.
p. 57 (5th ed.). Moore, Digest, §§ 580
190 EIGHTS OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGISLATION.
question arose whether the English Courts could seize them and
send them to Holland. was held that thej could ;(c). So late
It
as 1827 the Provincial Court of Appeals for Lower Canada held
that a fugitive accused of larceny in Vermont (U. S.), who escaped
into Canada, could be surrendered to the United States, although
there was then no treaty on the subject (^). There seems to be
no doubt that this would not now be done. The constitutional
doctrine in England is, that the Crown may make treaties with
foreign States for the extradition of criminals; but those treaties
can only be carried into effect by Act of Parliament, for tho
executive has no power, without statutory authority, to seize an
alien here and deliver him to a foreign Power. Lord Denman said
in the House of Lords that he believed all Westminster Hall, in-
cluding the judicial bench, were unanimous in holding the opinion
that in this country there was no right of delivering up; indeed, no
means of securing persons accused of crimies committed in foreign
countries (e) . It may thus be regarded as certain that England
will not at present surrender fugitives except under a treaty.
Nevertheless, she does not hesitate to ask other countries for fugi-
tives from herself. Thus, in 1874, the Spanish Government, at
the request of England, gave up Austin Bidwell, one of the Bank
forgers, without there being at the time any treaty between tha
two countries (/). The Eoyal Commission on extradition (1878)
Case of Carl j^ 1873, the earlier rule of refusing to grant extradition without
a treaty was reverted to in a case where the law should have been
added that even Great Britain and the United States are prepared
to take advantage of this principle, adopted by France and most
other States, when there are no existing extradition treaties with
them, and to demand the surrender of fugitive criminals on the
ground of comity, when they themselves would, in like circum-
stances, refuse on such grounds to comply with a demand made by
It is thus evident that the practice of nations does not furnish. Practice of
^°
a definite rule on the sub j ect It may therefore be assumed that uSform
.
on the 10th of January, 1858, France represented that the plot had
been formed in England, and asked that England should provide
for the punishment of such offences. Lord Palmerston accord-
ingly introduced a Bill for the punishment of conspiracies formed
in England to commit murder beyond Her Majesty's dominions,
but the excited state of public opinion at the tim^e caused its
(s) Moore, Digest, vol. iv. pp. 253 As to what gives a political character
seq. to crime, see In re Castioni, (1890)
(t) See Field, International Code, 1 Q. B. 165; In re Meunier, (1894)
§ 214, notes, vehere the provisions of 2 Q. B. 415. Of. Calvo, Droit int.,
the principal existing treaties are vol. ii. § 1034.
analysed. {x) Bluntschli, Le Droit inter-
(w) Forsyth, Cases and Opinions, national codifie, § 396.
p. 371. Woolsey, Int. Law, § 79.
w. 13
194 RIGHTS OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGISLATION.
Switzerland-(a) .
Political The Swiss Extradition Law of 1892 lays down that, in general,
offences.
political criminals are not liable to extradition; but if the offeno^^.
in question is characterized more by the marks of an ordinary
crime than of a political offence, then they are liable to surrender,
subject to the opinion of the Supreme Court of Justice.
There is no consensus of opinion as to the definition of a political
offence. One or two English cases may be referred to. In In re
Castioni (1891) (b), a Swiss subject was, at the instance of the
SAviss Government, arrested here on a charge of murder. In a
political disturbance (1890) in the canton of Ticino, due to alleged
abuses of administration which the Government refused to remedy,
Castioni and others seized an arsenal, took possession of arms,
overcame the police, forced their way into the municipal palace,
and in the scuffle Castioni killed a councillor. A provisional
government was formed there by the insurgents, but was soon put
down, whereupon Castioni fled to England. The Divisional Court
held that crimes, otherwise extraditable, became political offences
if they were incidental to and formed part of a political disturb-
ance; that Avithin this category fell the act of the prisoner, who
had no private spite against the victim; and that the act was done
in furtherance of the rising. Hence the prisoner was set at
liberty (c). In the later case of In re Meunier (1894) (d) the
by the laws and then only when the civil war is at an end.
of war,
Article 14. Criminal acts directed against the bases of all social
13(2)
196 EIGHTS OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGISLATION.
ployed are used in a sense which they would have in the law of both
countries, and not in a sense wholly peculiar to some local law in
one of them." And, therefore, where certain acts were made
forgery by the law of New York, but did not amount to forgery
in England, or by the general law of the United States, the
escaped to the United States. He could have been tried for this
in England (k), but the law officers held that his surrender could
not bo demanded from America under the treaty, since he was
not charged with a crime committed within British jurisdic-
tion (/). But where a person was charged with murder on the
high seas, on board a British ship, this was held to be within
British jurisdiction, and the prisoner was accordingly surrendered
Caldwell (s), and Burley (t), to sho^V thia,t, under the treaty, crimi-
nals had been extradited for one offence and tried for another and ;
Winslow.
up various other American fugitives, including one Winslow,
whose surrender had been asked for, unless the United States
would agree to try them for no other offences but those they were
extradited for His lordship' quoted the case of The Lennie Muti-
.
neers (x), where it was held that a prisoner delivered up under the
French Extradition Treaty for murder, could not be tried in
England for being an accessory after the fact. The discussion
ended without any conclusion being arrived at; Mr. Fish inform-
ing Lord Derby that Lawrence would not be tried for anything
but forgery, the offence for which he was surrendered («/) .
Rauscher'
Case.
A
case of great interest and importance in this connection was
decided by the Supremie Court of the United States in Octobei',
1886; and definite principles, on which American judicial opinion
had not previously been unanimous, were laid down. The de-
fendant being charged with murder on board an American vessel
on the high seas fled to England, and, on demand, was surren-
dered on that charge. The Circuit Court of the United States
for the Southern District of New York, in which he was tried,
did not proceed against him for murder, but upon an indictment
under § 5347, Eevised Statutes, charging him with cruel jand'
unusual punishment of the ni'an of whose murder he was before
accused, such punishment consisting of the identical acts proved
in the extradition proceedings, but not constituting an offence
able time and opportunity have been given him, after his release
or trial upon such charge, to return to the country from whose
Treaty
between By the convention concluded at Washington on the 9th
France and November, 1843, between the United States and France, it was
the United
States, agreed as follows:
" —
Article 1 That the high contracting parties
.
(d) The treaties of France with other countries up to 1874 are collected in
Billot, De I'Extradition, pp. 471—571.
202 RIGHTS OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGISLATION.
Extradition
treaties.
Ill the
negotiation of treaties, stipulating for the extradition,
of persons accused or convicted of specified crimes, certain rule&
are generally followed, and especially by constitutional Govern-
ments. The principle underlying these rules is, that a State
should never authorize the extradition of its own citizens or
(e) Ortolan, Regies Internationales dition (4th ed. 1903), pp. 208 seq.
de la Mer, t. p. 340.
i. As to Germany, see Clarke, Extra-
(/) Bynkershoek, Qusest. Jur. Pub. dition (2nd ed.), p. 66.
lib. i. cap. 22. Note to Duponceau's (A) See ante, p. 185.
Transl. p. 174. (i) London Gazette, 1875, vol. i.
came to the conclusion that the clause was imperative, and that
under it each Government could not surrender its own subjects.
The prisoner was therefore discharged (k) Lord Chief Justice .
A
criminal sentence pronounced mider the municipal law in Extra-
one State can have no direct legal effect in another. If it is a territorial
*=•
operation or
piracy.
Piracy under Piracy is defined by the text writers to be the offence of de-
the law of
nations. predating on the seas, without being authorized by any sovereign
State, or with commissions from different sovereigns at war w ith
each other (r) .
(^) Martens, Pr6cis, &c., liv. iii. the case of United States v. Smith
ch. 3, § 86. Kliiber, Droit des Gens (1820), 5 Wheaton, 157.
Moderne de I'Europe, pt. ii. tit. 1, (s) R. V. Dawson and others, 13
ch. 2, §§ 64, 65. Foelix, Droit Inter- State Trials, 454, approved of in
national Priv6, § 565. Attorney -General for Hong Kong v.
{q) See Rex v. Hutchinson (1678), Kwoh-a-Sing (1873), L. E. 5 P. C.
3 Keble, 785. 199.
(y) See authorities cited in note to
EIGHTS OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGISLATION. 20^
carrying away the ships on the high seas to have been piratical
acts" (m). An offence committed pn the high seas is not piracy
gentium so long as the ship pn which it is committed remains
j<iire
Pirates being the common enemies of all mankind, and :all Piracy triable-
^^^^^^
nations having an equal interest in their apprehension and punish-
ment, they may be la^vfully captured on the high seas by the
vessels of State, and brought within its territorial
any particular
jurisdiction for trial in its tribunals (2;). It is held by some?
pirate and restoring peace and order on the soa has not odily iji
principle a right, but is even undar an obligation, to do so.
^^^^ proposition, however, must be confined to piracy as de-
between^^^^
piracy by the fined by the law of nations, and cannot be extended to offences
°°^
and piracy which aix> made piracy by munijcipal legislation. Piracy under
under the law of nations may be tried and punished in the courts of
municipal
etatutes. justice of any nation, hj whomsoever and wheresoever committed;
but piracy created by 'municipal statute can only be tried by that
State within whose territorial jurisdiction, and on board of whose
was committed. There are certain
vessels, the offence thus created
actswhich are considered piracy, by the internal laws of a State,
to which the law of nations does not attach the same signification .
to declare that the legal status of tlie revfolted Americans was that
of felons or pirates, but as a matter of fact none of the prisoners
were so treated (c) . The American Civil War assumed such
gigantic proportions at the outset, that the^re was very little time
during which it could be doubted whether it was actually a civil
war or only a partial insurrection, and thfe President's proclama-
tion of the 19th April, 1861, declaring the Confederate ports
pirates .
by the insurgent Government, this may or may not take them out
of the category of pirates. A
irecognition of bielligerency does
not imply that other acts than those of war will be recognised,
and any past proceedings is not an act of war (e).
the avowal of
A casewhich gave rise to considerable discussion, and caused The case of
sumed his authority over the Cagliari, and left Sapri, announcing
his intention of going to Naples, and informing the Neapolitan
Government of what had occurred. About twelve miles west of
Capri, on the high seas, the Cagliari fell in with two Neapolitan
cruisers,who boarded her, and not deeming the explanations of
the captain satisfactory, took possession of the ship and conveyed
her to Naples. The ship was condemned as prize by a Neapolitan
Prize Court, and the crew were imprisoned. The Cagliari at the
time of her capture carried the Sardinian flag, and on receiving
the news of this event, the Siardinian Government demanded the
release of the ship and her crew. Naples refused, on the ground
that the vessel had been engaged in warlike acts against the
country, and that the master and crew had assisted in these acts.
Among the crew were two British subjects, named Watts land
Park, who acted as engineers. England demanded their release,
but it was not until they had been confined for ten months that
Naples surrendered them, and then only upon the ground of
yielding to superior force. The ship and the rest of the crew^
were afterwards surrendered on the same ground to a British
consul —no notice being taken of Sardinia —^and were sent by the
consul to Genoa. The right of Sardinia to claim their release
was never admitted by Naples.
After this, the Superior Prize Court of Naples decided that the
Cagliari was rightly seized on the high seas, as having been
engaged in acts which were partly warlike and partly piratical,
with the fault of her master and crew.
The British law officers were of opinion that the seizure was,
under the circumstances, justifiable, but that there was no ground
for the condemnation, or for the imprisonment of the two British
the captain and crew had acted under compulsion, and that the
owners of the ship were entirely innocent Nor was any com-
.
Another case occurred in 1873. The Virginius was registered The case of
^^'' ^^^i7t«i«*.
United States in 1870. She then left the United
as a vessel of the
States and made several voyages without returning there, but she
(/) See ParL Papers, 1857. Cor- p. 209. Annual Eeg. 1858, pp. 63—
respondence respecting the Cayliari. 66, and p. 181.
Annuaire des deux mondes, 1857-8,
w. 14
210 BIGHTS OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGISLATION.
(0 See the Times, Aug. 13th, 1877, 1877, on this subject, No. 369.
p. 7 Hansard, 3rd series, vol. ccxxxvi.
; (k) ParL Papers, 1877, Peru (No. 1),
pp. 787 seq. And see Pari. Papers, p. 18.
14(2)
212 EIGHTS OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGISLATION.
jury was done to the lives and property of their respective country-
men in the city. Again in 1905, a Russian warship, the Kniaz
PotemMn, was seized by her crew, in connection with a revolu^
tionary movement in Russia, and afterwards entered a Roumanian
port. The insurgents were refused "provisions, but they were not
treated as pirates.
The African
slave-trade, once considered not only a lawful,
but desirable branch of commerce, a participation in which was
made the object of wars, negotiations, and treaties between diffe-
rent European States, is now 'denounced as an odious crime by the
almost universal consent of nations. This branch of commerce
was, in the first instance, successively prohibited by the municipal
laws of Denmark, the United States, and Great Britain, to their
own subjects. Its final abolition was stipulated by the treaties
of Paris, Kiel, and Ghent, in 1814, confirmed by the declaration
of the Congress of Vienna of the 8th of February, 1815, an!d
reiteratedby the additiona^l Article annexed to the treaty of peace
concluded at Paris on the 20th November, 1815 (g). The acces-
sion of Spain and Portugal to the principle of the abolition waa
(j>) Le Louis (1817), 2 Dods. Ad. {q) See Hertslet, Map of Europe by
210; La Jeune Eugenie, 10 Wheaton, Treaty, vol. i. pp. 60, 695.
66.
214 RIGHTS OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGISLATION.
(r) Cf. Phillimore, vol. i. § 308. (s) U. S. Statutes at Large, vol. xii.
p. 279.
EIGHTS OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGISLATION. 216
which was signed at Berlin 26th February, 1885, Great Britain, Conference.
Germany, Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, the
United States (w), France, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal,
Eussia, Sweden and Norway, and Turkey, solemnly declared that
trading in slaves is forbidden in conformity with the principles
of international law as recognised by those Powers, and that the
As
a result of the Brussels Conference, and the numerous con-
ventions concluded to prevent and punish those who engage in
the slave-trade, it may now be said that the traffic, though not
piracy jure gentium and not condemned by the customary law
of nations, is contrary to written international law.
dissent from this doctrine, and to permit to its own subjects the
prosecution of this trade; but we have now a right to affirm that
prima fade the trade is illegal, and thus to throw on cljaimants
the burden of proof, that, in respect of them, by the autho,ri:ty
of their own laws, it is otherwise. As the case now stands, w^e
think we are entitled to say that a claimant can have no right,
upon principles of universal law, to claim the restitution in a
^ (z) The decisions of tliis case and immediately relating- to the slave-
subsequent cases are here given, as trade,
they possess a wider interest than that
RIGHTS OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGISLATION. 217
principle laid down in that case appears to be, that the slave-trade,
carried on by a vessel belonging to a subject of the United States,-
is a trade which, being unprotected by the domestic regulations of
their legislature and government, subjects the vessel engaged in
it to a sentence of condemnation. If the ship should therefbre
turn out to be an American, actually so employed it matters not, —
in my opinion, in what stage of the employment, whether in the
ciples of j ustice and humanity but they w'lOuld respect the property
;
The above three cases arose during the continuance of the war,
and whilst the laws and treaties prohibiting the slave-trade were
ct) The Fortuna (1811), 1 Dods. (c) The Diana (1812), 1 Dods. Ad.
Ad. Rep. 81. Rep. 95.
EIGHTS OF CIVIL AND CEIMINAL LEGISLATION. 219
admitting that the trade had been actually prohibited by the muni-
cipal laws of France (which was doubtful), the right of visitation
and search (being an exclusively belligerent right) could not con-
sistently with thelaw of nations be exercised, in time of peace, to
enforce that prohibition by the British Courts upon the property
of French subjects. In delivering the judgment of the High Court
of Admiralty in this case. Lord Stowell held that the slave-trade,
The Jnteiope. A
similar course of reasoning was adopted by the Supreme
Court of the United States in the case of Spanish and Portuguese
vessels captured by American cruisers Kvhilst the trade was still
tolerated by the laws of Spain and Portugal. It was stated, in
the judgment of the Court, that it could hardly be denied that the
slave-trade rwas contrary to the law of nature. That every man
had a natural right to the fruits of his own labour, was generally-
admitted; and that no other person could rightfully deprive him
of those fruits, and appropriate them aigainst his will, seemed to
be the necessary result of this admission. But, from the earliest
times, war had existed, and war conferred rights in which all had
acquiesced. Among the most enlightened nations of antiquity one
of these rights was, that the victor might enslave the vanquished.
That (which was the usage of all nations could not be pronounced
repugnant to the law of nations, \vhich was certainly to be tried by
the test of general usage. That which had received the assent of
allmust be the law of all. Slavery, then, had its origin ^n force;
but as the world had agreed that it was a legitimate result of force,
the state of things which was thus produced by general consent
could not be jDronounced unlawful. Throughout Christendom this
harsh rule had been exploded, and war was no longer considered
as giving a right to enslave captives. But this triumph had not
been universal. The parties to the modern law of nations do not
propagate their principles 'by force; and Africa had not yet adopted
them. Throughout the whole extent of that immense continent,
so fai- as we know its history, it is still the law of nations tha;t
prisoners are slaves. The question then was, could those who had
renounced this law be permitted to participate in its effects by
purchasing the human beings who are its victims? Whatever
might be the answer of a moralist to this question, a jurist must
search for its legal solution in those principles which are sanc-
tioned by the usages, the national acts, and the general assent, of
that portion of the world of which he considers himself a part,
and to whose law the appeal is made . If we resort to this standard
as the test of international law, the question must be considered
as decided in favour of the legality of the trade. Both Europe
and America embarked in and for nearly two centuries it was
it;
carried on without opposition and without censure A j urist could .
not say that a practice thus supported was illegal, and that those
engaged in it might be punished, either personally or by depriva-
tion of property. In this commerce, thus sanctioned by universal
assent, every nation had an equal right to engage. No principle
of general law was more universally acknowledged than the perfect
and the obligation of the statute could not transcend the legislative
power of the State which might enact it. If the trade was neither
repugnant to the law of nations, nor piratical, it was almost super-
fluous to say in that Court that the right of bringing in for adjudi-
cation in time of peace, even where the vessel belonged to a nation
222 EIGHTS OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGISLATION.
which had prohibited the trade, could not exist. The Courts of
justice of no country executed the penal laws of another; and the
course of policy of the American Government on the subject of
visitation and search, would decide any case against the captors
in which that right had been exercised by an American cruiser,
on the vessel of a foreign nation not violating the municipal laws
of the United States. It followed that a foreign vessel engaged
in the African slave-trade, captured on the high seas in time of
peace, by an American and brought in for adjudication,
cruiser,
would be restored to the original owners (/) .
Fugitive Another question which has caused great difficulty with regard
slaves.
^Q slaves is that of their position after quitting a country where
they are held in bondage, and then returning to it. No one wdll
deny that a islave is justified in escaping from his master, if he
can do so without having recourse to violence, and no country
slavery does not exist, is a violation of his owner's rights. The British
instructions of the Admiralty to the commanders of British ships
*^ ^ :A.diniralty
_
instructions.
of war, recommend that as a rule fugitive slaves should not be
"
received on board, but the commanders are instructed that In any
case inwhich you have received a fugitive slave into your ship,
and taken him under the protection of the British flag, whether
within or beyond the territorial waters of any State, you will not
admit or entertain any demand made upon you for his surrender,
on the ground of slavery. No rule is, or can be laid do"^vn, as to
(k) The Slave Grace, 2 Ha^g. Ad. B. & C. 448; Williams v. Brown, 3
131. Bos. & Pul. 69.
(0 See Eeport on Fugitive Slaves, {n) Life of Story, vol. i. p. 552.
1875, p. xlviii. (o) Strader v. Graham, 10 Howard,
(w) Forbes v. Cochrane (1824), 2 52; Bred Scot v. Sandford (1856), 19
Howard, 393.
224 EIGHTS OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGISLATION.
plying on the lakes and rivers. Private stations and vessels ara
only permitted to exercise the right of asylum subject to the
previous sanction of the State (p) .
Slave in the While slavery existed in some of the States of the Am:erican
31J
Unit ediStates.
Union, it was held by the Supreme Court, that laws made by any
of the States to prevent or even to assist, the arrest of fugitivei
such State, or, in the language of the civilians, it has been homo-
logated,' or registered, in such tribunal (ii) .
cover a debt due to his testator, ho must then prove the will here,
or a personal representative must be constituted by the Court of
Probate here to administer ad litem {y) The English Court of
.
{x) Williams, Executors and Ad- In the goods of Des Ilais (1865), 34
ministrators (1905), vol. i. p. 269; L. J. P.M. & A. 58; Foote, pp. 273
Jauncey v. Sealey (1686), 1 Vernon, seq. With regard to the probate in
3^7. England of Scotch and Irish wills, see
(y) Williams, Executors, ibid.; 21 & 22 Vict. c. b^, 8. 12; 20 & 21
Attorney-General v. Bowens (1838), Vict. c. 79, s. 95; Foote, pp. 277, 278.
4 M. & W. 193; Price v. Bewhurst (a) Foote, pp. 537 seq.
(1837), 4 M. & Ov. 80. (b) Rose V. Himely (1808), 4
iz) Williams, Executors and Ad- Cranch, 241.
ministrators (1905), vol. i. p. 338.
EIGHTS OF CIVIL AND OEIMINAL LEGISLATION. 227
How faj- a bankruptcy declared under the laws of one country Transfer of
will affect the real and personal property of the bankrupt situate
unXr^forei^
in another State, is a question of which the usage of nations, and bankrupt
the opinions of civilians, furnish no satisfactory solution. Even
as between co-ordinate States, belonging to the same common
empire, has been doubted how far the assignment under the
it
15 (2)
228 EIGHTS OF OIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGISLATION.
where the theory of the English bankrupt system, that the assign-
ment transfers all the property of the bankrupt, wherever situate,
is admitted in practice, the local tribunals would probably be
Extent of the HT- The judicial power of every State may be extended to
judicial
power over
foreigners
Q^i
... controversies respecting
r o personal
r ris^hts
o and contracts, or
injuries to the person or property, when the party resides within
...
wTthin^he ^^^ territory, wherever the cause of action may have originated .
(g) See Lord Eldon's observations 40, per Lord Selborne, L. 0.; Eoote,
in Selkrigg v. Davis (1814), 2 Eose, Priv. Int. Jurisp. pp. 178 seq.
291, at p. 311; Ban-field v. Solomon, (z) Kent, Comment, on American
9 Vesey, 77; Re Levy' s Trusts (1885), Law, vol. ii. pp. 405—408 (5th ed.);
30 Ch. D. 119. ^ ^
Banco de Portugal v. Waddell (1880),
(A) See, as to this practice, Ewing 6 App. Cas. 161.
V. Orr-Etving (1883), 9 App. Cas. 34,
RIGHTS OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGISLATION. 229
law^, the maxim of that code, actor sequitur forum rei,' is gene-
rally followed, and personal actions must therefore be brought in
the tribunals of the place where the defendant has acquired n fixed
domicile.
Under the French Civil Code, foreigners who have established French law.
their domicile in the country by special license (' autorisation ') of
the sovereign authority, are entitled to all civil rights, and, among
others, to that of suing in the local tribunals as French subjects.
Under other circumstances, these tribunals have jurisdiction
where foreigners are parties in the following cases only: —
1. Where the contract is made in France, or elsewhere,
between foreigners and French subjects.
2. In commercial matters, on all contracts made in France,
with whomsoever made, where the parties have elected a domicile,
in which they are liable to be sued, either by the express terms of
the contract, or by necessary implication resulting from its nature.
3. Where
foreigners voluntarily submit their controversies to
the decision of the French tribunals, by waiving a plea to the
jurisdiction.
In all other cases, where foreigners not domiciled in France
by special license of the king are concerned, the French tribunals
decline jurisdiction, even when the contract is made in France (k).
Some this jurisprudence, which deprives a
writers consider
(k) Code Civil, Art. 13,14,15. Code p. 2. Valin, Sur I'Ord. de la Marine,
de Commerce, Art. 631. Discussions torn. pp. 113, 253, 254. Pardessus,
i.
sur le Code Civil, torn. i. p. 48. Po- Droit Commercial, Pt. VI. tit. 7, ch. 1,
thier, Procedure Civile, Partie I. ch. i. § 1.
230 RIGHTS OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGISLATION.
eistent with the European law of nations. The Roman law had
recognised the principle, that all contracts the most usual among
men arise from the law of nations, 'ex jure gentium'; in other
words, these contracts are valid, whether made between foreigners,
or between foreigners and citizens, or between citizens of the same
State. This principle has been incorporated into the modern law
of nations, which recognises the right of foreigners to contract
within the territorial limits of another State. This right neces-
sarily draws after it the authority of the local tribunals to enforce
the contracts thus made, w^hether the suit is brought by foreigners
or by citizens (I).
Proceedings The which prevails in some countries, of proceeding
practice
against absent
parties. against absent parties, who are not only foreigners, but have not
acquired a domicile within the territory, by means of some formal
public notice, like that of the viis dt modis of the Roman civil
law, without actual personal notice of the suit, cannot be reconciled
with the principles of international justice (m). So far, indeed,
as it merely affects the specific property of the absent debtor
diligence, or for the general benefit of all the creditors who come
in within a certain fixed period, and claim the benefit of a rateable
distribution, such a practice may be tolerated; and in the adminis-
tration of international bankrupt law it is frequently allowed to
(I) Foelix, Droit International Prive, English Courts, under an Act of the
§§ 122, 123. English Legislature, were autJiorised,
(m) Cf. Schibsby v. W
estenholz and indeed bound, to exercise a juris-
(1870), L. R. 6 Q. B. 155; but see diction which English judges did not
Sirdar Singh v. Rajah of Faridkote, believe that foreign Courts would
(1894) A. 0. 670. The former of admit to be within the proper autho-
these cases is said by Professor Dicey rity of the British Sovereign." Con-
to afford an example of legislative and flictof Laws, p. 29, n.
"
judicial excess of authority. The (w) See p. 148, ante.
EIGHTS OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGISLATION. 231
proved that the collision occurred through the fault of the pilot
on board the British ship, the Privy Council refused to hold tho
owner liable in England, although he might be so in Belgium (s) .
Tho obligation of the contract consists of the will of the parties, Obligation of
^ contract.
expressed as to its terms and conditions .
Tho
interpretation of these depends, of course, upon the lex
loci contractus, asdo also the nature and extent of those implied
conditions which are annexed to the contract by the loeal law or
usage (t). Thus, the rate of interest, unless fixed by the parties,
isallowed by the law as damages for the detention of the debt,
and the proceedings to recover these damages may strictly be
considered as a part of the remedy. The rate of interest is, how-
ever, regulated by the law of the place where the contract is made,
unless, indeed, it appears that the parties had in view the law of
some other country . In that
case, the lawful rate of interest of
the place of payment, or to which the loan has reference, by
law of the place, it cannot be carried into offect in any other State >
But a mere fiscal regulation does not operate extra-territorially;
and therefore the want of a stamp, required by the local law to be
impressed on an instrument, cannot be objected where it is sought
to be enforced in the tribunals of another country.
There is an essential difference between the form of the contract
and the extrinsic evidence by which the contract is to be proved.
Thus the lex loci contractus may require certain contracts to be
in writing, and attested in a particular manner, and a want of
compliance with these forms will render them entirely void But .
Conclusiye- The most eminent public jurists concur in asserting the prin-
nesg of foreign
judgments in ciple, that a final judgment, rendered in a personal action, in the
personal courts of competent jurisdiction of one State, ought to have the
actions.
conclusive effect of a res CDd^judicata, in every other State, wherever
it ispleaded in bar of another action for the same cause (y) .
But no sovereign
bound, unless by special compact, to execute
is
bar of a new suit for the same cause of action. A foreign judg-
ment is
prima facie evidence, where the party claiming the benefit
of it applies to the English Courts to enforce it, and it lies on the
defendant to impeach the justice of it, or to show that it was
irregularly obtained. If this is not shown, it is received as evi-
(a;) Nelson, 257—261 ; Foote, pp. 351 Das Deutsche Bundesrecht, § 366.
aeq. (2;) Kent, Comm., vol. ii. p. 119
iy) Vattel, liv. ch. vii. §§ 84, 85.
ii. (6th ed.).
Martens, Droit des Gens, §§ 93, 94, («) FcElix, §§ 292—311.
95. Kliiber, Droit des Gens, § 59.
RIGHTS OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGISLATION. 235
by tlio laws of that State where it was obtained; that is, it has
the conclusive effect of a domestic judgment (d)).
^^^^ ^^^^' ^^ France restrains the operation of foreign judgments
France
within narrower limits. Judgments obtained in a foreign
country against French subjects are not conclusive, either Avhere
the same matter comes again incidentally in controversy, or where
a direct suit is brought to enforce the judgment in the French
tribunals. And this want of comity is even carried so far, that,
where a French subject commences a suit in a foreign tribunal,
and judgment is rendered against him, the exception of lis pnita
is not admitted as a bar to a new action
by the same party, in the
tribunals of his own country. If the judgment in question has
been obtained against a foreigner, subject to the jurisdiction of
the tribunal where it was pronounced, it is conclusive in bar of a
ncAV action in the French tribunals, between the same parties.
But the party who seeks to enforce it must bring a new suit upon
it, in which the judg'ment is prima facie evidence only; the defen-
dant being permitted to contest the merits, and to show^ not only
that it was irregularly obtained, but that it is unjust and
illegal (e).
The executionof foreign judgments in personam is reciprocally
allowed, by the law and usage of the European continent in
general, except Spain, Portugal, Russia, Sweden, Norway, France,
and the countries whose legislation is based on the French civil
code (/) .
ed. 8), p. 829, note («). ment. Toullier, Droit Civil Fran^ais,
(e) Code Civil, Arts. 2123, 2128. torn. x. Nos. 76—86.
Code de Procedure Civil, Art. 546. (/) Foelix, Droit International Prive,
Pardessus, Droit C<>nmiercial, Pt. VI. U 293—311.
RIGHTS OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGISLATION. 2d7
{y) Tovey v.Lindsay (1813), 1 9 Bligh, 89; ^S. C, 2 Clark &Fin. 488.
Dow, 117, 124;Lolley's Case (1812), (0 Dorsey v. Borsey, Chandler's
2 Olark «fe Fin. 567. See Fergusson's Law Reporter, vol. i.
p. 287.
Reports of Decisions in the Consis- (Jc) Kent, Comm., ii.
p. 107
vol.
torial Courts of Scotland, passim. (5th ed.). Story, p. 308, note (o).
(A) Warrender \. Warrender (1835),
238 RIGHTS OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGISLATION.
Divorce Tho Only fair and satisfactory rule to adopt as regards juris-
decided in the
^i^^ion is to insist upon the parties in all cases referring their
couiitry of matrimonial differences to the Courts of the country in which they
are domiciled. Different oomimunities have different views and
laws respecting matrimonial obligations, and a different estimate
of the causes that should justify divorce. It is both just and
It was not necessary to decide the point, because in the case before
the Court the domicile of the parties was English; the husband'
had committed adultery in England, and both parties had then
gone to Scotland, and remained forty days there, simply to givo
the Scotch Court jurisdiction. The divorce was therefore an eva-
" "
sion of English law. The result is," said Lord Westbury, that
a sentence of divorce under such circumstances may be binding in
Scotland, although of no validity in the territory of England.
.... But this disgraceful anomaly can only be removed by the
"
Legislature (r). The present state of the law as evolved out of a
long series of contests between the English and Scotch Courts is
summed up by Professor Dicey as follows: "The Scotch Courts,
as represented by the House of Lords, would appear to have sur-
rendered the claim to dissolve the marriage of persons not domiciled
in Scotland, or at least to look with great doubt on the doctrine
that either the locus delicti or residence for forty days gives juris-
diction in matters of divorce (s) As the English Courts
have now conceded that an English marriage may be dissolved by
the tribunals of any country where the parties are domiciled at
the time of their divorce (^), it follows that a Scotch divorce will
bo held valid in England if the parties to the marriage are at the
time of the divorce domiciled in Scotland, and unless they are so
domiciled will in general not be held valid" (u).
An interesting case regarding the effect to be attributed to the Case of the
corps' from the French Courts. In May, 1875, she was .natu-
ralized at Saxe-Altenburg, and became a subject of the German
Em23ire. She then domiciled herself near Dresden, and in October,
1875, married the Prince Bibesco, at Berlin, according to the laws
of Germany. The opinion of Prof. Holtzendorff, of Munich, was"
asked as to the effect of this second marriage, and he fully con-
siders the subject in his reply (cc). By the law of Germany,,
naturalization will not be conferred unless the applicant is capable
of contracting by the law of his own country (?/). This refers
to a general incapacity to contract, and the incapacity of a French
subject to marry after a 'separation de corps' is a special in-
capacity, a,nd one not contemplated in the German law. Henca
the naturalization of the Princess was valid in Germany. The
French code {z) provides, without any limitation, that the quality
of French subject is lost by naturalization abroad, and by the
' '
proper Court at the Cape, and later came to England with the
intention of remaining here, and contracted a marriage here; it
was held by the English Court that this s-econd marriage was valid,
although the law prevailing in the colony prohibited the re-mar-
riage of a guilty party as long as the innocent party remained
unmarried (as the facts were) For, it was said, the wife having
.
(x) See Revue de Droit Inter- vorce, § 11, p. 350. Story, § 214.
national, 1876, p. 205. (c) Scott v. Att.-Gen. (1886), 11
(y) Law of 1st June, 1870. P. D. 128; and see Warier v. Warier
(z) Code CivU, Art. 17. (1890), 15 P. D. 152; Story, p. 117,
(a) Schulte, Handbuch des Katho- note (a); Moore v. Hegeman, 92
lishchen Eherechts (ed. 1855), p. 596. N. Y. 521; Thorp v. Thorp, 90 N. Y.
(J) Merlin, Questions de Droit, Di- 602.
241
CHAPTER III.
quently arisen since Wheaton published the last additions to his (^haracter^
1 c 1 p 1 1 1 domicile, and
text, that some account oi the present state oi the law on these allegiance.
(a) See post, pp. 443 seq. of Laws (1908), Appendix, Note 7,
(b) Per Dr. Lushington in Hodgson pp. 740 seq., on commercial domicile
V. Be Beauchesne (1858), 12 Moo. in time of war.
P. O, 313. The two are very dif- (c) It is the criterion in English
ferent; the distinction between them and American law, and in that of
has been demonstrated, and they have many other countries, but not in all.
been accurately and carefully con- {d) TJdny v. TJdny (1869), L. K.
trasted by Professor Dicey, Conflict 1 Sc. & Div. 457.
W. 16
242 NATIONAL CHARACTER AND DOMICILE.
(e) Walcot
V. Botfield (1854), Kay, his text (p. 82) runs as follows: "The
.534; Foxwell (1876), 3 Ch. D.
King v. domicile of any person is, in general,
520; Briggs v. Briggs (1880), L. R. the place or country which is in fact
5 P. D. 163. I his permanent home, but is in some
(/) Bell V. Kennedy (1868), L. R. cases the place or country wJiich,
1 Sc. & Div. 307; Abd-ul-Messih v. whether it be in fact his home or not,
Farra (1887), 13 App. Cas. 431, 439. is determined to be his home as a
(5-) Per Lord Chancellor Hatherley rule of law." Of. Foote, p. 48.
in TJdny v. TJdny (1869), L. R. 1 Sc. (k) Guyer v.
Daniel, 1 Binney, 349,
6 Div. 452; Re Grove (1887), 40 note; Mitchell v. U. S., 21 WaHace,
Ch. D. 216. Cf. Foote, Priv. Int. 352.
Jurisp. (1914), pp. 21, 62. (0 Story, Conflict of Laws, § 41;
(h) Foote, ibid, and see Oraignish v. Reimtt, (1892)
(0 Maltass v. Maltass (1844), 1 3 Ch. 180.
Robertson, 74. Dicey, Conflict o£ Laws (m) Forbes v. Forbes (1854), Kay,
(1908), Appendix, Note 6, pp. 731— 364; Aitchison v. Dixon (1870), L. R.
740, criticises the various definitions 10 Eq. 589; D'Etchegoyen v. D'FAche-
of domicile. The one he adopts in goyen (1888), 13 P. D. 132.
NATIONAL CHARACTER AND DOMICILE. 243
(«) Story, § 46; Firebrace v. Fire- her original domicile where the mar-
brace (1878), 47 L. J. P. D. & M. 41; riage was celebrated and its validity
Harvey v. Farnie (1880), 8 App. das. recognised may be deemed to have a
43, 50, 51. domicile in her own country for the
(o) Dolphin v. Robins (1859), 7 purpose of supporting a petition. Of.
H. of L. 390, per Lord Kingsdown at Stathatos v. StatJmtos, (1913) P. 46;
p. 420. Le Sueurv. Le Sueur
(1876), Be MonUiigu v. De Montaigu, (1913)
1 P. D. 139, is apparently in contra- P. 154.
diction to this, but Sir R. Phillimore (^) As to an illegitimate child, see
was there careful to say that the peti- Urquhart v. Butterfield (1887), 37
'^
tioner's bond fide domicile, so far Oh. D. 357 (C. A.); as to a posthu-
as the law allows it, ia in this country." mous child, see Van Matre v. Sanhey
It is to be noted that in Ogden v. (1893), 39 Amer. State Rep. 196. But
Ogden, (1908) P. 46, C. A. at p. 82, if the paternity of the illegitimate
It was suggested that if the country child is determined, by acknowledg-
of the husband's domicile refuses to ment or otherwise, it acquires the
recognise the validity of a marriago, domicile of the father; see i?« JFn<7/^#'.s
and consequently declines to hear a Trusts (1856), 2 K. & J. 595.
divorce petition against him, a wife (7) In re Beaumont, (1893) 3 Oh.
who has been left in the country of 490.
16(2)
241 NATIONAL CHARACTER AND DOMICILE.
617, 623; IRe Marrett (1887), 36 Ch. D. Tr. 442; Mitchell v. V. S., 21 Wallace,
400; Be Cooke's Trusts (1887), 56 350.
L. J. Oh. 637; Urguhart v. Butter- (u) Brunei v. Brunei (1871), L. R.
field (1887), 37 Oh. D. 357, 381. 12 Eq. 300.
(*) Forbes v. Forbes (1854), Kay,
NATIONAL CHARACTER AND DOMICILE. 245
to the laws of one country, and to place oneself under the laws of
another. It is sufficient to work the change, if there be an inten-
tion to settle in a new country as a permanent home. If this
intention exists, and is sufficiently carried into effect by acts,
certain legal consequences follow, whether such consequences were
intended or not, and perhaps even though the person in question
may have intended the exact contrary. To prove such intention
(in the absence of any express declaration), the evidence must
lead to the inference that if the question had been formally sub-
mitted to the person whose domicile was in question, he would have
expressed his wish in favour of a change (a) .
. .... . ..
acquiring a domicile in a country with political, social, and.
religious institutions in radical conflict with Western ideas. And
extemtonal
community.
.
Acquisition of Domicile depends almost entirely upon the will of the indi-
domicile and
national
vidual. He is invested with a domicile of origin at his birth, and
character. this is involuntary, but he may by his own act change this and
cause it to be inoperative while the new domicile subsists, by locat-
Down to the year 1870, England invariably denied the right of Expatriation
her subjects to expatriate themselves; the maxim was nemo potest ^ *
Encland^
exuere patriam.' She placed no restrictions whatever on ©migra-
tion, but maintained that her subjects carried their national
character withthem Avhercver they went, and were always liable to
bo treated as subjects on their return (/^). This claim has now
been abandoned. It is expressly provided by Act of Parliament,
that "Any British subject who has at any time before, or may at
any time after the passing of this Act, when in any foreign State
and not under any disability, voluntarily become naturalized in
such State, shall from and after the time of his so having become
naturalized in that foreign State, be deemed to have ceased to be
a British subject and be regarded as an alien." It is also pro-?
vided that if naturalized abroad before the
passing of the Act, he
yet wishes to remain a British subject, he shall make a declaration
to that effect, and take the oath of allegiance, and ho will then be
deemed to have been continually a British subject, except in the
State where he was naturalized, as long as he remains a subject
of it (i). Natural born British subjects include not only persons Who are
born in British dominions, but also the children and grand-children ^^™
g^dS^
of British subjects, born out of the ligeance of his Majesty, unless subjects,
the father was at the time of the child's birth outlawed or attainted
for treason. Such persons are, therefore, entitled to claim British
they were born abroad and have thereby beconie the subjects of
some other State, it seems that England will not protect them
against that State (I).
the national necessities; if his children are born and reared upon a
from which he came, or for five years in anj other foreign State,
it shall be
presumed that he has ceased to be an American citizen,
and the place of his general abode shall be deenied his place of
residence during the said years. Provided, however, that such
piresumption may be overcome on the presentation of satisfactory,
evidence to a diplomatic or consular officer of the tliiited States,
u,nder such rules and regulations as the Department of the State
so, but the permission is discretionary and does not proceed from
(y) Cf. Van Dyne, Treat, on the Law of Naturalization, chap. 5; Moore,
Digest, vol. iii. §§ 466 seq.
^262 NATIONAL CHAEACTER AND DOMICILE.
—
By the Act of 1906 it was provided as follows: (1) An alien
"
desiring to be naturalized in the United States shall declare on
oath before the clerk of any court authorized by this Act to natura-
lize aliens, or hisauthorized deputy, in the district in which such
alien resides, two years at least prior to his admission, and after
he has reached the age of eighteen years, that it is his band fide
intention to become a citizen of the United States, and to renounce
for ever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate,
State, or sovereignty, and particularly, by name, to the prince,
potentate, State, or sovereignty, of which the alien may at the
time be citizen or subject." (2) After the lapse of two years, but
not more than seven years, from the diate of this declaration, he
must file a petition attested by the affidavits of at least two credible
"
witnesses, being citizens of the United States, stating that he is
not a disbeliever in or opposed to organized government or a
member of or affiliated with any organization or body of persons
teaching disbelief in or opposed to organized government, a
tion Treaty
between
England and
America. jo
The probability of future disputies between the two countries on
the subiect of alleo:iance was reduced to a minimum, by j a conven-
less similar exist between the United States and most other civi-
Former The claims of both England and America, before the laws of
between^ ^^ch assumed their present shape, either to protect their subjects
England and or to require their services when abroad, have caused endless
the allegiance disoussions. In 1848 and 1866, Irish agitators resorted to the
subjects
United States for the purpose of organizing plots against the
British Government. The Habeas Corpus Act was suspended on
both occasions, and several persons w'ere arrested in Ireland on
suspicion of having been concerned in treasonable acts either in the
United States or in Ireland. Of the right of England to punish
her subjects for treason, wherever comtaitted, there could be no
doubt; nor could the right to punish native-born Americans for
acts against the Government committed in the British Isles be
disputed (/) . The cases which presented any difficulty were those
of native-born British subjects who had been naturalized in
America, and had only conspired there without committing overt
acts in Great Britain. At that time the doctrine of perpetual
allegiance was strongly insisted on in England. The maxim
' '
(c) In 1873 the President addressed (d) The Naturalization Act, 1872,
a series of questions on this subject Schedule. Also U.S. Statutes at
t-o the heads of the various American Large, vol. xvi.
p. 775.
State departments. The past and the (e) See Analysis of U. S. Naturali-
then existing American law is fully zation Treaties. U. S. Dipl. Oor.
discussed in the answers. See U. S. 1873, p. 1274. Wharton, Digest, § 171,
Dipl. Cor. 1873, pp. 1150 et seg. See pp. 309, 310.
further, Wharton, Digest, §§ 171— (/) Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams, 10th
200. The present law was enacted March, 1867. U. S. Dipl. Cor. 1867,
in 1906; U. S. Statutes at Large, p. 74.
vol. xxxiv. pp. 595 seq.
NATIONAL CHARACTER AND DOMICILE. 255
During the American Civil War the protection of England was British
frequentl}' demanded against conscription in the United States Amedca"^
. . ....
army. Lord Lyons was instructed that there is no rule or prin- during the
ciple of international law which prohibits thie Government of any
Civil War
(g) Mr. Buchanan to Mr. Bancroft, (m) To Lord Lyons, No. 349, 7th
28th Oct. 1848. Hertslet, State Papers, Oct. 1861. Pari. Papers, N. America
vol. xlvii. p. 1236. (No. 13), 1864, p. 34.
(h) 16th August, 1849. (w) Lord Lyons, No. 379, 29th July,
(i) Report of Naturalization Com- 1861.
mission, 1868, p. 49 and p. 90. (o) To Lord Lyons, No. 259, 7th
(^) Ibid. pp. 48 et seq^ June, 1862.
Q) To Lord Lyons, No. 76, April (p) Mr. Seward to Mr. Stuart, Aug.
4th, 1861. 20th, 1862.
256 NATIONAL CHARACTER AND DOMICILE.
Prussian The Prussian militarj^ laws, which have now been introduced
throughout the Germaai empire (w), declare that every German
subject is liable to military service, and cannot have that service
performed by deputy (x). The right to emigrate is, however,
not restricted, except as regards the performance of military ser-
vice (•2/). Permission to emigrate may be obtained, but this
permission, when granted, destroys the quality of Prussian or
German subject (z) It is not to be granted to males between
.
Imperfect The cases of Martin Koszta and Simon Tousig were instances
naturaliza-
tion and of Austrian subjects leaving their country, and claiming the pro-
domicile. tection of the United States, after having only declared their
Cases of
Martin Koszta intention of being naturalized in America. Koszta was a Hun-
and Simon
garian refugee of 1848-9. He went to Turkey and was
Tousio".
imprisoned there, but released on condition of leaving the country.
He then went to America and declared his intention of being
the United States, and three or four years after his birth he was
taken to Austria. On becoming of age he claimed to be exempt
from serving in the Austrian army, but the United States declined
to interfere on his behalf, as he was held to have expatriated
himseli'(5).
(o) State Papers, vol. xliv. pp. 925 p. 929. Cf. Moore, Digest, vol. iii.
—1042. Wheaton (Dana), p. 146. p. 838.
Westlake, § 54. Cf. Moore, Digest, (g) U. S. Dipl. Cor. 1873, p. 78.
vol. (r) Law of 27th July, 1872,
§§ 490, 491; Wharton, Digest,
iii. tit. i.
vol. §§ 175, 198.
ii.
§ 1.
(p) Wheaton (Lawrence), App.
17(2)
260 NATIONAL CHAEACTER AND DOMICILE.
and 23rd July, hus been born inFrance of a foreigner, and who, at the time of
his majority, is domiciled in France, is a Frenchman; unless,
CHAPTER IV.
RIGHTS OF EQUALITY.
reign State as the most powerful republic '(a); and Chief Justice
"
Marshall said: Eussia and Geneva have equal rights. It results
from this equality that no one can rightfully impose a rule on
another" (&).
From the political point of view it cannot, of course, be said
that all the States of the world are equal. Thus, in Europe the
Concert of the six great Powers, and on the American continent
the United States, exercise a leadership which, in each case, is
real and possesses the greatest weight, though it is not determined
Powers.) Not long ago the European Concert might have been
regarded as occupying a position of distinct superiority with
regard to the States of the world generally; but considering recent
events, such as the extraordinary rise of Japan, the establishment
of the Chinese Republic, the holding of the Hague Conferenoes,
at the latter ofwhich forty-four States were represented and pos-
sessed equal power to vote on the resolutions submitted, it may be
it is a World Concert that has come into being.
said that
The equality of sovereign States may be modified by positive Equality of
compact, or by consent implied from constant usage, so as to ^^^^g^b
entitle one State to superiority over another in respect to certain compact and
usage.
(a) Droit des Gens, Prelim. § 18. (6) The Antelope (1825), 10
Wheaton, 66, at p. 122.
262 EIGHTS OF EQUALITY.
Only in recent times has the United States exercised the right
in certain cases of conferring on her public ministers to foreign,
courts the rank of ambassadors, and of receiving at Washington
ministers of a corresponding dignity. She is now represented by
ambassadors in several States of the world, including Great
Britain, France, Germany, Russia, Austria-Hungary, Italy.
(Similarly Great Britain sends ambassadors extraordinary and
plenipotentiary to nine Powers.) This step was not taken in the
United States without much debate, and with grave apprehensions
as to its consequence. "The Department," wrote the vSecretary
of State, January 31st, 1884, "cannot, in justice to its ministers
abroad, ask Congress to give them higher rank with their present
salaries; neither could it with propriety appeal to Congress for an
allowance commensurate with the necessary mode of life of an
ambassador." And, July 2nd, 1885, Mr. Bayard informed Mr.
Phelps that the question of sending and receiving ambassadors
"
had been frequently considered, but that the inconvenience which
in a simple social democracy might attend the reception of an
"
extraordinary foreign privileged class had hitherto been found
an insuperable bar (c).
Precedence Among the princes who enjoy this rank, the Catholic Powers
among conceded the precedence to the Pope, or sovereign pontiff; but
princes and
States enjoy- Russia, and the Protestant States of Europe considered him as
ing royal
honours. bishop of Eome only, and a sovereign prince in Italy, and such of
them as enjoy royal honours refused him the precedence. But in
1870 the temporal power of the Pope was abolished, and his
legates or nuncios are no longer public ministers \d) .
(c) Vattel, Droit des Gens, torn. i. des Gens Moderne, pt. ii. tit. i. ch. 3,
liv.ii. ch. 3, § 38. Martens, Precis du §§ 91, 92. Heffter, § 28. Wharton,
Droit des Gens Moderne de I'Europe, Digest, 2nd ed. § 88.
liv.iii. ch. 2, § 129. Kluber, Droit (d) See supra, p. 56.
EIGHTS OF EQUALITY. 263
empire of the West; but since the dissolution of the late Germanic
constitution, and the abdication of the titles and prerogatives of
its head by the
Emperor of Austria, the precedence of this
sovereign over other princes of the same rank Avas considered
questionable (e) .
Those monarchical sovereigns who are not crowned heads, but Monarchs not
who enjoy royal honours, concede the precedence on all occasions ^^<^^®^.
to emperors and kings. sovereigns.
Monarchical sovereigns who do not enjoy royal honours yield
the precedence to those princes who are entitled to these honours.
Semi-sovereign or dependent States rank below sovereign
States {g) .
Alpl
Alphabetical Another expedient which has frequently been adopted to avoid
ordei
ier.
controversies respecting the order of signatures to treaties and
(A) Heffter, Das Europaische Vol- gresses, torn. viii. pp. 98, 102, 108,
kerrecht, § 28, No. iii. 116. See infra, p. 332.
(i) Kliiber, Acten des Wiener Con- (/;) Annexe, xvii. a I'Acte du Con-
gres de Vienne, Art. 7.
'
dignity they think fit, and may exact from their own subjects princes^rnd
these marks of honour. But their recognition by other States States.
the title of Emperor of all the E-ussias, which was taken by the
Czar, Peter the Great, in 1701, was successively acknowledged
bj Prussia, the United Netherlands, and Sweden in 1723, by
Denmark by Turkey in 1739, by the emperor and the
in 1732,
towards its own fortresses and ships of war, and the reciprocal
[n] Flassan, Hiatoire de la Diplomatie Fran^aise, torn. vi. liv. iii. pp. 328
— 364.
RIGHTS OF EQUALITY. 267
CHAPTEE V.
RIGHTS OF PROPERTY.
(a) Vattel, Droit des Gens, liv. i. over a territory through continuous
eh. 20, §§ 235,244. Rutherforth, Inst. and undisturbed exercise of sove-
of Natural Law, vol. ii. ch. 9, § 6. reignty over it during such a period
Heffter, Das Europaische Volkei'recht, as is necessary to create under the
§§ 64, 59, 70. influence of historical development the
(6) Oppenheim, International Law general conviction that the present
(1912), vol. i. § 242, defines prescrip- condition of things is in conformity
" the with international order."
tion as acquisition of sovereignty
EIGHTS OF PEOPERTY. 269
now possessed by them, in that quarter of the world, was originally confirm^ by
derived from conquest, which has been subsequently confirmed by compact and
long possession and international compacts, to which all the time^^
European States have successively become parties. Their claim
by them in the New World, discovered by
to the possessions held
Columbus and other adventurers, and to the territories which they
(c) Grotius, De Jur. Bel. ao Pac. title, while the former too often resort
lib. ii. cap, 4. Pufendorf, Jus Naturae to arms for the settlement of such
et Gentium, lib. iv. cap. 12. Vattel, differences.
Droit des Gens, tome i. liv. ii. ch. 11. (d) For example, Heffter, § 12:
Eutherforth, Inst, of Natural Law, Kluber, §§ 6, 125; G. F. de Martens,
vol. i. ch. 8; vol. ii. ch. 9, §§ 3, 6. Precis du Droit des Gens, §§ 70, 71.
Calvo (Droit International, vol. i. (e) Hall, Int. Law, p. 118; Moore.
§ 211) thinks acquisition by prescrip- Digest, vol. i.
§ 88.
tion more necessary for States than (/) The IHreot United States Cable
individuals. The latter can appeal to Co. v. The Anglo-American Telegraph
courts of law to decide upon their Co. (1877), L. R. 2 App. C. 394.
270 RIGHTS OF PEOPERTY.
J*apal
Bull of The Spaniards and Portuguese took the lead among the nations
1493.
of Europe, in the splendid maritime discoveries in the East and the
quarters of the globe were the lawful spoil and prey of their
civilized conquerors, and as between the Christian Powers them-
selves, the Sovereign Pontiff was the supreme arbiter of conflicting
claims. Hence the famous bull, issued by Pope Alexander VI.,
in 1493, by which he granted to the united crowns of Castile and
Arragon all lands discovered, and to be discovered, beyond a line
drawn from pole to pole, one hundred leagues west from the
Azores, or Western Islands, under which Spain has since claimed
to exclude all other European nations from the possession and use,
not only of the lands but of the seas in the ISTew World west of that
line. Independent of this papal grant, the right of prior dis-
covery was the foundation upon which the different European
nations, by whom conquests and settlements were successively
made on the American continent, rested their respective claims
to appropriate its territory to the exclusive use of each nation.
Even Spain did not found her pretension solely on the papal grant .
prince or people, and to hold, occupy, and enjoy the same, with all
their commodities, jurisdictions, and royalties." It thus became a
maxim of policy and of law, that the right of the native Indians
was subordinate to that of the first Christian discoverer, whose
paramount claim excluded that of every other civilized nation,
and gradually extinguished that of the natives. In the various
wars, treaties, and negotiations, to which the conflicting preten-
sions of the different States of Christendom to territory on the
American continents have given rise, the primitive title of the
Indians has been entirely overlooked, or left to be disposed of by
the States within whose limits tljey happened to fall, by the
In the dispute which took place in 1790, between Great Britain Dispute
and Spain, relative to Nootka Sound, the latter claimed all the ^^r^rBritain
north-western coast of America as far north as Prince William's and Spain,
Sound, in latitude 61°, upon the ground of prior discovery and Nootkf
Sound.
long possession, confirmed by the eighth article of the Treaty of
Utrecht, referring to the state of possession in the time of his
Catholic Majesty Charles II. This claim was contested by the
British Government, upon the principle that the earth is the
common inheritance of mankind, of which each individual and
each nation has a right to appropriate a share, by occupation and
cultivation. This dispute was terminated by a convention be-
tween the two Powers, stipulating that their respective subjects
should not be disturbed in their navigation and fisheries in the
the pretext for illicit trade with the Spanish settlements, and that
British subjects should not navigate or fish within the space of
ten murine leagues from any part of the coasts already occupied
by Spain.
2. That in all parts of the north-western coasts of North
north-western from Bchring's Straits to the 51st degree of north latitude, and
coast of
jj^ ^j-^g Aleutian Islands, on the east coast of Siberia, and the
America.
Kurile Islands, from the same straits to the South Cape in the
Island of Ooroop, in 45° 51' north latitude. The navigation
and fishery of all other nations were prohibited in the islands,
ports, and gulfs, within the above limits; and every foreign
vessel was forbidden to touch at any of the Russian establish-
ments above enumerated, or even to approach them, within a less
distance than 100 Italian miles, under penalty of confiscation of
the cargo. The proprietary rights of Russia to the extent of the
north-west coast of America, specified in this decree, were rested
(h) Annual Eegister for 1790 (State Oregon and California, p. 466; Proofs
Papers), pp. 285—305; 1791, pp. 208, and Illustrations, K. No. 1.
214, 222—227. Greenhow, History of
RIGHTS OF PROPERTY. 273
(i) Annual Register, vol. Ixiv. pp. 576 —584. Correspondence between Mr.
Secretary Adams and Mr. Poletiea.
w.
'
18
274 EIGHTS OF PEOPERTY.
Expiration of When the ten years period of the United States' treaty expired,
^iCTi^d^in^^^^
^^^^ Russian Government claimed the right of excluding American
United States vessels from that part of the coast on which the United States had
agreed to form no establishments. A lengthy discussion took
place on the construction of the treaty (Z), but for a very long time
(k) British and Foreign State (I) Mr. Forsyth's letter to Mr.
Papers, vol. xii. (1824—1825). Green- Dallas, Nov, 3, 1837. Congress Docu-
how, Hist, of Oregon, &c., p. 469; ments, Sess. 1838-9, vol. i.
p. 36.
Proofs I. No. 5.
RIGHTS OF PROPEETY. 275
On April 21, 1906, Great Britain and the United States entered
into a convention, providing for the appointment of a joint com-
mission in order to determine and mark out by visible landmarks
that portion of the boundary line which, under the Convention of
• 1825, had been defined as following the 141st meridian, from its
point of intersection with a certain line drawn parallel to the coast
to the frozen ocean.
Claim of the The claim of the United States to the territory between the
S'thfOregon E-ocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, and between the 42nd
territory. degree and 54th degree and 40th minutes of north latitude, was
rested by them upon the following grounds: —
1. The first discovery of the mouth of the river Columbia by
Captain Gray, of Boston, in 1792; the first discovery of the
sources of that river, and the exploration of its course to the sea,
''
and possessions whatever, taken by either
all territory, places,
party from the other during the war," &c., "shall be restored
without delay." This restitution was made, without any reser-
vation or exception whatsoever, communicated at the time to the
American Government.
St. The acquisition by the United States of all the titles of
Spain, which were derived from the discovery of the coasts
titles
Spain, the boundary line between the two countries west of the
Mississippi, was established from the mouth of the river Sabine,
to certain points on the Red Eiver and the Arkansas, and
running
along the parallel of 42 degrees north of the South Sea; his
"
Catholic Majesty ceding to the United States all his rights,
"
Great Britain claims no exclusive sovereignty over any por-
tion of the territory on the Pacific, between the 42nd and the
49th parallels of latitude. Her present claim, not in respect to
any part, but to the whole, is limited to a right of joint occupancy,
in common with other States, leaving the right of exclusive
dominion in abeyance; and her pretensions tend to the mere main-
tenance of her own rights, in resistance to the exclusive character
of the pretensions of the United States.
"
The rights of Great Britain are recorded and defined in the
Convention of 1790. They embrace the right to navigate the
waters of those countries, to settle in and over any part of them,
RIGHTS OF PROPERTY. 279
regulate its own obligations by the same rules which govern the
(n) Conf^ress Documents, 20th Cong, and 1st Sess. No. 199. Greenhow,
Proofs and Illustrations, H.
280 RIGHTS OF PROPERTY.
The treaty of 1846 did not, however, completely settle the Arbitration
(p) United States Statutes at Large, (q) Pari. Papers, N. America, No. 3
Tol. ix. pp. 109, 869. As to the Oregon (1873), p. 1. See Appendix C.
•controversy, see Moore, Digest, vol. i. (r) Pari. Papers, N. America, No. 9
§§ 80, 81, 104; vol. V. § 835. Sir T. (1873), p. 3. See Cushing, The Treaty
Twiss, The Law of Nations, vol. i. of Washington, p. 203.
§§ 125, 126; Ibid. The Oregon Ques- (s) As to the position of the
tion (1846). U. S. A., see p. 97, ante.
282 EIGHTS OF PROPERTY.
The Case The extent and nature of the jurisdiction of a State over its
of The
Francon'xa. territorial waters have been much discussed in recent times. In
the well-known case of The Franccmia the Court held that it had
no jurisdiction over a criminal offence committed by a foreigner
on board a foreign ship which was on the open sea but within
three miles of the coast of England. The difficulty and doubt
surrounding the question is shown by the fact that of the fourteen
(0 Arts. 34, 35. Hertslet, Map of cli. 23, § 289. Valin, Comm. sur
Africa by Treaty, p. 20; for notifica- I'Ordonnance de la Marine, liv. v.
tions under Art. 35, see ibid. pp. 10, tit. 1. Azuni, Diritto Marit. pt. i.
47, 315, 327, 358, 772, 811, lOltJ, 1068', cap. 2, Art. 3, § 15. Galiani, Dei
1069. Cf British State Papers, Africa,
. Doveri dei Principi Neutrali in Tempo
No. 4 (1885), p. 312. di Guerra, liv. i. Life and Works of
(w) Grotius, De Jur. Bel. ac Pac. Sir L. Jenkins, vol. ii. p. 780.
lib. ii. cap. 3, § x. Bynkershoek, (x) JR. V. Keyn (The Franconia)
Qusest. Jur. Pub. lib. i. cap. 8. De (1876), 2 Ex. D. 63.
Dominio Maris, cap. 2. Vattel, liv. i. (y) 41 & 42 Vict. c. 73.
EIGHTS OF PROPERTY. 283
extended over the open seas adjacent to the coasts of the United
Kingdom, and of all other parts of Her Majesty's dominions to
such distance as is necessary for the defence and security of such
dominions" (z), it is enacted (amongst other things) that, "An
offence committed by a person, whether he is or is not a subject
of Her Majesty, on the open sea within the territorial waters of
Her Majesty's dominions, is an offence within the jurisdiction of
the Admiral, although it may have been committed on board or
by means of a foreign ship, and the person who committed such
" '
Admiral, any part of the open sea within one marine league of
the coast measured from low-water mark shall be deemed to be
"
read in the territorial waters of Egypt," for which the British
{z) See Beg. v. J)udlei/ (1884), 14 2otliDec. 1874; U. S. Dipl. Cor. 1875,
Q. B. D. 273, 281, per Lord Oole- p. 641.
ridge, L. O. J. (b) U. S. Dipl. Cor. 1875, p. 649;
(a) Lord Derby to Mr. Watson, Wharton, Digest, § 32.
284 EIGHTS OF PEOPEETY.
Extent of the The term ''coasts" includes the natural appendages of the
"^^
Jw.'^'"'*^* territory which rise out of the water, although these islands are
not of sufficient firmness to be inhabited or fortified; but it does
not properly comprehend all the shoals which form sunken con-
tinuations of the land perpetually covered with water. The rule
of Inw on this subject is 'terrae dominium ubi finitur armorum
'
vis ;
and since the introduction of firearms, that distance has
(c) Pari. Papers, Egypt, No. 1 be considered territorial for all pur-
(1888); infm, p. 321. A majority of poses. Cf. Annuaire de I'lnstitut de
the members of the Institut de Droit Droit International, vol. xiii. p. 329.
International at the Paris meeting of See Hall, International Law (5th ed.),
1894 resolved that a zone of six marine p. 155.
miles from low-water mark ought to
EIGHTS OF PROPERTr. 285
'
books of law, Quod vis fluminis de tuo prgedio detraxerit, et vicino
praedio attulerit, palam tuum remanet/ even if it had been carried
right of dominion does not depend upon the texture of the soil (d) .
King-'s
the enclosed parts of the sea along the coasts of the island of Great Chambers.'
(d) The Anna (1805), 5 C. Hob. ganean (1885), Scott, Oases, p. 143,
385 (o). and other cases there cited.
(e) Cf. Moore, Digest, vol. i. (/) Annuaire de I'lnstitut de Droit
pp. 735 seq. See the case of The Int., vol. xiii. p. 329.
Grange (1793), Opinions of U. S. {g) (1877), L. R. 2 App. 0. 394.
Att.-Gen., vol. i. p. 32; The Alle- (h) (1859), Bell, Or. 0. 86.
286 RIGHTS OF PEOPERTY.
" "
of for this purpose. Different suggestions had been made,
bay
e.g., defensibility from the shore, a width of cannon-shot from
shore to shore {i.e., three miles), some suggested six miles, others
.ten miles; thus therewas no agreement among text- writers. Lord
Blackburn held, then, that in the present case the principle of
exercise of dominion and acquiescence therein by other nations
(/b)Life and Works of Sir L. Jen- Gen., vol. i. p. 32. Le Louis (1817),
kins, vol. ii. pp. 727, 728, 780. 2 Dods. Ad. 245; Church v. Hubbard
Opinion of the United States Attorney- (1804), 2 Oranch, 187. Cf. Vattel,
General on the capture of the British Droit des Gens, liv. i. ch. 22, § 281;
ship Grange in the Delaware Bay, Moore, Digest, vol. i. § 151; Piggott,
1793. Waite, American State Papers, Nationality, vol. ii. pp. 40 seq.
EIGHTS OF PEOPEETY. 287
The
right of fishing in the waters adjacent to the coasts of any ^^^^^
^*
fish on the Grand Bank and other banks and coasts of Newfound-
land, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and on the coasts, bays, and
creeks of other British possessions in North America; and also
to land for the purpose of drying- their nets and curing fish in the
unsettled bays, harbours, and creeks of Nova Scotia, the Magdalen
Islands, and Labrador, as long as the same should remain un-
settled. After the war of 1812 the question arose whether thesa
concessions had been abrogated by the war. The United States
urged that the concessions made in 1783 were not new, but
amounted merely to a confirmation of the rights which American
citizens had previously enjoyed, so that the war could not affect
them. Great Britain claimed that such fishing rights depended
solelyon convention, which was liable to be abrogated by war, and
that the concessions made in 1783 were only temporary. After
a good deal of negotiation between the two Governments, a new
treaty was concluded between them in 1818. After reciting that
"
differences have arisen respecting the liberty claimed by the
United States, for the inhabitants thereof to take, dry, and cure
fish, on certain coasts, bays, harbours, and creeks, of his Britannic
Majesty, the liberty to take fish of every kind on that part of the
southern coast of Newfoundland, which extends from Cape Ray
to the Eameau Islands, on the western and northern coast of
Newfoundland, from the said Cape Ray to the Quirpon Islands;
on the shores of the Magdalen Islands; and also on the coasts^
bays, harbours, and creeks, from Mount Joly, on the southern
coast of Labrador, to and through the Straits of Belleisle, and
thence northwardly indefinitely along the coast; without prejudice,
however, to any of the exclusive rights of the Hudson Bay Com-
pany. And that the American fishermen shall also have liberty,
(o) British and Foreign State (;;) The Treaty of Washington, 1871,
Papers, vol. vi. (1818—1819); Elliot, Arts, xviii. xix. xxi. See 35 & 3(>
Diplomatic Code, vol. i. p. 281. Viet. c. 45. See also Appendix C.
W. 19
290 EIGHTS OF PEOPEETY.
^^d^th^^^*^^^
so that Great Britain became involved in them. A provisional
United States. Settlement was made in 1890, by the Bond-Blaine Convention, but,
at the instance of Canada, Great Britain did not ratify it. In
1893 the Newfoundland Legislature passed the Foreign Fishing
Vessels Act, which imposed various prohibitions on foreign fish-
es) See London Gazette, l€th Nov. bury, The Times, 22nd Feb. 1888;
1878, Supplement. Ibid. 17th Feb. 1888; Annual licgis-
(r) Wharton, Digest, p. 64. ter, 1888.
(s)Mr. Chamberlain to Lord Salis- (u) British and Foreign State
bury,The Times, 3rd March, 1888. Papers, vol. Ixxix. (1887—1888);
(0 Mr. Chamberlain to Lord Salis- Annual Register, 1888, p. 406.
EIGHTS OF PEOPERTY. 291
ing vessels, but did not interfere with rights established by treaty,.
In 1902 the provisional Bond-Hay Treaty vi^as agreed upon, but
being "amended to death" by the United States Senate, it was
deemed to be rejected. Newfoundland then passed further Acts,
in 1905 and in 1906, imposing restrictions on foreign fishermen,
Besides those bays, gulfs, straits, mouths of rivers, and estuaries Claims to
which are enclosed by capes and headlands belonging to the terri- ^^ the^sea
^
X
tory of the State, a jurisdiction and right of property over certain the ground of
^^^
other portions of the sea have been claimed by different nations,
(v) Cf. British and Foreig-n State Hague Court of Arbitration (Sept.
—
Papers, vol. Ixxxiii. (1890 1891); 1910), to which the question of the
Pari. Papers, United States, No. 1 North Atlantic Coast Fisheries was
(1906); Pari. Papers, Newfoundland, submitted, see Amer. Journ. of Int.
1907. See also Cobbett, Cases, vol. i. Law, vol. iv. (1910), pp. 948 seq.
pp. 153 seq., and other references Lord Derby to the Governor of
{x)
there cited. For the decision of the Newfoundland, June 12, 1884.
19 (2)
292 RIGHTS OF PROPERTY.
ing to circumstances; but the claim itself has never been sanctioned
by general acquiescence (^), and is now no longer valid, if it has
not, indeed, already been abandoned {z) .
(y) Vattel, Droit des Gens, liv. i. Hist. Law of Nations, pp. 154 — 157.
ch. 23, § 289. Martens, Precis du Kluber, § 132.
Droit des Gens Moderne de I'Europe, {z) Cf. Oppenheim, International
liv. ii. ch. 1, § 42. Edinburgh Review, Law, vol. i.
§§ 191, 195.
vol. xi. Art. 1, pp. 17—19. Wheaton,
EIGHTS OF PROPERTY. 29
treaty concluded at London the 13th July, 1841, between the five
The treaty of 1841 was revised by the Treaty of Paris, 1856 (d), Treaty of
but the principles contained in the former treaty were re-estab- ^"^'
lished with very slight changes. The Sultan, however, agreed to
permit the passage of light ships of war, which the contracting
parties were authorized to station at the mouths of the Danube, in
order to secure the execution of the regulations relative to the
liberty of that river (e) The Treaty of Paris provided for the
.
(a) Martens, Nouveau Recueil, torn. (<?) Wheaton, Hist. Law of Nations,
viii. p. 143. pp. 583—585.
(6) T. E. Holland, European Con- (d) Art. x. Hertslet, Map of
cert in the Eastern Question (1885), Europe by Treaty, vol. ii. p. 1255.
pp. 95 seq. (e) Art. iii. Ibid. p. 1268.
"
London ^
In 1870 Eussia seized upon the opportunity afforded her by the
^
1871.
Franco-Prussian war to obtain the abrogation of these latter pro-
visions, and a declaration was then made by the Powers assembled
"
at the Congress of London that the principle of the closing of
the Straits, such as it has been established, is ^maintained," but that
"
power should be given to the Sultan to open the Straits in time
of peace to the vessels of war of friendly and allied Powers, in
case the Sublime Porte should judge it necessary in order to secure
"
the execution of the stipulations of the Treaty of Paris, 1856 (g).
The abrogation of the Article in the Treaty of Paris preventing
the building of arsenals, also gave both Turkey and Eussia the
nations."
Berlin The Treaty of Berlin contains no express mention of the Darda-
Congress.
nelles, but in the 18th Protocol Lord Salisbury declared on behalf
of England "that the obligations of her Britannic Majesty re-
(/) Arts, xi., xiii, Cf. British and denouncing the Black Sea clauses of
Foreign State Papers, vol. xlvi. (1855 the Treaty of Paris. Cf. British and
—1856). Foreign State Papers, vol. Ixi. (1870
(g) Art. ii. of Convention of 13th —1871).
March, 1871. Hertslet, Map of Europe (A) Holland, European Concert,
by Treaty, vol. iii. p. 1921; and see p. 226.
ibid. p. 1892, for the Eussian Note
EIGHTS OF PEOPERTY. 295
English vessels from passing the Great Belt as weU as the Sound,
unless in case of unavoidable necessity in which case they were to
;
pay the same duties at Wyborg as if they had passed the Sound
at Elsinore. The treaty concluded at Spire, in 1544, with the
Emperor Charles V., which has commonly been referred to as;
the origin, or at least the first recognition, of the Danish claim to
the Sound tolls, merely stipulates, in general terms, that the mer-
chants of the Low Countries frequenting the ports of Denmark
should pay the same duties as formerly.
The treaty concluded at Christianople, in 1645, between Den-
mark and the united provinces of the Netherlands, is the earliest
convention with any foreign Power by which the amount of duties
296 EIGHTS OF PEOPERTY.
a more ancient tariff for the specified articles, and one and a
quarter per cent, on unspecified articles (^).
the passage of the Sound or of the Belts; but His Majesty the
King of Denmark the right of
expressly reserves to himself
regulating by special arrangements, not involving visit or deten-
tion, the treatment in regard to duties and customs, of vessels
being responsible only for the share placed to its own charge.
Separate treaties to the same effect were signed by Denmark with
the United States and with Sardinia in 1857, with Portugal and
the two Sicilies in 1858, with Turkey in 1859, and with Spain in
1860(0.
The Baltic Sea has sometimes been considered by the maritime Whether the
the ^^}^^^ ^^^
'
, ,
18
<
mare
exercise of hostilities upon its waters by other States, whilst the clausum '
?
(0 See Hertslet, Map of Europe by Treaty, vol. ii. p. 1301. State Papers,
vol. xlvii. p. 24. .
298 RIGHTS OF PROPERTY.
along the whole coast, from Dantzic to Liibeck (m) That the .
Controversy The controversy, how far the open sea or main ocean, beyond
^
d?Siorfof ^^® immediate vicinity of the coasts, may be appropriated by one
the seas. nation to the exclusion of others, which onoo exercised the pens
of the ablest and most learned European jurists, can no longer be
considered open. Grotius, in his treatise on the Law of Peace and
War, hardly admits more than the possibility of appropriating
the waters immediately contiguous, though he adduces a number
of quotations from ancient authors, showing that a broader preten-
sion has been sometimes sanctioned by usage and opinion. But
he never intimates that anything more than a limited portion could
'
'
(m) Annual Register, vol. xlix.; (o) Cf. Phillipson, Article on Gen-
State Papers, p. 773. tills in Great Jurists of the World
(w) De Jur. Bel. ac Pac. lib. ii. (1913), pp. 113, 122 seq. and Article
cap. 3, §§ 8
— 13. on Bynkershoek, ibid.
;
pp. 398 seq.
EIGHTS OF PEOPERTY. 299
{p) Paolo Sarpi, Del Dominio del (s) Droit des Gens, liv. i. cli. 23,
Mare Adriatico (Venet. 1676). §§ 279—286. As to the maritime
(q) De Dominio Maris, Opera police which may be exercised by any
Minora, Dissert V., first publish^ in particular nation, on the high seas, for
1702. Ibid. cap. vii. ad finem. Of. the punishment of offences committed
Phillipson, Article on Bynkershoek, ut on board its own vessels, or the sup-
sup. pp. 398 seq. pression of piracy and the African
(/•) De Jure Naturae et Gentium, slave trade, vide supra, pt. ii. ch. ii.
^tively (u) .
(t) Ortolan, R^glee Internationales (u) See supra, pp. 272 seq.
et Diplomatie de la Mer, torn. i.
(x) See stcpra, p. 274.
pp. 120—126.
RIGHTS OF PROPERTY. 301
to the limits that had been imposed by the United States on her
citizens. Onthe complaint of the American sealers, the United
States authorities seized, in 1886, three Canadian schooners while
fishing about seventy miles from shore, and brought them before
the District Court at Sitka for breaking the law which prohibited
the killing of fur-seals, without authorization, "within Alaska
Ports, mouths The reasons which forbid the assertion of an exclusive pro-
of rivers, &c.
prietary right to the sea in general, will be found inapplieable to
the particular portions of that element included in the above
designations.
1 .
Thus, in respect to those portions of the sea which form the
ports, harbours, ba,js, and mouths of rivers of any State where
the tide ebbs and flows, its exclusive right of property, as well as
(y) Moore, Digest, vol. i. 828. contained in the British Pari. Papers,
For the Behring Sea controversy,
p.
see —
1886 1898; and in the account of
ibid. vol. i. § 172; Cobbett, Cases, the Proceedings of the Arbitration at
voU i. pp. 124 seq. Official documents Paris, in 15 vols.
are to be found in the correspondenoe (2;) Vide supra, p. 278.
EIGHTS OF PKOPERTY. 303
(a) Vide supra, pt. ii. ch. 2, pp. Gens Moderne de I'Europe, § 153.
282 seq. Vattel, Droit des Gens, liv. i. c. 23,
(6) Martens, Precis du Droit des § 287.
304 EIGHTS OF PKOPEETY.
The territory of the State includes the lakes, seas, and rivers, Rivers
^ enclosed within its limits.
entirely The rivers which flow throus^h
'^ ^^^'^^^^^
^ . . part of the
the territory also form a part of the domain, from their sources territory of
® ^ ®'
to their mouths, or as far as they flow within the territory, in-
(c) Wheaton, Hist. Law of Nations, pp. 577 —583. See ante, pp. 292 seq.
w. 20
306 EIGHTS OF PEOPEETY.
Right of
Things of which the use is inexhaustible, such as the sea and
innocent
running water, cannot be so appropriated as to exclude others
passage on
any manner which does not occasion
rivers flowing: from using these elements in
through
different a loss or inconvenience to the proprietor. This is what is called
States.
an 'innocent use.' Thus we have seen that the jurisdiction pos-
sessed by one nation over sounds, straits, and other arms of the
sea leading through its own territory to that of another, or to
other seas common to all nations, does not exclude others from the
through the territory of another into the sea, or into the territory
of a third State. The right of navigating, for commercial pur-
poses, a river which flows through the territories of different States,
is common to all the nations inhabiting the different parts of ita
banks; but this right of innocent passage being what the text-
'
'
passage.' Many assert it; but there are not a few who deny it as
a matter of strict law (/) . On the whole, modern views and prac-
tice, as a French writer freedom of navigation, subject
says, favour
to such precautionary measures as may be necessary to safeguard
the riparian States, and to their respective rights of jurisdiction,
moor vessels to its banks, to lade and unlade cargoes, &c. The
public jurists apply this principle of the Roman civil law to the
same case between nations, and infer the right to use the adjacent
land for these purposes, as means necessary to the attainment of
the end for which the free navigation of the water is permitted (h) .
The incidental right, like the principal right itself, is imperfect These rights
Those who are interested in the enjoyment of these rights may Modification
^
renounce them entirely, or consent to modify them in such manner ^ compact.
as mutual convenience and policy may dictate. A remarkable
instance of such a renunciation found in the Treaty of West-
is
Onthe 16th July, 1863,, a treaty was entered into between Redemption
Belgium and most of the European Powers, by which Belgium tolls,
agreed to suppress the tolls on the Scheldt. Holland had re-
nounced her claims to the tolls on the 12th of May of the same
year, in consideration of an indemnity paid to her by Belgium (k) .
The suppression of the tolls was to apply to every flag, and they
were never to be re-established. Belgium also agreed to abolish
tonnage dues in her ports, and to reduce the pilotage rates pre-
viously charged; but this was only to apply to countries which
were parties to the treaty (I). As a compensation, the signatory
Powers agreed to indemnify Belgium against the claims she had
become liable to, under the treaty with Holland, and to pay her a
(A) Grotius, De Jur. Bel. ac Pac. (i) Wheaton, Hist. Law of Nations,
lib.ii.
cap. 2, § 15. Pufendorf, De pp. 282—284, 552.
Jur. Naturae et Gentium, lib. iii. (k) Plertslet, Map of Europe by-
cap. 3, § 8.Vattel, Droit des Gens, Treaty, vol. ii. p. 1532.
liv. ii. ch. 9, § 129. (0 The United States was not a
party.
20(2)
308 EIGHTS OF PROPERTY.
1815, between Austria and Russia, and of the same date between
Russia and Prussia, to which last Austria subsequently acceded,
are confirmed by the Final Act of the Congress of Vienna. The
same treaty also extends the general principles adopted by the
congress relating to the navigation of rivers to that of the Po (o) .
After a long and tedious negotiation, this question was finally The Rhine,
settled by the convention concluded at Mayence, the 31st of March, of
^nvention
1831, between all the riparian States of the Rhine, by which the
navigation of the river was declared free from the point where it
becomes navigable into the sea ("bis in die See"), including its
tory to or from the sea, and also by the different ports of the upper
riparian States on the Rhine (y) .
(x) Annual Register (1826), vol. (y) Martens, Nouveau Rccueil, torn.
Ixviii. pp. 259—363. ix. p. 252.
312 RIGHTS OF PROPERTY.
heart of man, that the ocean is free to all men, and its rivers to
as a strait in the sea; for though was eighty leagues from the
it
laws of every country probably did the same. This must have
been so understood between France and Great Britain at the Treaty
of Paris, where a right was ceded to British subjects to navigate
the whole river, and expressly that part between the island of New
Orleans and the western bank, without stipulating a word about
the use of the shores, though both of them belonged then to France,
and were to belong immediately to Spain. Had not the use of
the shores been considered as incident to that of the water, it would
have been expressly stipulated, since its necessity was too obvious
to have escaped either party. Accordingly all British subjects
used the shores habitually for the purposes necessary to the naviga-
tion of the river; and when a Spanish governor undertook at one
time to forbid this, and even cut loose the vessels fastened to the
The relative position of the United States and Great Britain Navigation
in respect to the navigation of the great northern lakes and the ^**^®
river St. Lawrence, appears to be similar to that of the United
States and Spain, previously to the cession of Louisiana and
Florida, in respect of the Mississippi; the United States being
in possession of the southern shores of the lakes and the river
St. La wren 00 where their northern boundary linei
to the point
strikes the river,and Great Britain, of the northern shores of
the lakes and the river in its whole extent to the sea,, a;s well as
of the southern banks of the river, from the latitude 45° north
to its mouth.
The claim of the people of the United States, of a right to
navigate the St. Lavn^ence to and from the sea, was, in 1826,
the subject of discussion between the American and British
Governments.
Tbe On the part of the United States Government, this right was
^^^^^ ^^ the same grounds of natural right and obvious
Controversy
between necessity which had formerly been urged in respect to the river
and the Mississippi. The dispute betweendifferent European Powers
United States,
respecting the navigation of the Scheldt, in 1784, was also referred
to in the correspondence on this subject, and the case of tha^t
river was distinguished from that of the St. Lawrence by its
entirely artificial that it owed its existence to the skill and labour
;
judgment of
Europe upon the general question. The importance
of the present claim might be estimated by the fact, that the
inhabitants of at least eight States of the American Union, besides
the territory of Michigan, had an immediate interest in it, besides
the prospective interests of other parts connected with this river
and the inland seas through which it communicates with the ocean .
The right of this great and growing population to the use of this
its only natural outlet to the ocean, was supported by the same
principles and authorities which had been urged by Mr. Jeffer-
son in the negotiation with Spain respecting the navigation of
the river Mississippi. The present claim was also fortified by
the consideration that this navigation was, before the war of the
American Bevolution, the common property of all the British
Ohio. Hence the necessity which has been felt by the writers
on public law, of controlling the operation of a principle so ex-
tensive and dangerous, by the
right of transit to
restricting
purposes of innocent utility, to be exclusively determined by the
local sovereign. Hence the right in question is termed by them
an imperfect right. But there was nothing in these writers, or
in the stipulations of the Treaties of Vienna, respecting the navi-
(c) American Paper on the Naviga- Documents, Session 1827 —1828, No.
tion of the St. Lawrence; Congress 43, Jp. 34.
318 EIGHTS OF PEOPEETY.
The American To this argument it was replied, on the part of the Unitcfd
reply.
States, that, if the St. Lawrence were regarded as a strait con-
necting navigable seas, as it ought properly to be, there would
be less controversy. The principle on which the right to navi-
gate straits depends, is, that they are accessorial to those seas
which they unite, and the right of navigating which is not exclu-
drawing that
after of passing the straits.
it The United States
and Great Britain have between them the exclusive right of navi-
gating the lakes. The St. Lawrence connects them with the
ocean. The
right to navigate both (the lakes and the ocean)
includes that of passing from one to the other through the natural
link. Was it then xeasonable or just that one of the two co-
{d) British Paper on the Navigation of the St. Lawrence; Session 1827 —
28, No. 43, p. 41.
EIGHTS OF PKOPEETY. 319
prove that the origin of the right was conventional, and not
natural. It often happened to be highly convenient, if not some-
times indispensable, to avoid controversies by prescribing certain
rules for the enjoyment of a natural right. The law of nature,
subjected (e).
The controversy was provisionally settled by the Reciprocity Reciprocity-
^^^^^^^^ ^^^*-
Treaty of June 5, 1854, of which Article 4 gave to the inhabitants
of the United States the right to navigate the river St. Lawrence
and the canals in Canada as a means of communication between
the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean, subject to the same tolls
and assessments imposed on British subjects. British subjects
obtained a similar right of navigating Lake Michigan and the
"
scending, from the 45th parallel of north latitude, where it ceases i87i,a8tothe
St.Lawrence.
(e) Mr. Secretary Clay's letter to Mr. Gallatin, June 19, 1826. Session
1827—1828, No. 43, p. 18.
320 RIGHTS OF PEOPERTY.
to form the boundary between the two countries, from, to, and
into the sea, shall for ever remain free and open for the purposes
of commerce to the citizens of the United States, subject to any
laws and regulations of Great Britain, or of the Dominion .of
Canada, not inconsistent with such privilege of free naviga-
tion" (/). In 1909 a treaty between the two Powers was con-
cluded, regulating the navigation and use of boundary waters {g).
African By the General Act of the Berlin Conference, 1885, the trade
rivers.
^^ ^^l nations, except in so far as any independent sovereign State
may neglect to apply this principle within its territory, is to
enjoy complete freedom in the basin of the Congo, its mouth and
circumjacent regions, extending to the Indian Ocean and the
Zambesi. The signatory parties bind themselves to respect the
neutrality of the same free trade zone, so long as ',the ruling
Powei" in any territory within it shall fulfil the duties which
Niger (/i).
International The Scientific progress of the world has added another mode of
canals
water communication, viz., by international canals, which has
given rise to very important questions of international law. The
Suez Canal, between the continents of Africa and Asia, has long-
been an accomplished fact, and a successful commercial specu-
lation; whilst the Panama Canal, between North and South
America, after a somewhat chequered career of the project, was
countrj' than it now is; and on this ground they consider them-
selves to have a most important interest in its control, although
the canal is hundreds of miles from the nearest point of their
territory.
It is impossible to lay down any general rule to meet all such
cases as these. The situation of the waterway and the States
whose commercial or other interests require its maintenance must
all bo considered.
The considerations noticed in the preceding paragraphs induced The Suez
the British Government, in 1875, to purchase from the Khedive
of Egypt a large number of shares in the Suez Canal, which the
latter in his private capacity of shareholder. The Turko-
owned
Russian War of 1887 gave rise to apprehensions lest either of the
belligerents should endeavour to close the canal, or commit acts of
hostility in or near it; and strong opinions were expressed in
the British Parliament to the effect that Great Britain would insist
(*) During the first six months of of 4,979 vessels, with a gross tonnage
operation, ending Feb. 14, 1915, 496 of 19,758,040, which passed through
vessels (excluding canal vessels and the canal, 2,902, with a gross tonnage
launches) passed through tlie canal, of 11,887,170, were British (Sfcates-
with a tonnage of 2,367,244. man's Year Book, 1915).
(k) In the year 1913, out of a total
w. 21
322 EIGHTS OF PROPERTY.
operations" (Z).
One main object of the British occupation of Egypt in 1882
was to protect the canal against injury; and in August of that
year, British war vessels and transports entered the canal, which
was thereafter used as the British base of operations, and was
patrolled by armed boats and launches belonging to Her Majesty's
ships. Thes>3 acts, however, were done under the authority of the
Italy, and Eussia, and, on the last day but one of the same
month, by Musurus Pasha on behalf of Turkey, after reciting
that the Powers had agreed to recognise the urgent necessity for
saiiKiyear. A
general agreement upon many points had been
arrived at, but there were some on which a difference of opinion
still remained; the principal divergence being in reference to the
question of superintendence to insure the execution of the treaty.
After protracted negotiations between the two (Jovernments (the
cliietpoints in dispute being the one specified above, the extent
—
of the area to be neutralized the French Government wishing to
include the "approaches" to the canal, a strip of land on either
side ofit, and a large part of the territorial waters of Egypt, while
(??) Pari. Papers, Egypt, No. 2 (</) Cf. Pari. Papers, Egypt, No. 1
(18b9). (1888).
21(2)
324 EIGHTS OF PEOPERTY.
may station two warships in the ports of Suez or Port Said. The
may find it necessary to take for securing, by their own forces, the
defence of Egypt, and the maintenance of public order, or occasion
any obstacle to the measures which the Imperial Ottoman Govern-
ment may think it necessary to take in order to insure by its own
forces tho defence of its other possessions situated on the eastern
coast of the Red Sea. Though measures to be taken in either ,of
these respects are not to interfere with the free use of the canal,
none of the contracting parties are to endeavour to obtain, with
respect to the canal, territorial or commercial advantages or privi-
leges. The rights of Turkey as the territorial Power are reserved,
and, with the exception of the obligations expressly provided by
the treaty, the sovereign rights of the Sultan, and the rights and
immunities of the Khedive, are in no way affected.
Great Britain in signing the convention reserved to herself
Panama In 1846, a treaty was ratified between the United States and
^^^^
the Eepublic of Colombia (then called New Granada), by which
a right of transit over the Isthmus of Panama was given to the
United States, and the free transit over the Isthmus "from the
one to the other sea" guaranteed by both the contracting Powers.
As a consequence of this treaty, the Panama Railroad was built
by American capital, and completed in 1855. In 1849, the United
States entered into another treaty with Nicaragua for the con-
the canal shall be free and open to vessels of commjerce and .war
of all nations observing these rules on the terms of entire equality,
so that there shall be no discriminations against any such nation or
its citizens or subjects in respect of the conditions or charges of
traffic or otherwise: such conditions and charges of traffic to be just
and equitable." It was further agreed that no change in the
territorial sovereignty or international relations of the country or*
(t) The negotiations which led to details would be out of place in these
the eventual ratification of the Hay- pages. See Pari. Papers, United
Pauncefote Treaty form a curious No. 1
States, (1900) [Cd. 30]; and
chapter in diplomatic history, but the Annual Register, 1900, p. 418.
»328 RIGHTS OF PROPEliTY.
deliberately omitted from the final form of the latter treaty, which
superseded the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty. In the absence of an
express exemption it would seem, therefore, that the United States
may erect fortifications; for when it was intended, in the case of
the Suez Canal, to forbid such a proceeding, express clauses were
inserted to that effect {ii) .
(m) For arguments for and against (1909), pp. 354 seq., 885 seq.) vol. iv.
the fortification of the Panama Canal, (1910), pp. 324 seq.
see Amer. Journ. of Int. Law, vol. iii.
329
PAET THIRD.
CHAPTEE I.
RIGHTS OF LEGATION.
Every independent State has a right to send public ministers Eight to send
1
which
•
1
•
it
1
•
••11-
to, and receive ministers from, any other sovereign State with ^}^^ obliga-
and amity. No
desires to maintain the relations of peace
P 1 •
T.T
^^^^
public
^ receive
^"^^«^»-
State, strictly speaking, is obliged, by the positive law of nations,
to send or receive public ministers, although the usage and comity
of nations seem to have established a sort of reciprocal duty in this
(ic) Cf. Phillipson, Int. Law and Custom of Ancient Greece and Kome,
vol. i. ch. 13.
330 RIGHTS OF LEGATION
(a) Vattel, Droit des Gens, liv. iv. therefore the right of sending diplo-
ch. 5, §§ 56—65. Rutherforth, Insti- matic representatives to the Porte, and
tutes, vol. ii. b. ii. ch. 9, § 20. to other countries, on the same terms
Martens, Precis du Droit dos Gens as other independent States. See
Moderne de I'Europe, liv. vii. ch. 1, Treaty of Berlin, Art. 43.
§§ 187—190. (6") It is now merged in that of the
(b) Vattel, liv. iv. ch. 5, § 60. German Empire.
Kliiber, Droit des Gens Moderne de {d) Heffter, Das Europaische Vol-
I'Europe, st. 2, tit. 2, ch. 3, § 175. kerrecht, § 200. Merlin, Repertoire,
Merlin, Repertoire, tit. Ministre Pub- tit. Ministre Publiqne, sect. ii. § 1,
liqiie, sect. ii. § 1, No. 3, 4. Rou- No. 5. As to the reception of the
mania, these united provinces are
as, Dutch ambassadors in the sixteenth
now now acquired complete
called, has century, see Motley, Life of John
independence, which is recognised by Barneveld (1874), vol. i. ch. 1.
the Treaty of Berlin. This State Ivas
EIGHTS OF LEGATION. 331
(e) Vide supra, Pt. I. ch. 2, pp. 38 1862 (No. 5), p. 34. See ante,Ft. II.
seq. Merlin, Repertoire, tit. Ministre ch. 2, p. 178.
Pnblique, sect. ii. § 6. (g) Earl Russell to Mr. Adams, 26th
(/) Wheaton (Lawrence), p. 378, Nov. 1861. U. S. Dipl. Cor. 18G2,
n. 118. Pari. Papers, N. America, p. 8.
332 EIGHTS OF LEGATION.
grounded Qi) .
Ambassadors and lOther public ministers of the first class are Ambassadors,
All other public ministers are destitute of that particular cha- Ministers of
second
racter which is supposed to be derived from representing generally
*^^
the person and dignity of the sovereign. They represent him
only in respect to the particular business committed to their charge
which they are accredited (n)
at the court to .
"Art. 7. Dans lea actes ou traites cr6dit6s aupr^s d'elles, formeront, par
entre plusieurs puissances, qui admet- rapport k leur rang, une classe inter-
tent I'alternat, le sort decidera, entre mldiaire entre les ministres du second
les ministres, de I'ordre qui devra etre ordre et les charges d'affaires." State
suivi dans les signatures." Martens, Papers, vol. v. p. 1090.
Nouv. Eec. ii. 449. Q) Vattel, Droit des Gens, liv. iv.
The protocol of the Congress of Aix- —
ch. 6, §§ 70 79. Martens, Precis du
la-Chapelle of the 21st November, Droit des Gens Moderne de I'Europe,
1818, declares: liv. vii. ch. 9, § 192. Martens, Manuel
"Pour 6viter les discussions des- Diplomatique, ch. 1, § 9.
agreables qui pourraient avoir lieu k (m) Martens, Precis, &c., liv. vii.
I'avenir sur un point d'etiquette dip- ch, 2, § 198. Vide ante,Yt. II. ch. 4,
lomatique, que I'annexe du recez do p. 262.
Vienne, par lequel les questions de (w) Martens, Manuel Diplomatique,
rang ont 6te reglees, ne parait pas ch. 1, § 10.
avoir prcvu, il est arrete entre les cinq (o) Ibid.
cours, que les ministres residens, ac-
334 RIGHTS OF LEGATION.
reigns (g) .
Congress are not provided with a letter of credence, but only with
a full power, of which they reciprocally exchange copies with each
other, or deposit them in the hands of the mediating Power or
presiding minister {y) .
Instructions. Tho instructions of the minister are for his own direction only,
and not to be communicated Government to which he is
to the
Passport. A
public minister, proceeding to his destined post in time of
peace requires no other protection than a passport from his own
(a;) Martens, Precis, &c., liv. vii. (z) Manuel Diplomatique, ch. 2,
ch. 3, § 202. Wicquefort, De TAm- § 16.
bassadeur, liv. i. § 15. (a) Calvo, Droit International (2nd
(y) Wicquefort, liv. i. § 16. Mar- ed.), vol. i. § 430, p. 550; and see
tens, Precis, &c., liv. vii. ch. 3, § 204. Stapleton, George Canning and his
Manuel Diplomatique, ch. 2, § 17. Times, p. 429.
RIGHTS OF LEGATION. 337
resident at the same court, towards each other, and towards the
memberri of the Government to which they are accredited. The
duties which comity requires to be observed, in this respect,
belong rather to the code of manners than of laws, and can hardly
be made the subject of positive sanction; but there are certain
established rules in respect to them, the non-observance of which
Privileges of From the moment a public minister enters the territory of the
a public
minister.
State to which he is sent, during the time of his residence, and
until he leaves the country, he is entitled to an entire exemption
from the local jurisdiction, both civil and criminal. Repre-
senting the rights, interests, and dignity of the sovereign or State
by whom he is delegated, his persouj is sacred and inviolable^^
To give a more lively idea of this complete exemption from the
local jurisdiction, the fiction of extra-territoriality has been in-
vented (e), by which the minister, though actually in a foreign
country, is supposed still toremain within the territory of his
own He continues still subject to the laws of his own
sovereign.
country, which govern his personal status and rights of property,
whether derived from contract, inheritance, or testament. His
children born abroad are considered as natives. This exemption
from the local laws and jurisdiction is founded upon mutual
utility,growing out of the necessity that public ministers should
be entirely independent of the local authority, in order to fulfil
the duties of their mission. The act of sending the minister on
the one hand, and of receiving him on the other, amounts to a
tacitcompact between the two States that he shall be subject
only to the authority of his own nation (/).
The passports or safe conduct, granted by his own Govern-
ment in time of peace, or by the Government to which he is sent
in time of war, are sufficient evidence of his public character
for this purpose (^).
(d) Manuel Diplomatique, ch. 4, In»t. vol. ii. b. ii. ch. 9, § 20. Wic-
§ 37. quefort, De
I'Ambassadeur, liv. i. § 27.
(e) There a dijfferenoe of opinion
is Bynkershoek, De Jure Competent.
among jurists as to the present-day Legat. cap. 5, 8. Vattel, Droit dee
usefulness and applicability of the Gene, liv. iv. ch. 7, §§ 81—125.
theory of exterritoriality. For tabu- Martens, Precis, liv. vii. ch. 5, §§ 214
lated references on the question, see —218. Kluber, Droit des Gens
A. S. Hershey, Essentials of Inter- Moderne de PEurope, Pt. II. tit. 2,
national Public Law (New York, § 203. Foelix, Droit International
1912), pp. 285, 286. Priv6, § 184. Wheaton, Hist. Law of
(/) Grotiufl, De Jur. Bel. ac Pac. Nations, pp. 237 243. —
lib. ii. cap. 18, §§ 1—6. Butherforth, (g) Vattel, liv. iv. ch. 7, § 83.
RIGHTS OF LEGATION. 339
The absolute
exterritoriality of a minister's house was disputed
Minister's
llOllSG
in comparatively recent times by the French Government. In
April, 1867, one Mickilchenkorff, a Russian subject, appeared
at the Russian embassy in Paris, and made a demand, which was
refused Thereupon he assaulted one of the attaches with adagger,
.
wounded him, and injured two other persons who came to the
rescue. The police, being applied to, entered the house and
removed the culprit, who was afterwards brought before the Cour
d' Assises. The Russian ambassador, who was absent when the
crime was committed, on his return demanded that the prisoner
should be sent to Russia, on the ground that the act having been
-committed in his 'hotel,' the French courts had no jurisdiction,
(A) Halleck, Int. Law, ed. Sir (0 Alison, vol. iv. sect. 27, p. 228.
O. S. Baker (1908), vol. i. pp. 359, {k) Grotius, De Jur. Bel. ac Pac.
360. (In the last sentence the word lib. cap. xviii. §§ 8, 9.
ii. Bynker-
"*'
not " in the phrase " so far as that shock, De Foro Oompetent. Legat.
is not necessary," is omitted from the cap. 13, § 5; cap. 15, 20. Vattel,
1908 edition, though it is found in liv. iv. ch. 8, § 113; ch. 9, §§ 117—
the The omission
is
first edition, 1801.
obviously due to inadvertence; so
123.
§§ 215
Martens, Precis,
—227; ch.
liv.
§§
vii.
234 —ch.237.
5,
22(2)
340 EIGHTS OF LEGATION.
(w) Magdalena Steam Navigr. Co. w. ch. 12, sec. 711. U. S. v. Ravara
Martin (1859), 2 E. & E. 94. Cf. (1793), 2 Dallas, 297; Cohens v. F^>-
Maoartn&y v. Garhutt (1890), 24 ginia, 6 Wheaton, 407; St. Luke's
Q. B. D. 368. Hospital v. Barhley, 3 Blatchford, 259.
EIGHTS OF LEGATION. 341
sional Court in England to set aside service of process which had cou^ntries.
detaining him
in custody for several hours, in contempt of the
.
himself engage in trade, he does not thereby forfeit the privilege
conferred by the statute {x) .
jurisdiction, the existence and safety oi the State where they reside, ii the
seized and sent out of the country. The Bishop of 'Ross, am- of ambas-^^^"
bassador of of Scots, was imprisoned and then sadors.
Mary Queen
banished from England, for conspiring against the sovereign,
while the Duke of Norfolk and other conspirators were tried and
executed In 1584, Mendoza, the Spanish ambassador in
(e).
not liable to be put to death for his offence "was the opinion of
Gentilis and Hotman, to whom the case was referred. In 1654, De
Bass, the French minister, was ordered to depart from the country
in twenty-four hours, on a charge of conspiracy against the life
of Cromwell (e). In 1717, Gyllenborg, the Swedish ambassador,
contrived a plot to dethrone George I. He ^as arrested, his cabinet
broken open and searched, and his papers seized. Sweden arrested
the British minister at Stockholm by way of reprisal. The Regent
of France interposed his good offices, and the two ambassadors
were shortly afterwards exchanged (/) The arrest of Gyllenborg
.
(b) Grotius, De Jur. Bel. ac Pac. (c) Froude, Hist, of England, vol. x.
lib. ii. cap. 18, § 4. Eutherforth, pp. 222 et seq. (ed. 1866).
Inst. vol. ii. b. ii. ch. 9, § 20. Byn- (d) Ibid. vol. xi. p. 623.
kershoek, De Foro Competent. Legat. (e) Phillimore, vol. ii. § 164.
cap. 17, 18, 19. Vattel, liv. iv. ch. 7, (/) Mahon, Hist, of England, vol. i.
§§ 94—102. Martens, Precis, liv. vii. pp. 388 seq. Cf. C. de Martens,
ch. 5, § 218. Ward, Hist, of the Law Causes Cel^bres, vol.i. p. 97.
of Nations, vol. ii. ch. 17, pp. 291— (g) Mahon, Hist, of Eng. vol. i.
334. Wheaton, Hist, of Law of p. 484. Cf. De Martens, Causes C61e-
Nations, pp. 250 — ^254. bres, i. pp. 139 seq.
344 EIGHTS OF LEGATION.
King intimated that his minister had received his royal permission
to return to Spain at the season which would be convenient for a
safe passage. Yrujo, however, after the lapse of many months,
being about to present himself at Washington to attend the
meeting of Congress, a letter of remonstrance was addressed to
him. He replied, in a letter the tone of which departs from the
usual style of diplomatic correspondence, that he had not come to
Washington to form plots, to excite conspiracies, or to promote any
attempts against the United States Government, and as he had not
directly or indirectly committed any acts of that tendency, which
alo7ie, ashe said, could justify the tenour and object of the letter
of remonstrance, he should live where he pleased and stay where
he pleased, taking no orders but from his Catholic Majesty. This
letter received ;io answer, but a copy of the whole correspondence!
was transmitted toSpain to be laid before the Government. The
Spanish Secretary replied supporting his minister. It is not clear
how the matter ended (i) .
(A) See Moore, Digest, vol. iv. (i) Wharton, Digest, § 84, p. €05;
639. § 106, Appendix; Moore, Digest,
vol. iv. pp. 508 seq.
EIGHTS OF LEGATION. 345
during two years, and the dispute was only settled by the mediation
of the King of the Belgians (k).
In the autumn of 1888, Lord Sackville, the British minister at
Washington, received a letter, purporting to come from a citizen
in California of British birth, asking advice as to which way the
fwriter should vote at the approaching Presidential election. The
letter also contained reflections upon the sincerity of the Senate
in its rejection of the Fisheries Treaty (I), and upon the subse-
quent conduct of the Government. Lord Sackville replied in a
letter which he marked "private," and indicated that the then
Government were favourably disposed towards Great Britain. He
spoke of the opening of the questions with Canada since the re-
"
jection of the treaty as unfortunate." This letter was construed
as sanctioning the reflection cast by Lord Sackville' s correspondent
Secretary till after the formal installation .of the new President
in the following year (oo) .
Personal The wife and family, servants and suite, of the minister, par-
exemption
extending to ticipate in the inviolability attached to his public character. The
his family, secretaries of embassy and legation are especially entitled, as offi-
secretaries,
servants, &c. cial persons, to the privileges of the diplomatic corpjS, in respect
within the territory of the Sitate where he resides, are entire],y house and
exempt from the local jurisdiction; so, also, of his dwelling!- Property,
house {u) But any other real property,
. or immovables, of which
he may be possessed within the foreig^n territory, is subject to its
laws and jurisdiction. Kor is the personal property of which he
may be possessed as a merchant carrying on trade, or in a fiduciary
character, as an executor, &c., exempt from the operation of the
local laws (x).
question, how far the personal effects of a public minister Wheaton's
The
*^^ ^'
are liable to be seized or detained, in order to enforce the perform- ^
of a Pfandglaubiger '
Duties and The person and personal effects of the minister are not liable
taxes.
to taxation He is exempt from the payment of duties on the im-
.
portation of articles for his own personal use and that of his
and, in the case of despatches sent by sea, the vessel or aviso ,'
^
.
Vattel, on the other hand, states that passports are necessary Opinion of
^^**®^'
to an ambassador, in passing through different territories on his
(/) Vattel, Droit des Gens, liv. iv. (^) Ch. de Martens, Causes Celebres
cli. 7,§§ 84, 85. du Droit des Gens, tome i. p. 310.
EIGHTS OF LEGATION. 351
Consuls not Consuls are not public ministers. Whatever protection they
entitled to the
may be entitled to in the discharge of their official duties, and
privileges of whatever special privileges may be conferred upon them by the
ministers
^ocsl laws and usagcs, or by international compact, they are not
entitled, by the general laws of nations, to the peculiar immu-
nities of ambassadors No State is bound to permit the residence
.
(k) Vide supra, Pt. ii. ch. 2, p. 151. can case, Wilson vi Blanco (1889), 5<>
Later Jurists and publicists are also N. Y. Sup. Ct)urt, 582, and the English
divided as to whether ambassadors case, New Chile Gold Mining Co. v.
enjoy inviolability in third States. On Blanco (1888) ; in both cases the prin-
the whole the main current of opinion ciple of immunity against civil
is against absolute inviolability (cf. suitswas recognised in the case of a
Annuaire de I'Institut de droit inter- Venezuelan minister to the French
national, vol. xiv. p. !339), and in E-epublic.
favour of limited immunity, i.e., con- •
exemption from any personal tax, and generally from the liability
to have soldiers quartered in their houses. They are usually
allowed to grant passports to the subjects of their own country,
living within the range of their consulate, but not to foreigners.
As a general rule, the muniments and papers of the consulate are
inviolable, and under no pretext to be seized or examined by the
local authorities" (n). There have been numerous judicial deci-
sions on this subject. The general result of the English, American,
and French cases establishes tha't consuls have certain privileges,
but that they arc not diplomatic officers, and that they cannot claim
any of the immunities accorded specially to members of the diplo-
matic service (o).
A remarkable case of the withdrawal of a consul's exequatur Case of
2. When
the object of the mission is fulfilled, as in the case of
embassies of mere ceremony; or where the mission is special, and
tbo object of the negotiation is attained or has failed.
3. By the recall of the minister.
4. By the decease or abdication of his own sovereign, or the
sovereign to whom he is accredited. In either of these cases it is
terminated .
(jt?)
Mr. Adams to Earl Russell, 21st Nov. 1861. U. S. Dipl. Cor., 1862, p. 1.
RIGHTS OF LEGATION. 355
A
formal letter of recall must be sent to the minister by hisi Letter of
^^^^n
Government: 1. Where the object of his mission has been accom-
'
CHAPTER II.
given in positive terms, and with the usual formis; the latter is
Full power
and ratifica- As to other public treaties: in order to enable a public minister
tion.
or other diplomatic agent to conclude and sign a treaty with the
Government to which he is accredited, he must be furnished with
'
(b) Martens, Precis, liv. ii. ch. 2, (c) Grotius, De Jur. Bel. ac Pac.
§§ 49, 51, 65. Heffter, § 87. lib. cap. 22, §§ 6—8.
iii. Vattel,
The Roman civilians arranged all Droit des Gens, liv. ii. ch.-14, § 207.
international contracts into three (^d) Grotius, De Jur. Bel. ac Pac.
'
classes: (1) 'Pactiones'; (2) Spon- lib. ii. lib. iii.
siones'; (3)
'
Foedera.' The latter §§ 1 — cap. Vattel,
3.
15, 16;
§
Droit
cap. 22,
des Gens,
were considered the most solemn. liv. ii. ch. 14, §§ 209—212. Ruther-
Gains, Comm. iii. § 94. forth, Iiist. bk. ii. ch. 9, § 21.
EIGHTS OF NEGOTIATION AND TREATIES— ARBITRATION. 359
only to the principal and his agent. According to him, the sove-
reign is bound by the acts of his ambassador, within the limits of
his patent full-power, although the latter may have transcended
or violated his secret instructions (e) .
power, and most rarely of all does a minister disregard his secret
instructions (h) . But what if he should disregard them ? Is the
sovereign bound to ratify in pursuance of the promise contained in
the full-power ? According to Bynkershoek, the usage of nations,
at the time when he wrote, required a ratification by the sovereign
to give validity to treaties concluded by his minister, in every
instance, except in the very rare case where the entire instructions
were contained in the patent full-power. He controverts the posi-
(e) Grotius, De Jur. Bel. ac Pac. (g) Gentilis, De Jure Belli, lib. ill.
lib. ii. cap. xi. § 12. Pufendorf, De cap. xiv.
Jur. Naturae efc Gent. lib. iii. cap. ix, (A) Bynkershoek, Quaest. Jur. Pub.
§ 2. lib. ii. cap, vii.
(0 Ibid.
EIGHTS OF NEGOTIATION AND TEEATIES— ARBITEATION. 361
particular, he must show that his minister has deviated from his
instructions" (m).
The slightest reflection will show how wide is the difference
between the power given by sovereigns to their ministers to nego-
tiate treaties respecting vast and complicated international con-
(w) Vattel, Droit des Gens, liv. ii. ratifications, at a period of the world
<5li. 12, § 156. like that of Justinian, which invented
(m) One of the earliest recorded ex- nothing, but only collected and fol-
amples of practice was given in
tliis lowed the precedents of the preceding
the treaty of peace concluded, in 561, ages, is conclusive to show that this
by the Eoman Emperor Justinian, with sanction was then deemed necessary by
Cosroes I., King of Persia. Both the the general usage of nations to give
preliminaries and the definitive treaty, validity to treaties concluded under
signed by the respective plenipoten- full powers. On
negotiation and the
tiaries, were subsequently ratified by conclusion of treaties in ancient times,
the two monarchs, and the ratifica- see Phillipson, Int. Law and Custom
tions formally exchanged. Barbeyrao, of Ancient Greece and Eome, vol. i.
Histoire des anciens traites, partie ii. —
pp. 375 419.
p. 295. (o) Adair, Mission to the Court of
It has been very justly observed that Vienna, p. 54.
this example of the exchange of formal
362 EIGHTS OF NEGOTIATION AND TREATIES—AEBITRATION.
acting within the limits of his full power, on the faith of which
the other contracting party has entered into negotiation with him,
even if the minister has transcended his secret instructions." But
"
he very correctly adds, that the positive law of nations, con-
party cannot refuse his in return, except so far as his agent may
have transcended the limits of his instructions, and consequently
is liable to punishment; and that, at least regularly, it does not
depend upon the unlimited discretion of one nation to refuse its
ratification by alleging mere reasons of convenience" (g).
Martens remarks, in a note to the third edition of his work,
published after Kliiber's had appeared, that the latter is of a
contrary opinion, as to the obligation of one party to exchange
when proposed by the other; "and as he (Kliiber)
ratifications
considers the ratification as necessary only where it is reserved
in the full power, or in the treaty itself (which is
a>t present
{q) Martens, Precis, § 48. (r) Martens, Precis (3rd ed.), note f.
364 RIGHTS OF NEGOTIATION AND TREATIES— ARBITRATION.
When treaties Every treaty is binding on the contracting parties from the
egm o m .
^^^^ ^| it contains an express stipulation to
^^^ signature, unless
the contrary. The exchange of ratifications has a retroactive
(s) Martens, Pr6cis, § 48. Essai FEurope, § 48. Heffter, Das Euro-
concernant les Armateurs, § 48. paische Volkerrecht, § 87.
Kliiber, Droit des Gens Moderne de
EIGHTS OF NEGOTIATION AND TEEATIES—ARBITRATION. 365
powers
—such, for example, as a prohibition of alienating the
American The Supreme Court of the United States has laid down as a
Courts on
commence- principle of international law that, respecting the rights of either
nient of
Government under it, a treaty is considered concluded and binding
treaties.
from the date of its signature. In this regard the exchange of
ratifications has, as stated in the text, a retroactive effect, con-
firming the treaty from its date. But a different rule previails
where the treaty operates on individual rights. The principle of
{x) Grotius, De Jur. Bel. ac Pac. (y) Lord Mahon, History of Eng-
lib. iii. cap. 20, § 7. Vattel, Droit land from the Peace of Utrecht, vol. i.
des Gens, liv. i. ch. 20, § 244; ch. 2, p. 24.
§§ 262—265. Kent, Comment, on {z) Kent, Comment, vol. i.
p. 285
American law, vol. i.
p. 164 (5th ed.). (5th ed.).
RIGHTS OF NEGOTIATION AND TREATIES—ARBITRATION. 367
it, must agree to it. But the Senate is not required to adojpt or
reject it as a whole, but may modify or amend it; thus in 1897 the
Senate rejected a proposed treaty with Great Britain providing
for the reference of future disputes between the parties to a court?
of arbitration, and in 1900 in a treaty relating to the Panama
Canal it introduced amendments which Great Britain did not
accept. As the individual citizen on whose rights of property it
operates has no means of knowing anything of it while before the
Senate, it would be wrong in principle to hold him bound by it,
as the law of the land, until it was ratified and
proclaimed. And
to construe the law, so as to make the ratification of the treaty
relate back to its signing, thereby divesting a title already vested,
would be manifestly unjust (&).
the other hand, the welfare of society requires that the engage-
ments entered into by a nation under such duress as is implied by
the defeat of its military forces, the distress of its
people, and the
occupation of its territories by an enemy, should be held binding;
for if they were not, wars could only be terminated by the utter
treaty (c).
(c) Senior, Edinburgh Rev. No. ch. 12, § 192. Martens, Precis, liv. ii.
CLVI. Art. 1. Martens, Precis, liv. ii. ch. 2, § 58.
ch. 2, §§ 50, 52. Grotius, De Jur. (e) Chirac v. Chirac 2
Bel. ac Pac. lib. ii. sect. xiv. §§ 4 12.— Wheaton, 277.
(1817),
By the third Article of the treaty of peace of 1783, between the Controversy
United States and Great Britain, it was "agreed that the people ^etweenthe
TT 1 •
o( • •
of the United States shall continue to enjoy unmolested the right British
11-1
American and
to take fish of every kind on the Grand Bank, and on all the other
respecdnff^the
Banks of Newfoundland; also, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and rights of
at all other places in the sea, where the inhabitants of both coun- coasts of the
British
tries used, at any time heretofore, to fish; and also that the inhabi-
.
1 Ti 1 ^ n dominions m
tants of the United States shall have liberty to take fish of every North
kind on such part of the coast of Newfoundland as British fisher- r;™®^^^^;
..
, /.
Effect of war
men shall use (but not to dry or cure the same on that island), on transitory
and on the coasts, bays, and creeks of all other of his Britannic
also
^reatieT^^^^^^
(/) The Society for the Propagation Chancery, as to American citizens hold-
of the Gospel in Foreign Parts v. The ing lands in Great Britain under the
Town of New Haven (1823), 8 Treaty of 1794, in Sutton v. Sutton
Wheaton, 464. The same principle (1830), 1 R. & M. 663.
was asserted by the English Ct>urt of
W. 24
370 EIGHTS OF NEGOTIATION AND TREATIES—AEBITRATION.
lawful for the said fishermen to dry or cure fish at such settlement,
without a ]3revious agreement for that purpose with the inhabi-
tants, proprietors, or possessors of the ground."
Negfotiation During the negotiation at Ghent, in 1814, the British pleni-
at Ghent. "
potentiaries gave notice that their Government did not intend
to grant to the United States, gratuitously, the privileges for-
by Great Britain.
same nature were the rights and liberties in the
Precisely of the
fisheries.They were, in no respect, grants from the King of
Great Britain to the United States; but the acknowledgment
of them as rights and liberties enjoyed before the separation of
the two countries, and which it was mutually agreed should con-
tinue to be enjoyed under the new relations which were to subsist
between them, constituted the essence of the article concerning
the fisheries. The very peculiarity of the stipulation was an evi-
dence that it was not, on eitherside, understood or intended as a
.equivalent .
24 (2)
372 EIGHTS OF NEGOTIATION AND TKEATIES—ARBIO^ATION.
(^) Mr. J. Q. Adams to Lord State Papers, fol. ed. 1834, vol. iv.
Bathurst, Sept. 25, 1815. American p. 352.
EIGHTS OF NEGOTIATION AND TEE ATIES—ARBITRATION. 373
States depended. Nor could she consider any one State at liberty
to assign to a treaty made with her such a peculiarity of charac-
ter as should make it, as to duration, an exception to all other
found, on a peculiarity thus assumed, an irre-
treaties, in order to
vocable title to indulgences which had all the features of tem-
porary concessions.
It was by no means unusual for treaties containing recognitions
and acknowledgments of title, in the nature of perpetual obligation,
to contain, likewise, grants of privileges liable to revocation. The
Treaty of 1783, like many others, contained provisions of diffe- \
independence.
The independence of a State could not be correctly said to be
granted by a treaty, but to be lacknowledged by one. In the
Treaty of 1783/^ the independence of the United States was cer-
ment was made. The war could not put an end to it, for the
reason justly assigned by the American minister; because a nation
could not forfeit its sovereignty by the act of exercising it; and
for the further reason that Great Britain, when she declared war
against the United States, gave them, by that very act, a new
recognition of their independence.
^'^4 EIGHTS OF NEGOTIATION AND TREATIES—ARBITRATION. .
The
rights acknowledged by the Treaty of 1783 were not only
distinguishable from the liberties conceded by the same treaty, in
the foundation on which they stand, but
they were carefully dis-
tinguished in the wording of the treaty. In the 1st Article, Great
Britain acknowledged an independence already
expressly recog-
nised by the other Powers of Europe, and by herself in her consent
to enter into the provisional Articles of 1782. In the 3rd Article,
Great Britain acknowledged the right of the United States to take
fish on the Banks of Newfoundland and other
places, from which
Great Britain had no right to exclude any independent nation.
But they were to have the liberty to cure and dry them in certain
unsettled places within the British territory. If the liberties thus
(70 Earl Bathurst to Mr. J. Q. State Papers, fol. ed. 1834, vol. iv.
Adams, Oct. 30, 1815. American p. 354.
RIGHTS OF NEGOTIATION AND TREATIES—AEBITRATION. ^575
''
The position, that Great Britain knows of no exception to
the rule, that all treaties are put an end to by a
subsequent war,'"
appeared to the American minister not only novel, but unwarranted
by any of the received authorities upon the law of nations unsanc-
;
whether she founded her conduct upon the mere fact that the
United States are in possession of such rights, or whether she
was governed by good faith and respect for her own engagements.
But if she contested any of these rights, it was to her engagements
only that the United States could appeal, as the rule for settling
the question of right. If this appeal were rejected, it ceased to
be a discussion of right; and this observation applied as strongly,
to the recognition of independence and the boundary line, in the
The above analysis of the correspondence which took place re- Result of this
lating to this subject, has been inserted as illustrative of the general ^ence^^^"
question, how far treaties are abrogated by war between the parties
to them; but the particular controversy itself Avas finally settled
between the two countries on the basis of compromise, by the
convention of 1818, in which the liberty claimed by the United
States in respect to the fishery within the British jurisdiction and
(0 Mr. J. Q. Adams to Lord Castle- (k) Vide ante, pt. ii. ch. v. p. 287.
reagh, Jan. 22, 1816. American State (V) Vide ante, pt. i. ch. 2, p. 45.
Papers, fol. ed. 1834, vol. iv. p. 356.
378 EIGHTS OF NEGOTIATION AND TREATIES—AEBITKATION
(w) Vattel, liv. iii. ch. 10, § 175. (n) Wheaton, Hist. Law of Nations,
Kent, Comment, on American Law, pp. 435 —445, 538 551
vol. i.
p. 175 (5th ed.).
EIGHTS OF NEGOTIATION AND TREATIES -AEBITRATION . 379
' '
(o) Vattel, Droit des Gens, liv. ii. Flassan, Histoire do la Diplomatie
ch. 16, §§ 235—239. Kluber, Droit Frauvaise, torn. vii. p. 195.
des Gens Moderne de I'Europ©, Pt. II. (g) Vattel, § 239. See Hertslet,
tit. ii. sect. 1, ch. 2, §§ 157, 158. Map of Europe by Treaty, Index, tit.
Martens, Precis, § 63. Guaranty.
(^) Vattel, liv. ii. ch. 16, § 238.
380 RIGHTS OF NEGOTIATION AND TREATIES—ARBITRATION.
(r) Cf. Phillipson, International (s) Vattel, Droit des Gens, liv. iii.
Law and the Great War (1915), pp. 18 ch. 6, §§ 79—82.
seq.
EIGHTS OF NEGOTIATION AND TREATIES—ARBITRATION. 381
Grotius and the other text writers hold that the casus foederis Oastis
fcedenji
of a defensive alliance does not apply to the case of a war mani- alliance,
examples.
ThuS; the States-General of Holland were engaged, previously Alliance
to the war of 1756 between France and Gr<?at Britain, in three ^i^eirBritain
different guaranties and defensive treaties with the latter Power. «nd Holland.
and, that for this purpose, when either nation was attacked or
molested, the other should immediately succour it with a certain
number of troops and ships, and should be obliged to break with the
aggressor in two months after the party that was already at war
should require it; and that they should then act conjointly, with
(t) Grotius, De Jur. Bel. ac Pac. cap. 9. Vattel, Droit des Gens, li v. ii.
lib. ii. cap. 15, 13; cap. 25, § 4.
§ ch. 12, § 168; liv. iii. ch. 6, §§ 86—96.
Bynkershoek, Qusest. Jur. Pub. lib. i.
382 EIGHTS OF NEGOTIATION AND TEEATIES—ARBITRATION.
Reply of Lord To the first of these objections it was irresistibly replied by the
iverpoo .
these guaranties were called defensive treaties only, yet the words-
of them, and particularly that of 1678, which was the basis of all
the rest, by no means expressed the point clearly in the sense of
the objection, since they guaranteed "all the rights and posses-
" "
sions of both parties against all kings, princes, republics, and
" "
states ;
so that if either should be attacked or molested by hostile
act, or open war, or in any other manner disturbed in the posses-
sion of his states, territories, rights, immunities, and freedom of
of these objects of the guaranty, by the ally who was not at war,
but it was nowhere mentioned as necessary that the attack of these
"
should be the first injury or attack. Nor," continues Lord Liver-
"
pool, doth this loose manner of expression appear to have been
an omission or inaccuracy. They who framed these guaranties
certainly chose to leave this question, without any further explana-
tion, to that good faith which must ultimately decide upon all
contracts between sovereign States. It is not presumed that they
respect, checked at that time her youthful monarch in the first essay
of his ambition, delayed for some months his entrance into the
tugal, which has been before alluded to for another purpose (y).
The treaty of alliance, originally concluded between these Powers
in 1642, immediately after the revolt of the Portuguese nation
(x) Earl of Liverpool, Discourse, (y) Vide ante, pt. ii. oh. 1, p. 101.
p. 86.
V/. 25
386 EIGHTS OF NEGOTIATION AND TEEATIES—AEBITEATION.
and are renewed by the present treaty in their fullest and most
extensive interpretation." This treaty confirms the stipulation of
Great Britain to acknowledge no other sovereign of Portugal but
the heir of the House of Braganza. The Treaty of Vienna, of the
22nd January, 1815, between Great Britain and Portugal, con-
tains thefollowing Article:
—
''The treaty of alliance at Rio
Janeiro, of the 19th February, 1810, being founded on temporary
circumstances, which have happily ceased to exist, the said treaty
is hereby declared to be of no effect; without prejudice, however,
to the ancient treaties of alliance, friendship, and guaranty, which
have so long and so happily subsisted between the two crowns, and
which are hereby renewed by the high contracting parties, and
acknowledged to be of full force and effect."
Casm foederis Sucli was the nature of the compacts of alliance and guaranty
alliance. Subsisting between Great Britain and Portugal, at the time when
the interference of Spain in the affairs of the latter kingdom com-
ally a just cause of war entitles him to succour from the other ally.
The right to aid is a secondary right, incident to that of repelling
injustice by force. Wherever he may morally employ his own
strength that purpose, he may, with reason, demand the
for
auxiliar}' strength of his ally (z) Fraud neither gives nor takes
.
25 (2)
388 EIGHTS OF NEGOTIATION AND TREATIES—AKBITRATION.
Alliance
between
A
recent example of a treaty of guarantee is that which was
Great Britain concluded between Great Britain and Japan in 1902, in which the
and Japan.
contracting parties mutually guaranteed the territorial independ-
ence of China and Korea. They further undertook that if either
were assailed by more than one foreign Power on any question
of dispute arising in Asia, the other would come to her assist-
ance (6). Thus, Article 2 says: If either Great Britain or Japan
in the defence of their respective interests as above described
(a) Vattel, liv. iii. ch. 6, § 90. treaty of 1905 she established a pro-
(b) Annual Register, 1902, p. 58. tectorate over the latter country; and
It has already been pointed out (see in 1910 annexed it. The Anglo-
supra, p. 68) that in 1904 Japan Japanese alliance was renewed in
guaranteed the integrity of Korea, August, 1905, and replaced by a fresh
subject to certain reservations; by a agreement, July, 1911.
EIGHTS OF NEGOTIATION AND TREATIES—ARBITllATION. 389
Public treaties are to be interpreted like other laws and con- Interpreta-
tracts. Such
the inevitable imperfection and ambiguity of all
is
treaties.
human language, that the mere Avords alone of any writing,
literally expounded, will go a very little way towards explaining
its meaning. Certain technical rules of interpretation have, there-
fore, been adopted by writers on ethics and public law, to explain
the meaning of international compacts, in cases of doubt. These
rules are fully expounded by Grotius and his commentators; and
the reader is referred especially to the principles laid down by
Vattel and Rutherforth, as containing the most complete view of
this important subject (cZ).
The dispute between England and the United States respect- Rules for
ing the settlement of the north-west boundary between the Union tion..
and Canada, turned on the interpretation to be put upon existing
treaties. England submitted to the German Emperor, who was
appointed arbitrator, the following rules of interpretation:
—
1 The words of a treaty are to be taken to be used in the sense
.
in which they were commonly used at the time when the treaty
was entered into.
2. In interpreting any expressions in a treaty, regard must be
had to the context and spirit of the whole treaty.
3. The
interpretation should be drawn from the connection
and relation of the different parts.
4. The interpretation should be suitable to the reason of the
treaty.
6. Treaties are to be interpreted in a favourable, rather than
an odious sense.
6. Whatever interpretation tends to change the existing state
of things at the time the treaty was made is to be ranked in tho
class of odious things (e) .
"
The Treaty of It was stipulated at the Treaty of Paris (1856), that If there
^"^'
should arise between the Sublime Porte and one or more of the
other signing Powers, any misunderstanding which might en-
jacent regiojQs), and placed under the free trade system, shall arise
between any of them, or the Powers which may become parties
to the Act, these Powers bind themselves, before
appealing to
arms, to have recourse to the mediation of one or more of the
friendly Powers, a;id in a similar case reserve to themselves the
EIGHTS OF NEGOTIATION AND TEEATIES- ARBITEATION. 393
(m) Of. Art. viii. of the Treaty of Tribunals (1904), pp. 769 seq.
J*arifi.
(p) Cf. American Journ. of Int.
(o) Of. W. E. Darby, International Law, vol. ii. pp. 824 seq.
394 RIGHTS OF NEGOTIATION AND TREATIES—ARBITRATION.
In the year 1898 the Emperor Nicholas II. of Russia invited The Hague
tlioStates of the world to send representatives to a ConferoinoQ
fnce^i89^^^^'
which should consider how best to check the progressive increase
of military and naval armaments, study any possible means ;of
(Article 2). Other Powers may offer their good offices, either
before or after the outbreak of hostilities; and such offer is not to
be considered an unfriendly act (Article 3«). Good offices and
mediation have the character of advice only, and never have binding
force (Article 6). The acceptance of mediation does not neces-
with mobilisation (Article 7). Apart from this
sarily interfere
a special method of mediation
is recommended, whereby each con-
persons are appointed for six years, ,and are inscribed on ;a list
notified to all the contracting Powers. When recourse to the
court is desired, the arbitrators are to be chosen from this list
signed (Article 59); for the place of meeting (Article 60); the
languages to be used (Article 61); matters of pleading, evidence,
—
and discussion (Articles 63^' 77); for the secrecy of the proceed-
ings and decision by a majority (w), against which there is no
appeal; the effects of the award and the question of expenses
(m) It may be mentioned that several was -made. When the award was
years before the Hague Conferences, a published, Mr. Evarts, the American
question was raised under the Treaty Foreign Secretary, raised an objection
of Washington between England and to its validity on the ground
(among
the United States as to the effect to others) that only two out of the three
be given to an award in which only a arbitrators had concurred in it. Lord
majority of the arbitrators concurred, Salisbury declined to give any weight
and when no provision had been made to this objection, and asserted it to
for this in the agreement of reference. be a principle of international law
The treaty had constituted four boards that, in arbitrations of a public nature,
of arbitrators. As regards three of the majority of the arbitrators binds
these boards, it was provided that the the minority, unless the contrary be
votes of a majority should be conclu- expressed. [Lord Salisbury to Mr.
sive; but as regards the fourth, viz., Welsh, 7th Nov. 1878. See Supple-
the one to meet at Halifax and decide ment to London Gazette, 16th Nov.
the fishery question, no such provision 1878.]
EIGHTS OF NEGOTIATION AND TEEATIES—AEBITRATION. 399
(Articles 78 85).
— There are additional rules for facilitating"
arbitration in disputes admitting of a summary procedure (Articles
36—90).
Finally, the Convention contains provisions for ratification by General pro-
ing Powers) (Articles 93i, 94); and for the denunciation of the
Convention (Article 96).
The development of international arbitration since 1899 con- Instances of
(a;) British and Foreign State in Amer. Journ. of Int. Law, vol. ii.
Papers, vol. xcv. (1901—2); Moore, (1908), pp. 902 seq. Of. Moore,
International Arbitrations, vol. ii. Digest, § 967.
1349 seq.; Cobbett, Cases, vol. i. (2) Amer. Journ. of Int. Law,
pp. 23 seq. vol. ii. (1908), pp. 911 seq.
(y) The text of the award is given (a) Ibid. pp. 923 seq.
400 EIGHTS OF NEGOTIATION AND TREATIES -AKBITRATION.
(h) Amer. Journ. of Int. Law, vol. iv.(1910), pp. 948 seq.
vol. iii. (1909), pp. 698—701, 755— {d) lbid.\o\.\. (1911), pp. 230 s^^.
760. (e) See Amer. Journ. of Int. Law,
(c) Cf. Amer. Journ. of Int. Law, vol. v. (1911), pp. 520—523.
EIGHTS OF NEGOTIATION AND TREATIES—AEBITEATION. 401
Hague.
With regard to the scope of arbitration, there has never been Scope of
arbitration.
and there is not now unanimity
of opinion. Apart from' express
conventions stipulating submission to an arbitral tribunal in the
case of certain disputes, no State is bound to refer its grievance to
arbitrators. Those that are ready to go to arbitration on some
questions are not necessarily ready to do so on others. Some of the
smaller States, indeed, have undertaken to submit all their differ-
ences in this way {e.g., Holland and Denmark); others {e.g.,
Brazil, Argentina, Chile) all differences save those affecting their
respective constitutions. But most Powers prefer to limit arbitra-
tion to disputes of a legal character (and this is the view taken, as
above stated, in Article 3,8 of the Hague Convention), and to
exclude, in their treaties of arbitration, questions involving
national honour, independence, vital interests, and matters affect-
the majority of the States accepted the project, but the opposition
included two great Powers, Germany and Austria-Hungary; ac-
cordingly the scheme fell through once more. However, the Con-
ference declared, in its final Act, its admission of the principle of
accepting the offer, prevents smj compromis from being agreed on.
RIGHTS OF NEGOTIATION AND TREATIES—ARBITRATION. 40
—
the least equally with the greatest should be entitled to nominate
a judge. The applicability of this principle to conditions such as
these was naturally scouted by somo of the greater Powers (I).
26(2)
:04 COMMENCEMENT OF WAR,
PAET FOUETH.
CHAPTER I
{a) For other examples of retalia- (c) Of, the case of the Silesian loan,
tion in kind, see Moore, DigestI, infra, p. 418.
vol. vii. § 1090. {d) Kluber, § 234, note (c).
(h) Vattel, liv. ii. ch. 18. Kliiber, (e) Bynkershoek, Qusest. Jur. Pub.
Droit des Gens Moderne de I'Europe, lib. i.
(Duponceau's Transl. p. 182,
§ 234. note).
406 CX)MMENCEMENT OF WAR,
Effect of
reprisals.
Any of these acts of reprisal, or resort to forcible means of
redress between nations, may assume the character of war in case
faction. The effects thus seized are preserved, while there is any
hope of obtaining satisfaction or justice. As soon as that hope
disappears they are confiscated, and then reprisals are accom-
plished. If the two nations, upon this ground of quarrel, come
to an open rupture, satisfaction is considered as refused from the
moment that war is declared, or hostilities commenced; and then,
"
also, the effects seized may be confiscated (^) .
(/) Vattel, Droit des Gens, liv. ii. Martens, Essai concernant les Arma-
eh. 18, §§ 342—346. Bynlcershoek, teurs, § 4.
Qusest. Jur.- Pub. lib. i. cap. 24. (ff) Vattel, Droit des Gens, liv. ii.
The recourse to reprisals by Great Britain in the Don Pacifico Case of Don
affair was not a I'acifico.
very dignified proceeding, and ended in some-
thing like a farce. Don Pacifico, a native of Gibraltar, and con-
sequently a British subject, went to reside at Athens, and while
there, in 1849, a mob, aided, it was said, by Greek soldiers, broke
into and plundered his house. Pacifico did not
apply to the Greek
tribunals for redress, but invoked the aid of England. On the
refusal of Greece to grant compensation, the British fleet was
ordered to lay an embargo on all Greek vessels in Greek ports.
France offered her mediation, but Greece was practically com-
pelled to accept the terms imposed by England. Three commis-
sioners were appointed to examine Pacifico's claims. These had
now swollen to £21,295 Is. 4d., and the commissioners, after
duly examining them, awarded him £150! (^). The English
Foreign Secretary defended these proceedings by alleging that to
have recourse to the Greek tribunals was at that time ridiculous,
and that no justice could be expected from them. Sir R. Philli-
"
more, however, thinks that the evidence of this was not of that
overwhelming character which alone could warrant an exception
from the well-known and valuable rule of international law^ upon
questions of this description" (k), viz., the rule that application
must first be made to the local courts.
In 1884 France, in her operations against Tonquin, felt ag- Other cases
" ^^P^^^* •
(//) The Boedes Lust (1804), 5 C. (1907) now applies; see m/m, p. 423.
Rob. 246. Cf. The Gertruyda, 2 C. (?:) Correspondence respecting M.
Rob. 219; The Theresa Bonita, 4 C. Pacifico's claims. Pari. Papers, 1851;
Rob. 236. With regard to the status Annual Register (1850), p. 281.
of enemy merchantmen, at the outbreak (Jc) Phillimore, vol. iii. p. 41 (2nd
of hostilities, the Hague Convention ed.).
COMMENCEMENT OF WAE,
gents. Greece, within a very few days, went to war with Turkey,
and had events taken a course different from what actually
hap-
(0 Calvo, vol. ii. § 605. («) Ante,]y. 119; post, -p. 772, which
(w) Wharton, Digest, § 364. see for the conditions of the blockade.
AND ITS IMMEDIATE EFFECTS. 409
"
There is yet another measure," says Sir E. Phillimore, ''par- Right of
^^^^^y-
taking also of a belligerent character, though exercised, strictly
speaking, in time of peace, called by the French le droit d'angarie.
It is an act of the State by which foreign -as well as
priviad^e
domestic vessels which happen to be within the jurisdiction of the
State are seized upon and compelled to transport soldiers, ammu-
nition, or other instruments of war; in other words, to become
"
contended that the measure in question, however exceptional in
its nature, did not overstep the bounds of international warlike
usages. A
pressing danger was at hand, and every other means
of averting it was wanting; the case was therefore one of necessity,
which even in time of peace may render the employment or de-
struction of foreign property admissible, under reservation of in-
demnification." The German Chancellor then quoted the above
passage from Sir R. Phillimore's work (r). The English ship-
owners were afterwards compensated for their loss.
Public or
solemn war.
A contest by force between independent sovereign States is
called a public war. If it is declared in form, or duly commenced,
it entitles both the belligerent
parties to all the rights of Avar
against each other. The voluntary or positive law of nations
makes no distinction in this respect between a just and an unjust
"
war. The justice of war in general or of a certain war in par-
ticular, are questions of the gravest importance and of the most
but they belong to the domain of international ethics
vital interest,
"
or morality rather than to that of international law
(a^). war A
in form, or duly commenced, is to be considered, as to its "effects,
as just on both sides. Whatever is permitted,
by the laws of war,
(r) Annual Register (1870), p. 110; tens, Precis, liv. viii. ch. 2, §§ 260,
(1871), p. 257. 264. See ante, p. 32.
(s) Hague Convention (1907), (x) Hershey, Int. Law and Diplo-
No. V: Art. 19. macy of the Russo-Japanese War
(t) See infra, p. 653. (1906), p. 67.
(w) Vattel, liv. iii. ch. 1, § 4. Mar-
AND ITS IMMEDIATE EFFECTS. 411
A *
perfect
'
things (2;). The latter may arise, not necessarily through the
sanction of law, but through the exigencies of policy or in conse-
—
quence of a special engagement. Thus as an instance of limita-
—
tion with regard to locality in the Turco-Italian war, 1911, Italy
at first declared her intention not to land troops in any part of the
Ottoman Empire except Cyrenaica and Tripolitana, and to con-
fine her naval operations to certain specified objects; but eventually
departures were made from this declaration {a) .
mined, not from the relation of the combatants to each other, but
from the mode in which it is carried on. Certain tests may be
applied to determine whether insurgents are to be considered a;s
possessing the status of belligerency. the tests are the"Among
existence of a de facto political organization of the insurgents sufii-
cient in character, population, and resources to constitute it, if left
to itself, a State among nations capable of
discharging the duties
of a State; the actual
employment of military forces on each side,
acting in accordance with the rules and customs of war . . .
;
(y) Vattel, Droit des Gens, liv. iii. (a) Cf. Sir T. Barclay, The Turco-
ch. 12. Kutherforth, Inst. bk. ii. Italian War (1907), p. 96.
ch. 9, § 15. {b) Vide ante, pt. i. ch. 2, pp. 39
(2) Such were the limited hostilities et seq.
authorized by the United States (c) The Prize Causes (1862), 2
against France in 1798. Cf. Bus v. Black. 666; Rose v. Himely (1808),
Tingy, 4 Dall. 37. 4 Oranch, 272.
412 COMMENCEMENT OF WAR,
During the Civil War, the United States Government treated the
Confederates as belligerents in all matters relating to the war.
President Lincoln proclaimed (April 19, 1861) a blockade of the
Southern ports. Thus their territory was for the time being con-
sidered as enemy territory, and the subjects of the rebellious States
as alien enemies (/). But this was only a belligerent status. The
union was declared to be indissoluble, and the Confederate States,
while endeavouring to leave it, never legally ceased to be
within their subjects citizens of the Union (^).
it, or It was,
enforced, and the parties compelled to pay at the real, and not the
nominal, value of the notes, at the time when payment was due.
The notes were treated as a currency imposed upon the community
by irresistible force (^) .
Declaration
of war, how
A
formal declaration of war to the enemy was once considered
far necessary. necessary to legalize hostilities between nations. It was uniformly
practised by the ancient Romans, and by the States of modern
Europe until about the middle of the seventeenth century. The
latest example of this kind was the declaration of war by France
against Spain, at Brussels, in 163(5, by heralds at arms, according
years later that the formal declaration was made. In 1787 Austria
began hostilities against Turkey, and did not openly proclaim a
state of war until several months had elapsed. It has been esti-
mated that of some 120 wars that took place between 1700 and
1872 there were barely ten cases in which a formal declaration
preceded hostilities (k). In the latter part of the nineteenth cen-
tury, however, it became customary to publish a manifesto, witliin
the territory of the State declaring war, announcing the existence
of hostilities and the motives for commencing them. This pub-
lication may be necessary for the instruction and direction of the
subjects of the belligerent State in respect to their intercourse with
the enemy, and regarding certain effects which the voluntary law
of nations attributes to war in form. Without such a declaration,
it might be difficult to distinguish in a treaty of peace those acts
which are to be accounted lawful effects of war, from those which
either nation may consider as naked wrongs, and for which they
party also into a state of war, even though he might think proper
"
to acton the defensive only (n).
Congress voted that war had existed between the United States
and Spain from April 21st, for on that day the President had pro-
claimed the blockade of the Cuban coast, and on the 23/rd he had
issued a proclamation calling for 125,000 volunteers to serve for
two years or for the war. On October 10th, 1899, the Transvaal
Government presented the British agent with an ultimatum, and
on the evening of the following day, the time allowed for the with-
drawal of the British troops from the frontier districts having
We have seen above that it had become customary to issue a The Hague
^'^^®^' ^^^^7.
general manifesto, in order to fix the date from which would begin
the liabilities of neutrals, &c. But this practice was uncertain,
and was a matter of courtesy rather than of legal obligation. Ac-
cordingly, the Hague Conference of 1907 took up the question,
and laid down definite rules in its third Convention, which is now
binding on belligerents. Article 1 The contracting Powers re-
:
notified to the neutral Powers without delay, and shall not be held
to affect them until after the receipt of a notification, which may,
however, be given by telegraph. Nevertheless, neutral Powers
may not rely, on the absence of notification, if it be established
pended only during the war, and reviving with the peace (^).
Bynkershoek, who wrote about the year 1737, adopts the same ^Ji^kershoek.
(s) Cf. Phillipson, Int. Law and (0 Grotius, De Jur. Bel. ac Pac.
the Great War (1915), chaps, i., iii. lib. iii.cap. 20, § 16.
w. 27
418 COMMENCEMENT OF WAE,
The Silesian
Loan, 1753.
During all this period, the only exception to be found is the case
of the Silesian loan, in 1753. In the argument of the English
civilians against the reprisals made by the King of Prussia in
that case, on account of the capture of Prussian vessels by the
"
cruisers of Great Britain, it is stated that it would not be easy
(w) Bynkershoek, Qusest. Jur. Pub. Vattel calls the report of the Eng-
lish civilians " un
^
lib. cap. 2, 7.
,i.
excellent morceau
{x) On the Silesian Loan contro- de droit des Gens" (liv. ii. ch. 7,
versy, see Wheaton, Hist. Law of § 34, note («)); and Montesquieu
Nations, pp. 206 seq.; Martens, Causes terms it " une reponse sans "
replique
Cel^bres, vol. ii. pp. 1 seq.; Cobbett, (CEuvres, torn. vi. p. 445).
Cases, vol. i. p. 334.
AND ITS IMMEDIATE EFFECTS. 419
to debts, and other things in action, he holds that war gives ^the
same right to them as to the other property belonging to the enemy .
(y) Vattel, Droit des Gens, liv. ii. ch. 18, § 344; liv. iii. ch. 4, § 63; ch. 5,
^§ 73—77.
27(2)
420 COMMENCEMENT OF WAE,
Supreme Court, that the enemy's property, found within the terri-
tory of the United States on the declaration of war, could not be
seized and condemned as prize of war, without some legislative
act expressly authorizing its confiscation. The court held that the
law of Congress declaring war was not such an act. That decla-
by its own
ration did not, operation, so vest the property of the
enemy in the Government, as to support judicial proceedings for
its seizure and confiscation. It vested only a right to confiscate,
the assertion of which depended on the will of the sovereign power.
The universal practice of forbearing to seize and confiscate debts
and and the recognition of their revival on the restoration
credits,
of peace, would seem to prove that war did not in itself work an
absolute confiscation, but that it simply conferred the right of
confiscation. Between debts contracted under the faith of the
territorial law,and property acquired in the course of trade on
the faith of the same law, reason drew no distinction' and ;
l^roperty (c) The general opinion, then, was that though war
.
(c) For lists of these treaties, see the United States Supreme Court in-
Hall, International Law (4th ed.), terpreted the President's proclamation
pp. 409, 410, 457. as extending the immunity to mer-
(rf) Broion v. United States (1814), chantmen that had left American ports
8 Cranch, 123. even before the war began. See also
(p) Hertslet, Commercial Treaties, The Panama (1899), 175 U. S. 535;
vol. xxi. p. 1075. Cf. The Buena The Perlro (1899), 175 U. S. 354.
Ventura (1899), 175 U. S. 388, where
AND ITS IMMEDIATE EFFECTS. 423
Practice in the The practice adopted in the Great War, 1914, may here bo
of 1914. noted. Great Britain allowed enemy merchantmen under 6,000
tons in burden ten days to load or unload and depart from British
ports (/^). But as the new rule was merely a "desirable" one,
that is, optional, this permission was granted subject to reciprocity
Of England So, also, on the rupture between Great Britain and Denmark,
in 1807, the Danish ships and other property, which had been
seized in the British ports and on the high seas, before the actual
declaration of hostilities, were condemned as droits of admiralty
breaking out of the war. Both require some special act expressing
the sovereign will, and both depend, not on any inflexible rule of
international law, but on political considerations by which the
tween the subjects of the States at War without the license of their
respective governments. In Sir W. Scott's judgment, in the case
of The Hoop, this is stated to be a principle of universal law, and I'/ie Hoop.
not peculiar to the maritime jurisprudence of England. It is laid
down by Bynkershoek as a universal principle of law. "There
"
can be no doubt," says that writer, that, from the nature of war
itself, all commercial intercourse ceases between enemies.
Although there be no special interdiction of such intercourse, as is
often the case, commerce is forbidden by the mere operation of the
law of war. Declarations of war themselves sufficiently manifest
it, for they enjoin on every subject to attack the subjects of the
other prince, seize on their goods, and do them all the harm in their
(p) Pari. Papers, 1832. Correspond- (q) Draper, Hist, of American Civil
ence relating to Civil War, p. 108. War, vol. i. p. 537.
428 COMMENCEMENT OF WAR,
laws of war; and in this manner there is partly war and partly
peace between the subjects of both countries" (r).
It appears from these passages to have been the law of Holland .
Valin states it to have been the law of France, whether the trade
was attempted to be carried on in national or in neutral vessels; and
itappears from a case cited (in The Hoop) to have been the law
of Spain; and it may without rashness be affirmed to be a general
tions. No
principle ought to be held more sacred than that this
intercourse cannot subsist on any, other
footing than that of the
direct permission of the State. Who can be insensible to the
consequences that might follow, if every person in time of war
had a rig4it to carry on a commercial intercourse with the enemy,
and, under colour of that, had the means of carrying on any other
species of intercourse he might think fit? The inconvenience to
.
(r) Bynkershoek, Qusest. Jur. Pub. («) Valin, Comm. sur FOrdonn. de
lib. i.
cap. 3. la Marine, liv. iii. tit.6, Art. 3.
AND ITS IMMEDIATE EFFECTS. 429
both upon the sound and salutary principle forbidding all inter-
course with an enemy, unless by permission of the sovereign or
State,and upon the doctrine that he who is hostis who has no ' '
—
persona standi in judicio, no means of enforcing contracts,
—
cannot make contracts, unless by such permission (^).
Decisions of The same principles were applied by the American courts of
the American
Courts, as to justice to the intercourse of their citizens with the enemy, on the
trading with
the public breaking out of the war (1812) between the United States and
enemy. Great Britain. A case occurred in which a citizen had purchased
The Rapid. a quantity of goods within the British territory, a long time
posit, and bring away the goods; on her return she was captured,
and, with the cargo, condemned as prize of war. It was contended
for the claimant that this was not a trading, within the meaning
of the cases cited to support the condemnation; that, on the
breaking out of w^ar, every citizen had a right, and itwas the
interest of the community to permit its members, to withdraw
property purchased before the war, and lying in the enemy's
country. But the Supreme Court determined, that whatever
relaxation of the strict rights of war the more mitigated and mild
The St.
Lawrence. So, also, where goods were purchased some time before the war,
by the agent of an American citizen in Great Britain, but not
shipped until nearly a year after the declaration of hostilities, they
were pronounced liable to confiscation. Supposing a citizen had
a right, on the breaking out of hostilities, to withdraw froin the
enemy's country his property purchased before the war (on which
the Court gave no opinion), such right toust be exercised with duo
Quitting In December, 1863, the Gray Jacket sailed from Mobile Bay,
hostile
territory at a Confederate port at that time blockaded by the Federal fleets,
the outbreak
of war.
and the next day was captured on the high seas by a Federal
cruiser. The owner of the Gray Jacket asserted that he was
endeavouring to quit the rebel States with the ship and as much >
(x) The Alexander (1814), 8 Cranch, (y) The St. Lawrence, 8 Oranch,
169. 434; S. 0., 9 Cranch, 120.
AND ITS IMMEDIATE EFFECTS. 433
In another case, the vessel, owned by citizens of the United The Joseph.
States, sailed from thence before the war, with a cargo or freight,
on a voyage to Liverpool and the north of Europe, and thence back
to the United States. She arrived in Liverpool, there discharged
her cargo, and took in another at Hull, and sailed for St. Peters-
burg under a British license, granted the 8th June, 1812, autho-
rizing the export of mahogany to Russia, and the importation of a
return cargo to England. On her arrival at St. Petersburg, she
received news of the war, and sailed to London with a Russian
cargo, consigned to British merchants; Avintered in Sweden, and,
in the spring of 1813, sailed under convoy of a British man-of-war
for England, where she arrived and delivered her cargo, and sailed
for the United States in ballast, under a British license, and was
But the Court said, that even admitting that the outward and
homeward voyage could be separated, so as to render them two
distinct voyages, still, it could not be denied that the termini of
the homeward voyage were St. Petersburg and the United States.
The continuity of such a voyage could not he broken by a voluntary
deviation of the master, for the purpose of carrying on an inter-
mediate trade. That the going from the neutral to the enemy's
country was not undertaken as a new voyage, was admitted by the
claimants, who alleged that it was undertaken as subsidiary to the
voyage home. It was, in short, a voyage from the neutral country,
by the way of the enemy's country; and, consequently, the vessel,
(luring any part of that voyage, if seized for any conduct sub-
jecting her to confiscation as prize of war, was seized in delicto (a).
Strictness of We have seen what is the rule of public and municipal law on
the rule.
this subject, and what are the sanctions by which it is guarded.
Various attempts have been made to evade its operation, and to
escape penalties; but its inflexible rigour has defeated all these
its
(«) The Joseph (1814), 8 Cranch, 251. See Wheaton's Reports, vol. ii.,
451. App. note 34; Wheaton on
(«), p.
(b) The Franklin (1805), 6 C. Rob. Captures, 220. Mitchell v.U S., 21
.
(c) The Mashomi (1900), 10 Cape Cf. also the judgment of the Court .
Authority It was made a question in some cases in those Courts, how far
to grant
theso documents could protect against British capture, on account
of the nature and extent of the authority of the persons by whom
safeguard of this kind beyond the limits of his own station. The
protections, therefore, which had been set up did not result from
any power incidental to the situation of the persons by whom
they had been granted; and it was not pretended that any such
power was specially entrusted to them for the particular occasion.
If the instruments which had been relied upon by the claimants
were to be considered as the naked acts of those persons, then they
were, in every point of view, totally invalid. But the question
Spanish minister in the United States, had been used for voyages
from thence to the Spanish West Indies, the Lords of Appeal
held that these documents, not being included within the terms
of the confirmatory Order in Council, did not afford protection.
In the cases of passports granted by the British minister in the
United States, permitting American vessels to sail with provi-
sionsfrom thence to the island of St. Bartholomew, but not con-
firmed by an Order in Council, the Lords condemned in all the
cases not expressly included ^within the terms of the Order in
(e) The Hope (1813), 1 Dods. Ad. (h) Duer, Marine Insurance, I.
226. p. 598. The Cosmopolite, 4 C. Rob. 11 ;
(/) The Reward (1814), 1 Dods. The Clio. 6 C. Rob. 69. Halleck, Int.
Ad., Appendix D. Law (1908), vol. ii. p. 376.
(^) The Charles (1814), Stewart, («) Duer, Marine Insurance, I.
Vice-Adm. Rep. 367. See also p. 598. Fandi/ck y. Whifmore,! 'East,
TJsparichu v. Noble (1811), 13 East, 475.
332.
4^8 COMMENCEMENT OF WAE,
During the Crimean war, England, France, and Russia all per-
mitted their respective subjects to trade with the enemy, provided
the trade was carried on through the medium of a neutral flag (l).
This relaxation of the rules of international law only applied to
that particular war. England at the same time prohibited her
subjects from dealing with any securities issued by the Russian
Government during the war. Such an act was made a misde-
meanour (m) At the outbreak of the Franco-German war. Franco
.
permitted German vessels that had left Germany before the de-
claration of war, and were destined to carry goods to French ports,
to proceed to such ports and discharge the goods, but German
vessels which, under the same circumstances, were destined for
neutral ports were held to be liable to capture as prize (n).
Extent of The law of nations prohibits all intercourse between subjects of
prohibition of
intercourse the two belligerents which is inconsistent with the state of war
between between their countries. This includes any act of voluntary sub-
enemies.
mission to the enemy, or receiving his protection; any act or con-
tract which tends to increase his resources, and every kind of
trading or commercial dealing or intercourse, whether by trans-
mission of or goods, or orders for the delivery of either,
money
between the two countries, directly or indirectly, or through the
intervention of third persons or partnerships, or by contracts in
any form looking to, or involving such transmission, or by insur-
ances upon trade by or with the enemy. Beyond this the pro-
hibition does not extend (o) It does not apply to transactions
.
(k) The Sea Lion (1866), 5 Wal- Pt. I. pp. 246, 251.
lace, 630;The Owachita Cotton (1867), (o) K&rshaw v. Kelsey (1868), 100
6 Wallace, 521; M'Kee v. U. 8. (1868), Massachusetts, 572; Jecher v. Mont-
8 Wallace, 167; The Reform^ 3 Wal- gomery (1851), 13 Howard, 498;
lace, 617. Ranger v. Ahhott (1867), 6 WaUaoe,
(0 Kent, ed. by Abdy (2nd ed.), 535; Montgomery v. V . 8. (1844), 15
p. 190. Wallace, 395; 8neU v. Dtmght, 120
(m) 17 & 18 Vict. c. 123. Massachusetts, 9.
(ji) Archives Diplomatiques, 1871-2,
AND ITS IMMEDIATE EFFECTS. 439
which agent was appointed before the war broke out, the payment
by the debtor to such agent is lawful. It does not follow that the
agent, if he receives the money, will violate the law by remitting
it to his principal (p) .
be sued for when the war over (g) but when debts have been g^emies
is ;
contracted before war breaks out, the existence of the war does not
extinguish the debts, it simply suspends the remedy of the cre-
ditor (r). If the debts are not confiscated during the war, the
cannot sue for his debt during the war, it has been held in America
that a statute of limitations does not run against the creditor while
the war lasts (^). But there is no exception in this respect in
the English Statute of Limitations (u) In a case where the
.
country. Before the outbreak of the war between France and country.
sued by the consignees of the cargo. The Privy Council held that
he was justified in putting back to Dover, and had been guilty of
no improper delay or deviation from the voyage. As war was
declared, his vessel, being German, could not go to Dunkirk, and
he was therefore not bound to carry out his contract in that respect.
In this particular case the Court allowed the master the freight
from Pisagua to Dover, because Dunkirk was not the only port
stipulated for in the charter party, -and delivery at Dover was
within the terms of the contract. They declined to decide whether
the freight would have been earned if no other port but Dunkirk
had been mentioned {y) .
Trade with Not Only is such intercourse with the enemy, on the part of
Subjects of the belligerent State, prohibited and punished with
enemT'^''.''
lawful on the confiscation in the Prize Courts of their own country, but,
subjects. during a conjoint war, no subject of an ally may trade with the
common enemy, without being liable to the forfeiture, in the
Prize Courts of the ally, of his property engaged in such trade.
This rule is a corollary of the other; a/nd is founded upon thb
principle that such trade is forbidden to the subjects of the co-
belligerent by the municipal law of his own country, by the
universal law of nations, and by the express or implied terms of
the treaty of alliance subsisting between the allied Powers. And,
as the former rule can be relaxed only by the permission of the
sovereign power of the State, so this can be relaxed only by the
permission of the allied nations, according to their mutual agree-
ment. Adeclaration of hostilities naturally carries with it an
interdiction of all commercial intercourse Where one State only
.
began, and a few days later the vessel sailed for Newcastle; but
having been diverted to Swansea, she was there arrested, and the
lead was seized. The Crown demanded condemnation of the
proceeds of the sale of the lead on the ground that the transaction
in question amounted to trading with the enemy on the part of
allied subjects, who were under the same obligations in this
respect as British citizens.
The President, in the course of his considered judgment, first
stated certain general principles applicable to trading with the
(z) Bynkershoek, Qusest. Jur. Pub. (6) The Hoop (1799), 1 O. Eob.
lib. i. cap. 10; The Neptunus, 6 C. 190; The Cosmopolite (1801), 4 C.
Rob. 403; 4 C. Rob. 251. Rob. 8; and the American cases, The
(a) The Panariellos {Cargo ex) Rapid (1814), 8 Cranch, 155; and The
(March 15, 22, 1915), 31 T. L. R. 326. Julia (1814), 8 Oranch, 181.
442 COMMENCEMENT OF WAR,
insists that even those foreigners who have not been allowed time
to retire ought to be considered as adhering to the enemy, and for
that reason justly exposed to acts of hostility. In order to supply
this pretended defect, he afterwards distinguishes foreigners, who
remain in the country, from those who only transiently pass
through it, and are constrained by sickness or the necessity of
their affairs. But this is alone sufficient to show that, in this
place, as in many others, he criticized our author without under-
standing him. In the following paragraph, Grotius manifestly
distinguishes from the foreigners of whom he has just spoken
those who are the permanent subjects of the enemy, by whom
he doubtless understands, as the learned Gronovius has already
explained, those who are 'domiciled' in the country. Our author
explains his own meaning in the second chapter of this book, in
speaking of reprisals, w4iich he allows against this species of
foreigners, whilst he does not grant them against those who only
pass through the country, or are temporarily resident in it" (e).
Whatever may be the extent of the claims of a man's native Trade or war
^o""<^"^-
country upon his political allegiance, there can be no doubt that
the natural-born subject of one country may become assimilated
to the citizens of another, in time of peace, for the purposes of
trade, and may become entitled to all the commercial privileges
attached to his acquired domicile. On the other hand, if war-
breaks out between his adopted country and his native country,
or any other, his property becomes liable to reprisals in the same
manner as the effects of those who owe a permanent allegiance^
to the enemy State.
(e) Grotius, par Barbeyrac, in loc. See on this point Whiting, War Powers
under the Constitution of the United States, p. 334.
444 •
COMMENCEMENT OF WAR,
The native character easily reverts, and it requires fewer cir- The native
cumstances to constitute domicile, in the case of a native subject, easily reverts.
than to impress the national character on one who is originally of
another country. Thus, the property of a Frenchman who had
been residing, and was probably naturalized, in the United States,
but who had returned to St. Domingo, and shipped from thence
the produce of that island to France, was condemned in the High
Court of Admiralty (i) .
([/) The Harmony (1800), 2 0. Rob. same rule is also adopted in the prize
324. law of France, Oode des Prises, torn. i.
(A) The Indian Chief (1800), 3 C. pp. 92, 139, 303, and by the American
Rob. 12. Prize Courts. The Bos Bermanoa
(0 La Virginie, 5 0. Rob. 99. The (1817)^2 Wheaton, 76.
446 COMMENCEMENT OF WAE,
others before that event. The cause came on for hearing after
it had again become a British colony.
Sir W. Scott decreed restitution to those British subjects who
had settled in the colony while in British possession, but con-
demned the property of those who had settled there before that
time. He held that those of the first class, by settling in Demerara
while belonging to Great Britain, afforded a presumption of their
intending to return, if the island should be transferred to a foreign
power, which presumption, recognised by the treaty, relieved those
claimants from the necessity of proving such intention. He
thought it reasonable that they should be admitted to their jus
postliminii, and he held them entitled to the protection of British
subjects. But he was clearly of opinion that "mere recency of
establishment would not avail, if the intention of
making a per-
manent residence there was fixed upon the party. The case of
Mr. Whitehill fully established this point. He had arrived at
St. Eustatius only a day or two before Admiral
Rodney and the
British forces made their appearance; but it was
proved that he-
had gone to establish himself there, and his property was con-
demned. Here recency, therefore, would not be sufficient."
But the property of those claimants who had settled in Demerara
before that colony came into the possession of Great Britain was
AND ITS IMMEDIATE EFFECTS. 447
"
oondemned. Having settled without any faith in British pos-
"
session, itcannot be supposed," he said, that they would have
(70 The Dianu (1803), 5 O. Eob. 60. (I) The Ocean (1804), 5 C. Kob. 91.
448 COMMENCEMENT OF WAR,
returned some time after the capture, and a third was still in
Upon the first of these questions, the opinions of the text Domicile
writers and the decisions of the British Courts of Prize already from°^"^^'
cited, were referred to; but it was added that, in deciding allegiance,
this acquired domicile may legally expose the person entitled foWnState
w. 29
450 COMMENCEMENT OF WAR,
"
In reprisals," says Vattel, "we seize on the property of the sub-
ject, just as on that of the sovereign; everything that belongs to
the nation is subject to reprisals, wherever it can be seized, with
"
the exception of a deposit intrusted to the public faith (p). Now,
if a permanent residence constitutes the person a subject of the
nothing. If he, after the capture, should find it for his interest
to remain where he is domiciled, his property, embarked before
given; but might safely be affirmed, that the change could not
it
cruisers of his native and deserted country, it is not only free from
Merchants
rcsidiiio" in
the East.
able to be granted (q)
The national
America
. .
.
The converse
of this rule of the British Prize Courts, which Converse of
has also been adopted by those of America, is not extended to *^^^^®-
the case of a merchant residing in a hostile country, and having
a share in a house of trade in a neutral country. Kesidence in
a neutral country will not protect his share in a house established
in the enemy's country, though residence in the enemy's country .
(<) Chief Justice Marshall, in The (u) The Thirty Hogsheads of Sugar
Venus (1814), 8 Cranch, 253. {Bentzon v. Boyle) (1815), 9 Cranch,
191.
AND ITS IMMEDIATE EFFECTS. 457
embrace this case? It appeared to the Court that the case of cases by the
The Phoenix was precisely in point. In that case a vessel wa^ American
•captured in a voyage from Surinam to Holland, and a part of Court,
was contended that this rule, laid down with so much pre-
It
cision, did not embrace Mr. Bentzon's claim, because he had
"
not incorporated himself with the permanent interests of the
(x) The Phoenix (1803), 5 C. Eob. (p) The Vrow Amm Catharina
21. (1806), 5 C. Eob. 167.
458 COMMENCEMENT OF WAE,
circumstances, and was not varied bj the power which was capable
of changing it. It would not be advanced, in consequence of this
former relation between the two countries, that anj obvious mis-
construction of public law made bj the British Courts is entitled
to more respect than the recent ;rules of other countries. But a
case professing to be decided entirely on ancient principles, will
not bo entirely disregarded, unless it be very unreasonable, or be
founded on a construction rejected by other nations.
The rule laid down in The Phoenix was said to be a recent
rule, because a case solemnly decided before the Lords Commis-
sioners, in 1783, isquoted in the margin as its authority. But
that case was not suggested to have been determined contrary to
former practice or former opinions. Nor did the Court perceive
any reason for supposing it to be contrary to the rule of other
nations in a similar case.
The opinion that ownership of the soil does, in some degree,
connect the owner with the property, so far as respects that soil,
was an opinion which certainly prevailed very extensively. It
was not an unreasonable opinion. Personal property may follow
the person anywhere; and its character, if found on the ocean,
corporate established under, and subject to the laws of, and having
their principal place of business in the United Kingdom or some
British possession (d) If any person uses the British flag and
.
gerent right; and in any proceeding for enforcing any such for-
feiture, the burden of proving a title to use the British flag and
assume the British national character shall lie upon the person
using and assuming the same (e) When a ship has become for-
.
feited for such an offence, she may seized by the Crown whenever
be
she returns within British jurisdiction, and even if transferred
to a bond fide purchaser (/) .
(c) Dalloz, Jurisprudence G6n6rale (e) 57 & 58 Vict. c. 00, s. 69; and
(1872), Pt. III. p. 94. see Scrutton, p. 55; R. v. Seberff,
(d) 57 & 58 Vict. c. 60, s. 1; and L. E. 1 O. C. E. 264.
see Scrutton, Merchant Shipping Act, (/) The Annandale, 2 P. D. 218.
1891, p. 8.
462 COMMENCEMENT OF WAIL
The Con- Tho continental view asto the effect of war on commercial
and Art. 23(h) intercourse has, on the whole, been contrary to that of the Anglo-
of the Hague American Courts; that is, commercial intercourse was not regarded
Regulations.
as being necessarily prohibited on the outbreak of war, but its
interdiction depended on special provisions to that effect. More-
over, it has recently been held on the continent that this latter
doctrine was adopted by the representatives of the States of the
world assembled at the Hague, 1907, inasmuch as a right to
appear in Court on the part of an enemy alien was alleged to have
been recognised. The Article in question, 23j (h), says that it is
forbidden to declare extinguished, suspended, or unenforceable in
a court of law the right or rights of action of the
subjects of the
hostile party. The wide sense claimed for this rule
by continental
writers could not possibly have been accepted the British dele-
by
gates, inview of the long-established rule of English common law.
On more than one occasion, however, the British Foreign Office
clearly intimated that Article 23. (h) concerns only the
obligations
of an invading commander Qi) and this ;
interpretation was sup-
ported by United States authorities, including General Davis, one
of the American plenipotentiaries at the Hague Conference {i) .
jurisprudence.)
As soon as the war broke out (Aug. 4), a rapid succession of
British Proclamations, Acts, Orders, and regulations appeared (Jc) .
**
Prohibitions were imposed on trading with alien enemies." An
officialannouncement (Aug. 22), interpreting the Proclamation
(of Aug. 5), adopted the test of commercial or war domicile for
determining enemy or neutral character. Thus a foreign trader,
though an enemy subject, residing and carrying on business in
neutral territory, was not to be considered an alien enemy; so that
" "
the interdiction of trading with alien enemies did not apply to
him. Trading with a branch firm in a friendly country, when
the principal house of business was in enemy territory, was in
{Jc) Seo Manual of Emergency Phillipson, Int. Law and the Great
Legislation (1914), ed. A. Pulling; War (1915), pp. lOO seq.
464 COMMENCEMENT OF WAR,
whilst
enefny subjects. Again, the Proclamation of September 9,
or bodies
including under the designation of "enemy," persons
of persons resident or carrying on business in the enemy country,
senting (p) .
In several cases the question of the locus standi of alien enemies Zocus standi
arose. The plaintiff in Princess TJium and Taxis v. Moffitt (q), l{^l^^'^^
sought to restrain the defendant from continuing certain alleged
libels; but the defendant urged that the plaintiff, being an alien
enemy, was not entitled to relief in our courts. Held, that the
plaintiff having duly registered herself, came under the King's
protection, and acquired the right to enforce her claim.
'
In Robinson d Co. v. Continental Insurance Co. of Mann-
hemi (r)., the defendants pleaded that as they were alien enemies
they were debarred from appearing in the courts here during the
war, and asked that proceedings against them ©hould be stayed.
The Court held that to suspend a subject's right of suit against
an alien enemy is to injure a British subject and favour an alien
enemy, so that the object and reason of the suspensory rule would
be defeated, by turning a disability into a relief. Hence an alien
•
enemy could appear as a defendant.
The question of the locus standi of an enemy claimant
came before the Prize Court in- the case of The Moiae {s) An .
the unanimous
Appeal (0. The Lord Chief Justice, delivering *'
when
judgment of the Court, said, that the term alien enemy,"
useil in regard to civil rights and obligations, does not mean merely
a person of enemy nationality, but applies also to a British or
neutral subject voluntarily resident in enemy territory. The test
is not nationality, but the place of carrying on business (?^).
tection of the Crown. Under the old common law an alien enemy's
the severity of the rule was relaxed in favour of those who had
the King's permission to come here. The decision in the recent
case Princess Thum and Taxis v. Mojfitt (a) was right, because
the plaintiff, being an enemy alien, was resident here by tacit
(c) In a later case decided during the fact that an alien enemy is in-
the Great War (September 29th, 1915), terned does not deprive him of the
Schaffenius v. Goldberg, 50 L. J. right to sue.
Notes of Cases, 483, it was held that
30(2)
468 EIGHTS OF WAE AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—LAND WARFARE.
CHAPTER II.
Limits to the The law of nature has not precisely determined how far ^n
rights of war
against the
individual is allowed to make use of force, either to defend himself
person of an
against an attempted injury, or to obtain reparation when refused
enemy.
by the aggressor, or to bring an offender to punishment. can We
only collect, from this law, the general rule, that such use of force
as is necessary for obtaining these ends is not forbidden. The
same principle applies to the conduct of
sovereign States existing
in a state of natural independence with
respect to each other. No
(«) Bynkershoek, Quaest. Jur. Pub. cap. 4, §§ 5—7. Vattel, Droit
lib. iii.
lib. i. cap. 1. Wolfius, Jus. Gent. des Gens, liv. iii. ch. 8
§ 878. Grotius, De Jur. Bel. ac Pae.
BIGHTS OF WAR AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—LAND WARFARE. 4B9
(6) Rutherforth, Inst. b. ii. ch. 9, § 15. See post, pp. 476 seq.
470 RIGHTS OF WAR AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—LAND W^AREARE.
are either different in kind from or more severe than those sanc-
tioned by law and custom for regular and legitimate warfare.
They should be resorted to only on the authority of the Govern-
ment or the commander after the truth of the enemy's guilt has
been established, and after the enemy has been called upon to put
a stop to his misconduct. They should not be applied merely in
a spirit of vindictiveness for their purpose is to obtain redress or
;
Some
of the fundamental principles of warfare set forth above
were recognised by the Declaration of St. Petersburg, 1868. It
observed, in its preamble, that the progress of civilization should
have the effect of alleviating as much as possible the calamities of
war, and laid down that the only legitimate object which States
should endeavour to accomplish during war is to weaken the mili-
tary power of the enemy.
(c) Cf. the rules of the Instit. of Arts. 85, 86; in Annuaire de Flnstit.
Int. Law drawn up at Oxford, 1880, de Droit Int. vol. v. p. 174.
EIGHTS OF WAR AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—LAND WARFARE. 471
{(l) Lord Derby to Lord A. Loftus, Papers, Miscellaneous (No. 1), 1875.
20th January, 1875. Hertslet, Map of (/) Maine, Int. Law, lect. X. p. 176.
Europe, vol. iii. p. 1970. {g) Parliamentary Papers, Miscella-
(e) The whole of the proceedings of neous, No. 1 (1899) [(M. 9534].
the Conference will be found in Pari.
472 EIGHTS OF WAE AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—LAND WARFAKE.
3. A
belligerent partj that violates the provisions of the said
Regulations shall, if the case demands, be liable to pay compensa-
tion. It shall be responsible for all acts com'mitted by persons
forming part of its armed forces.
Persons All the members of the enemy State may lawfully be treated as
exempt from
acts of enemies in a public war; but it does not therefore follow, that all
hostility.
these enemies may be lawfully treated alike; though we may law-
ciple, has therefore exempted the persons of the sovereign and his
•family, the members of the civil government (though modern
views would sanction the capture of the latter and their treatment
as prisoners of war, inasmuch as the administration of the
enemy
State would be disorganized, and its military capacity
indirectly
diminished), women and children, cultivators of the earth, artisans,
labourers, merchants, men of science and and, generally,
letters,
all other public or
private individuals engaged in the ordinary civil
pursuits of life, from the direct effect of military operations,
unless actually taken in arms, or some misconduct
guilty of in
violation of the usages of war,
hy which they forfeit their
immunity (^) .
(k) Oontrat Social, Bk. I. chap. iv. on Land (London, 1911), pp. 35 seq.,
(l) Cf. J. M. Spaight, War Eights and the references there cited.
474 EIGHTS OF WAR AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—LAND WARFARE.
forces of the nation, and all others called out in its defence, or
organized corps, and that he was called out by an order from the
proper authority addressed to him personally; otherwise he was
liable to be treated as a "war criminal," and not as a prisoner of
war. Moreover, every combatant was required to wear an irremov-
able distinctive uniform or badge, clearly distinguishable at rifle
—
distance an exorbitant demand in days of long-distance firing.
The Germans, too, refused for some time to recognise the belli-
gerent status of the French National Guard, and an authorized
class of francs-tireurs, though they were duly commissioned by
their Government. Sherman's practice in the American Civil
War was more in accordance with recognised principles. He con-
sidered as lawful belligerents all voluntary, irregular, or detached
bodies of troops, provided they were of sufficient strength and were
commanded by a leader appointed by the military authorities.
Countries possessing large regular armies, e.g.^ Germany, have
discountenanced levies en masse. The Article arrived at thus
constitutes a compromise between the greater and the smaller
continental Powers. Levies en masse are as old as war itself.
Notable instances of spontaneous risings, on the approach of the
enemy, occurred in Russia (1700) against Charles XII., in Prussia
(1807) during the Napoleonic wars, in Spain (1808-12), in Russia
(1812), in Prussia (1813). Examples occurred also in the Boer
War, and at Niou-tsia-toun in the Busso- Japanese war.
custom and the express
It is to be noted that, despite established
sanction of the
Hague Begulations, the German official manual of
(q) CI. Phillipson, Int. Law and the Great War, pp. 122 seq.
476 EIGHTS OF WAR AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—LAND WARFARE.
negotiate and carry into effect the arrangements necessary for this
object. Breach of good faith in these transactions can be punished
only by withholding from the party guilty of such violation the ^
The treatment of prisoners of war was regulated by the provi- The Hague
^^^'
sions of the Brussels Declaration of 1874, which were adopted,
prisoners of war. The fact that they acted under orders cannot
furnish a valid excuse; for if such shifting of responsibility be
admitted, then we arrive at the conclusion that millions of men,
including responsible officers of the higher command, are to be
held free from blame no matter what atrocious deeds they have
perpetrated; and that only one person is answerable, namely, the
During the Great War, a number of German officers and men were
on one occasion rescued from a destroyed submarine, which had
attacked and sunk without warning British merchantmen, and
had fired torpedoes at ships carrying non-combatants, neutrals, and
women. Such conduct is illegitimate, and is clearly a breach of
existing law. Accordingly, the Board of Admiralty announced
— —
(March 8, 1915) and justifiably so that these prisoners would
be debarred from certain privileges and courtesies that are extended
to honourable combatants. Again, a German prisoner captured
by the French was conclusively proved to have committed outrages
on French wounded and robbed fallen men, and was therefore' shot
as a criminal. Similarly, German airmen having fallen into the
hands of the Russians after throwing bombs on the open town of
Libau were informed that thej were liable to be treated as common
outlaws (a) We add that by way of retaliation for tho
—may
.
"
Prisoners of war may be interned in a town, fortress, camp, or internment,
any other locality, and bound not to go beyond certain fixed limits;
but they can only be confined as an indispensable measure of
safety, and only while the circumstances which necessitate the
measure continue to exist" (6).
"
The State may utilize the labour of prisoners of war, other Labour of .
l^"^^"^^^-
than according to their rank and aptitude. Their tasks
officers,
shall not be excessive, and shall have nothing to do with the mili-
"
Any prisoner of war, who is liberated on parole and recaptured Breach of
"
Army Individuals who follow an army without directly belonging to
followers.
it, such as newspaper correspondents and reporters, sutlers, con-
tractors, who fall into the enemy's hands, and whom the latter
thinks fit to detain, have a right to be treated as prisoners of war,
(o) For practices in recent wars War Rights on Land, pp. 2&0 seq.
with regard to parole, Bee Spaight, (p) H. C. (1907), iv. 13.
EIGHTS OF WAE AS BETWEEN ENEMIES— LAND WARFARE. 483
"
A
Bureau for information relative to prisoners of war is insti- Bureau of
i^iformation.
tuted, on the commencement of hostilities, in each of the belli-
police" (s).
"
The Information Bureau shall have the privilege of free pos- Free postage,
provided (Article 13) that Russia should repay Japan the differ-
ence between the actual amount so expended by Japan and the
actual amount similarly expended by Russia.
"
Freedom of Prisoners of war shall enjoy every latitude in the exercise of
worship.
their religion, including attendance at their own church services,
provided only they comply with the regulations for order and
police issued by the military authorities" (x).
"
WUls. The wills of prisoners of war are received or drawn up on the
Death same conditions as for soldiers of the national army. The same
certificates.
rules shall be observed regarding death certificates, as well as for
the burial of prisoners of war, due regard being paid to their
"
grade and rank (^).
"
Repatriation. After the conclusion of peace the repatriation of prisoners of
war shall take place as speedily as possible" (z).
The sick and It has long been an established usage of war that sick or
WOUNDED.
wounded combatants should not be illtreated by the enemy.
Various measures of alleviation were from time to time introduced;
and religious bodies came to undertake regularly the task of tend-
ing those who were disabled by wounds or by disease. Treaties
were also frequently concluded between States to ensure aid and
protection to soldiers disabled in war between the signatory
armies, shall be respected and cared for by the belligerent in whose ^^^^^Jj^^"^
power they are, without distinction of nationality.
Nevertheless, a belligerent who is compelled to abandon sick
and wounded to the enemy shall, as far as military exigencies
(2) to repatriate the sick and wounded whom' they do not wish
to retain as prisoners after rendering them' fit for removal
or after their recovery;
(3) to hand over to a neutral State, with the latter' s consent, the
"
Each belligerent shall, as soon as possible, send to the autho- Exchange of
information.
rities of the country or army to which they belong the military
identification marks or tokens found on the dead, and a list of the
names of the sick or wounded collected by him.
The belligerents shall keep each other mutually informed of
any internments and transfers, as well as of admissions into hos-
pital and deaths among the sick and wounded in their hands.
Thej^ shall collect all the articles of personal use, valuables, letters,
&c., found on the field of battle or left by the sick or wounded who
have died in the medical establishments or units, in order that such
articles may be transmitted to the persons interested by the autho-
rities of their own country." (Article 4.)
The obligation laid down in this Article refers, clearly, to the
sick, wounded, and fallen belonging to the enemy, for the duties
of a belligerent towards his own sick, wounded, and fallen are
(6) Cf. Hershey, Russo-Japanese War, pp. 291 seq.; Ariga, La guerre
russo-japonaise, pp. 154 seq.
488 RIGHTS OF WAR AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—LAND WARFARE.
(<?) Laws of War on Land (1908), (d) Cf. Ariga, La guerre russo-
p. 30. Of. Spaight, op. cit. p. 437. japonaise, pp. 207 seq.
EIGHTS OF WAR AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—LAND WARFARE. 489
"
Each State shall notify to the other, either in time of peace or
at the commencement of or during the course of hostilities, but in
any case before actually employing them,, the names of the societies
which it has authorized, under its responsibility, to render assist-
ance to the regular medical service of its armies." (Article 10.)
"
This Article makes it quite clear that Red Cross, or aid,
societies, unless affiliated to the regular medical organization of
one or the other belligerent, and subject to its military law, enjoy
none of the benefits conferred by the Convention. ... It makes
no difference whether or not they are recognised by the Government
of the State to which they belong, as available when needed for
service with its own armies" (e).
"
The persons designated in Articles 0, 10, and 11, shall continue^
after they have fallen into the hands of the enemy, to carry on
their duties under his direction.
Rights of the When their assistance is no longer indispensable, they shall be
personnel.
sent back to their army or to their country at such time and by
such route as may be compatible with military exigencies.
They shall then take with them such effects, instruments, arms,,
and horses as are their private property." (Article 12.)
Under the old Convention, the personnel could, in the circum-
stances indicated in this Article, withdraw at once, though special
personnel is inviolable.
"
The enemy shall secure to the persons mentioned in Article 9,,
while in his hands, the same allowances and the same pay as are
granted to the persons holding the same rank in his own army."
(Article 13.)
This Article does not apply to persons associated to voluntary
aid societies.
"
If mobile medical units fall into the hands of the enemy they Material,
shall retain their material, including their teams, irrespectively of
the means of transport and the drivers employed .
It shall be restored under the conditions laid down for the medical
personnel, and so far as possible at th© same time." (Article 14.)
The units mentioned in this Article "are to retain their mate-
of its character, i.e., although portions of
rial, &c., irrespectively
ithave been borrowed from military units or obtained by requisi-
"
tion from the inhabitants of the country (^). captor is not A
necessarily debarred, under this provision, from using in case of
necessity some of the material of a medical unit for the benefit
of his own wounded.
"
The buildings and material of fixed establishments remain sub-
ject to the laws of war, but may not be diverted from their purpose
so long as they are necessary for the sick and wounded.
previous arrangements for the welfare of the sick and wounded who
"
(g) Holland, op. cit. § 55. (A) Spaight, op. cit. p. 449. See
ibid, for practices in recent wars.
492 EIGHTS OF WAE AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—LAND WAREAEE.
(i) See Ariga, op. cit. § 48; Her- (Jc) Of. the suggestions of Ariga,
ehey, Eusso-Japaneee War, p. 302. loc. cit.
EIGHTS OF WAE AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—LAND WAEFARE. 493
"
With the permission of the competent military authority this
emblem shall be shown on the flags and armlets (brassards), as
well as on all the material belonging to the medical service."
(Article 19.)
''
The personnel protected in pursuance of Articles 9 (par. 1),
10, and 11, shall wear, fixed to the left arm, an armlet (brassard)
with a Red Cross on a white ground, delivered and stamped by the
competent military authority and accompanied by a certificate of
sable to confer
immunity, seeing that it need not be worn by those
employed only temporarily in the medical service, e.g., pickets,
guards, litter-bearers.
"
The distinctive flag of the Convention shall be hoisted only over The Eed
Cross flag,
those medical units and establishments which are entitled to be
respected under the Convention and with the consent of the mili-
tary authority. It should be accompanied by the national flag of
the belligerent to whom' the unit or establishment belongs.
legislature, and at the latest five yeats after the present Convention
comes into force. From that date it shall no longer be lawful to
adopt a trade mark or trading mark contrary to this prohibition."
(Article 27.)
(This Article was not accepted by Great Britain.)
*'
The signatory Governments also undertake to adopt, or to pro-
use of the E,©d Cross flag and armlet (brassard) by officers and
soldiers or private individuals not protected by the present Con-
vention .
apply here.
"The right of belligerents to adopt means of injuring the enemy Means
" ^^"^'*^^
is not unlimited (w) .
'*
Considering that the progress of civilization should have the
effect of alleviating as much as possible the calamities of war that ;
(w) As to various infractions of the the Great War, pp. 245 seq.
Geneva Convention during the Great (w) Hague Regulations (1907),
War, &©e Phillipson, Int. Law and iv. 22. .
496 EIGHTS OF WAR AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—LAND WARFAEE.
"
The contracting parties agree to abstain from the use of bullets
which expand or flatten easily in the human body, such as bullets
with a hard envelope which does not entirely cover the core, or
is pierced with incisions" (r).
superfluous injury;
(f ) To make improper use of a flag of truce, of the national flag,
or of military insignia and uniform of the enemy, as also
the distinctive signs of the Geneva Convention;
"Ruses of war and the employment of measures necessary for Ruses of war.
obtaining information about the enemy and the country are con-
sidered lawful" (t).
It is clear from the foregoing that the instruments and methods Methods of
of warfare that a belligerent may adopt are restricted. Inter- restricted.
dum-dum —
bullet so called from the name of the works near
Calcutta where it was manufactured —was intended to be used by
Great Britain only against certain tribes of fanatical savages whose
wild onslaughts could not be effectively arrested by the ordinary
kind of bullets. Great Britain was not a party to the Declaration
of 1899 forbidding their use (though she acceded in 1907); never-
theless she did not use them' in the South African war. In the
war of 1914, again, the Belgian authorities accused the German
army of employing expanding bullets; whilst the British Govern-
ment, in reply to German charges, publicly denied that they had
been used by British or French troops, and maintained, on the
contrary, that both in France and in Togoland German soldiers
The Hague Declaration, No. 1, prohibiting the use of aircraft Aircraft pro-
""^^ ^ ^^*
projectiles, was first made in 1899 at the Hague Conference for a
term of five years, and was ratified by nearly all the States repre-
sented, notable exceptions being Great Britain and the United
States. This Declaration having expired by the efflux of time,
a similar prohibition was declared at the second Hague Conference
in 1907, when it was signed and ratified by both Great Britain and
the United States. More than a third of the Powers represented,
however, did not sign it, among which are France, Russia, Japan,
Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden. Accordingly, the Declaration
of 1907, prohibiting the discharge of projectiles from balloons, &c.,
cannot be considered a binding rule of international law, except as
between the signatory parties themselves. None the less, there
are several restrictions imposed by general rules, written and cus-
The Declaration against the use of shells for the "sole object" Poisonous
' "
an individual dead or alive' {a). In the Chinese- Japanese war,
the Chinese authorities offered a reward for the heads of three
laying dummy mines, building bridges and other works not in-
tended to be used, sending bogus messages, despatches, and news-
papers with the object that they may be intercepted by the enemy
and so deceive him, using the enemy's signals, imitating the bugle-
calls and words of command, calling upon men to surrender with
a threat that if they refuse they will be annihilated by approaching
forces which in fact are not there, threatening to bombard a
defended town when the guns have not really arrived, and so on,
Belligerents are ever ready to put into practice the ancient maxim,
"Where lion-skin runs short, patch up with fox-skin." But
where there is an obligation to speak the truth and keep faith, any
claring that a truce had been established when such was not the
case, violating a safe conduct, demanding an armistice and break-
ing it by surprise, &c. (c) . Good faith is indispensable in warfare.
Its entire disregard would render possible the perpetration of
greater and greater horrors and villainy.
As to Article 23f forbidding the improper use of the enemy's Use of enemy
,
flag or uniform, &c., the main difficulty is to determine when such uuSorm.
use is proper and when improper. (The improper use of the flag
of truce, which is also mentioned in this Article, will be considered
presently (^) ) The old rule was that it was justifiable to use
.
view at the present time condemns the use of the hostile flag or
uniform during a combat, and for purposes of approach.
Article 23f by no means settles the question; so that each case
must necessarily be judged on its merits, and determined con-
formably to the basic principles of war law,
special regard being
paid to the element of bona If troops can get no other
fides.
badge when they do not belong to the Red Cross service, or for
buildings to fly the flag when they are used as military depots,
observatories, or places of refuge for combatants (g) .
Quarter.
Generally speaking, a belligerent is obliged to grant quarter to
those who offer themselves as prisoners of war. We have already
pointed out that claims of "military necessity "—factitious and
—
ubiquitous as they are cannot justify the destruction of men
who have been taken prisoners. But in the case of those who lay
down their arms and appeal to the adversary for mercy, quarter
must be given where it is practicable. "The admitted case in
which it is not practicable is that which occurs during the continu-
ance of fighting, when the achievement of victory would be
hindered and even endangered by stopping to give quarter instead
of cutting down the enemy and rushing on, not to mention that
(/) For practices in recent wars, see Cross during the Great War, gee
Spaight, pp. 106 seq.; Ariga, §§ 67, Phillipson, ,op. oit. p. 209.
€8. (A) Westlake, Int. Law (1913),
ig) For cases of abuse of the Red vol. ii. p. 83.
EIGHTS OF WAR AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—LAND WARFARE. 503
part in operations directed against their own country. The opera- g^^^^j-g
tions referred to are clearly of a more comprehensive character
than 'military operations.' They would include services in all
kinds of works that are imtnediately or that will be subsequently
useful to the belligerent in the carrying on of his war. Obviously,
therefore, it is unlawful to force enemy subjects to build fortifica-
tions, to dig trenches, to manufacture munitions or other war
*
material, to repair arms, to give information as to the enemy's
forces, to act as guides. Where the services,. however, are for the
benefit of the occupied territory and the community in general,
they may be demanded; e.g., carrying provisions, repairing roads
and bridges (unless these are of exclusively or even predominantly
military application), tending the wounded, burying the dead, &c.
It is held in some quarters that the construction of fortifications at
a distance from the scene of hostilities would not fall within the
prohibition. But such fortifications might soon become the centre
of hostilities. It would seem, therefore, that they are likewise
covered by the Article. It is only compulsory service that is for-
(^) See infra, p. 531. (;«) Droit des Gens, iii. 8, 142;
(0 De Jut. Bel. ac Pac. ill. 12, 1. iii. 9, 166—172.
EIGHTS OF WAR AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—LAND WARFARE. 505
(n) Of. De Martens, Precis, § 280; (o) Admiral Cochrane to Mr. Secre-
Kluber, Pt. II. tit. 2, sect. 2, ch. 1, tary Monroe, Aug. 18, 1814, and the
:§§ 262—265. reply, Sept. 6, 1814, in American
State Papers, vol. iii. pp. 693, 694.
506 EIGHTS OF WAE AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—LAND WAEFAEE.
(jp) Hansard, vol. XXX. pp. 526, 527. {q) Kriegsbrauch im Landkriege^.
p. 54.
EIGHTS OF WAR AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—LAND WAEFARE. 507
It has already been pointed out that war is primarily, if not Sieges and
BOMBAR13 —
exclusively, hostilities directed against the arm'ed forces of a belli- ment3.
'*
The attack or bombardment, by any means whatever, of towns, Undefended
which are undefended is pro- P '^^^^v
villages, dwellings, or buildings
hibited" (u).
States who were present agreed that only fortified places should
be liable to siege; but in 1899, at the first Hague Conference, this
expression was replaced, at the instance of the German delegate,
by more ambiguous on© 'defended,' on the ground that tho
tlie
"
In sieges and bombardments all necessary steps should be taken Protected
"^ ^°^^'
to spare, as far as possible, buildings devoted to religion, art,
damage to them and injury to the inmates must fall on the de-
fenders. In the Franco-German war, cathedrals, churches, hos-
pitals, historic and artistic buildings, libraries —including the great
—
library of Strassburg suffered dreadfully. In several other wars
before that and since, these protected monuments and buildings
were spared; but in the Great War, 1914, merciless destruction
appears to have been the rule followed regularly by the Gei^man
forces in Belgium and France. The cathedrals of Malines and
Termondo were deliberately attacked, the famous Cloth Hall of
Ypres was intentionally demolished; the wilful destruction of
Reims Cathedral and the university and library of Louvain
aroused the indignation of the entire world. Hospitals, museums,
and other protected buildings were not spared {a) .
"
The giving up to pillage of a town or place, even when taken by
assault, is forbidden" (&).
We shall later on deal more fully with this subject in connection
with Article 47, which prohibits pillage generally (c) .
Spies and International law does not prohibit a belligerent fromi obtaining
espionage.
any information he deems to be necessary about the enemy, the
enemy's country, his preparations, measures of offence and defence,
military resources, strategic plans, &c. But to carry out this
purpose no method may be adopted that involves a violation of
any of the Hague Rules or any rule of customary law. So far
as the field of operations is concerned, such information may be
procured not only by the usual moans of reconnoitring, but by
intercepting messages, questioning prisoners of war, 'bribing
enem^'- soldiers and civilians (a practice that is allowed by military
the time; many jurists and publicists held that such balloonists if
of a belligerent
'
—
it was described as a
*
''A spy who, after rejoining the army to which he belongs, i&
espionage" (/).
Non-hostile Grotius has devoted a whole chapter of his great work to prove,,
inteecouese
BETWEEN by the consenting testimony of all ages and nations, that good
BELLIGEEENTS.
faith ought to be observed towards an enemy. And even Byn-
kershoek, who holds that every other sort of fraud may be prac-
tised towards him, prohibits perfidy, upon the ground that his.
character of enemy ceases by the compact with him, so far as the
"
terms of that compact extend. I allow of any kind o,f deceit,"
says he, "perfidy alone excepted, not because anything is unlaw-
ful against an enemy, but because when our faith has been pledged
to him, so far as the promise extends, he ceases to be an
enemy."
Indeed, without this mitigation, the horrors of war would be
and interminable in duration. The usage of
indefinite in extent
Commercia civilized nations has therefore introduced certaincommercia belli,,
belli.
by which the violence of war may be allayed, so far as is consistent
with its objects and purposes, and something of a pacific inter-
course may be kept up, which may lead, in time, to an adjustment
of differences, and ultimately to peace (g) .
Truce or There are various modes in which the extreme rigour of the
armistice.
rights of war may be relaxed at the pleasure of the respective
belligerent parties .
Among these is that of a suspension of hos-
(/) Art. 31. As to spying which (g) Bynkershoek, Qusest. Jur. Pub.
does not amount to espionage in the lib. i.
cap. 1. The Daifje (1800), 3
international law sense, see infra, C. Eob. 139.
p. 528. Qi) Vattel, Droit des Gens, liv. iii.
ch. 16, §§ 235, 236.
RIGHTS OF WAR AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—LAND WARFARE. 513
A suspension of hostilities binds the contracting parties, and all Period of its
.
T 1 , .
T .
p. 1
• • •
operation.
acting immediately under their direction, irom the time it is
concluded; but it must be duly promulgated in order to have a
force of legal obligation with regard to the other subjects of the
gence. But as the supreme power of the State is bound to fulfil its
general maxims
Rules for
Besides the applicable to the interpretation of
all international compacts, there are some rules peculiarly appli- conventio^f
(0 Grotius, De Jur. Bel. ac Pae. (k) Vide ante,- Pt. III. ch. 2,
lib. cap. 22, § 8; see Barbeyrac's
iii. pp. 357 seq.
(J) Grotius, De Jur. Bel. ac
note thereon. Vattel, Droit des Gens, Pac.
liv. iii. ch. 16, §§ 233—238. lib. iii. cap. 21, § 5. Vattel, Droit
des Gens, liv. iii. ch. 16, § 239.
w . 33
514 RIGHTS OF WAR AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—LAND WARFARE.
hostilities on recommence
the expiration
^^^^ g^|. ^f ^j^g truce has been concluded for an indefinite, or for '
01 truce.
a very long period, good faith and humanity concur in requiring
previous notice to be given to the enemy of an intention to ter-
minate what he may justly regard as equivalent to a treaty of
peace. Such was the duty inculcated by the Fecial college upon
the Komans, at the expiration of a long truce which they had made
with the people of Veii. That people had recom'menced hostilities
before the expiration of the time limited in the truce. Still it
was held necessary for the Romans to send heralds and demand
satisfaction before renewing the war (n) .
approved by Grotius and Vattel, who hold that the Samnites were ^
(o) Vide ante, Pt. III. ch. 2, p. 358. Cf. Phillipson, op. oit. vol. ii. pp. 293
{p) See the account given by Livy seq.
of this remarkable transaction, lib. ix.
33 (2)
516 EIGHTS OF WAE AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—LAND WARFARE.
{q) Flassan, Histoire de la Diplo- —34. Pari. Hist. vol. xxv. pp. 587
matie Fran(jaise, torn. vi. pp. 97—107. seq. Of. De Garden, Hist, de traites
Annual Register, vol. i. pp. 209—213, de paix, vi. 210 —
214, 288; De Mar-
228—234; vol. xlii. p. 219, pp. 223— tens, Recueil, vii. 1; Hall, Inter-^
233. State Papers, vol. xliii. pp. 28 national Law (1909), pp. 548, 549,
EIGHTS OF WAE AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—LAND WARFARE. 517
country and those in the unoccupied part, and on the other between
the forces of each belligerent and the inhabitants of the part held
gives the other party the right to denounce it, and even, in case of
"
urgency, to recommence hostilities at once (d).
On account of the indefiniteness of the expressions serious
'
party aggrieved.
"A violation of the terms of the armistice by individuals acting
on their own initiative only entitles the injured party to demand
the punishment of the offenders, and, if necessary, indemnity for
the losses sustained" (e).
Licenses to Thus a license granted by the belligerent State to its own sub-
trade with
the enemy. jects, or to the subjects of its enemy, to carry on a trade interdicted
(c) Spaight, op. cit. pp. 245, 246. (/) Grotius, De Jur. Bel. ac Pac.
(d) Hague Eegulations (1907), lib. iii.
cap. 21, § 14. Vattel, Droit
Art. 40. des Gens, liv. iii. ch. 17, §§ 265—277.
(e) Ibid. Art. 41.
RIGHTS OF WAR AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—LAND WARFARE. 519
{g) On licenses to trade with the (i) Droit d^ Gens, liv. iii. §§ 197,
enemy, see supra, p. 435; and on ran- 198.
som contracts, see infra, p. 587. {k) A. W. Heffter, Das Europaischo
(A) Lawrence, op. cit. p. 431. Volkerrecht der Gegenwart.
520 EIGHTS OF WAR AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—LAND WARFARE.
adopted not only in the British Prize Courts, but also in the Courts
of common law (o) Lord Stowell emphasized the distinction
.
It was held, too, in the French Courts {q) that a crime committed
On the other hand, when the forces of the Union occupy a foreign
tenitory, such territory comes under the sovereignty of the Union,
but does not become part of the United States, although foreign
nations are bound to regard it as such. It is to be governed by
military law, as regulated by public law. This is due to the
fact that the President has power to m'ake war, and subject thg
enemy's country, but only in a military sense. But he has no
power to enlarge the boundaries of the Union which can be done
—
only by Congress, the treaty-making power (s) In another case .
the Supreme Court decided that the island of Santa Cruz, which
was Danish territory then occupied by Great Britain, was to be
considered British, and therefore as possessing enemy character
for all the purposes of the war then existing between Great Britain
Martial law.
legitimate power having actually passed into the hands of the
occupant, the latter shall take all measures in his power to re-
establish and assure as far as possible public order and safety,
while respecting, unless absolutely prevented, the laws in force
in the country (u) .
* '
military law.
Military law. Military law consists of the rules and regulations made by
the legislative authority of the State for the government of its
naval or military forces, and it exists both in time of peace and in
time of war. Though a man is a soldier, he remains a citizen^
and so is subject to the ordinary civil jurisprudence. But as a
(a;) Of. Tilonko v. The Att.-Gen. (y) Of. Van Reenen's Case, (1904)
of Natal, (1907) A. O. 93, 461. 8 A. 0. 114.
524 EIGHTS OF WAE AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—LAND WAEFARE.
(is) Forsyth, Cases and Opinions on (J)) Hale, Pleas of the Grown,
Constitutional Law, p. 201. pp. 499, 500.
(a) Ibid. p. 214. Finlason, Mar- (c) Sir J. Mackintosh, Miscellaneous
tial Law (London, 1867). Works, p. 734 (London, 1851).
RIGHTS OF WAE AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—Lx\ND WARFARE. 525
safety of the army and society; as no power is left but the military,
it is allowed to govern by martial rule until the laws can have
their free course, and where actual war is raging, acts done by
When the actual seat of war is at a distance from the country, Proclama-
Martial law
in France.
A somewhat similar case was decided in France in 1832. A
Geoff, Off s royal order, dated the 6th of June, 1832, had put Paris in a state
case. of siege, and under it military commissions were appointed, which
tried and convicted several persons. One Geoffrey was declared
guilty of an attack with intent to subvert the Government, and
was condemned to death. He appealed to the Court of Cassation.
This Court held that Geoffroy not being a military person, or
subject to military authority, the military commission had n,o
used as a generic term) are the laws which govern the conduct of
belligerents towards each other and other nations, flagrante
hello (m) .
Military government is the government imposed by a
successful belligerent, either over a foreign province or over a
district retaken from insurgents^ treated as belligerents. This
supersedes, as far as may be deemed expedient, the local law, and
continues until the war or rebellion is terminated, and a regular
civil
authority instituted (n)
is .
'
speak also of a special kind of war crime, which they call war
treason' (* Kriegsverrath').
The German Manual defines it as
the act of injuring or endangering the belligerent's interests by.
deceit, or "by sending messages to the opposing army with regard
to the position, movements, plans, &c. of the belligerent, whether
'
'
consequences of the offence are the same. Thus certain acts com-
mitted openly by members of the enemy's armed forces are legiti-
' '
{q) Cf. Papers relative to Martial (r) See Ariga, op. cit. pp. 379 seq.
Law in South Africa (Cd. 981). (s) See Phillipson, Int. Law and
the Great War, pp. 225 seq.
w. 34
530 EIGHTS OF WAE AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—LAND WAEFARE.
"
Unlawful A
belligerent is forbidden to compel the population of occupied
information.
territory to give information about the army of the other belli-
gerent or about his means of defence" (u).
We have already seen that Article 23h prohibited the compul-
' '
"
Oath of It is forbidden to compel the inhabitants of occupied territory
riance.
to take an oath of allegiance to the hostile Power" (ij
(0 Cf. Hall, Int. Law (1909), (a;) Of. Holland, Laws of War on
pp. 483, 484. Land (1908), p. 53.
00 H. E. (1907), Art. 44. (y) H. E. (1907), Art. 45.
EIGHTS OF WAR AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—LAND WAEFARE. 531
Some writers hold that officials who are retained in their offices
"
Family honour and rights, the lives of persons, and private Family
^'^"'^^*
property, as well as religious convictions and practice, must be
respected.
Private property not be confiscated" (a). Private
may
In earlier days it was a generally recognised rule that from the
moment one State was at war with another it had a right to seize
on all the enemy's property of whatever kind and wherever found
and own use or to that of the captors By
to appropriate it to its .
the ancient law of nations, even things that were classed as res
sac7'ae were not exempt from capture and confiscation; thus Cicero,
in his fourth oration against Verres, says that victory made all the
sacred things of the Syracusans profane^ and so subject to appro-
priation or destruction, as the case may be. But in modern times,
as has already been pointed out, the principle grew up that no use
of force against an enemy is legitimate unless it is absolutely
34(2)
532 RIGHTS OF WAR AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—LAND WARFARE.
(b) Vattel, Droit des Gens, liv. iii. Precis, liv. viii. eh. iv. §§ 279 —
282.
oh. 9, § 13. Kliiber, Droit des Gens (ic) Westlake, Int. Law, vol. ii.
Moderne de I'Europe, Pt. II. tit. 2, (1913), p. 103.
sect. 2, eh. 1, §§ 250—253. Martens,
EIGHTS OF WAE AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—LAND WARFARE.
"
Occupant If, in the territory occupied, the occupant collects the taxes,
collecting
taxes. dues, and tolls imposed for the benefit of the State, he shall do so, as
far as possible, in accordance with the rules of assessment and inci-
dence in force, and he shall in consequence be bound to defray the
expenses of the administration of the occupied territory to the
same extent as the legitimate Government was so bound" (^).
This Article does not necessarily give the occupying commander
a right to collect the taxes, nor does it forbid him to do so. It
simply imposes certain limitations on him, if he decides to have
recourse to such collection. The qualifying expression 'imposed
'
for the benefit of the State excludes the rates and charges inci-
dental to local government. These may not be collected by the
occupant himself; he may, however, superintend their expenditure
in order to prevent their being utilized for hostile purposes. The
national revenue collected by him must be on the scale in force at
the time of invasion, and must be devoted primarily to defray
the expenses of his public administration; if any surplus rdmains
it may be used for his own necessary
purposes. He is not entitled
to raise new taxes, or to raise existing taxes before they are due; in
case of necessity, a permissible substitute is contributions and
Contribu- "
If, in addition to the taxes mentioned in the preceding Article,
tions.
the occupant levies other money contributions in the occupied
territory, this shall only be for the needs of the army or of the
administration of such territory" {I).
(g) Of. supra, H. R. Arts. 4, 14, (h) See also infra. Art. 53.
and Geneva Convention, Art. 4, which (i) Of. Phillipson, Int. Law and the
relate tothe private property of Great War, pp. 162 seq., 220, 229 seg.
prisoners, of the sick and wounded, (k) li. R. Art. 48.
and to medical material. (0 H. R. (1907), Art. 49.
EIGHTS OF WAE AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—LxiND WAEFARE. 535
"
The
receipt mentioned in this Article is intended as evidence
that money, goods, or services have been exacted, but implies, in
itself, no promise to pay on the part, of the occupant. He does
not even thereby bind his Government, if victorious, to stipulate
in the Treaty of Peace that the receipts shall be honoured by the
Government of the territory which has been under occupation.
A Swiss proposal, making it obligatory to honour the receipts
mentioned in this and the following Article, was indeed delibe-
rately rejected at the first Hague Conference. An occupant may,
of course, incur a greater liability by the form which he chooses to
'•
Treatment of Xn army of occupation may only take possession of cash, funds,
*
valeurs exigibles
'
has—
given rise to some difference of opinion. (In German it has been
'
the capital; some maintain, too, that he may not even appropriate
the interest due on such debts, whilst others contend that he may
but in 1914 they did not observe this rule in Belgium, where they
confiscated the funds of certain branches of the Belgian National
Bank, whose private character was apparent, as well as the funds
of the Caisse d'Epargne et de Ketraite, an institution conducted
Submarine "
cables.
Submarine cables connecting an occupied territory with a
neutral territory shall not be seized or destroyed except in case of
absolute necessity. They must likewise be restored and compensa-
tion arranged for at the conclusion of peace" {u).
paid after the peace. For some time there has been difference of
opinion as to whether a belligerent might cut in the open sea a
cable joining a neutral country with enemy territory the right —
to cut the shore end of such a cable not having been disputed.
There is, however, nothing in Article 54 prohibiting!
it, subject
(0 See Phillipson, op. cit. pp. 228, International, vol. xix. p. 331. On
229. submarine cables generally, see Phil-
(u) H. E. (1907), Art. 54. lipson, Studies in International Law
(ip) Annuaire de I'Institut de Droit (1908), pp. 55 seq.
EIGHTS OF WAR AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—LAND WAEFARE. 539
Peru war, Chile similarly cut the cable of a British company, and
afterwards paid compensation.
"
The occupying State shall be regarded only as administrator Immovable
and usufructuary of public buildings, real estate, forests, and property.
agricultural undertakings belonging to the hostile State and
situated in the occupied country. It nmst protect the capital of
these properties, and administer them in accordance with the rules
of usufruct" (y).
such a manner as
jj^-'-j^
not to
impair its corpit^.
Occupant as
usufructuary.
disregard the payment of such rents and dues and demand them a
second time. The occupant, too, may fell timber ripe for cutting;
but purchasers are obliged to remove it before the occupation comes
to an end, as the restored Government may legitimately forbid it,
"
Churches, The property of municipalities, that of institutions dedicated
works of art,
&c. to religious worship, charity, and education, the arts and sciences,
even when belonging to the State, shall be treated as private
property.
All seizure of, destruction or wilfuldamage done to institutions
of this character, historic monuments, works of art and science is
forbidden, and should be 'made the subject of legal pro-
"
ceedings (&).
This Article does not prohibit an occupant from using State or
municipal buildings for purposes required by military necessity;
so that, in the absence of other accommodation, he is permitted,
for example, to turn schools into barracks, churches into hospitals,
&c. He must not wilfully damage these buildings and their con-
tents, unless it be imperatively demanded by military operations;
but in no case is he entitled to
appropriate or carry off such
contents.
The case of In connection with this subject, a very interesting case is fur-
art acquired nished by the proceedings of the allies in 1815 with regard
to the foreign works of art that had been accumulated in
his ancient and illustrious house, and respect for his misfortunes',
had invariably guided the allied councils, had been proved beyond
a question, by their having, in 1814, framed the treaty of Paris
on the basis of preserving to France its complete integrity; and
still more, after their late disappointment, by the endeavours they
were again making, ultimately to combine the substantial interests
of France with such an adequate system of temporary precaution
as might satisfy what they owed tO' the security of their o,wn
subjects. But it would be the height of weaknesis, as well as of
injustice, and in its effects much more likely to mislead than to
bring back the people of France to moral and peaceful habits, if
the allied sovereigns, to whom the world was anxiously looking up
for protection and repose, were to deny that principle of integrity'
542 EIGHTS OF WAE AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—LAND WARFARE.
(more especiallj to the feeble and the helpless), which thej were
about, for a second time, tO\ concede to a nation against which they
had had occasion so long to contend in war. Upon what principle
could France, at the close of the war, expect to sit down with the
same extent of possessions which she held before the revolution,
and same time, to retain the ornamental spoils of all
desire, at the
other countries ? Was there anj possible doubt of the issue of the
contest, or of the power of the allies to effectuate what justice and
justice and this "great moral lesson," as it was called, had been
read? the very Powers who had, at different times, abetted
Bj
France in these her unjust wars. Among other articles carried
from' Paris, under the pretence of restoring them to their rightful
owners, were the celebrated Corinthian horses which had been
brought from Venice; but how strange an act of justice was this
to give them back their statues, but not to restore to them those far
more valuable possessions, their territory and their republic, which
were, at the same time, wrested from the Venetians But the !
reason of this was obvious: the city and the territory of Venice
had been transferred to Austria by the treaty of Campo Formio,
but the horses had remained the trophy of France; and Austria,,
whilst she was thus hypocritically reading this moral lesson to
nations, not only quietly retained the rich and unjust spoils she
had got, but restored those splendid works of art, not to the Venice
which had been despoiled of them, the ancient, independent, re-
—
publican Venice; but to Austrian Venice ^to that country which,
in defiance of all the principles she pretended to be acting on, she
still retained as part of her own dominions {d) .
"
No general penalty, pecuniary or otherwise, may be inflicted Collective or
treated far worse than prisoners of war. The Hague Rules do not
include innocent citizens among the persons liable to be captured
as prisoners of war. The Hague Regulations, it is true, have no
specific provision ivith regard to hostages; but their seizure and
the presumption of vicarious responsibility as well as the prin-
(/) Cf .
Phillipson, Int. Law and {g) Of. White Paper, Proclamations
the Great War, pp. 238 seq. issued by F. M. Lord Roberts in South
Africa (Cd. 426), 1900, p. 11.
EIGHTS OF WAK AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—LAND WARFARE. 545
line Qi) .
Besides, it is to be remembered that trains may lawfully
be wrecked and bridges damaged by qualified combatants even
—
if they proceed singly who —
m^anag-e to cross the lines so that in ;
such a case the arrested hostages would be made to suffer for the
legitimate acts of a belligerent .
(Ji) Several cases of this practice occurred in the Great War; see PhilHp-
son, op. cit. pp. 195, 253, 254.
W. 05
546 RIGHTS OF WAR AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—MARITIME WARFARE.
CHAPTEE III.
(a) See Sir L. Jenkins' Charge to (1801), 40. Rob. 72; The Georgiana, 1
the Grand Jury at the Admiralty Ses- Dods. Ad. 3&7. Spark, Diplomatio
sions in Southwark, 18th Feb. 1€«0. Correspondence, vol. i. p. 443.
Marsden, Adm. Ciases, p. 256. Wheaton's Rep. vol. ii. Appendix,
(6) Brown, Oiv. and Adm. Law, Note I. p. 7.
vol. ii. p. 526, Appendix. The Abigail
RIGHTS OF WAR AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—MARITIME WARFARE. 54'
{o) Vatt^l, liv. ill. ch. 15, § 229. 15. North American Review, vol. ii.
Franklin, Works, vol. ii.
pp. 447, 530. (N. S.) pp. 166—196. Wheaton, Hist.
Edinburgh Review, vol. iii.
pp. 13
— I^w of Nations, p. 308.
35 (2)
548 RIGHTS OF WAR AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—MARITIME WARFARE.
Enlistment of
Privateering was definitely and formally abolished by the
navy. Declaration of Paris, 1856; but after that date States not infre-
quently resorted to the practice of enlisting for purposes of war
vesselsbelonging to private persons. Thus, in July, 1870, at
the commencement of the Franco-German war, Prussia, being
weaker than France in naval resources, endeavoured to make good
the deficiency by inviting private owners to place their merchant-
men at the service of the Government, with the object of equipping
them and utilizing them in belligerent operations against the
adversary. These vessels were intended to constitute a volunteer
navy. Their officers and crews were in the first instance to be
ships may in time of peace carry the mercantile flag and may
engage in commerce, but they are in the main employed in the
public service, e.g.^ in carrying convicts, soldiers, officials, and
stores between Petrograd or Odessa and the Russian possessions in
the Far East The commander and one other officer of each vessel
.
are appointed by the State, and their crews (who may also be
and observe (like the regular warships) the laws and custpms of
war.
In July, 1904, during the Russo-Japanese war, the Peterhurg
and the Smolensk, two vessels of the Russian Volunteer Fleet,
in the guise of merchantmen flying the mercantile flag passed from
the Black Sea through the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles into the
Mediterranean, and proceeded via the Suez Canal to the Red Sea.
After leaving Suez they mounted guns, hoisted the naval flag, and
began to intercept neutral commerce. Several vessels wer^ stopped,
amongst which was the German steamship Prinz Heinrich ; several
of her mail bags were taken from her (though they were afterwards
(70 British Pari. Papers, Subven- (i) Of.Moore, Digest, vol. vii.
tion of Merchant Steamers for State p. 542. See also The Rita (1899),
Purposes, 1887. 89 Fed. Rep. 763.
RIGHTS OF WAR AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—MARITIME WARFARE. 551
grounds that she did not carry contraband, and that the Peterhurg
and the S'niolensk could not lawfully exercise the right of capture,
inasnxuch as they were not ships of war;, but if they were, then
Eussia had violated several international agreements, whereby the
Bosphorus and the Dardanelles were closed to men-of-war. Eussia
receded from her position, liberated the Malacca after a perfunc-
tory examination of her cargo, and agreed to forbid her Volunteer
Fleet to exercise belligerent rights in the future, on the ground
that the belligerent s,tatus of such vessels was not yet recognised by
international law
(; ) As a result of this incident the second Hague
.
(2) Merchant ships converted into warships must bear the ex-
^^a^^^ips-
(3) The commander must be in the service of the State and duly
commissioned by the proper authorities. His name must appear
on the list of the officers of the fighting fleet.
(4) The crew must be subject to military discipline.
(5) Every merchant ship converted into a warship is bound to
observe, in its operations, the laws and customs of war.
(6) A belligerent who converts a merchant ship into a warship
must, as soon as possible, announce such conversion in the list of
"
its warships (k).
This Convention was signed by practically
all the Powers repre-
(/) On the Malacca case, see T. J. Japanese War (1905), pp. 40 seq.;
Lawrence, War and Neutrality in the Parliamentary Debates (1904), 4th
Far East (1904), pp. 202 seq.; F. E. series, vol. cxxxviii. pp. 1433, 1479.
Smith and N. W. Sibley, International (k) Hague Convention, No. VII.
Law as interpreted during the Eusso- (1907), Arts. 1
— 6.
552 EIGHTS OF WAE AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—MAEITIME WAEFAEE.
:
31.
EIGHTS OF WAE AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—MARITIME WARFARE. 553
The sick, We have already set forth the rules of international law relating
wouNDEBAND ^^ ^j^g treatment of the sick and wounded in land warfare. In the
SHTPWBECKED. , ^ T 1 OOA
case of maritime warfare further rules are necessary. In 1899
the first Hague Conference established a Convention for adapting
the principles of the Geneva Convention (1864) to naval war; and
in 1907 the second Hague Conference revised, improved, and
during the course of hostilities, and in any case before they are
i:o neutral States. But as the Article confers on these ships im-
munity from the imposed on warships in neutral ports,
restriction
lightship . A
similar attack was made on another hospital ship, the
St. Andrew. It was emphasized that both hospital ships had
"
Hospital ships equip'ped wholly or in part at the expense of Private
^
private persons or officially recognised relief societies shall be like- ^-^^^^
wise respected and exempt from capture, if the belligerent Power
to whom they belong has given them an official commission and
has notified their names to the hostile Power at the commencement
of or during hostilities; and in any case before they are employed.
These ships must be provided with a document from the proper
authorities declaring that the vessels have been under their control
while fitting out and on final departure" (o).
It was thought that the exemption granted by this Article
would induce private owners of yachts and other suitable craft to
place them
at the disposal of the medical service .
"
Hospital ships equipped iwhoUy or in part at the cost of private Neutral
persons or officially recognised societies of neutral countries shall gi^Tps.^
be respected and exempt frona capture, on condition that they
are placed under the control of one of the belligerents, with the
. The belligerents shall have the right to control and search them;
thej may decline their assistance, order them off, impose upon
them a certain course, and put a commissioner on board; they may,
even detain them if serious circumstances require it.
The boats of the ships above mentioned, as also small craft which
that they could not undertake that their legislature would pass
an Act conformably thereto. We
have already seen that for the
same reasons the British representatives did not accept Article 28
of the Geneva Convention of 1906.
''
In the case of a
fiffht on 'board a warship, the sick wards shall ^^^Y ™^?
be respected
in, Ml
and spared as far as possible.
^^^ matenal.
,
enemy.
The fact of the staff of the said ships and sick wards being armed
for maintaining order and defending the sick and wounded, and
the presence of wireless telegraphy apparatus on board, are not
"
sufficient reasons for withdrawing protection (m) .
{t) Art. 7. Of. Geneva Convention (m) Art. 8. Of. Geneva Convention
(1906), Arts. 6, 15, supra. (1906), Arts. 7, 8, supra.
558 EIGHTS OF WAR AS BETWEEN ENEMIES- -MARITIME WARFARE.
charge can with impunity destroy the documents and records im-
mediately before a searching ofiicer makes his visit, the right of
search becomes to a great extent nugatory. The evidence having
(ar) The Orel (or The AryoV) (1905), (2;) The case of The Johanna Emilie
Takahashi, Int. Law applied to the (1854), Spinks, 14, at p. 20, was re-
R.-J. War (1908), pp. 620 seq. ferred to with regard to the spoliation
(y) The Ophelia (May 21, 1915), of documents.
T. L. R. 452j (1915) P. 129.
EIGHTS OF WAK AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—MAEITIME WARFARE. 559
port. port with the consent of the local authorities, must, in default
of an arrangement to the contrary between the neutral State and
the belligerent States, be guarded by the neutral State so as to
prevent them from again taking part in the operations of the war.
The expenses of tending them in hospital and interning them
shall be borneby the State to which the sick, wounded, or ship-
"
wrecked persons belong {h).
' '
captured ships, or which have been left by the sick and wounded
who died in hospital, in order to have them forwarded to the
"
persons concerned by the authorities of their own country (Icj.
In December, 1904, a conference of maritime Powers was held Hospital
at the Hague, and a Convention was established, whereby it was
port^du^s.
agreed that hospital ships complying with the conditions of
all
ports of the contracting parties, from' all dues and taxes levied on
ships for the benefit of the State." This Convention has been
accepted by twenty-five States; but Great Britain did not take
part in the Conference of 1904, on the ground that special legis-
lation would be needed to carry out its provisions, although the
British Minister at the Hague stated that his Government was
favourably disposed towards the proposal (I) .
From time to time, States entered into engagements whereby Mail boat*
they agreed to exempt from capture, in time of war, each other's corr^pon-
mail boats. These agreements were rare, and involved but few device.
States, e.g., Great Britain, the United States, France, Holland,
and Belgium. They were concluded with the proviso that each
contracting party might terminate them by giving notice to the
other. It was, however, generally felt that conventions of this
kind would hardly prove strong enough in time of war to prot;ect
(7c) Art. 17. Of. Geneva Conven- Peace Conferences and other Inter-
tion (1906), Art. 4, supra. national Conferences (1909), pp. 392
(0 Of. A. P. Higgins, The Hague —394.
w. 36
662 . RIGHTS OF WAE AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—MARITIME WARFARE.
times adopted the same course; the exemption, however, was never
conceded de jure, but only by way of grace.
The Hague Conference up the question, and in its
of 1907 took
eleventh Convention laid down two
Articles which substitute
clearly defined compulsory provisions for rules that had been more
or less optional and precarious: —
"
The postal correspondence of neutrals or belligerents, whether
official or private in character, found on board a nentral or enemy
ship is inviolable. If the ship is detained the correspondence must
be forwarded by the captor with the least possible delay.
The provisions of the preceding paragraph do not apply, in
(w) Pari. Papers (1900), Africa, (n) Of. Lawrence, War and Neu-
No. 1. trality in the Far East, pp. 109 seq.
EIGHTS OF WAR AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—MARITIME WARFARE. 563
Enemy coastal fishing boats were for a long time considered to Coastal
^ ^"^
be exempt from capture, so long as they did not participate in any
way in the hostilities. In 1798, Sir W. Scott (Lord Stowell)
held that the rule was merely one of comity (q) though a few ;
two fishing boats, sailing under the Spa'nish flag, which were seized
off the coast of Cuba by United
States cruisers engaged in the
blockade of the north coast of that island. The conduct of both
boats was innocent. Mr. Justice Gray, delivering the judgment
of the majority of the Court in favour of the fishing boats, observed
that there was an ancient usage among civilized nations conferring
(o) Hague Convention (1907), (q) The Young Jacob and Johanna
No. XI. Art. 1. (1798), 1 O. Rob. 20.
(p) Art. 2. (r) 175 U. S. Rep. 677.
36(2) ;
564 RIGHTS OF WAR AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—MARITIME WARFARE.
fishing vessel (s); and the Xo/'w? in 1905, which was a fishing
vessel thathad been engaged in police duty {t) .
word coast applies to any coast where the fishermen are entitled
to pursue their industry. Further, the phrase 'small boats em-
'
ventions, that fishing vessels pursuing their industry near the coast
—not —
necessarily in territorial waters are free from' capture, if
they are employed only in such peaceable work as their industry
properly involves. But the Berlin did not satisfy this test. Her
size, equipment and voyage showed she was a deep sea fishing
vessel, engaged in a commercial enterprise, which formed part of
the trade of the enemy country, so that she was subject to capture.
vessels dates back to the middle of the eighteenth century, and missions!'^^^^
for a long time it was regarded as being derived from an obligatory
rule of the usage of nations. The right is accom^panied, of course,
(y) Cf. The Young Jacob and (2) Hague Convention (1907),
Johanna (1798), 1 O. Rob. 20; The No. XI. Art. 4.
Liesbet Van den Toll, 5 O. Rob. 283.
566 EIGHTS OF WAR AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—MARITIME WARFARE.
ground that the Cumberland was not the vessel that had obtained
the passport, and that she had entered Port Louis in suspicious
circumstanoes. He was released on parole in 1810; and the same
year Mauritius capitulated to the British and the explorer's ship
was retaken (a) .
refugees to England
—no opportunity having been given to the
passengers to escape in the ship's boats; whilst the Flakat was
taken into a British port, the refugees were forwarded to their
destination, and the vessel was brought before a Prize Court,
where the owners are permitted to put forward their claims.
Cartel ships. Cartel ships are vessels used in services relating to the exchange
of prisoners of war, or other special services agreed upon between
the belligerents. They should be furnished with permits from the
enemy Government
—
not necessarily the supreme authority {c) —
whereby they would enjoy immunity from capture whilst proceed-
ing to their appointed services, performing them, or returning
from them. The mere intention to act as a cartel ship does not
During the war between Great Britain and Holland, two Dutch
vessels proceeding from' the Texel to Flushing were captured by
the British. Their condemnation was opposed on the ground that
"
When
an empty merchant ship is captured by a belligerent, The crews
such of its crew as are nationals of a neutral State are not made J^erch^Jmen
prisoners of war. captured by
a belligerent.
rule applies in the case of the captain and officers, who
The same
are likewise nationals of a neutral State, if they promise formally
"
in writing not to serve on an enemy ship while the war lasts (/).
"
Thecaptain, officers, and members of the crew, when nationals
of the enemy State, are not made prisoners of war, on condition that
they bind themselves, on the faith of a formal written promise,
not to undertake, while hostilities last, any sei^^ice connected with
the operations of the war" (g).
*'
The names of the persons retaining their liberty under the con-
ditions laid down in Article 5, paragraph 2, and in Article 6, are
notified by the belligerent captor to the other belligerent. The
latter is forbidden knowingly to employ the said persons" (h).
"
The provisions
of the three preceding Articles do not apply to
Mabitime The progress of civilization has slowly, but constantly, tended (in
CAPTUBE
AND ENEMY theory) to soften the extreme severity of the operations of war by
CHARACTER
land; but it still remains unrelaxed in respect of maritime warfare,
in which the private property of the enemy taken at sea or afloat in
and confiscation, subject, however, to the
port, is liable to capture
already mentioned exemptions relative to enemy merchant vessels
on the outbreak of war, hospital ships, fishing vessels, cartel ships,
&c., and to the exemption introduced by the Declaration of Paris.
Distinction This inequality in the operation of the laws ef war, by land and by,
between
private pro- sea, was justified by alleging the former usage of considering
perty taken
at sea and private property when captured in cities taken by storm, as booty ;
that taken on and the fact that contributions are levied upon territories occupied
land.
by a hostile army, in lieu of a general confiscation of the property
possible because British ports all over the world, and British coal-
ing stations all over the world, were open to her for refuge, for
coaling, as a base of operations, and even to refit.
(o) Ortolan, Diplomatie de la Mer, (r) Maine, Int. Law, lect. VI.;
liv. iii. ch. ii. Ileffter, Geffeken, note 2, § 139; Law-
{p) Field, Int. Oode (2nd ed.), rence, Essays on some disputed Ques-
p. ^27. tions in modern International Law
{q) HaUeck, ch. xx. § 3. (1885), vii.
EIGHTS OF WAE AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—MAEITIME WAEFAEE. 671
negative, whilst twelve States did not vote. The opponents in-
cluded some of the great maritime Powers, e.g., Great Britain,
France, Russia, Japan, so that the proposal (so strenuously backed
by the United States) was considered to have failed (t) .
place, most of the provisions laid down are nothing more than a
deliberately written expression of old-established principles, and,
in the second place, the others represent the consensus of modern
international opinion .
"
Test of the to the provisions respecting transfer to another flag {u)
Subject
flag.
the neutral or onemy character of a vessel is determined by the
flag which she is entitled to fly.
The case where a neutral vessel is engaged in a trade which is
closed in time of peace, remains outside the scope of, and is in no
wise affected by, this rule" {x).
The official report on the Declaration of London (of the contents
of which it is regarded as the authoritative interpretation) observes
in reference to this provision: "Article 57 safeguards the provi-
sions respecting transfer to another flag, as to which it is sufficient
to refer to Articles 55 and 56 (jy) ;
a vessel may well have the right
to fly a neutral flag, from' the point of view of the law of the
country to which she claimte to belong, but may be regarded as an
depends on the enemy character of the owner; and it does not say
on what the enemy character of the owner is to depend.
As no agreement was reached at the London Naval Conference
with regard to one definite criterion of the enemy character of
goods, an effort was made to effect a compromise between the con-
flicting principles as indicated above. Thus it was proposed, on
the one hand, that the character of goods found on board an enemy
vessel should be determined by the owner's nationality, or, in
case of lack of or double nationality, by his domicile; and, on the
from capture (k) . Unless such a rule were adopted, all property
passing between a neutral and a belligierent would be colourably
assigned to the neutral, and the belligerent right of capture would
be comparatively worthless. It is therefore the duty of a Prize
Court to ascertain in whom the property was vested at the outset
of the voyage, and in this inquiry all equitable liens on enemy 'iS
in the course of his judgment, said that under the old practice the
Court have regard only to the outward character of the vessel, and
must disregard rights depending on private agreement. There-
fore, both in principle and in practice the claims of mortgagees of
enemy ships cannot prevail as against the rights of the captors (q) .
(^) The Francis (1813), 1 Gallison, Carlos F. Roses (1899), 177 U. S. 655.
445; The Vrow Margaretha (1799), 1 (o) Of. Le Turner (1870), Barboux,
O. Rob. 336. Jurisprudence du Oonseil des Prises,
(Z) The Josephine (1801), 4 C. Rob. 1870—1, p. 76.
75 The Tobago (1804), 5 C. Rob. 218
; ;
The Nigretia (1905), Takahashi,
(??)
The Marianna (1805), 6 O. Rob. 24; p. 552; The Russia (1904), ibid. p. 557.
The Ida, 1 Spinks, 26. {q) The Marie Glaeser (1914), 31
(w) Cf. The Aina (1854), Spinks, 8. T. L. R. 8.
in) The Hampton (1866), 5 Wall. (r) The Ariel (1857), 11 Moo. P. C.
372: The Battle, 6 Wall. 498: The 119.
576 EIGHTS OF WAR AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—MARITIME WARFARE.
gerents'to always
'^'^ looked upon very suspiciously, and clear proof of bona
neutrals.
fi^es is required to save the ship from condemnation (y). Thus,
a British ship alleged to have been sold to a neutral after hostilities
had broken out between England and Holland was captured while
trading between Guernsey and Amsterdam under the command of
her former master, who had also been the owner. She was con-
demned as prize for trading with the enemy, the transfer being
deemed colourable and void (z) But if the sale of a ship by a
.
(s) The Atlas (1801), 3 O. Rob. 299. Rob. 324; Oppenheim y.Russel, 3 Boa.
(0 The Miramichi (1914), 31 & Pul. 484.
T. L. R. 72. (y) The Ariel (1857), 11 Moo. P. C.
(w) The Aurora (1802), 4 C. Rob. 119.
219. (2) The Omnibus (1805), 6 C. Rob.
{x) The Constantia (1807), 6 C. 71; The Odin (1799), 1 O. Rob. 252.
RIGHTS OF WAR AS BETWEEN ENEMIES- MARITIME WARFARE. 677
neutral port {a). All interest of the vendor in the ship must be
completely divested, and there must be no agreement to reconvey
her on the conclusion of the war; but the mere non-payment of
capture by the other belligerent as long as the war lasts (/) And .
the same rule would no doubt apply to vessels that had been con-
verted into warships, even though afterwards reconverted. Cap-
ture as prize overrides all previous liens (^), and it gives the captor
all the owner's rights when the voyage began {h). Even a bond
fide mortgagee, a subject of the captor's country, is not entitled
to have his mortgage paid out of the proceeds of the sale of the
'
' '
•
prize {i). ^
^
:
•! i i
I
| | j
tions of these rules appear. Thus, in France and Russia the trans-
fer of enemy vessels to neutrajs is held to be invalid unless it be
unconditional and effected before the outbreak of war. In Holland
all fide transfers are recognised, on condition that they are
bond
not made in a blockaded port. Spain and other countries follow
generally the Anglo-American doctrines, subject, however, to
"
Transfers The transfer of an enemy vessel to a neutral flag, effected
under the
Declaration before the outbreak of hostilities, is valid, unless it is proved that
of London.
such transfer was made in order to evade the consequences to which
an enemy vessel, as such, is exposed. There is, however, a pre-
sumption that the transfer is void, if the bill of sale is not on
board a vessel which has lost her belligerent nationality less than
sixty days before the outbreak of hostilities. This presumption
may be rebutted.
There an absolute presumption of the validity of a transfer
is
void —
(1) If the transfer has been made during a voyage or in a
blockaded port.
(2) If a right to repurchase or recover the vessel has been
reserved to the vendor.
(w) Cf. Pari. Papers, Miscell. British Delegates at the London Naval
(1909), No. 5. Conference, Pari. Papers, Miscell.
(w) Declar. of London. (1909), (1909), No. 4, pp. 99 seq.; and the
Art. 55. Report annexed to the Declaration of
(o) Ibid. Art. 56. See the Memo- London, in Higgins, op. cit. pp. 600
randum prepared for the use of the seq.
RIGHTS OF WAR AS BETWEEN ENEMIES -MARITIME WARFARE. 579
occurred. Thus, the German warships, the Goeben and the a'reaifwat.
— —
Breslau flying from their pursuers were ostensibly transferred
to Turkey, which was a neutral at the time of the alleged trans-
action. Even if the transfer were genuine and the conveyance
complete and unconditional (the circumstances clearly showed the
contrary), the validity of the act none the less remained question-
able on other grounds. Again, German merchantmen were pro-
posed to be transferred to the United States flag; and in order that
the last condition of Article 56 might be fulfilled. Congress
The object of belligerents is to enfeeble and overcome the enemy; The capture
and among the means resorted to in naval war in order to attain tion of prizes,
this object is the destruction or seizure of enemy vessels and the
confiscation of enemy goods found on them. Subject to the
exceptions that have been enumerated above, all public vessels of
the are liable to attack, seizure, or destruction by the belli- *
enemy
gerent warships either on the high seas or in the ports and waters
of either belligerent, but not in neutral or neutralized ports and
waters .
The question has sometimes arisen whether a belligerent vessel Use of false
5 -T colours.
may assume false colours at any time, m order to facilitate an
n, , . .
37 (2)
580 RIGHTS OF WAR AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—MARITIME WARFARE.
ing statement on the subject was issued by, the British Foreign
Oflioe, J'ebruary 7, 1914: "The use of the neutral flag is, with
certain limitations, well established in practice as a 'ruse de
guerre.' The only the case of a merchantman of wearing
effect in
a flag other than her national flag is to compel the enemy to follow
the ordinary obligations of naval warfare, and to satisfy himself
as to the nationality of the vessel and of the character of her
cargo by examination before capturing her and taking her into a
Prize Court for adjudication. The British Government has con-
sidered the use of British coloursby a. foreign vessel legitimate
for the purpose of escaping capture. It is recognised in the
Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, s. 69 (1), and in the instructions-
to British consuls, 1914. No breach of international law i&
thereby committed." In an American Note, February 12, to the-
British Government a distinction is drawn between the occasional
end to the effects resulting from the original capture; so that any-
one who subsequently acquires possession is regarded as the sole
captor (x) . The enemy's armed vessels are not subject to the
The primary title to all property taken in war, whether on land Prize and
or at sea, is in the sovereign (2;) The law of .
England on this
clearly and distinctly the property of the Crown, that the sovereign
(j») Grotius, De Jur. Bel. ac Pac. (t) Tudor, Leading Cases on Mari-
lib. ill. leap. 6, § 3; cap. 9, § 14. time Law, pp. 1092, 1093. Calvo, ii.
KlUber, Droit des Gens Moderne de § 1236.
TEurope, § 254. Vattel, Droit des (u) Andersen v. Marten^ (1908)
Gens, liv. iii. ch. 13, § 196; ch. 14, A. O. 334.
§ 209. Heffter, Daa Europaische Vol- {x) The Diligentia (1814), 1 Dods.
kerrecht, § 136. 404.
{q) Genoa and its Dependencies, 2 (y) The Cotton Plant, 10 Wallace,
Dods. Ad. 446. 577.
(r) Lamar Browne, 2 Otto, 195.
v. (2) Phillimore, vol. iii. § cxxx.
(s) Opinions of Att.-Gen. (U. S.) Calvo, ii. 1237.
§ Halleck, ch. xxx.
vol. iii. p. 379. Field, International § 3. And see the Manila Prize Cases,
Code, § 896. Goss v. Withers, 2 Bur- 188 U. S. Eep. 254.
rows, 693.
582 EIGHTS OF WAR AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—MARITIME WARFARE.
The Eisebe. the casc of The Elsehe{a), in which, after final adjudication in
the Court below, but pending an appeal, the Crown thought
proper, for reasons of State and public safety, to restore the prize
at the expense of the captors. In other words, it was then deter-
mined, and that too upon a solemn and most able argument, and by
a judge the most learned and eminent of his time, the present
Lord Stowell, that when the Crown saw fit to restore the capture,
the captors, who had run the risk and suffered the loss, who had,
moreover, borne the charge of bringing the prize into port, and the
further costs of proceeding in the Admiralty to adjudication, and
had even undergone additional expenses in contesting their claim
upon appeal, were altogether without a remedy. Says Lord . . .
'
Stowell , It is admitted on the part of the captors
. . : . . .
that their claim rests wholly on the Order of Council, the Pro-
(6) Alexander v. The Duke of Wei- (c) Cf., so far as Great Britain is
lington, 2 Russell & Mylne, 54. Lord concerned, the Naval Prize Act, 1864.
Stowell's remarks are to be found in {d) Of. Moore, Digest, vol. iii.
The Elsebe (1804), 5 O. Rob. 173. p. 543.
(e) Of. The Eeroules, 2 Dods. 362.
584 RIGHTS OF WAR AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—MARITIME WARFARE.
' '
the sending of a prize master on board, but on the fact that the
vessel passes under the actual control of the captor (/) .
Joint capture ^
capture may be either ''separate" or "joint." A joint cap-
ture msij be made by two or more vessels of the same belligerent,
or by a vessel or vessels of a belligerent in co-operation with a
vessel or vessels of an ally, or, again, by naval forces and land
forces (^). In order to establish a claim of joint capture the
burden of proof will lie on the claimants (h) All parties who .
are associated in the same enterprise and under the same superior
officer, all are entitled to share as joint captors, it being then only
and England agreed that a joint capture made by the naval forces
of both countries should be adjudicated on in the country of the
highest naval officer concerned in the capture, and that in the case
of a capture made by the cruiser of one nation, in sight of a
cruiser of the other, such cruiser having thus contributed to the
(/) The Edward and Manj (1801), (h) Halleck, ch. xxx. § 7. The
3 O. Rob. 305. Santa Brigada (1800), 3 C. Rob. 52.
(^) The Dordrecht (1799), 2 C. (0 The Guillaiime Tell, Edw. Ad.
Rob. 55; La Bellone, 2 Dods. 343. 6; The Forsigheid, 3 O. Rob. 311. Cf.
(A) Of. TAe Jo/m, 1 Dods. 363; and Halleck, ch. xxx. § 11; Phillimore,
for Great Britain, see the Naval Prize vol. iii. § 898.
Act, 1864, s. 36. (m) Phillimore, vol. iii. § 398. The
(0 Phillimore, vol. iii. § 388; The Forsigheid, .3 O. Rob. 311; The
Dordrecht, 2 O. Rob. 55; Talbot v. Augusta, Marsden, Adm. Cases, 167.
Three Briggs, 1 Dallas, 103; The For- Ships of war are entitled to share in
sigheid, 3 O. Rob. "311. And see The all captures made by their tenders:
~'
Mangrove Prize Money (1902), 188 j . The Carl (1855), Spinks, 238.
U. S. Rep. 720.
RIGHTS OF WAE AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—MARITIME WARFARE. 585
naval captors.
i '
1 11 ^ 1 •
if the capture was originally laJ\vf ul (r) . If the capture was made
entirely without probable cause, the captor is liable for costs, and
for the damages resulting from the illegal seizure, and the latter
are decreed to the injured owner (s).
Destruction of
"Sometimes," says Chancellor Kent, "circumstances will not
prizes at sea.
permit property captured at sea to be sent into port; and the captor
in such cases may destroy it, or permit the original owner to
"
ransom it (t). If the vessel belong to the enemy, and the captor
cannot retain possession of her or bring her into port, in con-
sequence of exceptional circumstances e.g., her unseaworthi-
—
ness, existence of infectious disease, Ifack of fuel or of a priza
crew, stress of weather, imminent danger of recapture, serious
danger to the success of naval operations he is then justi-
—
fied in selling or destroying her, but it is his duty to preserve
her papers and as much of the cargo as he can secure. The Con-
federate cruisers burnt many of their prizes at seai during the
Civil War, as their own ports were all blockaded by the Federal
fleets: and though this was not a proceeding to be approved of, it
was not a violation of intern aftional law (u) At the conclusion
.
(r) The Bothnea, 2 Gallison, 78; Art. 64, which provides for the pay-
The Triton, 4 0. Rob. 78; Miller v. ment of compensation to neutral
The Resolution (1781), 2 Dallas, 1. owners when the seizure was shown to
Phillimore, vol. iii. § 381. be unjustifiable.
is) Halleck, ch. xxx. § 29. Philli- (0 Kent, by Abdy, p. 276.
more, vol. iii. § 452. Bel Col v. (w) Bernard, Neutrality of England
Arnold (1796), 3 Dallas, 333; The during Civil War, p. 419. Lushing-
Anna Maria (1817), 2 Wheaton, 327; ton, Manual of Naval Prize Law,
The Ostsee (1856), 5 Moo. P. C. 150. § 101.
The rule as to the responsibility of (x) Atlantic Monthly, July, 1866,
captors is now specifically affirmed in p. 89. Pari. Papers, 1873 (No. 2),.
the Declaration of London, 1999, p. 92.
RIGHTS OF WAE AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—MARITIME WARFARE. 587
Destruction
During the Eusso-Turkish war of 1877 Eussia was alleged to
have made a practice of sending out fast steamers from Odessa, vessels by
which, while they avoided the Turkish cruisers, captured Turkish ^^^^^JJ^
merchantmen, burnt them on the spot, and then set the crews adrift
in boats. If this was true, it was an, undeniable violation of inter-
national law\ It was, moreover, an act of wanton and unnecessary
cruelty to burn the ships and then expose the lives of their crews
in open boats, and it was an act which could only influence the war
sea, before her arrival, the obligation to pay the sum stipulated
for her ransom is not thereby extinguished. The captor guaran-
tees the captured vessel against being interrupted in its course, or
from their obligation, which is merged in the prize, and the amount
is deducted from the net proceeds thereof, and paid to the first
captor, whilst the residue is paid to the second captor. So if the
captor, after having ransomed a vessel belonging to the enemy, is
country for the recovery of his freedom. But the effect of such a
contract, like that of every other which may be lawfully entered
into between belligerents, is to suspend the character of enemy so
far as respects the parties to the ransom-bill; and consequently,
the technical objection of thewant of a persona standi in judicio
cannot, on principle, prevent a suit being brought by the captor
directly on the ransom-bill. And this appears to be the practice
in the maritime courts of
many European countries (c).
British law Sometimes the ^^rant of ransom by belligerent captors and the
of ransom. . .
, , i , ,
be restored to the original owner; for as pirates have no lawful ^^om pirates,
right to make captures, the property has not been divested. The
owner has merely been deprived of his possession, to which he is
restored hj the recapture. For the service thus rendered to him,
the recaptor is entitled to a remuneration in the nature of
salvage (/) .
(d) 27 & 28 Vict. c. 25, s. 45. opus habent postliminio; quia jus gen-
(e) Of. Maisonnaire v. Keating tium illis non concedit, ut jus dominii
same is the law of Great Britain, but there is no doubt th^t the
municipal law of any particular State may ordain a different
rule as to its own subjects. Thus the former usage of Holland
and Venice gave the whole property to the retakers, on the prin-
ciple of public utility; as does that of Spain, if the property has
been in the possession of the pirates twenty -four honrs {g) .
Opinions of
Valin and
Valin, in his commentary upon the above Article of the French
Pothier. Ordinance, is of opinion that if the recapture be made by a
to the recap tors the whole of the property, it could not be restored
to the former owner: and he cites, in supp,ort of this opinion, a
decree of the Parliament of Bordeaux, in favour of a Dutch sub-
ject, who had retaken a French vessel from pirates (h). To this
interpretation Pothier objects that the laws of Holland having no
power over Frenchmen and their property within the territory of
France, the French subject could not thereby be deprived of the
property in his vessel, which was not divested by the piratical
capture according to the law of nations, and that it ought conse--
quently to be restored to him upon payment of the salvage
prescribed by the ordinance (i).
If, however, the neutral vessel thus recaptured were laden with
contraband goods destined to an enemy of the first captor, it may,
perhaps, be doubted whether they should be restored, inasmuch
as they were liable to be confiscated as prize of war to the first
Prizes, upon the ground that the Dutch vessel could not have been
justly condemned in the British Prize Courts. But if the case
had been that of a trade, considered contraband by the law of
nations and treaties, the original owner would not have been
entitled to restitution (I) .
and goods, upon the principle that the liberation of a boncE fidei neTt?al^^ °^
neutral from the hands of the enemy of the captor is no beneficial property,
service to the neutral, inasmuch as the same enemy would be com-
(I) Martens, Essai sur lea Prises et les Reprises, § 52. Code des Prises,
an. 1784, torn. ii.
592 EIGHTS OF WAE AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—MARITIME WARFARE.
the captor's country will duly respect the obligations of that law;
a presumption which, in the wars of civilized States, as they are
(w) The War OnsJcan (1799), 2 C. 410; The Acteon, Edw. Ad. 254.
Rob. 299; The Eleonora Catherina, 4 (??) Inst. i.Dig. 49. 15. 2.
12;
O. Rob. 156; The Carlotta (1803), 5 " Navibus onerariis
atquo
longis
O. Rob. 54; The Huntress, 6 C. Rob. propter belli usum postliminium est,
104; Talbot v. Seeman (1801), 1 non piscatoriis aut si quas actuarias
Oanch, 1; S. C, 4 Dallas, 34, voluptatis causa paraverunt."
(o) The Sansom (1807), 6 C. Rob.
w. 38
594 RIGHTS OF WAR AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—MARITIME WARFARE.
thing captured were carried infra prcesidia of the eneimy, the jus
postlmdnii was considered as forfeited, and the former owne;r was
not entitled to restitution. Grotius also states, that by the more
recent law established the European nations, a possession
among
of twenty-four hours was deemed sufficient to divest the property
of the original proprietor, even if the captured thing had not been
carried infra prcesidia (r) And Loccenius considers the rule of
.
reciprocity, vessels recaptured, in1796 and 1797, from the common enemy by
applied to
recaptures
a British cruiser, stated that owing to the different practices of
of the pro-
States with regard to recapture there appeared to be no general
perty of
allies. rule. might be that the original owner is divested of his
It
titleby the immediate possession of the captor, or the rule of
pernoctation and twenty-four hours' possession, or bringing the
property infra the passing of a sentence of condemna-
prcesidift, or
where a country has no rule at all on the subject, then the recap-
turing country must of necessity apply its own rule. As to the
maritime law of England, it adopts a liberal rule of restitution
or salvage with respect to the recaptured property of its own sub-
jects, and gives the benefit of that rule to its allies, unless they act
towards British property on a less liljeral principle. In such a case
it
adopts their rule, and treats them according tjo their own measure
of justice. This principle of reciprocity operates in other cases
of maritime law (w) .
The law of the United States proceeds on the same principle of American
38(2)
596 RIGHTS OF WAR AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—MARITIME WARFARE.
Amerioan The Act of Congress of the 3rd March, 1800, ch. xiv. §§ 1,2,
law.
provides that, in qase of recaptures of vessels or goods belonging
to persons resident within, or under the protection of the United
and if the re(iaptured vessel shall appear to have been set forth
and armed as a vessel of war before such capture, or afterwards,
and before the recapture, then the salvage to be one moiety of the
value. If the recaptured vessel previously belonged to the Govern-
ment of the United States and be unarmed, the salvage is one-
sixth, if recaptured by a private vessel, and one-twelfth, if recap-
tured by a public ship if armed, then the salvage to be one moiety.
;
(a) Valin, Sur I'Ord. liv. iii. tit. 9, (6) Emerigon, Traite des Assurances,
Art. 3. Traite des Prises, ch. 0, § 1, torn.i.
p. 497.
No. 8, § 88. Pothier, Traits de Pro- (c) Traits de Propriety,
Pothier,
priete, No. 97. Emerigon, Traite des No. 100. Em6rigon, torn. i. p. 499.
Assurances, torn. i. p. 497. Azuni, Droit Maritime de I'Europe,
Partie ii. ch. 4, § 11.
598 EIGHTS OF WAR AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—MARITIME WARFARE.
(avant qu'il ait ete conduit dans aucun port ennemi); it shall be
restored to the proprietor, who may claim the same within a year
and a day, although it has been more than twenty-four hours in
the possession of the enemy." Pothier is of opinion that the above
words, "avant qu'il ait ete conduit dans aucun port ennemi,"
are to be understood, not as restricting the right of restitution to
the particular case mentioned of a vessel abandoned by the enemy
before being carried into port, which case is mentioned merely as
an example of what ordinarily happens, "parceque c'est le cas
ordinaire auquel un vaisseau echappe a I'ennemi qui I'a pris, ne
pouvant pas guere lui echapper lorsqu'il a ete conduit dans ses
ports" (d). But Valin holds, that the terms of the ordinance are
to be literally construed, and that the right of the original pro-
likened to the case of shipwreck, and that the recaptors are entitled
to one-third of the value of the property saved (e) Azuni contends .
four hours in the enemy's possession, and restoring the latter upon
payment of the salvage established by the Portuguese ordinance.
The ancient law of Holland regulated restitution on the pay- Dutch law.
ment of salvage at different rates, according to the length of time
the property had been in the enemy's possession (/i) .
What constitutes a "setting forth as a vessel of war" has been What con-
St'li'Ill'Pfl A,
war," under that where a ship was originally armed for the slave-trade, and
the Prize Act.
after capture an additional number of men were put on board,
but there was no commission of war, and no additional arming, it
was not a setting forth as a vessel of war under the Act (i). But
a commission of war is decisive if there be guns on board (/c) .
And where the vessel, after the capture, has been fitted out as a
further, but considered the title of the former owner for ever
which the law allots to that meritorious act of duty {p) And if .
Actual resrjue
^^ entitle a party to salvage, as upon a recapture, there must
nwjessaryfor have been an actual or constructive capture; for military salvage
salvage for
will not be allowed in any case where the property has not been
recapture.
(0 The Horatio (1806), 6 0. Rob. {o) The Georgiana, 1 Dods. Ad. 397.
320. ip) The Helen (1801), 3 C. Rob.
(A-) The Ceylon, 1 Dods. Ad. 105. 224.
(0 The Actif, Edw. Ad. 185. (q) The Wight (1804), 5 C. Rob.
(m) The Santa Brlgada (1800), 3 O. 315.
Rob. %6. (0 The Belle, Edw. Ad. Q6.
(n) The Ceylon, 1 Dods. Ad. 105.
EIGHTS OF WAE AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—MAEITIME WAEFAEE. 601
actually rescued from the enemy (s) But . it is not necessary that
the enemy should have actual possession; it is sufficient if the
necessary that the recaptors should have a bodily and actual posses-
sion; it is sufficient if the prize be actually rescued from the grasp
paying salvage, but the last captors are entitled to the whole rights
of prize; for, by the first recapture, the right of the original
(5) The Franklin (1801), 4 C. Eob. I'Ord. torn. ii. pp. 257—259; Traite
147. des Prises, ch. 0, § 1. Pothier, Traite
(t) The Edward and Mary (1801), de Propri6t6, No. 99.
3 C. Eob. 305; The Pensamento (z) The Lord Nelson, 'Edw. Ad. 79;
Feliz (1809), Edw. Ad. 116. The Diligentia (1814), 1 Dods. Ad.
(w) The Franklin (1801), 4 O. Eob. 404.
147. (a) The Mary (1817), 2 Wheaton,
(x) The Edward and Mary (1801), 123.
-3 C. Eob. 305. (6) The John and Jane (1802), 4 0.
(y) 4 O. Eob. note a; The
217, Eob. 216.
J.strea, 1 Wheaton, 125; Valin, Sur (c) TAe 6^a^e (1806), 6 0. Eob. 273.
602 EIGHTS OF WAR AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—MARITIME W^ARFARE.
recapture.
Case of An
interesting illustration of the law respecting the rescue of a
St^Fierre Captured neutral ship by part of her own crew occurred during
the American Civil War. The Emily, St. Pierre, a British ship,
was on a voyage from Calcutta with orders to make the coast of
South Carolina, and ascertain whether it was still under blockade.
If so, she was to go to New Brunswick; if not, she was to enter
Charlestown harbour. She had no contraband on board. While
heading for Charlestown, and about ton or twelve miles from shore,
she was seized by one of the blockading cruisers, on the 18th
March, 1862. Her crew were taken out, except the master, cook,,
and steward, who were kept on board to give evidence before a
Prize Court. Two officers and thirteen men were put on boai-d^
and ordered to take her to Philadelphia . On their way thither, the
three prisoners rose against their captors, disarmed, and secured
them, and, with the assistance of three or four of the prize crew,
who volunteered to lend a hand rather than remain confined, but
who were all landsmen, managed to take her to Liverpool. Mr.
Adams demanded the restitution of this vessel, and cited the cases
of The Catherina Elizabeth {g) and The Dispatch (^), as evidence
of Lord Stowell's condemnation of such a proceeding. Lord
Eussell, however, declined to seize the ship and give her up to the
United States, on the ground that Her Majesty's Government had
no jurisdiction or legal power to take or to acquire possession of
her, or to interfere with her owners in relation to their property
in her (^). "Acts of forcible resistance," said his Lordship, "to
(^) The Mary Ford (1796), 3 Dallas, The Diligentiu (1814), 1 Dods. Ad.
188. 404.
(e) The Adventure {UU),^CTQJiQ\ij {g) (1804), 5 O. Rob. 232.
227. (A) (1801), 3 C. Rob. 278.
(/) Hudson V. Guestier (1810), 4 (i) Earl Russell to Mr. Adams, 7th
Cranch, 293; S. C, 6 Cranch, 281; May, 1862. U. S. Dipl. Oor. 1862,
p. 87.
RIGPITS OF WAR AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—MARITIME WARFARE. 603
ing the vessel in distress from the perils of the seas (o) .
English Court of Admiralty had gone too far in its own practice
of condemning captured vessels lying in neutral ports, to recall it
to the proper purity of the original principle. In delivering the
judgment of the Court of Appeals in the same case. Sir Willianl
Grant Great Britain was concluded by her own
also held that
iriA^eterate practice, and that neutral merchants were sufficiently
(^) The Henrich and Maria (1799), Qusest. Jur. Pub. lib. i. cap. 5 (Du-
4 C. Rob. 43; 6 C. Rob. 138, note (a). ponceau's Transl. Note, p. 38). Kent,
(^q) See also The Polka, 1 Spinks, Commentaries on American Law, vol. i.
57; and the American cases, Hudson p. 103. Wheaton, Hist. Law of
V. Guestier (1810), 4 Cranch, 293; The Nations, p. 321.
Invincible, 2 Gall. 39. Bynkershoek,
EIGHTS OF WAE AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—MAEITIME WAEFAEE. 605
mine the validity of captures made in war under the authority of ^^ ^^^^
captor
his Government, is exclusive of the judicial authority of every how far
other country, with three exceptions only: —
1. Where the capture
is made within the territorial limits of a neutral State. 2. Where
it is made by armed vessels fitted out within the neutral terri-
tory (r), 3 Where the prize was abandoned by the captor, and
.
captured as prize of war, and carried into such port for adjudica-
tion (?f).
In 1793, during the war between Great Britain and ^France,
Genet, the newly-appointed" Minister of the French Eepublic,
—
attempted ^among other acts in contravention of American neu-
trality — toset up consular Prize Courts within the territory of the
(t) Valin, Comment, sur I'Ordon. de (w) The Flad Oyen (1799), 1 O.
la Des Prises,
Marine, liv. iii. tit. 9, Rob. 135.
Art. 15; tom. ii. p. 274. Lampredi, (^x) Cf. Moore, Digest, vol. iv.
Trattato del Commercio de' Popoli pp. 486, 487.
Noutrali in Tempo de Guerra, p. 228.
EIGHTS OF WAE AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—MAEITIME WAEFAEE. 607
(y) Grotius, De Jur. Bel. ac Pac. liv. ii. ch. 18, §350.
lib. iii. cap. 2, § 5, No. 1.
(a) For such an instance of repri-
(z) Bynkershoek, Qusest. Jur. Pub. sals, see the case of the Silesian Loan,
lib. i. cap, 24. Vattel, Droit des Gens, infra, p. 611.
608 RIGHTS OF WAR AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—MARITIME WARFARE.
—
person or property of a foreigner by his consent ^either express
by the fact of his voluntarily bringing the suit, or implied by the
fact of his bringing his person or property within the territory.'
But when Courts of Prize exercise their jurisdiction over vessels
case, and by the law of nations applied to those facts,) and justice
has been thus finally denied, the capture and the condemnation
become the acts of the State, for which the sovereign is responsible
to the Government of the claimant. There is nothing more irregu-
lar in maintaining that the sovereign is responsible towards foreign
States for the acts of his tribunals, than in maintaining that ho
isresponsible for his own acts, which, in the intercourse of nations,
are constantly made the ground of complaint, of reprisals, and
even of war. No greater sanctity can be imputed to the proceed-
EIGHTS OF WAR AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—MARITIME WARFARE. 609
ing upon his own subjects, if they are not conformable to the
public law of the world, cannot be considered as binding upon the
subjects of other States . A
wrong done to them forms an equally
just subject of complaint on the part of their Government, whether
it proceeds from the direct agency of the sovereign himself, or is
may apply to their own State for a remedy; which may, consis-
tently with the law of nations, give them a remedy, either by
solemn war or reprisals. In order to determine when their right
to applj'- to their own State begins, we must inquire when the
exclusive right of the other State to judge in this controversy
ends. As this exclusive right is nothing else but the right of the
done, such exclusive right cannot end until their conduct has been
thoroughly examined. Natural equity will not allow that the State
should be answerable for their acts, until those acts are examined
by all the ways which the State has appointed for this purpose.
Since, therefore, it is usual in maritime countries to establish not
only inferior courts of marine, to judge what is and what is not
lawful prize, but likewise superior courts of review, to which the
parties may appeal, if they think themselves aggrieved by the
inferior courts; the subjects of a neutral State can have no right
RIGHTS OF WAE AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—MARITIME WARFARE. 611
1753, upon the case of the reprisals granted by the King of J^^an'Ses
Prussia, on account of captures made by the cruisers of Great
Britain of the property of his subjects, the exclusive jurisdiction
of the captor's count;ry over captures made in war, by its commis-
sioned cruisers, is asserted; and it is laid down that "the law of
nations, founded upon justice, equity, convenience, and the reason
of the thing, does not allow of reprisals, except in case of violent
the manner in which he quotes this paper to support his own doc-
trine, that the sentences of the tribunals ought not to be made the
ground of complaint by the State against whose subjects they
''
are pronounced, excepting the case of a refusal of justice,
39(2)
612 EIGHTS OF WAR AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—MARITIME WARFARE.
Mixed com-
imssion under
treaty of 1794.
-^ _^.. - -i - •
-ii
So, also, under the treaty of 1794, between the United States
and Great Britain, a mixed commission was appointed to determine
the claim of American citizens, arising from the capture of their
objection was overruled by the board, upon the grounds and prin-
ciples already stated, and a full and sutisfactory indemnity was
awarded in many cases whea:e there had been a final sentence of
condemnation.
In 1871 a mixed commission was appointed to determine
British claims arising out of the alleged wrongful judgments pro-
nounced against British vessels by the United States Prize Courts
during the American Civil War (e).
arising out of captures in war, not for the purpose of revising the
sentences of the competent Courts of Prize, as between the captors
and captured, but for the purpose of providing an adequate in-
demnity between State and State, in cases where satisfactory
compensation had not been received in the ordinary course of
justice. Although the theory of public law treats prize tribunals,
established by and sitting in the belligerent country, exactly as if
of Denmark during the last war between that Power and Great
Britain. In the course of this negotiation, it was objected by the
Danish ministers that the validity of these captures had been
finally determined in the competent Prize Court of the belligerent
country, and could not be again drawn in question. On the part
of the American Government it was admitted that the jurisdiction
(e) Cf. The Betsey, in Moore, In- Moore, ibid. vol. iv. 3928; The Sir
ternational Arbitrations, vol. iii. 2838;
The Springbok (1866), 5 Wallace, 1;
614 RIGHTS OF WAR AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—MARITIME WARFARE.
other judicial forum; and that it has the effect of closing for ever
all private controversy between the captors and the captured. The
demand which the United States made upon the Danish Govern-
ment was not for a judicial revision and reversal of the sentences
pronounced by its tribunals, but for the indemnity to which the
American citizens were entitled in consequence of the denial of
justice by the tribunals in the last resort, and of the responsibility
thus incurred by the Danish Government for the acts of its cruisers
and tribunals. The Danish Government was, of course, free to
adopt any measures it might think proper, to satisfy, itself of the
injustice of those sentences, one of the most natural of which would
be a re-examination and discussion of the cases complained of,
conducted by an impartial tribunal under the sanction of the two
Governments, not for the purpose of disturbing the question of
the specific property which had been irrevocably condemned,
title to
was argued that the Orders in Council of 1807 and 1809 (issued
as a reply to Napoleon's Berlin Decree, 1806, and his Milan
Decree, 1807) were a violation of international law, and that he
therefore was bound to disregard them. His lordship was of
opinion that as the Orders in Council were retaliatory they did not
"
contravene the law of nations, but he added, I have no hesitation
in saying that they would cease to be just if they ceased to be
case (h), Stowell pointed out that it was the duty of a Prize Court
not to pronounce occasional and shifting opinions to serve present
purposes of particular national interest, but to administer impar-
tially that justicewhich international law holds out without dis-
tinction to independent States, and to claim nothing for one
been the doctrine of the British Prize Courts that, because they sit
under the authority of the Crown, the Crown has authority to
"
prescribe to them rules which violate international law {l). How-
ever reasonable such opinions may be, there is no doubt that a Prize
Court, being really a municipal institution, would be bound to
take cognizance of and observe the enactments and orders of the
{g) The Fox (1811), Edw. Ad. 312. 5 Moo. P. O. 150; The Snipe, Edw.
(A) The Maria (1799), 1 O. Rob. Ad. 381.
350. (Jc) The Leucade (1854), Spinks,
(0 Cf. also The Recovery (1807), 217.
6 0. Rob. 341, 348; r^e Os/see(1856), (I) Phillimore, vol. iii. § 436.
616 RIGHTS OF WAR AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—MARITIME WARFARE.
The pro- Prize Courts being municipal tribunals, various drawbacks and
national Prize disadvantages
—
^from the point of view of international law in- —
Court.
evitably arise. As they are called upon to determine the validity
of captures effected by subjects of their own countries, there is
ficulty thatwas felt was as to the law such a court would apply,
seeing that on many matters of naval warfare there is a difference
of opinion as well as of practice among some of the leading mari-
time Powers of the world. Accordingly, an effort was made at the
—
London Naval Conference, 1908 9, to come to an agreement on
those questions. The result of the deliberations the Declaration —
of London, 1909 — did
not, however, receive the ratification of
all the States represented. Furthermore, the Prize Court Con-
vention, which was originally signed by thirty-eight States
(though in ten cases with a, reservation as to the constitution of
the Court), failed altogether of ratification. Hence the scheme
remains purely theoretical; but as it will sooner or later be taken
Provision is made
for its applicability to belligerents who are
parties to it, for the time of coming into force, for its revision or
denunciation (7^) . A protocol of 1910 provides that States unable
(w) The American system closely seq. For the Japanese system, see
Trembles the British. For other Takahashi,ip. 528.
systems, cf.Phillimore, vol. iii. pp.658 (w) Hague Convention (1907),
No. XII., Arts. 51 sea.
EIGHTS OF WAE AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—MAEITIME WARFARE. 617
(2) when it affects even enemy property but relates to (a) cargo
on board a neutral ship, or (b) an enemy ship captured in the
territorial waters of a neutral Power which has not made the
then the appeal will lie only on the question of damages; so that
the International Court cannot interfere with a decree of resti-
tution (p). The decrees of the International Court are to be
binding on the parties, and to be carried out as expeditiously as
possible (q).
An appeal may be brought (1) by a neutral Power, if the Who may
^
judgment of the national Prize Court injuriously affects its pro- ^peli.
perty or that of its nationals, or if the capture is alleged to have
taken place in its territorial ;waters; (2) by a neutral person, if
such judgment affects his property, unless his own State forbids
the appeal or undertakes it in his place; (3) by an enemy person,
if such judgment affects his property, and if was made
the capture
on a neutral vessel, or was contrary to some convention between
the belligerents or enactment of the captor's State; but where
the capture involves a violation of neutral waters, only the neutral
"State may appeal (r) . The appeal may be brought either from
the national Court of instance or after one appeal, as pro-
first
the rota, that a belligerent State has not a judge in the Court, then
one of the judges may be withdrawn by lot, and its own in-
cluded («). No person may sit as judge who has been a party
to the sentence pronounced in the national Court; and no judge or
deputy judge may, during his term of office, act for any party
before the International Court (6). belligerent captor, or a A
neutral Power being a party to the proceedings, may appoint a
naval officer of high rank to sit as assessor, but with no voice in
the decision (c) . Provision is made for the election of the Presi-
dent and Vice-President (d) .
may appoint agents and advocates to act for them and plead their
cause (i) .
the pleadings, the Court is to fix a day for a public sitting, when
the parties state their view of the case both as to the law and the
facts {n) .
party A may demand that discussion be held in
private (o) All questions are decided in private by a majority of
.
the judges present (p); the judgment must state the reasons on
which it is based (g), and must be delivered in open court (r).
Each party bears its own costs; but the party against whom the
Court decides must pay in addition the costs of the trial {s) .
The Court may draw up further rules of procedure and make modi-
fications in the rules contained in the Convention; these must be
notified to the contracting Powers (t) .
For a long time there was a difference of opinion with regard to naval bom-
some of the fundamental questions of naval bombardment Most ^^^i^mbnt. .
The Hague In 1899 the matter came before the first Hague Conference; no
Rules.
agreement was reached, though a desire was expressed that a sub-
sequent Conference should consider the question. Accordingly,
in 1907, a Convention (the ninth) was established, whereby a
the needs of the hostile fleet or army, and ships of war in harbour,
are not, however, included in this prohibition. The commander
of a naval force destroy them by artillery, after a summons
maj
followed by a reasonable interval of time, if all other means are
impossible, and when the local authorities have not themselves
destroyed them within the time fixed.
The commander incurs no responsibility for any unavoidable
damage that may be caused by a bombardment in such
circumstances.
If for military reasons immediate action is necessary, and no
prohibited.
"
Protected In bombardment by naval forces all necessary measures must
buildings. be taken by the commander to spare as far as possible buildings
dedicated to public worship, art, science, or charitable purposes,
historic monuments, hospitals, and places where the sick or
wounded are collected, provided that they are not used at the
time for military pulrposes.
It is the duty of the inhabitants to indicate such monuments,
Aerial bom- In the Great War of 1914 the use of aircraft bombs was remark-
bardment.
ably extensive and systematic. Much unnecessary havoc was
thereby wrought, and many non-combatant innocent persons were
killed by bombs hurled from German aircraft. Unfortunately,
there are few positive and specific rules on the subject of aerial
hostilities.In 1899, at the first Hague Conference, the following
''
Declaration was signed: The contracting Powers agree to pro-
hibit for a term of five years the discharge of projectiles and
Maritime mines were used, for defensive purposes, during the Submarine
—
American Civil War, 1862 1865, and ships of the Northerners
were sunk bj these dreadful instruments of warfare. They were
used also in the Franco-German war, 1870-1871, in the Russo-
Turkish war, 1878, in the Spanish- American war, 1898, and in
the R-usso- Japanese war, 1904-5. But in no previous war have
mines been used so extensively and with such disastrous results
to combatants and neutrals alike as in the Great War, 1914-1915.
The sufferings that were indiscriminately inflicted by this means The Mines
^^^^^ ^®"-
in the Russo-Japanese war showed the civilized world that it was
(e) For examples of licentious con- Int. Law and the Great War, pp. 177
duct on the part of belligerent airmen seq.
during the Great War, see Phillipson,
624 EIGHTS OF WAE AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—MAEITIME WAEFAEE.
parties (/)
—Article 11 says that it shall remain in force for seven
years, dating from the sixtieth day after the date of the firsit
in all cases except for purposes of defence; but the proposal failed
"
It is forbidden to lay automatic contact mines off the coast and
"
Neutral Powers which lay automatic contact mines off their Neutral
coasts must observe the same rules and take the same precautions ^^^es.
w. 40
626 EIGHTS OF WAE AS BETWEEN ENEMIES—MARITIME WARFARE.
followed in war. But it would be well not to issue rules the strict
observance of which might be rendered impossible bj the force
of things. It is of the first importance that the international
maritime law which we desire to create should only contain clauses
the execution of which is possible from a military point of view,
even in exceptional circumstances. ... As to the sentiments of
humanity and civilization, I cannot admit that there is any
Government or country which is superior in these sentiments to
"
that which I have the honour to represent (o).
The old extravagant claims of military necessity need not be Mine-laying
further considered here (p^ Suffice it to say that the very edifice ^^r.
.
—
of international law was erected and on broad foundations ap-
40 (2)
628 EIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRAL^.
CHAPTER IV.
(«) Grotius, De Jur. Bel. ac Pae. hostes. We shall hereafter see that
lib. iii. cap. 9. this definition is merely applicable to
(h) Bynkershoek, Qusest. Jur. Pub. that species of neutrality which was
lib. i. cap. 9; De Statu belli inter non not modified by special compact.
RIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS. 629
in actual practice (66); but the difference between the two kinds
Switzerland
During the wars of the French Revolution the neutrality of
during wars
of French Switzerland was alternately violated by both the great contending
parties, and her once peaceful valleys became the bloody
revolution. scene of
hostilities between the French, Austrian, and Russian armies. The
expulsion of the allied forces, and the subsequent withdrawal of the
French army of occupation, were followed by violent internal
dissensions, which were composed by the mediation of
finally
Bonaparte as first consul of the French Republic, in 1803. A
treaty of alliance was simultaneously concluded between the Re-
public and the Helvetic Confederation. According to the stipu-
lations of this treaty, the neutrality of Switzerland was reoognised
Proposal of When the allied armies advanced to invade the French territory,
the allies to
Switzerland in 1813, the Austrian corps under Prince Schwartzenbierg passed
(/) Of. Thiers, Histoire du Consulat Paix, torn. ii. ch. 33, p. 339.
et de I'Empire, torn. i. liv. 3, p. 182. (Ji) Wheaton, Hist. Law of Nations,
{g) Schoell, Histoire des Traites de p. 493.
EIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS. 631
not with the purpose of violating this principle, but with the view
of accelerating the epoch when it might become applicable in an
In the answer of the Diet to this note, dated the 12th May, 1815, B^i^lyoi
the
Swiss Diet.
it was declared, that the relations which Switzerland maintained
with the allied Pdwers, and with them only, could leave no dou,bt
as to her views and intentions. She would persist in them vdth
that constancy and fidelity which had at all times distinguished
the Swiss character. Twenty -two small republics, united to-
More than thirtj thousand men had already been levied for this
purpose. Determined to maintain this development of her forces,
Switzerland had a right to expect from the favourable disposition
of the allied Powers, that, so long as she did not claim their assist-
authority of the Diet for that purpose. The left wing of thei
allied army accordingly passed the Ehine between Basle and
Rheinfelden, and entered France through the territory of
Switzerland (Z) .
(^) Martens, torn. ii. p. 170. (n) Art. iii. Hertslet, Map of
(0 Ibid. Europe, vol. i.
p. 346.
(m) Martens, torn. iv. p. 186.
RIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS. 633
"
the Due de Grammont, replied that he had not rejected nor even
eontested the right so claimed by Switzerland, but had confined
himself to declaring that, under the eventualities referred to, it
would have to be made the subject of special arrangement between
the two Governments" (/*). The question did not arise, as the
war did not extend to that part of France It may be added that
.
barrier between France on the one side, and Germany and Holland
on the other, would seem to render the independence and neutrality
of Belgium essential to the preservation of peace between the latter
Powers, as is that of Switzerland to its maintenance between,
France and Austria. Belgium covers the most vulnerable point
of the northern frontier of France against invasion from Prussia,
whilst it protects the entrance of Germany against the armies
of France, on a frontier less strongly fortified than that of the
Ehine from Basle to Mayence. But so long as the Low Countries
Neutrality
of Cracow.
3 . We
have already seen that by the final Act of the Congress
of Vienna, 1815, Article 6, the city of Cracow, with its territory,
was declared to be a perpetually free, independent, and neutral
State, under the joint protection of Austria, Prussia, and
Eussia (y). The neutrality, thus created by special compact, and
guaranteed by the three protecting Powers, was made dependent
upon the reciprocal obligation of the city of Cracow' not to afford
an asylum, or protection, to fugitives from justice, or military
deserters belonging to the territories of those Powers. How far
the neutrality of the free and independent State thus created was
actually respected by the protecting Powers, or how far the suc-
cessive temporary occupations of its territory by their military
(t) Wheaton, Hist. Law of Nations, (x) See Phillipson, Int. Law and
p. 552. the Great War, pp. 1 seq.
(w) Hertslet, Map of Europe, (y) Vide supra, Pt. I. eh. 2, p. 52.
vol. iii. pp. 1886—1891.
EIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS. 635
forces, and how far their repeated forcible interference in its in-
ternal affairs, were justified bj the non-fulfilment of the above
burg, has thus been solemnly recognised as part of the public law neutrality.
(d) In 1907 a treaty was entered respects different from that in the case
into at Christiania whereby the lead- of Switzerland, Belgium, and Luxem-
ing- European Powers guaranteed the burg.
integrity of Norway; but the neu- (e) Arendt, Essai sur la Neutralite
tralization in thia case was in many de la Belgique, pp. 87 95. —
EIGHTS OF WAE AS TO NEUTRALS. 637
the other. This does not deprive the neutral of the liberty of
making the advantage of the State the rule of its condudt in its
to open his ports to the armed vessels of his ally, with their prizes .
fulfilment (^) .
Right to "There remains," sajs Sir R. Phillimore (in his work issued
make such "
in 1854-1861), the grave question whether a State has any right
treaties.
to stipulate, in time of peace, that, when the time of war arrives, it
will do the act of a belligerent and yet claim the immunity of a
neutral." The learned author concludes that a State has no right
to enter into such a stipulation, and then to claim neutrality while
Onthe other hand, the minister of France asserted the right of Fundamental
arming and equipping vessels for war, and of enlisting men, within n^trSity^*
the neutral territory of the United States. Examining this ques-
tion under the law of nations and the general usage of mankind,
the American Government produced proofs, from the most en-
lightened and approved writers on the subject, that a neutral nation
must, in respect to the war, observe an exact impartiality towards
the belligerent parties; that favours to the one, to the prejudice/
of the other, would import a fraudulent neutrality, of which no
nation would be the dupe; that no succour ought to be given to
either, unless stipulated by treaty, in men, arms, or anything else,
direetly serving for war; that the ri,ght of raising troops being
one of the rights of sovereignty, and consequently appertaining
exclusively to the nation itself, no foreign Power can levy men
within the territory without its consent; that, finally, the Treaty
of 1778, making it unlawful for the enemies of France to arm in
the United States, could not be construed affirmatively into a per-
mission to the French to arm in those ports, the treaty being
express as to the prohibition, but silent as to the permission (m).
(l) Mr. Jefferson's Letter to Mr. (w) Mr. JefiPeraon's Letter to Mr.
Hammond and Mr. Van Berckel, Sept. G. Morris, the United States minister
9,1793; Waite, American State Papers, to prance, Aug. 16, 1793; Waite,
vol. i. pp. 169, 172. American State Papers, vol. i. p. 140.
Cf. Moore, Digest, vol. vii. § 1293.
640 EIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS.
of war.
If a belligerent violates neutral territory, and the neutral State
does not or cannot take effective measures to expel them, the other
belligerent is entitled to enter the territory and prevent the viola-
tion from operating
to his disadvantage. Reasons of self-pre-
servation justify an entry into neutral territory, when as
may —
Daniel Webster, the American Secretary of State, put it in 1841 —
"
there necessity of self-defence, instant, overwhelming, and
is a
"
leaving no choice of means and no moment for deliberation
tary purposes, and which has not been opened for the service of
"
public messages (u).
"
A neutrjal Power is not bound to forbid or restrict the use on
behalf of the belligerents of telegraph or telephone cables, or of
wireless telegraphy apparatus belonging to it, or to companies or
"
private individuals
>
(a;).
The Report Hague Committee points out that there is no
of the
"
contradiction between the two foregoing Articles. Article 3 con-
(t) Of. the case of The Caroline (w) Hague Genvention (1907),
(1841), Moore, Digest, vol. ii. § 217; No. V. Art. 3.
Snow, Oases, p. 177. (x) Art. 8.
w. 41
642 RIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS.
"
Export of A
neutral Power is not l>ound to prevent the export or transit,
arms, &c.
on behalf of either belligerent, of arms, munitions of war, or, in
"
general, of anything which could be of use to an army or fleet {y) ,
Duty of
*'
A neutral Power must apply impartially to the belligerents
(y) Art. 7. As to the export of (a) See Phillimore, vol. iii. Ap-
arms, anununition, &c., see further the pendix, p. 928. See Be Wutz v.
corresponding provision in reference Hendricks (1824), Moore, Com. Pleas,
to maritime warfare, infra, p. 664. 586.
(z) Art. 9.
RIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS. 643
Thus, soon after the outbreak of the Great War, 1914, the United
"
States Government announced that loans by American bankers
to any foreign nation which is at war was inconsistent with the
true spirit of neutrality." This announcement was subjected to
much adverse criticism in America; it was agreed that a national
loan would be inadmissible, but it was contended that loans by
individual subjects are not inconsistent with true neutrality. The
"
United States Secretary of State, however, observed: .A . .
"
Corps of combatants must not be formed, nor recruiting agen- Levying of
cies opened, on the territory of a neutral Power, on behalf of the troops,
"
belligerents (d).
"
A neutral Power will not incur responsibility merely from the
fact that persons cross the frontier individually in order to place
"
themselves at the service of one of the belligerents (e).
This Article does not apply to a belligerent State's subjects who
proceed to their country for the purpose of fulfilling their military
duties.
Vattel states that the impartiality, which a neutral nation ought Nentral
to observe between the belligerent parties, consists of two points: •'"l^^w^lr^'
(1) the neutral State must give no assistance where there is no consists,
(b) The Times, 25th April, 1873. lished by the State Department, Jan.
(«?) Communication made by Mr. 24, 1915 (The Times, Jan. 26, p. 10).
Bryan, the United States Secretary of (d) Art. 4.
State, to the Chairman of the Senate (e) Art. 6.
Committee on Foreign Relations, pub-
41 (2)
644 EIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS.
its neutrality, furnish men to either party for their aid in war, as
little could either enrol them in the neutral territory. The autho-
rity both of Wolf and Vattel was appealed to in order to show,
that the levying of troops is an exclusive prerogative of sove-
(/) Droit des Gens, liv. iii. ch. 7, August 10, 1793; American State
§ 104. Papers, vol. i. pp. 47, 116, 148, 150.
{g^ Jefiferson, Secretary of State, to Cf. swpra, p. 344.
the United States Minister to France,
RIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS. 645
a nation at peace with them: and the vessel, in this latter case, is
made subject to forfeiture. The President is also authorized to
employ force to compel any foreign vessel to depart, which by the
law of nations or by treaties ought not to remain within the United
States, and to employ generally the public force in enforcing the
duties of neutrality prescribed by the law {h) .
port persons out of the country with their own consent, with aiiil
intention of such enlistment. To constitute an offence within the
Act, such persons must be hired or retained in America to go
abroad with an intention so to enlist (^) .
in the Act of Parliament 59 Geo. III. c. 69, entitled, "An Act EnlSfment
^^^^
to prevent the Enlisting or Engagement of His Majesty's Sub-
and the Fitting out or Equipping
jects to serve in foreign Service,
inHis Majesty's Dominions Vessels for warlike purposes, without
His Majesty's Licence." The previous statutes, 9 and 29 Geo. II.,
enacted for the purpose of preventing the formation of Jacobite
armies in France and Spain, made it a capital offence to enter
the service of a foreign State. The 59 Geo. III. c. 69, commonly
called theForeign Enlistment Act, provided a less severe punish-
ment, and also supplied a defect in the former law, by introducing
"
after the words king, prince, state, or potentate," the words
"
colony or district assuming the powers of a government," in
order to reach the case of those who entered the service of un-
ment of the last-mentioned Act in 1819, and on the motion for 1819.
its repeal in 1823, it was not denied by Sir J. Mackintosh and
other members who opposed the bill that the sovereign power of
every State might interfere to prevent its subjects from engaging
in the wars of other States, by which its own peace might be
The controversy relating to the " Alabama claims " having shown
the weakness of the Act of 1819, a more stringent Foreign En-
listment Act was passed in 1870. It goes beyond the provisions
of the American Neutrality Laws; for it forbids British subjects
to enlist or accept a commission without license in the service of
any foreign State at war with a friendly State, whether the en-
gagement is made within or without His Majesty's dominions (/).
The requirements of both the British and the American legis-
lation on the subject are much more comprehensive and restrictive
than those laid down by international law.
"
A neutral Power which receives
in its territory troops belong- Internment of
and intern them till the end of the war In order to regulate their
.
ever course adopts in the case of one belligerent, the same course
it
"
Neutral The nationals of a State which is not taking part in the war
"
persons. ^re considered to be neutrals (u).
''
Neutral subjects taking part in hostilities on behalf of one
belligerent are liable to be treated by the other belligerent in every
respect as if they were enemy subjects, and their own Gpvernment
has no right t,o object to their being so tl^eated. Neutral subjects
resident in the territory tof a belligerent are, equally with the other
inhabitants of the oountry, liable to suffer in person and property
through the events of the war; and their Governments acquire
thereby no right to claim compensation on their behalf. Such
compensation, if not awarded by the special pi^ovisions of a treaty,
is given only as a matter of grace and favour. They are, for
instance, liable to be removed from their homes or even to be
banished from the country, on suspicion of misconduct towards
an occupying army, or for reasons of strategic convenience" (ic).
Proposals put forward at the Hague t|0 secure protection for neutral
inhabitants of an invaded country were rejected, because of the
"
A neutral cannot claim the benefit of his neutrality: (a) if he Acts of
This rule is not inconsistent with war law; but the difficulty here,
as everywhere else, is to dete-rmine fairly and reasonably the
following 'Voeux'
—resolutions embodying pious aspirations:-^
"
That in case of war the competent authorities, civil and mili-
tary, should make it their special duty to ensure and safeguard the
maintenance of pacific relations, more pa;rticularly of a commercial
and industrial nature, between the inhabitants of the belligerent
States and neutral countries.
That the Powers should regulate by special Conventions the
"
Railway material coming from the territory of neutral Powers, Neutral
whether belonging to those Powers, or to companies or private per-
railw^ay'"'
sons, and recognisable as such, shall not be requisitioned or utilized material,
hovering on rights of war from this station, are also invalid. Thus, where a
the coasts.
British privateer stationed itself within the river
Mississippi,
in the neutral territory of the United States, for the
purpose of
exercising the rights of war from the river, by standing off and on,
obtaining information at the Balize, and overhauling vessels in
the course down the river, and made the capture in question within
three English miles of the alluvial islands formed at its mouth,
restitution of the captured vessel was decreed by Sir W. Scott (l).
So, also, where a belligerent ship, lying within neutral territory,
made a capture with her boats out of the neutral territory, the
capture was held to be invalid; for though the hostile force em-
ployed was applied to the captured vessel lying out of the territory,
yet no such use of a neutral territory for the purposes of wa^r is
to be permitted. This prohibition is not to be extended to remote
In 1863, during the Civil War, the United States merchant-ship case of The
Chesapeake, while on a voyage from New York to Portland, was Chesapeake.
(0 The Anna (1805), 5 O. Rob. 373. (n) Mr. Seward to Lord Lyons, 9th
(m) The Twee Gehroeders (1800), Jan. 1864.
3 O. Rob. 162.
656 EIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS.
ship. During the night, and while a large part of the Florida's
crew were on shore, the Wachusett steamed across the harbour,
fastened a cable to the Florida, towed her out to sea, 'and es-oaped
from the pursuit of the local forces. The Brazilian Government
demanded an explanation and reparation. Mr. Seward admitted
"
that the President would disavow and regret the proceedings at
Bahia," but he persisted in maintaining that the Florid,a was a
pirate, and "that the harbouring and supplying piratical ships
and their crews in Brazilian ports were wrongs and injiUries for
which Brazil justly owes reparation to the United States." The
captured crew of the Florida were, however, set at liberty, and the
*'
vessel herself sank in Hampton Boads by an unforeseen accident
which cast no responsibility upon the United States" (p). The
absurdity of calling the Florida a pirate at that period of the war
is manifest; but had she been the most atrocious of pirates,
(o) See Pari. Papers, 1876, N. (p) Pari. Papers, 1873, N. America
America (No. 10). Whcaton, ed. Dana, (No. 2), pp. 176—178.
note 207.
EIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS. 667
that the vessel had been allowed to take there a supply of coal, and
that no measures had been adopted to dismantle her. The Rus-
sian and the Chinese officers, on the cojitrary, maintained that
steps had been taken for interning her. However this maj be, a
Japanese party boajrded the Russian vessel and called upon her
commander either to surrender or put to sea within an hour. Both
alternatives were refused, whereupon an unsuccessful attempt was
made to blow her up, a struggle followed, then she was seized by
the Japanese and carried off. Protests were made by both Russia
and China. In reply, the Japanese Government contended that
as the war was waged in or near Chinese territory, such territory
became conditionally neutral; but as Russia did not respect its
neutrality, she made it for the time being belligerent territory.
Moreover, Japan held that Russia had violated Chinese neutrality
on several occasions; and that the Ryeshitelni had remained fully
armed and manned to the end, and had been the first to commence
hostilities in the harbour. Thus, the case was different from that
ai the Florida, because the neutrality of Brazil was unconditional,
and the port of Bahia was far from the theatre of war. Notwith-
standing these contentions, it appears that the Russians were not
the aggressors in the -port of Chefoo; nor was Chinese territory
The latter point, together with the question of a, neutral's The Genera/
(5-) On the case of The Ryeshitelni, pp. 291 seq. ; Hershey, Russo-Japanese
see Takahashi, pp. 437 seq.; Smith War, pp. 260 seq.; Cobbett, Cases,
and Sibley, op. cit. pp. 116 seq.; vol. ii. pp. 295 seq.
Lawrence, War and Neutrality,
w. 42
658 EIGHTS OF WAE AS TO NEUTRALS.
f ervet opus
'
—
in the heat and animation excited against the flying
foe, there is too much reason to presume that little regard will be
(r) Moore, Digest, vol. ii. § 210. bated by several other public jurists;
Cf Calvo, Droit International,
. vol. iv. Azuni, Diritto Maritimo, Pt. I. c. 4,
§ 2662. Art. 1. Valin, Traits des Prises, ch, 4,
(s) Qusest. Jur. Pub. lib. i.
cap. 8. § 3, No. 4, Art. 1. D'Habreu, Sobre
This opinion of Bynkershoek, in which las Prisas, Pt. I. ch. 4, § 15.
Cosaregis seems to concur, is repro-
RIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS. 659
paid to the consequences that may ensue to the neutral. There is,
then, no exception to the rule, that every voluntary entrance into
neutral territory, with hostile purposes, is absolutely unlawful.
"When the fact is established," says Sir W. Scott, ''it overrules
every other consideration. The capture is done away; the pro-
perty must be restored, notwithstanding that it may actually
belong to the enemy" (t).
Though the duty of the captor's country to make restitution claim on the
it is
This rule is founded upon the principle, that the neutral State
alone has been injured by the capture, and that the hostile claimant
has no right to appear for the purpose of suggesting the invalidity
of the capture {u) .
The Supreme Court of the United States has more recently deter-
mined that neither an enemy nor a neutral acting the part of an
enemy can demand restitution on the sole ground of capture in
neutral waters. This fact alone will not prevent condemnation if
done without intent to violate neutral j urisdiotion (a;) Lord .
''
Stowell also said long ago, It is a known principle of this Court
that the privilege of
territory; will not it&elf enure to the protection
of property, unless the State from which that protection is due
"
steps forward to assert the right {y).
Where a capture of enemy's property is made within neutral Restitution
territory, or by armaments unlawfully fitted out within the same, state o?^"*^^^
it isthe right as well as the duty of the neutral State, where the property
property thus taken comes into its possession, to restore it to the witMu^its
original owners. This restitution is erenerally made through the j^irisdiction,
„,.!-, .. or otherwise
agency oi the courts oi admiralty and maritime j urisdiction in violation
..P. .
Charles II. and James II. In a letter to the king in council, dated Chambers.'
October 11, 1675, relating to a French privateer seized at Harwich
with her prize (a Hamburg vessel bound to London), Sir Leoline
states several questions arising in the case, among which was
king's chambers at the time of the seizure, which he, in his first
memorial, sets forth to have been eight leagues at sea, over against
Harwich. King James (of blessed memory) his direction, by
proclamation, March 2nd, 1604, being that and sub-
all officers
" "
(z) King's Chambers referred to coast,
(a) Life and Works of Sir L. Jen-
parts of the sea contained within
lines
drawn between promontories along the kins, vol. ii. p. 727.
EIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS. 661
for admitting no vessel of size to pass near tJie shore, it was thought
would entitle them in reason to as broad a margin of protected
navigation as any nation whatever. The Government, however,
did not propose, at that time, and without amicable conmaunica-
tions with the foreign Powers interested in that navigation, to
fix on the distance to which they might ultimately insist on the
right of protection. President Washington gave instructions to
the executive officers to consider it as restrained, for the present,
to the distance of one sea league, or three geographical miles,
from the sea -shores. This distance, it was supposed, could admit
of no opposition, being recognised by treaties between the United
States and some of the Powers with which they were connected
in commercial intercourse, and not being more extensive than was
claimed by any of them on their own coasts. As to the bays and
rivers,they had always been considered as portions of the terri-
tory, both under the laws of the former colonial Government and
of the present union, and their immunity from belligerent opera-
tions was sanctioned by the general law and usage of nations. The
2oth Article of the treaty of 1794, between Great Britain and the
United States, stipulated that "neither of the said parties shall
permit the ships or goods belonging to the citizens or subjects of
the other to be taken within cannon-shot of the coast, nor in any of
the bays, ports, or rivers, of their territories, by ships of war, or
others, having commissions from any prince, republic, or State
whatever. But in case it should so happen, the party whose terri-
torial rights shall thus have been violated, shall use his utmost
endeavours to obtain from the offending party full and ample
satisfaction for the vessel or vessels so taken, whether the same be
vessels of war or merchant vessels." Previously to this treaty
with Great Britain, the United States were bound by treaties with
three of the belligerent nations (France, Prussia, and Holland) to
"
protect and defend, by all the means in their power," the vessels
and nations in their ports or waters, or on the seas
effects of those
near their shores, and to recover and restore the same to the right
owner when taken from them. But they were not bound to make
compensation if all the means in their power were used, and failed
in their effect. Though they had, when the war commenced, no
similar treaty with Great Britain, it was the President's opinion
that they should apply to that nation the same rule which, under
this Article, was to govern the others above mentioned; and even
extend it to captures made on the high seas, and brought into the
American ports, if made by vessels which had been armed within
them. In the constitutional arrangement of the different autho^
662 RIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS.
Prize Courts
in neutral
''
A Prize Court may not be established by a belligerent on
"
territory. neutral territory or on a vessel in neutral waters (d).
In 1799, during the war between Great Britain and France, a
British vessel, the Flad Oyen, was seized by a French privateer,
and taken into the port of Bergen, in Norway, where a French
Consular Court purported to condemn her. She was then sold to
a neutral purchaser, but was afterwards recaptured by the British.
The original owner thereupon claimed restitution, on the ground
that the transfer was invalid because the vessel had not been con-
''
(e) The Flad Oyen (1799), 1 0. (0 Of. the British cases, The Hen-
Rob. 135. rick and Maria, 4 C. Rob. 43; The
(/) (1794), 1 Curtis, 74; S. C, 3 Polka, Spinks, 57; and the American
Dallas, 6. cases, Hudson v. Guestier (1810), 4
{g) We
have already referred to the Oranch, 293; The Invincible (1814),
case of the French minister Genet who 2 Gall. 39.
attempted to establish Consular Prize (Jc) No. XIII. (1907), Art. 23, infra,
Courts in the United States, supra, p. 695.
pp. 344, 644. (0 Ibid. Art. 5. Cf. the corre-
(A) Cf. Oddy v. Bovill (1802), 2 spending^ provision for land warfare,
East, 473; The Christopher (1799), 2 Hague Convention (1907), No. V.
C. Rob. 210. Art. 3.
664 RIGHTS OP WAR AS TO NEUTRALS,.
"
Supply The supply, in any manner, directly or indirectly, of warships,
^*
7*^ 1
& supplies, or war material of any kind whatever, by a neutral Power
"
to a belligerent Power, is forbidden (n).
"
Aneutral Power is not bound to prevent the export or transit,
on behalf of either belligerent, of arms, munitions of war, or, in
general, of anything that could be of any use to an army or
fleet" (o).
The prohibition of Article 6 is unconditional. Formerly, and
almost to the end of the eighteenth century, both opinion and
practice allowed a neutral State to furnish troops or ships to one
of the belligerents, in fulfilment of treaty obligations, without
During the American Civil War, Great Britain stopped the sale
of her surplus warships, lest they might be bought, indirectly, by
one of the belligerents (r) .
(q) De Martens, op. cit. vol. v. (5) Cf. Wharton, Digest, vol. iii.
p. 229; Cobbett, p. 303. pp. 512 seq.; Moore, Digest, vol. vii.
(r) Pari. Papers (1873), North § 1309.
America, No. 2, p. 104. {i) Takahashi, p. 486.
666 RIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS.
that the Department of State did its utmost to secure equal treat-
"
Fitting out A neutral Government is bound to employ the means at its dis-
or arming
vessels in posal to prevent the fitting out or arming of any vessel within its
neutral
jurisdiction which it has rea.son to believe is intended to cruise, or
territory.
engage in hostile Power with which that
opera.tions, against a
Government is at pea,ce. bound to display the same
It is also
(m) The Times, Jan. 26, 1915, p. 10. No. XIII. Art. 8.
(ic) Hague Convention (1907), (ij) See supra, p. 644.
RIGHTS OF WAE AS TO NEUTRALS. 667
ton, and an English vessel, the Grange, was seized in the Delaware
river. The British Minister in America, Mr. Hammond, remon-
strated against these violations of neutrality, and on the 5th of
June received an answer from Mr. Jefferson, admitting' the justice
of his remonstrance, and stating that measures would be taken
to prevent such occurrences (&). A
collection of rules, declaring
the original equipping and arming of vessels in the United States,
lateon the subject, and accordingly the Act of the 5th of June,
1794, was passed (d) This Act was substantially the same as
.
sailing under the French flag, captured a Dutch brig the Mag-
dalena, and brought her to Charleston for adjudication. The
Court held that he was still an American citizen, and that the
authority under which he sailed was invalid; that the capture of
a vessel of a country at peace with the United States, made by a
vessel fitted out in one of their ports, and commanded by one
of their citizens, was illegal, and that if the captured vessel was
Whenever it was proved that a capture was made jure belli on Captures
the high seas, by a duly commissioned vessel of war which had violation of
in no way violated American neutrality, the Courts refused to neutrality,
"
interpose. It is no part of the duty of a neutral nation," said
"
Chief Justice Story, to interpose upon the mere footing of the
law of nations, to settle all the rights and wrongs which may grow
out of a capture between belligerents The captors are
amenable to their own Government
exclusively for any excess or
irregularity in their proceedings "(/) This also was held to
.
extend to the acts of privateers done under their war powers (m) .
(h) The Alfred {Moodie v. The (n) The Exchange (1812), 7 Oranch,
Alfred^ (1796), 1 Ourtis, 234; S. C, 116. See ante, pp. 152 et seq.
3 Dallas, 307. (a) The Gran Para (1822), 7
(i) The Phoebe Ann {Moodie v.
The Wheaton, 471; 5 Ourtis, 302; La Cou-
PhcBbe Ann) (17%), 1 Curtis, 237; cepeion (1821), 6 Wheaton, 235; The
3 Dallas, 319. Bella Corrunes (1821), 6 Wheaton,
(Jc) The Alerta ^ Cargo v. Bias, 3 152; The Estrella (1819), 4 Wheaton,
Curtis, 379. 298.
(J) La Amistad de Rues (1820), 5 (;?) The Arrogante Barcelones
Wheaton, 385. (1822), 7 Wheaton, 496; The Nereyda
(m) The Invincible (1816), 1 (1823), 8 Wheaton, 108.
Wheaton, 238.
670 EIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTEALS.
State at peace with the United States. Unless both the fact and
the intent existed together, there was no offence against the law.
The simple fact of an armed vessel having been equipped in, and
sent to a belligerent did not, of itself,
from the United States
necessarily constitute a breach of the Act, or of the law of
nations (q) Thus, if a ship of war was built and fitted out in
.
(v) The Santissima Trinidad (1822), (r) But as to ships of war, certain
7 Wheaton, 283. reservations are now necessary ;
see
supra, pp. 666 seq.; infra, p. 676.
RIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS. 671
out of our ports; it only requires the owner to give security that
such vessels should not be employed by them to commit hostilities
"
against foreign Powers at peace with the United States (s).
The American Act declares that " if any person shall, within Whether
the limits of the United States, fit out and arm, or attempt to arming^^are^
fit out and- arm, or procure to be fitted out and armed," any vessel necessary
to
constitute
. •
1 CI 1 1 n 1-
to cruise against the commerce of a friendly State, he shall be the ofifence.
steam as the motive power of ships, and of iron and steel as the
material of their construction, the conditions of maritime warfare
have been very radically changed. What might have been a
reasonable rule as applied in the time of sailing ships might now
in the age of swift ironclads, be intolerably oppressive. In the
cases of Santissima Trinidad, U.S. v. Quincey, and The Meteor,
the Courts were dealing with small sailing vessels, which had been
converted into privateers, the possession of which by one or the
other belligerent Power made very little difference in the general
result of the struggle, whereas the possession of an iron-clad ship
might well turn the scale one way or the other, as indeed it did
in the war between Chile and Peru in 1880 — 1881. This great
States Neutrality Act and the Federal Courts, that the intent'
of the owner or shipbuilder is the criterion by which his guilt
or innocence is to be judged, is wholly inadequate; it would not
for a moment stand the test of due diligence as applied by the
Geneva Tribunal" (a?).
The difficulty of distinguishing between the bond fide sale of
a ship, and the organizing of a hostile expedition in her territory,
has induced England to prohibit altogether the sale of such ships
by her subjects to belligerents. This prohibition fully satisfies
the requirements of Article 8 of the thirteenth Convention of the
(o) British
Appendix, vol. iii. p. 131. U. 8. v. Beyburn, 6 Peters, 352.
(d) Wheaton, ed. Dana, p. 558. The (e) U. S. Statutes at Large,
Santa Maria, 7 Wheaton, 490; The vol. viii. p. 258.
Monte Allegre (1822), 7 Wheaton, 520;
w. 43
674 RIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS.
Fenian
Further, to the United States must be imputed certain con-
organizations
in United
—
traventions of neutrality from the point of view of international
States. —
law and municipal law alike in regard to the hostile Irish
organizations that were permitted to be established in American
' '
English neu- The history of the law of England on the subject must next be
trality laws.
considered. In 1721, on the occasion of a complaint being made
by the Swedish minister that certain ships of war had been built
in England, and sold to the Czar, the judges were ordered to
attend the House of Lords and deliver their opinions on the ques-
tion, whether the King of England had power to prohibit the
building of ships of war, or of great force, for foreigners, and
they answered that the king had no power to prohibit the
same (2). In 1819 the Foreign Enlistment Act was
(/) Pari. Papers, 1873 (No. 2), (i) The Irish American, Eeb. 11,
pp. 62, 63. Rep. of Neutrality Oomm. 1865.
1868, p. 34. (7c) Pari. Papers, N. America
(g) British Counter-case at Geneva, (1873), No. 2, p. 66.
p. 46. (0 Eortescue's Reports, p. 388.
(h) The Three Friends (1896), 166 Pari. Papers, N. America, No. 4
U. S. Rep. 1. (1872), p. 146.
RIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS. 675
In 1827, four vessels, under Count Saldanha, sailed from Ply- TheTerceira
these are the only ones of any material importance, at the present
tralitydmSg
time. In these the ground of complaint was the fitting out of American
armed vessels for the Confederates in British ports. The depre- The Geneva
dations on American commerce caused by Confederate cruisers, Arbitration,
43(2)
676 RIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS.
"2. That vessels, fitted out and equipped for the before-men-
tioned purpose, in contravention of the Foreig'n Enlistment Act,
and being therefore liable to seizure under the Act, having gone
forth from British ports, but having afterwards returned to them,
were not seized as thej ought to have been, but, having been
allowed hospitality in such ports, were suffered to go forth again
to resume their warfare against the commerce of the United
States.
"3. That undue favour was shown in British ports to ships of
war of the Confederate Sitates, in respect of the time these ships
were permitted to remain in such ports, or of the amount of coal
with which thej were permitted to be supplied.
"4. That vessels of the Confederate States were allowed to
make British ports the base of naval operations against the ships
and commerce of the United States."
Rules of the In order to assist the arbitrators in coming to a decision, three
Treaty of
Washington . general rules "were introduced into the treaty, and, with these rules
before them, the arbitrators were directed to determine as to each
"
vessel whether Great Britain has, by any act or omission, failed
to fulfil any of the duties set forth in such rules, or recognised
by the principles of international law not inconsistent with such
rules." The rules were as follows: —
"A neutral Government is bound—
"1st. To
use due diligence to prevent the fitting out, arming,
or equipping within its jurisdiction, of any vessel which it has
reasonable ground to believe is intended to cruise or to carry on
war against a Power with which it is at peace; and also to use
like diligence to prevent the departure from its jurisdiction of any
vessel intended to cruise or carry on war as above, such vessel
Liverpool and London with the armaments for the Alabama, and
they joined her at the Azores, where she was fully equipped as a
678 EIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS.
escape of the vessel, the measures taken for its pursuit and arrest
were so imperfect as to lead to no result, and therefore cannot be
considered sufficient to release Great Britain from the respon-
sibility already incurred." And a further ground for the decision
"
was, that the ship was on several occasions freely admitted into
the ports of colonies of Great Britain, instead of being proceeded
(w) See Argument of the United («) Pari. Papers, N. America, 1873
States. Pari. Papers, N. America, (No. 2), p. 3.
1872 (No. 12), pp. 59—70, from which (y) Pari. Papers, N. America, 1873
all the facts but the last have been (No. 2), p. 140.
taken.
RIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS. 679
were intended for the Florida. It was tho.ught they were simply
contraband of war; however, they were shipped on board the
Prince Alfred at Hartlepool, and transferred to the Florida at
Green Cay. At Nassau she had enlisted some men for her crew,
but not having a full complement, she went to Cardenas, in Cuba,
and endeavoured to enlist others there. This was prevented by
the authorities, and she then sailed for th|e port of Mobile, which
she contrived to enter by eluding the blockading cruisers. She
remained Mobile more than four months, and then issued as a
at
Confederate ship of war; she was afterwards admitted into several
British ports, and trea^ted as a belligerent cruiser. With regard
to this vessel, the tribunal, majority of four to one, decided
by a,
that England had failed in her duties in not preventing the ship
from leaving Liverpool, in allowing her to enlist men at Nassau,
and to be armed at Green Cay, and in afterwards receiving her
in British ports (z) .
ployed in, the service of the Confederates during the whole Civil
War. Four others were intended to be built a,nd equipped, but
were arrested while in the course of construction. Four merchant
vessels, though not adapted for warlike purposes, were converted
into vessels of war by ha,ving guns put on board, but out o:f the
—
jurisdiction of the British Government ^two of them in Con-
—
federate ports and this by reason of the impossibility of getting
two, the Alabama and the Florida^ and their tenders, and partially
as regards the Shenandoah, that the tribunal condemned England
to pay the United States a sum of ^15,500,000 in gold, as
(z) Pari. Papers, N. America, 1873 (a) Pari. Papers, N. America, 1873
(No. 2), p. 3. (No. 2), p. 106.
680 EIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTEALS.
(b) Argument of the United States. Pari. Papers, N. America (No. 12),
1872, p. 165.
EIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS. 68i
The controversy between Great Britain and the United States, Royal Com-
^*
.
° from the fittinsr
resulting
,
° out of certain Confederate cruisers in ^oTJ^^
1868 on neu-
^ ^
British ports, drew attention to some defects in the Foreign Enlist- trality laws.
Very malerial changes were thus introduced, and the hands of f ^f ^J^y^o'*^
the executive greatly strengthened. It is now an offence to build
or cause to be built, ol: to equip or despatch, or to cause or allow to
be despatched, any ship, with intent or knowledge, ot having
reasonable cause to believe that the same will be employed in the
service of any foreign State at war with any friendly State (/) .
(e)On the " Alabama claims " and the American point of view) Gushing,
tlieGeneva Arbito-ation, see Case of Treaty of Washington ; and of the
Great Britain (with Appendix) Pari. ; arbitration proceedings, Moore, Inter-
Papers, N. America (1872); Case of national Arbitrations, vol. i. 495 seq.;
United States; Papers relating to the (Jobbett, Cases, pp. 320 seq.
Treaty of Washington, 1872—3. For (d) Eeport of Neutrality Laws
convenient summaries of the contro- Commission, p. 7.
I8618,
versy, see (from the British point of (e) 33 & 34 Vict. c. 90. See Ap-
view) Bernard, The Neutrality of pendix A.
Great Britain during the American (/) Section 8.
Civil War (London, 1870), and (from
682 EIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS.
Cases under The Act has been put in force several times since it was passed.
the Act —
The Gauntlet. During the Franco-German war, a French vessel of war captured
a Prussian ship in the English Channel, and manned her with a
prize crew. The prize was driven into the Downs by stress of
weather, and while there, the French consul at Dover engaged a
steam-tug to tow the prize to Dunkirk Roads. The tug did so,
and OR her return was proceeded against for a violation of the
Act. The Privy Council (reversing the decision of the Admiralty
Court) held, that towing the prize into French waters was
despatching a ship within the meaning of section 8, and accord-
ingly condemned the tug to the Crown (i) .
The Inter- In another case during the same war, an English company con-
national,
tracted with the French Government to lay down some telegraph
lines on the French coast. They were to complete the communica-
tion between Dunkirk and Verdun. The company shipped the
wires on to a specially constructed vessel, but when she was about
to start the Secretary of State seized her. Tho ship was, how-
ever, releasedby the Admiralty Court, it being proved that the
undertaking was of a purely commercial character, and that though
Franco might partially use the lines for military purposes, this
would not divest the transaction of its primary comtnercial
character (k) .
swung out-board, and boats full of armed men taken in tow. The
Justitia —re-named the Liberata—^proceeded along the Venezuelan
coast, had an engagement with a Venezuelan war-vessel, fired at
some forts and a custom-house, and finally went to St. Domingo,
where she was seized by the authorities. The object appeared
to be to assist certain persons who were engaged in a rebellion
In the case of Reg. v. Jameson and others, arising out of the The Jameson
notorious Eaid, the Court held, on sect. 11 of the ^^^^•
J'oreign Enlist-
ment Act, that if there be an unlawful preparation of an expedition
by some person within Her Majesty's dominions, any British sub-
national law would require, it does so, not for the benefit of
foreign States, but for its own protection, lest the acts of its
subjects in overstepping the confines, oftentimes doubtful, of strict
right, in transactions of which a few circumstances, more or less,
may alter the character, should compromise its relations with other
nations. . . . Now
quite clear that the obligations of
it is
the neutral State spring out of, and are determined by, the prin-
(«) Eeff. v. Jameson, (1H96) 2 Q.B. (o) Reasons for dissenting from
425. Geneva Award. Pari. Papers, N.
America, 1873 (No. 2), p. 29.
EIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS. 685
any of them, have been procured and put together in the neutral
port— and if there be the intention to use them (which may always
be taken for granted when they are in the hands of the belli-
gerents), the neutral port may be justly said to serve as a base
or point of departure for a hostile expedition" (r).
In 1870, during the Franco-German war, a French steamer,
the Lafayette, left New Yorkwith a large number of French
conscripts on board, together with a cargo of munitions of war
destined for France. The Prussian Government protested against
the permitted departure of the vessel; but the United States
Government declined to interfere on the ground that the conscripts
did not constitute an organized force, and that the munitions of
war were simply contraband, whose despatch by subjects a neutral
Power is not bound to prevent.
In November, 1898, in a port of the United States, a body of Wiborg v.
^^*^^» 'S';^^^*.
men went on board a tug loaded with arms, and were taken by
it thirty or forty miles and out to sea they met a steamer outside
;
the United States were at peace It was held that this constituted
.
Due diligence A Government is not responsible for every possible hostile act
that may take place in its territory. ,S'o long as it takes all
reasonable precautions to prevent hostile acts, and exercises due
diligence in enforcing these precautions, a belligerent has no just
ground of complaint, even if its neutrality is violated The dif- .
"
ficulty is to ascertain what constitutes "due diligence." The
maximum of precaution," says M. Tetens, "in this case, is to
maintain and enforce the observance of neutrality in vessels and
cargoes, with the same diligence and exactness as are exercised
in inquiries and other proceedings relative to taxes, or imposts
and customs He who does as much to prevent a wrong meditated
.
"
Impartiality A neutral Power must apply to the two belligerents impartially
of neutral
Power. the conditions, restrictions, or prohibitions issued by it in regard
Belliarerent
to the admission into its ports, roadsteads, or territorial waters, of
neutral ports. belligerent warships or of their prizes.
Nevertheless, a neutral Power may forbid any particular belli-
gerent vessel which h-as failed to conform to the orders and regu-
lations made by it, or which has violated neutrality, to enter its
"
ports and roadsteads (u).
This Article does not, of course, interfere with the right of a
neutral State to prohibit belligerent warships generally from enter-
ing its ports.
"
(s) Wiborg v. United States (18%), diligence advanced before the Greneva
163 U. S. Rep. 632. Arbitration Tribunal, supra, p. 650 .
supplied once in three months to the same ship, unless this was
relaxed by special permission (z) Similar rules were put in force
.
prizes for more than twenty -four hours, except in case of imminent
perils of the sea. No prize goods were permitted to be sold in
French territory (e). Prussia remained content with ordering her
subjects not to engage in the equipment of privateers, and to obey
the general rules of international law (/) The Belgian rule com-
.
depart until twenty-four hours after the other (h) Japan adopted .
what was practically the British twenty -four hours' rule, as far
back as 1870 (i). In the Russo-Japanese war the Scandinavian
countries closed some of their ports and inlets to both belligerents'
ample time for the vessel that started first to get out of reach of
the other if desirous of doing so.
impartiality .
"
The neutrality of a Power is not affected by the mere passage
through its territorial waters of warships or prizes belonging to
"
belligerents (k).
As to straits connecting two open seas, there is ^ widespread
opinion that they ought never to be closed. The present Article
left the question open, which depends therefore on the general law
of nations.
"
A. neutral Power may allow belligerent warships to employ its
"
licensed pilots (I).
" "
The rule of twenty-four hours' stay is knovm in international
assisting the belligerent; for the cruiser in fact refits herself for
"
Belligerent warships may not make use of neutral ports, road- Increase of
*
steads, or territorial waters for replenishing or increasing their ^^^
supplies of war material or their armament, "or for completing
"
their crews (a).
This Article is substantially a reproduction of the latter part
pared with Great Britain. But, whatever the motive, there can
Hberty"(0.
According customary law of nations a neutral State was
to the Prizes
permitted, though not obliged, to admit the prizes taken by British ports,
belligerents in its ports, and keep them there until they were
condiemned and sold. In the earlier part of the nineteenth cen-
tury there was not infxequently, in this respect, considerable
abuse of the rights and obligations of neutrality. To remedy
this condition of things, neutral States made from time to time
restrictive regulations, which were by no means uniform. A
definite policy of exclusion was then adopted by Great Britain.
During the American Civil War a captor, who brought his prizes
into British waters, was to be requested to depart and remove
such prizes immediately. A vessel bond fide converted into a
ship of war was, however, not to be deemed a prize. In case of
stress of weather, or other extreme and unavoidable necessity, the
Prizes fitted Prizes are frequently armed and fitted out as vessels of war.
out as ships
of war. After condemnation there is no doubt that the captors may so
dispose of the prize; but if this is done before condemnation,
(jn) London Gazette, 9tli Sept. 1864. (^) Cf. Higgins, The Hague Con-
(o) Lord Granville to Admiralty, ferences, pp. 478 seq.
&c. London Gazette, 19tli July, 1870. {q) Opinion of Law Officers of the
Hertslet, Commercial Treaties, xxi. Crown. British Appendix to ca«se at
p. 834. Lord Lansdowne to Admiralty. Geneva, vol. ii. p. 323.
London Gazette, Feb. 10th, 1904.
EIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS. 697
ting her as such, and that her real character could only be deter-
mined in the courts of the captor's country. She was, therefore,
allowed to enter the port and obtain provisions. On the 26th
December, 1863, the Tuscaloosa again put into Simon's Bay,
and was this time seized by the local authorities. This, however,
was considered unjustifiable by the home Government. Whatever
the character of the ship might have been during her first visit,
she was treated as a ship of war, and was, therefore, entitled to
expect the same treatment again, unless she received due warning
that a different course would be pursued. Accordingly, orders
were sent out to release and deliver her up to some Confederate
officer, but in point of fact she was detained by the local autho-
rities till the conclusion of the war, and then delivered up to the
United States (r) .
"
internment
notwithstanding the notification of the neutral Power, a
If,
belligerent warship does not leave a port where it is not entitled vessels,
to remain, the neutral Power is entitled to take such measures
as considers necessary to render the ship incapable af putting
it
"
Due A Power is bound to exercise such vigilance as the
neutral
diligence.
means at its disposal allow to prevent any violation of the pro-
visions of the above Articles occurring in its ports or roadsteads,
"
or in its waters (0-
We have already referred to the question of due diligence in
connection with the third rule of the Treaty of Washington and
with the national neutrality legislation.
"
Exercise of The exercise by a neutral Power of the rights laid down in the
neutral rights
not unfriendly present Convention can under no circumstances be considered as
'act. an unfriendly act by one or other belligerent who has accepted
"
the Articles relating thereto {tt).
''
Communica- The contracting Powers shall comtuunicate to each other in
tion of
due course all statutes, orders, and other provisions regulating
municipal
provisions. in their respective countries the position of belligerent warships
in their ports and waters, by means of a communication addressed
to the Government of the Netherlands, and forwarded imme-
diately by that Government to the other contracting Powers" {u).
Article 28 contains the usual proviso that the rules of the Con-
vention apply only to the signatory parties, and then only if all
the belligerents in a particular war are parties to the Convention .
limits, extend to the vessels of the nation on the high seas, and
without the jurisdiction of any other State?
We have already seen, that both the public and priva^te vessels
of every independent nation on the high seas, and without the
territorial limits of any other State, are subject to the munioipal
jurisdiction of the State to which they belong (^). This juris-
diction is exclusive, only so far as respects offences against the
universally admitted, that neither the right of visit and search, of private
territory of another State, are not exempt from the local jurisdic-
tion. That portion of the ocean which is temporarily occupied
by them forms no part of the neutral territory ;
nor does the vessel
itself, which is a moveable thing, the property of private
individuals, form any part of the territory of that Power to whose
subjects it belongs. The jurisdiction which that Power may law-
fully exercise over the vessel on the high seas, is a jurisdiction over
the persons and property of its citizens; it is not a territorial juris-
(y) Vide ante, Pt. II. ch. 2, pp. 163 (s) Vide ante, Pt. II. ch. 2, pp. 170
seq. seq.
700 EIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS.
neutral
usage was only interrupted by treaty stipulations, forming a
temporary conventional law between the parties thereto (c) .
(a) Rutherforth, Inst. vol. ii. b. ii. pp. 65, 115—119, 200—206. Albericus
ch. 9, § 19. Azuni, Diritto Maritimo, Gentilis, Hisp. Advoc. lib. i. cap. 27.
Pt. II. oh. 3, Art. 2. Letter of Grotius, De Jur. Bel. ac Pac. lib. iii.
American Envoys at Paids to M. de cap. 6, §§ 6, 26j cap. 1, § 5, Note 6.
Talleyrand, January, 1798. Waite, Bynkershoek, Qusest. Jur. Pub. lib. i.
American State Papers, vol. iv. p. 34. cap. 14. Vattel, Droit des Gens,
(&) As to enemy goods under a liv. iii. ch.
7, § 115. Heineccius, De
neutral flag, see supra, p. 569. We Nav. ob vect. cap. 2, § 9. Locceniusi,
have already referred to the Silesian De Jure Marit. lib. ii. cap. 4, § 12.
Loan controversy (1752), where the Azuni, Diritto Marit. Pt. II. ch. 3,
Prussian argument, that the capture Arts. 1, 2.
of enemy goods on neutral vessels was (d) Barbeyrac, Note to Grotius,
contrary to the law of nations, was cap. 6, § 6, Note 1.
lib. iii.
easily disposed of by the British reply. (e) Valin, Comm. liv. iii. tit. 9;
(c) Ck)nsolato del Mare, cap. 273. Des Prises, Art. 7. Wheaton, Hist,
Wheaton, Hist. Law of Nations, —
Law of Nations, pp. Ill 114.
EIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS. 701
goods on board enemy vessels they contravene the law which inter-
dicts to them all commercial intercourse with the enemy, and
deserve to lose their property for this violation of the law* (/).
The fallacy of the argument by which this rule is attempted to
be supported, consists in assuming, what requires to be proved,
that, by the act of placing his goods on board an enemy vessel, the
neutral submits himself to abide the fate of the vessel; for it
cannot bo pretended that the goods are subjected to capture and
confiscation ex re, since their character of neutral property exempts
them from this liability. Nor can it be shown that they a;re
thus liable ex delicto, unless it be first proved that the act of
placing them on board is an offence against the law of nations. It
•
maxim, that 'free ships make free goods,' this relaxation of belli-
(/) Valin, Comm. liv. iii. tit. 9; Des Prises, Art. 7. Pothier, Traite de
Propriete, No. 9€.
702 RIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS.
lieved it to be for their interest; but the one maxim, that frae
ships make free goods,' does not necessarily imply the converse
'
It was upon these grounds that the Supreme Court of the United
States determined that tlie Treaty of 1795, between them and
Spain, which stipulated that free ships should make free goods,
did not necessarily imply the converse proposition, that enemy
ships should make enemy goods, the treaty being silent as to the
latter; and that, consequently, the goods of a Spanish subject,
found on board the vessel of an enemy of the United States, were
not liable to confiscation as prize of war. And although it was
EIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS. 703
alleged, that the prize law of Spain would subject the property,
of American citizens to condemnation, when found on board the
vessels of her enemy, the court refused to condemn Spanish pro-
perty found on board a vessel of their enemy, on the principle of
reciprocity; because the American Government had not mani-
fested its will to retaliate upon Spain; and until this will was
manifested by some legislative act, the court was bound by the
general law of nations constituting a part of the law of the
landC^r).
The law established by treaties, in respect to the rule now in Conventional
question, fluctuated at different periods, according to the flue- i^^ee ships
tuating policy and interests of the different maritime States of free goods.'
Europe. It was much more flexible than the consuetudinary law;
but there was a great preponderance of treaties in favour of the
maxim, 'free ships free goods,' sometimes, but not always, con-
' '
so that it may be said that for about two centuries there was a,
the commercial treaty signed at the same time with the peace at
The maritime law of nations that regulated the intercourse of The inter-
the European States was adopted by the United States during the
of'sm-oU^'^
war of their revolution. The American Courts of Prize then acted adopted by
upon the generally received principles of European public law, modified'by
that enemy property in neutral vessels was liable to, whilst neutral treaty,
Conflict in By the treaty of 1794 between the United States and Great
provisions of it was stipulated that vessels, captured on
treaties with Britain, Article 17,
England and suspicion of having on board enemy property or contraband of
with France.
war, should be carried to the nearest port for adjudication, and
that part of the cargo only which consisted of enemy property,
or contraband for the enemy's use, should be made prize, and
the vessel be at liberty to proceed with the remainder of her cargo.
In the treaty of 1778, between France and the United States, the
rule of 'free ships free goods' had been stipulated; and, as we
have already seen, France complained that her goods were taken
out of American vessels without resistance by the United States,
who, it was alleged, had abandoned by their treaty with Great
' '
The principle of free ships free goods had been stipulated by Negotiation
^
the treaty of 1785, Article 12, between the United States a.nd American
and Prussian
Prussia, without the correlative maxim of 'enemy ships enemy
IT
goods. It was as follows:
pn it Tfl o
11 one oi the contracting parties
^
. . Governments,
should be engaged in war with any other Power, the free inter-
course and commerce of the subjects or citizens of the party
(o) Letter of the American Envoys 17, 1798. Waite, State Papers,
at Paris, Messrs. Marshall, Pinkney, pp. 38 — 17.
vol. iv.
American The above treaty having expired, by its own limitation, in 1796,
omitXemle ^ negotiation was commenced by the American and Prussian
of free ships Governments for its renewal. But it was proposed by the former
free goods. ' '
that the Article, recognising the princijDle of free ships free goods
— —
though a most desirable one should be abandoned, because it
was not universally admitted or respected among maritime nations,
and that the ordinary rule of the law of nations should be substi-
tuted, whereby enemy property on neutral vessels was liable to
capture, whilst neutral property on enemy vessels was exempt (p) .
goods,' has not been sufficiently respected during the last two wars,
and especially in that which still continues, the two contracting
parties propose, after the return of a general peace, to agree, either
separately between themselves, or jointly with other Powers alike
interested, to concert with the great maritime Powers of Europe
such arrangements and such permanent principles, as may serve
to consolidate the liberty and the safety of the neutral navigation
and commerce in future wars. And if, in the interval, either
of the contracting parties should be engaged in war, to which the
other should remain neutral, the ships of war and privateers of the
"
of the law of nations generally acknowledged (q). This Article
was re-introduced in the treaty of 1828 between the parties.
Rule in During the war which commenced between the United States
American
Prize Courts. and Great Britain in 1812, the Prize Courts of the former uni-
formly enforced the generally acknowledged rule of international
law, that enemy's goods in neutral vessels are liable to capture and
(j») Mr. Secretary Pickering to Mr. 17, 1797; Mr. Adams to the Prussian
Jolm Quincy Adams, Minister of the negotiators, Oct. 29, 1798.
U. S. at Berlin, July 15, 1797; July (g) American State Papers, fol. ed.
vol. ii.
pp. 251—209.
EIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS. 711
lies of South America, the United States proposed the establish- United^tates
'
ment of the principle of free ships free goods,' as between all the and the South
Colombia, that the rule of free ships free goods should be under-
stood "as applying to those Powers only who recognise this prin-
Eepublics (r).
It has been decided in the Prize Courts, both of the United Covering
States and of Great Britain, that the privilege of the neutral
j^^^JtrnT*^^
flag of protecting enemy property, whetherstipulated by treaty ships by false
P^P®^^*
or established by municipal ordinances, however comprehensive
may be the terms in which it may be expressed, cannot be inter-
preted to extend to the fraudulent use of that flag to cover enemy
property in the ship, as well as the cargo (s). Thus during the
war of the Revolution (between Great Britain on the one side,
(r) Mr. Secretary Adams's Letter to goods found on board an enemy ship,
Mr. Anderson, American minister to see Wheaton's Rep. vol. ii. Appendix,
the Republic of Colombia, 27th of May, —
Note I. pp. 54 56; and especially
1823. For the practice of the Prize Sir W. Scott's judgment in The For-
Court, as to the allowance or refusal tuna (1802), 4 O. Rob. 278.
of freight on enemies' goods taken on (s) The Citade de Lisboa (1806>),
board neutral ships, and on neutral 6 O. Rob. 358.
712 EIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS.
and the United States and France on the other), the United States,
recognising the principles of the armed neutrality of 1780
in- —
cluding the rule of
'
free ships free goods
'
exempted by
—an ordi-
nance of Congress all neutral vessels from capture, except such as
were employed in carrying contraband goods, or soldiers, to the
enemy. It was held by the Federal Court of Appeals in prize
causes that this exemption did not extend to a vessel which had
forfeited her privilege by grossly unneutral conduct in taking a
decided part with the enemy, by combining with his subjects to
wrest out of the hands of the United States, jand of France, their
ally, the advantages they had acquired over Great Britain by the
rights of war in the conquest of Dominica. By the capitula-
tion of that island, all commercial intercourse with Great Britain
had been prohibited. In the case in question, the vessel had been
purchased in London, by neutrals, who supplied her with false
and colourable papers, and assumed on themselves the ownership
of the cargo for a voyage from London to Dominica. Had she
been employed in a fair commerce, such as was consistent with the
rights of neutrality, her cargo, though the property of an enemy,
could not be seized as prize of war; because Congress had said, by
their ordinance, that the rights of neutrality should extend pro-
tection to such effects and goods of an enemy. But if the neu-
trality were violated. Congress had not said that such a violated
neutrality would give such protection. Nor could they have said
so, without confounding all the distinctions of right and wrong;;
and Congress did not mean, in their ordinance, to ascertain in
what cases the rights of neutrality should be forfeited, to the
exclusion of all other cases; for the instances not mentioned were
as flagrant as the cases particularised (t) .
(w) The Mariunna (1805), 5 O. Rob. 1834, with Chile, Art. 13, the term
28. of four months is established for the
{x) Treaty of 1828, between the same purpose; and by that of 1842,
United States and Oolombia, Art. 13. with Ecuador, Art. 16, the term of
By the Treaty of 1831, between the six months.
United St-ates and Mexico; by that of
714 EIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS.
things as are specially adapted and used for warlike purposes, and
are therefore confiscable if found on their way to any part of the
which are not so, and those which are susceptible of indiscriminate
use ill war and
in peace {' res ancipitis usus ') The first he agrees
.
eludes timber and naval stores among those articles which are
particularly useful for the purposes of war, and are always liable
to capture as contraband; and oonsiders provisions as such only
"
under certain circumstances, when there are hopes of reducing
"
the enemy by famine (^).
Bynkershoek strenuously qontends against admitting into the OfBynker-
listof contraband articles those things which are of promiscuous ^^^^^•
use in peace and in war. He considers the limitation assigned by
(c) Grotius, De Jur. Bel. ac Pac. (d) Vattel, Droit des Gens, liv. iii.
lib. iii. cap. 1, § v. 1, 2, 3. ch. 7, § 112.
716 RIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS.
enemy is in great need of them, and cannot well carry on the war
without them." On this ground he justifies the edict of the States-
General of 1657 against the Portuguese, and that of 1652 against
the English, as exceptions to the general rule that materials for
"
ship-building are not contraband. He also states that provisions
"
are often excepted from the general freedom of neutral commerce
"
when the enemies are besieged by our friends, or are otherwise
pressed by famine" (e).
Valin and Pothier both concur in declaring that provisions
(' munitions de bouche ') are not contraband by the prize law of
(«?) Bynkershoek, Qusest. Jur. Pub. (/) Valin, Comment, sur I'Ordon.
lib. i. cap. 10. liv. iii. Des Prises, Art. 11.
tit. 9;
Pothier, Traite de Propriete, No. 104.
RIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS. 717
'
{g) Valin, Comm. sur POrdon. (A) The Maria (1799), 1 O. Rob.
liv. iii. tit. 9; Des Prises, Art. 11. 372.
718 RIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS.
Views of Sir This view seems to be confirmed by the opinion given in 1674,
by Sir Leoline Jenkins, to King Charles II., in the case of a cargo
of naval stores, the produce of Sweden, belonging to an English
equity and the true meaning of your Majesty's treaty with Spain,
but upon the general law and practice of all nations" (;).
By the treaty of navigation and commerce of Utrecht, between ADglo-French
Great Britain and France, renewed and confirmed by the Treaty navalTiores?
of Aix-la-Chapelle, in 1748, by the Treaty of Paris, in 1763, by
that of Versailles, in 1783, and by the commercial treaty between
France and Great Britain, of 1786, the list of contraband is strictly
confined to munitions of war; and naval stores, provisions, and
all other goods which have, not been worked into the form of any
The subject of the contraband character of naval stores con- England and
tinned a vexed question between Great Britain and the Baltic powers.
Powers, throughout the whole of the eighteenth century. Various Treaty
relaxations of the extreme belligerent pretensions on this subject Gre^t^ritain
had been conceded in favour of the commerce, in articles the ^^^ Russia,
1801
peculiar growth and productions of these States, either by per-
mitting them to be freely carried to the enemy's ports, or by
mitigating the original penalty of confiscation, on their seizure,
to the milder right of preventing the goods being carried to the>
applicable to all the maritime wars in which one of the two Powers
may be engaged, whilst the other remains neutral. These stipu-
lations shall consequently be regarded as permanent, and shall
serve for a constant rule to the contracting Powers in matters of
commerce and navigation."
Anglo- The list contained in the convention between
of contraband
treaty of 1803.
Grreat Britain and Eussia, to which Sweden acceded, differed, in
some respects, from that contained in the 11th Article of the
treaty of 1661, between Great Britain and Sweden. In order to
prevent a recurrence of the disputes which had arisen relative to
that Article, a convention was concluded at London between these
two Powers on the 25th of July, 1803, by which the list of con-
traband contained in the convention between Great Britain and
Russia was augmented, with the addition of the articles of coined
money, horses, and the necessary equipments of cavalry, ships of
war, and all manufactured articles serving immediately for their
equipment, all which articles were subjected to confiscation. It
was further stipulated that all naval stores, the produce of either
country, should be subject to the right of pre-emption by the
belligerent party, upon condition of paying an indemnity of ten
per cent, upon the invoice price or current value, with demurrage
and expenses. If bound to a neutral port, and detained upon
EIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS. 721
shall be intended that the articles were going for military use,
although merchant ships resort to the same place, and although
it is possible that the articles might have been applied to civil
*
tion of an article ancipitis usus,' it is not an injurious rule which
deduces both ways the final use from the immediate destination;
and the presumption of a hostile use, founded on its destination
to a military port, is very much inflamed, if, at the time when the
articles were going, a considerable armament was notoriously pre-
useTecoJ^rn
considered as contraband, when
destined to a port of naval equip-
contrabaud, mcnt, appears to have been subsequently abandoned by Sir W.
"
to a Scott. In the case of The Charlotte, he states that the character
porToT^
naval equip- of the port is immaterial; since naval stores, if they are to be
considered as contraband, are so without reference to the nature
of the port, and equally, whether bound to a mercantile port only,
or to a port of naval and military equipment. The consequence of
the supply may be nearly the same in either case. If sent to a
mercantile port, they may then be applied to immediate use in the
equipment of privateers, or they may be conveyed from the mer-
cantile to the naval port, and there become subservient to every'
(0 The Jonge Margaretha (1799), TAe Cow wercew (1816), 1 Wheat. 382;
1 O. Eob. 192. This judgment was see infra, p. 755.
followed by the American Courts in (w) TAe CAar^o^e (1804), 5 C. Rob.
305.
RIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS. 723
to say that corn, flour,and meal, were not of the class of contra^
band, and consequently remained articles of free commerce. The
state of war then existing between Great Britain and France
furnished no legitimate right to either of these belligerent Powers
to interrupt the agriculture of the United States, or the peaceable
produce (o) .
(w) Mr. Hammond's Letter to Mr. (o) Mr. Jefferson's Letter to Mr. T.
Jefferson, 12th
September, 1793. Pinkney, 7th September, 1793. Waite,
Waite, American State Papers, vol. i. State Papers, vol. i. p. 393.
p. 398.
46(2)
724 RIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS.
thereon, together with the freight, and also the demurrage incident
to such detention."
British Order The instructions of June, 1793, had been revoked previous to
of April,
the signature of this treaty; but, before its ratification, the British
1795, as to
provisions. Government issued, in April, 1795, an Order in Council, instruct-
ing its cruisers to stop and detain all vessels, laden wholly or in
part with corn, flour, meal, and other articles of provisions, and
bound to any port in Prance, and to send them to such ports as
might be most convenient, in order that such corn, &c., might be
purchased on behalf of the Government.
Legality of This last order was subsequently revoked, and the question of
this order '
The first of these positions was based not only upon the general Opinion of
'^ ^ "poin •
although he did not make use of this example for the declared
purpose of rendering more specific the passage above cited, yet, as
he mentions none other to which it can relate, it is strong evidence
to show that he did not mean to carry the doctrine of special
contraband farther than that example would warrant.
It was also to be observed that, in section 113, he states expressly
that all contraband goods (including, of course, those becoming so
had long been settled that all contraband goods are subject to
forfeitureby the law of nations, whether they are so in their own
nature, orbecome so by existing circumstances; and even in early
times, when this rule was not so well established, we find that those
nations who sought an exemption from forfeiture, never claimed
it upon grounds peculiar to any description of contraband, but
upon general reasons, embracing all cases of contraband what-
soever. As it was admitted, then, that the cargoes in question
were not subject to forfeiture as contraband, it was manifest that
the juncture which gave birth to the Order in Council could not
have been such a one as Vattel had in view or, in other words, that
;
the cargoes were not become contraband at all within the true
posuimus, jus dabit, sed sub onere restitutionis, nisi causa alia
accedat" (In the third class, viz., commodities of ambiguous use,
the circumstances of the war will be taken into account. For if
I cannot protect myself save by intercepting what is sent,
—as elsewhere explained
—gives me the right to interceptnecessity
but it,
means of our own defence. He does not state the seizure upon any-
supposed illegal conduct in the neutral, in attempting to carry
articles of the third class (among which provisions are included),
not bound to a port besieged or blockaded, to be lawful, when made
with the mere view of annoying or reducing the enemy, but solely
when made with a view to our own preservation or defence, under
the pressure of that imperious and unequivocal necessity, which
breaks down the distinctions of property, and upon certain condi-
tions, revives the original right of using things as if they were in
common .
usage of nations.
If the mere hope, however apparently well founded, of annoying General
pnncip es.
or reducing an enemy, by intercepting the commerce of neutrals
in articles of provision (which, in themselves, are no more contra-
band than ordinary merchandise), to ports not besieged or block-
aded, would authorize that interruption, it would follow that a
belligerent might at any time prevent, without a siege or blockade,
all trade whatsoever with its enemy; since there is at all times
(r) Rutherforth, Inst. vol. ii. b. ii. (*) Bynkershoek, Queest. Jur. Pub.
ch. 9, § 19. lib. i.
cap. 9.
728 EIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTEALS.
justified, viz., neoessity. Great Britain being, as alleged at the on the ground
time of issuing it, threatened with a scaroity of those articles
-directed to be seized, it was answered that it would not be denied
that extreme necessity might justify such a measure. It was
supply which were consistent with the rights of others, and which
were not incompatible with the exigency? After this Order has
been issued and carried into execution, the British Government did
what it should have done before; it offered a bounty upon tbe
importation of the articles of which it was in want. The conse-
quence was that neutrals came with these articles, until at length
the market was found to be overstocked. The same arrangement,
had it been made at an earlier period, would have rendered wholly
useless the order of 1795.
Upon these grounds, a full indemnity was allowed by the com- Decision
^^®
missioners, under the seventh Article of the Treaty of 1794, to 'J^J|^*'''^
the owners of the vessels and cargoes seized under the Orders in
Council, as well for the loss of a market as for the other oonse-
-quences of their detention (t) ,
What goods For more than a century after this period, the question as to"
are contra-
band. what is, and what is not, contraband, could not be answered with
precision. Before the notable achievement of the London Naval
Conference of 1908-1909 (which will be referred to presently),
no complete list of goods which were to be always deemed con-
traband had been drawn up. In 1896 the Institut de Droit
International prepared a set of rules with the object of obtaining
uniformity in international practice. These rules, after condemn-
ing the British doctrine of conditional contraband, proceeded to,
—
declare somewhat inconsistently with this condemnation that
—
articles adaptable equally for purposes of war and peace, which
were bound for an enemy port, might be seized by a belligerent
on payment of indemnity (u) . That which is contraband under
certain circumstances may not be so under others . When an
doubtful use, the determining factor was whether it
article is of
was intended, or would probably be applied, to military purposes.
In England and America, the court before which the goods were
brought inquired into all the circumstances of the case, such as the
destination of the ship, the purposes to which the goods seemed
intended to be applied, the character of the war, and so on, and
condemned or released them upon the evidence (x) If, however,,.
(x) Wheaton, ed. Dana, Note 226, (y) Halleck, ch. xxiv. § 19.
Calvo, vol. ii. § 1114. Kent, ed. Abdy, (z) Holland, Admiralty Manual of
Prize Law, 1888.
RIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS.
such as masts («), spars, rudders, and ship timber (6), hemp (c),
cordage, sailcloth (cZ), pitch and tar (e), and copper fit for sheath-
ing vessels (/) . Marine engines, and the component parts thereof,
including screw-propellors, paddle-wheels, cylinders, cranks,
and fire-bars; marine
shafts, boilers, tubes for boilers, boiler plates,
cement, and the materials used in the manufacture of it, as blue
lias and portland cement; iron in any of the following forms:
(a) T/ie Cimrlotte (1804), 5 C. Rob. (A) The Ilaahet (18O0), 2 O. Rob.
305; The Staadt Embden (1798), 10. 182; The Jonge Margaretha (1799),
Rob. 27. 1 O. Rob. 191; The Ranger (1805), 6
(6) The Tivende Brodre (1801), 4 O. Rob. 125.
C. Rob. 33. (0 Pari. Papers, N. America, 1863
(c) The Apollo (1802), 4 O. Rob. (No. 14), p. 5.
161; The Evert (1803), 4 O. Rob. {Jc) Field, Inter. Code (2nd ed.),
354; The Gesellschaft Michael (1802), p. 550.
4 O. Rob. 94. (J) The Nostra Signora de Begona
(d) The Neptunus (18O0), 3 C. Rob. (1804), 5 O. Rob. 98.
108. {m) The Neptunus, 3 O. Rob. 108.
(e) The Jonge Tobias (1799), 1 C. {n) The Twende Brodre (1801), 4
Rob. 329; (T^s Twe4 Jufrowen (1802), C. Rob. 37.
4 C. Rob. 242. (o) Hertslet, Treaties, vol. xii.
(/) TheCharlotte, 5 C. Rob. 305. p. 946.
(^) Holland, loc. cit. Field, In- {p) See Barboux, Jurisp. du Conseil
ternational Code (2Tid ed.), p. 550. des Prises, 1870—71, Appendix, Art. 8.
732 EIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS.
enemy's port. Nor is the rule affected by the fact that the shipper
knows they are intended ultimately to reach an enemy's port (t) .
(s) The Peter ho^ (18^6)^5 Wallaxie, Italian Prize Courts during the war
59. As far back as 1854, in the case of between Italy and Abyssinia; Archives
The Frau Anna Roxvina, the French Diplomatiques (Jan. 1897), p. 81. The
Prize Court had condemned, during judgment is set out in Ruys v. Royal
the Crimean war, part of the cargo of Exchange Assurance C^ompuny, 2 Com.
a Hanoverian ship captured off Cape Cas. 207; L. R. (1897), 2 Q. B. 135.
Rocca, on a voyage from Lisbon to And see on the whole subject an Article
Hamburg, and containing saltpetre, by E. L. de Hart, in the Law Quar-
which was described in the manifest terly Review, vol. xvii. p. 193.
and bills of lading simply as goods. {t) Hobbs v. Henning (1865), 17
The uLtimate destination of the salt- O. B. N. S. 791. But Mr. Justice
petre was adjudged to be Russia, and Willes, a few years later, in delivering
the court laid down the principle that the judgment of the Court of Common
" La contrebande de est saisis- Pleas in Seymour v. The London and
guerre
sable sans pavilion neutre quand elle Provincial Marine Insurance Company,
appartient h. I'ennemi ou quand elle 41 L. J. N. S. C P. 192, another case
est dirigee vers les territoires, les arising out of the same voyage of the
armies ou les flottes de I'ennemi": Peterho-ffy held that the criterion of
Calvo, Droit International, 4th ed., contraband was "the intention that
vol. v. § 2767. See also the case of the goods should in the course of the
The Doelwyh (1896), decided by the same transaction go on to the Con-
734 RIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS.
federate States," and that the profits It seems difficult to reconcile this with
should be obtained on delivery there. Hobbs v. Henning.
(«) (1800), 3 O. Rob. 167.
RIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS. 735
It has already been pointed out that trade in contraband is not a Contraband
breach of neutrality, and is not contrary to international law {xx).
?*^V^^
In every war neutral merchants have traded in contraband, but neutrality,
with the risk of having the goods condemned if captured by the
enemy {y) And in every war belligerents have protested against
.
seen that these principles are now embodied in the Hague code (6).
A ship, theoretically considered, may or may not be contraband, gj^- ^g
If on its way to a belligerent port for the purpose of being sold to cou;;raband.
(x) Pari. Papers, Africa, 1900 Jefferson, Works, vol. iii. p. 558;
(No. 1). Moore, Digest, vol. vii. p. 955. For
(xx) See supra, pp. 664, 665. a similar American statement during
(y) See Letters of Historicus, Oon- the Great War, 1914, see supra,
traband. Pari. Papers, N. America, p. 665.
1873 (No. 2), p. 19; Turkey, 1878 (a) See supra, p. 664.
(No. 1), p. 46. (b) 5th Convention (1907), Art. 7;
(z) Amer. State Papers, I. 69, 147; 13th Convention (1907), Art. 7.
736 RIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS.
Coals and The immense importance of coals and machinery in the naval
machinery. endless discussions
operations of the present day has given rise to
as to whether they are contraband or not. Writers of the school
of M. Hautefeuille refuse to consider such commodities as con-
traband and the French Government acted on this opinion
{d),
during the war with Germany (g), while Count Bismarck remon-
strated with Great Britain for permitting the export of coal to
"
France (/). Lord Chief Justice Cockburn says, Coal, too, though
'
(c) See American Law Review, (No. 2), p. 15. Jurist, 1859, vol. v.
voL V. p. 371. The Brutus (1804), 5 Pt. II. p. 203. See further Wharton,
C. Rob. 331, n. Digest, § 369.
(d) Hautefeuille, Droits et Devoirs (A) Pari. Papers (1884—5), France,
des Nations Neutres, vol. ii. p. 143. No. 1. In the same war the French
(e) Archives Diplomatiques, 1871 — refused to allow neutral mails to be
72, Pt. I. p. 269. landed at Formosa: Annual Register,
(/) 2 Halleck (Baker), 238, n. 1885, p. 231.
(^) Pari. Papers, N. America, 1873
EIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS. 737
demned. The vessel shared the same fate, because the whole cargo
was contraband, and a false destination had been given (l) In .
another case. The Scotsman, rice consigned to the same port and
destined for the use of the Russian forces was condemned; con-
demnation was passed also on the vessel, owing to the contraband
nature of the whole cargo, and to the master's connivance (m) .
The Declara- The London Naval Conference of 1908 — 1909 then took up the
tion of
London, 1909. subject, and after a good deal of discussion and compromise
between the representatives of the opposing schools of naval doc-
trine an agreement was eventually arrived at, which is set out in
of all kinds, including arms for sporting purposes, and their dis-
tinctive component parts. (2) Projectiles, charges, and cartridges
of all kinds, and their distinctive component parts. (3) Powder
and explosives specially prepared for use in war, (4) Gun-
mountings, limber boxes, limbers, military waggons, field forges,
and their distinctive component parts. (5) Clothing and equip-
ment of a distinctively military character. (6) All kinds of
harness of a distinctively military character. (7) Saddle, draught,
and pack animals suitable for use in war. (8) Articles of camp
equipment, and their distinctive component parts. (9) Armour
plates. (10) Warships, including boats, and their distinctive
component parts of such a nature that they can be used only on a
vessel of war. (11) Implements and apparatus designed exclu-
sively for the manufacture of munitions of war, for the manufac-
"
ture or repair of arms, or war material for use on land or sea (u).
"
Articles and materials exclusively used for war may be added Notification
° ^ ^ ^^°^'
to the list of absolute contraband by means of a declaration, which
must be notified. Such notification must be addressed to the
Governments of other Powers, or to their representatives accre-
dited to the Power making the declaration. A notification made ,
tion must be notified to the other Powers, which will take the
whicli makes it, in the sense that the article added will be contra-
band only for it, as a belligerent; other States may, of course,
47(2)
740 RIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS.
(4) Gold and silver in coin or bullion; paper money. (5) Vehicles
of all kinds available for use in war, and their component parts.,
(6) Vessels, craft, and boats of all kinds; floating docks, parts of
docks and their component parts. (7) Railway material, both
fixed. and rolling stock, and material for telegraphs, wireless tele-
conditional
'
contra-
band; i.e., they are contraband in the full sense of the term
(viz., absolute) only if they are destined to the hostile army or
fleet, or to the enemy Government (unless in the latter case it is
clear they are not susceptible for use in the
war). The Report
' '
includes fixed
(y) See supra, p. 616, as to the (1909), pp. 33 seq. The original
International Prize Court, which has French text is in Pari. Papers, Miscall,
no existence yet. No. 5 (1909), pp. 342—377.
(2) Eeport on tlie Declaration of («) Art. 24.
London, Pari. Papers, Miscell. No, 4
EIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS. 741
cars) (6).
"
Articles susceptible of use in war as well as for purposes of Notification
regards neutral vessels on the high seas Articles intended for the
.
Doctrine of The outbreak of war has always necessarily curtailed the usual
"^
voyage^/ operations of trade, and, as a natural consequence, merchants have
continually endeavoured to avoid the operation of the laws of war,
and to carry on trade in goods liable to capture with as little risk
as possible. One of the chief artifices has been to send goods
destined for a belligerent, to some conveniently situated neutral
the cargo into the common stock of the country, will not alter the
nature of the voyage, which continues the same in all respects, and
must be considered as a voyage to the country to which the vessel
is actually going for the purpose of delivering the cargo at the
ultimate port" (fc). But in Lord Stowell's time, and down to
the American War, this doctrine had only been applied to
Civil
cases coveredby the rule of 1756 (which prohibited neutrals from
lace, 135; The Stephen Hart (1863), International (1875), p. 241; Quar-
3 Wallace, 559; The Sqrringbok (1866), terly Law Review (Nov. 1877); Calvo,
6 Wallace, 1. Droit Int. vol. ii. § 1120; Moore,
(o) The Springbok (1866), Blatch- Digest, vol. vii. § 1261.
ford, Prize Cases, 349; 5 Wallace, 1. {q) Earl Russell to Lord Lyons,
(j)) The Springbok (1866), 5 Wal- Feb. 20th, 1864. Pari. Papers, Misc.
lace, 1. The decision in this case (No. 1), (1900) Cd. 34.
EIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS. 745
veyed over land. The result was, that while the blockade lasted,
neutral goods destined to reach the Confederates entirely by sea,
whether in the same ship or another, were liable to seizure during
the whole voyage, whereas if the last part of the journey was to
be performed from a neutral place over land, the goods were not
If contraband, the goods were held liable, whatever
liable at all.
means of transport were adopted (r) Though these new rules
.
regard to the seizure of the Bundesmth and the Herzog and the
General, during the Anglo-Boer war (1900) (s), was an indica-
is concerned the British Government
tion that so far as contraband
was inclined to accept the principles followed by the Courts of the
United States. An examination of the printed correspondence
relating to the cases of The Springbok and The Peterhojf shows
that the Government of that day distinctly refused to make any
contraband: "The
articles included in the list in Article 22 are
absolute contraband when they are destined for territory belonging
to or occupied by the enemy, or for his armed
military or
naval forces. These articles are liable to capture as soon as a
final destination of this kind can be shown
by the captor to exist .
cases :
—
contraband.
(1) When the goods are documented for discharge in an enemy
port, or for delivery to the armed forces of the enemy.
(2) When the vessel is t6 call at
enemy ports only, or when she
is to touch at an enemy port or join the armed forces of tlie enemy
before reaching the neutral port for which the goods in question
"
are documented (z).
It is for the captor to prove, as we see from Article 30, that
the absolute contraband goods intercepted have a hostile destina-
tion. But Article 31 lays down that in certain cases proof of the
destination is conclusive, that the presumption is final and
is,
voyage.
"
Destination Conditional contraband is liable to capture if it is shown to be
contraband destined for the use of the armed forces or of a Government de-
partment of the enemj State, unless in this latter case the circum-
stances show that the goods cannot in fact be used for the purposes
of the war in progress. This latter exception does not apply to
a consignment coming under Article 24 (4) "(c).
''
The destination referred to in Article 33 is presumed to exist
if the goods are consigned to enemy authorities, or to a trader
established in the enemy country who, as a matter of common
clearly out of the course indicated by her papers and is unable to.
"
give adequate reasons to justify such deviation (e).
"
Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 35, conditional con-
traband, if shown to have the destination referred to in Article 33,.
is liable to capture in cases where the enemy country has no sea-
board "(/).
With regard to the above rules the Report adds by way of ex-
"
planatory comment: The rules for conditional contraband differ
from those laid down for absolute contraband in two respects —
(1) there is no question of destination for the enemy in general,
but of destination for the use of his armed forces or Government
departments; (2) the doctrine of continuous voyage is excluded.
Articles 33 and 34 refer to the
first, and Article 35 to the second
principle" (ff).
colony, when the colony is far from the theatre of war and in no
inland State whose only communication with the sea was over a
few miles of railway to a neutral port, and contended that the view
as expressed by Bluntschli was applicable to the case: "If ship
or goods are sent to the destination of a neutral port only the better
to come to the aid of the enemy, there will be contraband of war,
and confiscation will be justified {h) Eventually an arrange-
'.'
.
ment was arrived at, and compensation was paid for the detention
of the vessels {i) .
"
Place of A
vessel carrying goods liable to capture as absolute or con-
cap ure.
ditional contraband may be captured on the high seas or in the
territorial waters of the belligerents throughout the whole of her
voyage, even if she is lo touch at a port of call before reaching the
"
hostile destination (k).
"
Time of A vessel may not be captured on the ground that she has carried
capture. contraband on a previous occasion if such carriage is in point of
"
fact at an end (?).
That is, the vessel is not liable to capture on the return voyage;
in other words, the successful accomplishment of the enterprise
plete, and it is not necessary to wait till the goods are actually
endeavouring to enter the enemy's port; but beyond that, if the
goods are not taken in de^licto, and in the actual prosecution of
such a voyage, the penalty not now
generally held to attach."/
is
The latter part of this judgment, that the goods must be taken in
the actual voyage to the enemy's port, is now subject to exceptions
The same judge applied a different rule in other cases of con-
traband, carried from Europe to the East Indies, with false papers
and false destination, intended to conceal the real object of the
expedition, where the return cargo, the proceeds of the outward
cargo taken on the return voyage, was held liable to condemna-
tion (n) . The soundness
of these latter decisions, however, was
but to all future cargoes of the vessel, which would thus never be
purified from the contagion communicated by the contraband
articles.
" "
Contraband goods are liable to condemnation (o). Penalty for
"
A vessel carrying contraband may be condemned if the contra- Contraband
band, reckoned either by value, weight, volume, or freight, forms
"
more than half the cargo (p).
"
If a vessel carrying contraband is released, the costs and
cargo belong to the owner of the contraband, they are all involved
in the same penalty (u) And even where the ship and the cargo
.
proportion between the contraband and the total cargo. But the
question divides itself into two parts: (1) What shall be the pro-
portion? The solution adopted is the mean between those
suffices that the contraband should form more than half the cargo
according to any one of the above standards. This may seem
severe; but, on the one hand, any other system would make fraudu-
lent calculations easy, and, on the other, it may be said that the
condemnation of the vessel is justified when the carriage of
contraband formed an important part of her venture a statement —
which applies to all the cases specified" (c).
"'
If a vessel is encountered at sea while ignorant of the outbreak Effect of
of hostilities or of the declaration of contraband affecting her cargo, ^o^orance.
the contraband may not be condemned except on payment of com-
pensation; the vessel herself and the remainder of the cargo are
not liable to condemnation or to the costs and expenses referred to
in Article 41. The same rule applies if the master, after be-
coming aware of the outbreak of hostilities or of the declaration
of contraband, has had no opportunity of discharging' the contra-
band A vessel is deemed to be aware of the existence of a state of
.
(A) Art. 44. see Phillipson, Int. Law and the Great
Withregard to the contraband War, pp. 340 seq.; Manual of Emer-
policy pursued during the Great War, gency Legislation, passim.
EIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS. 755
' '
for the enemy's naval or military forces, does, under the mildest
perty, consisting of barley and oats, for the supply of the allied
armies in the Spanish peninsula, the United States being at war
with Great Britain, but at peace with Sweden and the other Powers
allied against France. Under these circumstances a majority of
the judges were of the opinion that the voyage was illegal, and
that the neutral carrier was not entitled to his freight on the cargo
condemned as enemy's property.
It was stated in the judgment of the Court, that it had been
enemy, on the ground that the war of Great Britain against France
was a war distinct from that against the United States; and that
Swedish subjects had a perfect right to assist the British arms in
respect to the former though not to the latter. But the Court held,
that whatever might be the right of the Swedish sovereign, acting
under his own authority, if a Swedish vessel be engaged in the
actual service of Great Britain, or in carrying stores for the exclu-
sive use of the British armies, she must, to all intents .and pur-
engaged; for the same important benefits were conferred upon the
enemy of the United States, who thereby acquired a greater dis-
posable force to bring into action against them. In The FrieTid-
ship (i), Sir W. Scott, speaking on this subject, declared that
"
it signifies men so conveyed are to be put
nothing, whether the
into action on an immediate expedition or not. The mere shifting
of drafts in detachments, and the conveyance of stores from one
place to another, is an ordinary employment of a transport vessel,
and it is a distinction totally unimportant whether this or that
case may be connected with the immediate active service of the
In 1807, during the war between Great Britain and Holland, Transport
the former captured an American vessel, the Orozemho, which —
perTons.^
chartered by a merchant at Lisbon ostensibly to take a cargo ,to
America —had Dutch military officers of
received on board three
distinction and two was proved that this took
civil officials. It
place with the knowledge of the charterer, and that the vessel had
been specially fitted beforehand for the purpose. Condemnation
was decreed on the ground that the vessel had been let out in the
service of the enemy. In the course of judgment Sir W. Scott
pointed out that in accordance with previous decisions a vessel
hired by the enemy for the conveyance of military persons was to
be regarded as a transport, and therefore liable to confiscation. As
to the number of military persons necessary to subject the vessel
was difficult to define; since fewer persons of
to confiscation, it
Carriage of
A neutral vessel employed for the transport of merely civil
enemy civil
officials would, it appears, be
officials. equally liable to condemnation, if
they were despatched, with the knowledge of the charterer or
master, on the enemy's public service and at the enemy's public
The fraudulently carrying the despatches of the enemy will also The carriage^
subject the neutral vessel, in which they are transported, to capture Jjes^^^tches
and confiscation. The consequences of such a service are in-
beyond the effect of any contraband that can be
definite, infinitely
conveyed the entire plan of a campaign, that may defeat all the
aware of the fact that enemy despatches were being carried in his
—
vessel his ignorance not being due to his negligence (s) or that —
he was ignorant of their real nature {t), the penalty of condemna-
tion was not imposed.
Diplomatic But carrying the despatches of an ambassador or other public
minister of the enemy, resident in a neutral country, is an excep-
arexception.
tion to the reasoning on which the above general rule is founded.
" "
They are," said Sir W. Scott in The Caroline, despatches from
persons who
are, in a peculiar manner, the favourite object of the
with the enemy, and you are not at liberty to conclude that any
communication between them can partake, in any degree, of the
nature of hostility against you. The limits assigned to the ojyevei-
tions of war against ambassadors, by writers on public law, are,
that the belligerent may exercise his right of war against them,
wherever the character of hostility exists: he may stop the am-
bassador of his enemy on his passage; but when he has arrived in
the neutral country,and taken on himself the functions of his
and has been admitted in his representative character, he
office,
'
amity, for the interests of his own country primarily, but at the
same time for the furtherance and protection of the interests
which the neutral country also has in the continuance of those
relations. It is to be considered also, with regard to this question,
what may be due to the convenience of the neutral State; for its
interests may require that the intercourse of correspondence with
(0 The Susan (1808), 6 O. Rob. 461. (t) The Hajnd (1814), Edw. 228.
EIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS. 761
cating with his own. For to what useful purpose can he reside
there without the opportunity of such a communication? It is too
much to say that all the business of the two States shall be trans-
acted by the minister of the neutral State resident in the enemy's
country. The practice of nations has allowed to neutral States the
privilege of receiving ministers from the belligerent Powers, and
of an immediate negotiation with them" (u).
These propositions represent pretty accurately what was con-
ceived to be the customary law on the subject. And this customary
law isvalid now, subject to certain modifications introduced by
the —
Hague Code e.g., the rule that a belligerent may seize enemy
sick or wounded found in neutral hospital ships or merchant-
men (x)
— and by the Declaration of London (1909). The latter
deals with the question of unneutral service ('assistance hostile')
generally, and divides the offences into two classes lesser offences
—
and more serious offences.
"
A neutral vessel will be oondeimned and will,
in a general Avay, Declaration
receive the same treatment as a neutral vessel liable to condemna- ^^ unneutral
tion for carriage of contraband :
service.
(a) Lesser
(1) If she is on a voyage specially undertaken with a view to offences.
(w) The Caroline (1807), 6 C. Rob. (x) Hague Convention (1907), No.
461. X. Art. 12; su2yra, p. 559.
762 EIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS.
sively devoted to the service of the enemy (2;). The word ''em-
bodied" gave rise to some difficulty; the London Naval Confer-
ence agreed, after much deliberation, that it shall not refer to
such enemy individuals as are on their way to their country for
the purpose of performing the military service required of them
by their municipal law.
In the second case specified in the Article, the fact that the
persons mentioned are in civilian dress will afford no protection,
if the master or owner was aware of their true character.
Assisting the enemy during the voyage includes such services as-
signalling (a) .
enemy^:
was sunk. Protests were made, but the Japanese proceeding was
justifiable, inasmuch as the Kowshing being notified of the state
of war by the Japanese commander —
assuming she was ignorant
of before (for a formal declaration was not then obligatory)
it —
should have undertaken to discontinue her unneutral service (e) .
"
in the case of Article 45, the expiression embodied in the armed
"
forces does not apply to purely civil officials and to persons who
are on their way to take up military service but have not yet
joined their corps. It is difficult to see the ground for differentia-
ting between men enrolled and men proceeding to be enrolled.
The provision savours more of compromise than of logical
consistency.
The vessel will not be subject to capture if, for exami^le, the
(k) Of. Anier. Journ. of Inter. Law, closed to her in time of peace, is out-
vol. vii. (1913), p. 629. side the scope of the rule whereby
(I) Cf Art. 57 of the Declaration
. the character of a vessel is determined
of London, which says that a neutral by the flag she is entitled to fly,
vessel, which is engaged in a trade supra, p. 572.
766 RIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS.
(m) Of. Berens v. Huoker, 1 W. Bl. (o) The Princessa (1799), 2 O. Rob.
213; Bremer v. Atkins, 1 H. Bl. 165. 62; The Anna Catherina, 4 C. Rob.
(w) See The Immanuel (1799), 2 O. 118; The Rendsborg (1802), 4 O. Rob.
Uob. 186; The Yonge Thomas, 3 O. 121; The Vrow Annu Catherina (1803),
lloh. 232, n. Of. Phillimore, vol. iii. 6G. Rob. 161. Wheaton's Rep. vol. ii.
385. Appendix, p. 29.
EIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS. 767
The earlier text-writers all require that the siege or blockade Views of
should actually exist, and be carried on by an adequate force, and Writers
not merely^ declared by proclamation, in order to render commer-
cial intercourse with the port or place unlawful on the part of
neutrals. Thus Grotius forbids the carrying any thing to
"
besieged or blockaded places, if it might impede the execution of
the belligerent's lawful designs, and if the carriers might have
known of the siege or blockade, as in the case of a town actually
invested, or a port closely blockaded, and when a surrender or
peace already expected to take place" (t). And Bynkershoek,
is
"
in commenting upon this passage, holds it to be unlawful to carry
any thing, whether contraband or not, to a place thus circum-
stanced; since those who are within may be compelled to surrender,
not merely by the direct application of force, but also by the want
of provisions and other necessaries. If, therefore, it should be
lawful to carry to them what they are in need of, the belligerent
might thereby be compelled to raise the siege or blockade, which
would be doing him an injury, and therefore would be unjust.
And because it cannot be known what articles the besieged may
(p) Wheaton's Rep. vol. i. Appen- (1909), p. 100; and Miscell. No. 5
dix, Note iii. See Madison, '^Exa- (1909), p. 247.
mination of the British doctrine which (s) Of. the British memorandum,
subjects to capture a neutral trade not Pari. Papers, Miscell. No. 4 (1909),
open in time of peace." p. 5; see also No. 5 (1909), p. 35.
(q) Art. 141. (t) Grotius, De Jur. Bel. ac Pac.
(r) Of. Pari. Papers, Miscell, No. 4 lib. iii. cap. 1, § 5, note 3.
768 EIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS.
anything to the Spanish camp, the same not being then actually
besieged. He holds the decrees to be perfectly justifiable, so far
as they p^rohibited the carrying of contraband of war to the enemy's
(w) Bynkershoek, Qusest. Jur. Pub. ject of blockade. Cf. R. Kleen, Lois
lib. i.
cap. 11. et usages de la neutralite, 2 vols.
(a:) This famous Dutch decree of (Paris, 1898—1900), vol. i. p. 543.
1630 may be regarded as the first sys- (jy) Wheaton, Hist. Law of Nations,
tematic attempt at State legislation pp. 138—143.
for the purpose of regulating the sub- The law of blockade was con-
(z)
EIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS. 769
between the conflicting rights of belligerents and neutrals, viz., running and
the right of the belligerent to injure his foe so as to compel him contraband,
to give up the struggle, and the right of the neutral to carry on his
usual trade with that foe. It is often said that the violation of a
blockade and the transportation of contraband are unlawful, but
this requires some explanation. If by this expression it is in-
tended to imply that such acts are contrary to international law,
in the sense of being criminal or as being acts of disobedience to a
they may enforce against the neutrals who en^-age in these two
transactions. Thus the exportation of a cargo of arms to any
State during peace is indisputably lawful, and it is also permissible
when the State to which the arms are consigned is at war, but in
this cas(} the sender is exposed to the risk of forfeiting his goods
if the other belligerent can capture them on their way:. So it is
with blockade. Its violation only exposes the blockade runner to
the chance of losing his ship and cargo, if he is unsuccessful. It
is no violation of neutrality for a State not to prevent its subjects
sidered by the London Naval Confer- (6) ParL Papers, N. America, 1873
ence, 1908—1909, which drew up the (No. 2), p. 109.
fundamental principles of the inter- (c) British Proclamation of Feb.
national law on the subject in a brief 11th, 1904, in reference to the Russo-
code of twenty-one Articles, viz., Arts. Japanese War, Appendix A. See Rep.
1-^21 of the Declaration of London of Neutrality Laws Commission (1868).
(1909). P- 74; and see there other proclama-
(a) See supra, p. 664. tions.
W. 49
770 EIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS.
expressly prohibiting
blockade running, &c., and that they ara
not bound by any treaty stipulations on the subjects. The matter
is here discussed only from the point of view of international law
taking has been described as "la plus grave atteinte qui puisse etre
"
portee par la guerre au droit des neutres (g).
Extent of
blockade.
A
blockade being thus an infringement of neutral rights, its
operation is not to be extended further than the actual circum-
stances of the case render it necessary. The Declaration of
London lays down specifically that a blockade must be limited
to the ports and coasts belonging to or occupied by the enemy (h),
and that the blockading forces must not bar access to neutral ports
The Peterhoff. or coasts (j) Thus when the United States declared all the
.
A
blockade must also be absolute, that is, it must interdict all Impartiality,
•commerce whatever with the blockaded port. It is not legitimate
if it allows to either belligerent a freedom of commerce denied to
During the Crimean War various orders were issued by the Eng- The FrnncisJca.
49(2)
772 EIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS.
Baltic ports, while those ports were blockaded by the English and
French fleets, but which excluded neutrals from such trade.
this blockade a Danish (and neutral) ship was captured by
During
an English cruiser near the entrance of the Gulf of Riga. The
Privy Council held that as the blockade was relaxed in favour of
it was not a legal blockade,
belligerents to the exclusion of neutrals,
and therefore the vessel was improperly seized for attempting to
enter the port of Eiga, and must be restored (g).
Entry on Under the British practice, the stringency of the rule prohibiting
account of
distress.
vessels from entering a blockaded port is only relaxed when the
"
beyond reasonable doubt. Nothing less," says Lord Stowell,
"
than an uncontrollable necessity, which admits of no compromise,
and cannot be resisted," will be held a justification of the offence.
Any would open the door to all sorts
rule less stringent than this
of fraud and attempted evasions of the blockade would be sought
;
provision, then, gives the vessel a right to enter, and then to,
"
What things To constitute a violation of blockade," said Sir W. Scott,
must be
"three things must be proved: firstly, the existence of an actual
proved to
constitute a the
violation of
blockade; secondly, knowledge of the party supposed to have
blockade. offended; and thirdly, some act of violation, either by going in
or coming out with a
cargo laden after the commencement of
blockade" (u).
Actual pre- 1 . The definition of a lawful
maritime blockade, requiring the
sence of the
actual presence of a maritime force stationed at the entrance of
-blockading-
force.
the port, sufficiently near to
prevent communication as given by
(x) The 3rd Art. sect. 4, of this The Columbia (17&9), 1 C. Rob.
convention, declares:
—
"That in order
{z)
154.
to determine w^hat characterizes a (a) Hertslet, Map of Europe, vol. ii.
blockaded port, that domination is p. 1283.
given only where there is, by the dis- (6) Calvo, ii. § 1148. Bluntschli,
position of the Power which attacks it § 829.
Avith ships stationary, or sufficiently (c) Declar. of London (1909),
near, an evident danger in entering." Art. 2.
of the Confederate ports by the United States was one of the most
that this extensive blockade, being once established, and duly noti-
fied, was to be deemed to continue until notice of discontinuance,
escaped the Black Sea squadron, they were free, and were no longer
liable to capture. The Turkish Prize Court, however, condemned
the vessels. This case was peculiarly important from the fact
that some of the foreign ambassadors at the Porte had intimated
that if these vessels were not condemned, the blockade would not
be recognised by other countries. To hold that these Greek vessels
were not liable to be captured in the Bosphorus would have been
tantamount to opening the general commerce of the Black Sea
to Greece, and this would have immediately invalidated the whole
blockade (n) .
(l) The Baigorry (1864), 2 Wallace, German, Italian and Dutch practice,
480; The Andromeda, 2 Wallace, 481. see ibid. pp. 4, 44, 51.
(w) See Instructions, Art. 7; Bar- (w) See The Times, 15th Dec. 1877,
boux, Jurisp. du Conseil des Prises, p. 6.
1870—71, Appendix. Cf. Pari. Papers, (o) Annual Eegister, 1884, p. 373.
Miscell. No. 5 (1909), p. 30; as to
77e RIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS.
'
(1) the date Avhen the blockade begins; (2) the geographical limits
of the coast-line under blockade; (3) the period within which
"
neutral vessels may come out (^).
No time for departure has been fixed; a period of fifteen daj®
has frequently been allowed, and sometimes a longer delay has
been permitted. In 1902, when the Venezuelan ports were
blockaded by Great Britain and Germany, a fortnight was
granted. In the Spanish-American war, 1898, the United States
allowed thirty days in the case of the Cuban ports.
"
If the operations of the blockading Power, or of the naval autho-
rities acting in its name, are not in conflormity with the particulars
continue her
to tho blockading squadron to ask for autlioritj to
voyage (fc).
As blockade
Declaration presumptive knowledge in the case of a notified
to
''
of London on
^^ London provides as follows:— Failing proof
Declaration of
presumptive « i i i ii-i i i
•
i
owing to the fact that the declaration has notbeen notified to the
local authorities, or if the declaration has been notified but without
specifying the period allowed for departure, then she must be
permitted to pass free. This does not, of course, apply to vessels
that are in the port after having broken the blockade. If a vessel's
lack of notice is due, however, to the negligence or ill-will of the
local authorities, sheremains subject to capture (o) .
port or place; but she shall not be detained, nor her cargo, if not
contraband, be confiscated, unless, after notice, she shall again
attempt to enter; but she shall be permitted to go to any other
port or place she may think proper." This stipulation, which is
equivalent to that contained in previous treaties between Great
Britain and the Baltic Powers, having been disregarded by the
naval authorities and prize courts in the West Indies, the attention
of the British Government was called to the subject by an official
communication from the American Government. In consequence
of this communication, instructions were sent out in the year
1804, by the Board of Admiralty, to the naval commanders a,nd
judges of the vice-admiralty courts, not to consider any blockade
of the French West-India islands as existing, unless in respect to
particular ports which were actually invested; and then not to
capture vessels bound to such ports, unless they should previously
have been warned not to enter them. The stipulation in the
treaty intended to be enforced by these instructions seems to be
a correct exposition of the law of nations, and is admitted by the
(o) Cf. Report on the Declar. of London, Pari. Papers, Miscell. No. 4 (1909).
'82 EIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTEALS.
sailing was coupled with the intention, and the condemnation was
thus founded upon a supposed actual breach of the blockade.
it to be blockaded, was
Sailing for a blockaded port, knowing
there construed into an attempt to enter that port, and was, there-
fore, adjudged a breach of blockade from the departure of the
vessel. But the fact of clearing out for a blockaded port is, in
defeated, it must have been shown that the actual blockade was
again resumed, and the vessel would have been entitled to a
warning, if any such blockade had existed when she arrived off
the port. The mere act of sailing for the port, under the dubious
state of the actual blockade at the time, was deemed insufficient
to fix upon the vessel the penalty for breaking the blockade (g) .
squadron had actually returned to its former station off the port,
in order to renew the blockade, a question arose whether there
had been that notoriety of the fact, arising from the operation of
time, or other circumstances, which must be taken to have brought
the existence of the blockade to the knowledge of the parties.
Among other modes of resolving this question, a prevailing con-
sideration would have been the length of time in proportion to the
distance of the country from which the vessel sailed. But as
nothing more came out in evidence than that the squadron came
off the port on a certain day,it was held that this would not
restore a blockade which had been thus effectually raised, but that
it must be renewed again by notification, before foreign nations
(r) The Ilofnung (1805), 6 C. Rob. (t) Of. Moore, Inter. Arbit. vol. iv.
112. 3911; Wharton, Digest, § 359.
(s) (18«4), 2 Wallace, 135. (w) The Adula (1899), 176 U. S.
Rep. 361.
784 RIGHTS OF WAE AS TO NEUTRALS.
Some act of 3. Besides the knowledge of the party, some act of violation
Zi^^r^l is essential to a breach of blockade; as either going in or coming
out of the port with a cargo laden after the commencement of the
blockade {x) .
cargoes as should come out of the said ports, not having been
forced into them by stress of weather^ although they should be
captured at a distance from them, unless they had, after leaving
the enemy's port, performed their voyage to a port of their own
ships of war, and chased into another port, such as their own, or
that of their destination, and found on the high seas coming out
of such port, in that case they might be
captured and condemned.
Bynkershoek considers this provision as distinguishing the case
of a vessel having broken the blockade, and afterwards terminated
her voyage by proceeding voluntarily to her destined port, and
that of a vessel chased and compelled to take
refuge; which latter
might still be captured after leaving the port in which she had
ciples are the more modern law and practice (0), though the
Anglo-American doctrines differ in certain respects from those
entertained in various continental countries.
Under the Anglo-American system (though not latterly en- intent to
forced), the sailing of a vessel with a premeditated intent to violate JJ^^^j
a blockade is, ipso facto, a violation of the blockade, and renders
her subject to capture from the moment she leaves the port of
departure; and if a master has actual notice of a blockade he is
not at liberty even to approach the blockaded port for the pur-
pose of making inquiries {a) It is not the mere mental design
.
that subjects the goods to confiscation, but the overt act of starting
for, or proceeding towards the prohibited port with the knowledge
that it is blockaded, and continuing that course up to the time of
(y) Bynkershoek, Qusest. Jur. Pub. The Andromeda, 2 Wallace, 482; The
lib. i.
cap. 11. Cornelius, 3 Wallace, 214.
(2;) The Welvaart Van Pillaw (d) The Louisa Agnes, Blatchford,
(1799), 2 O. Rob. 138; The Jufrow Prize Cases, 112; The Mentor, Edw.
Maria Schroeder (1800), 3 O. Rob. 147. 207.
(«) The AduU (1899), 176 U. S. {e) The Diana, 7 Wallace, 360; The
Rep. 362. William H. Northrop, Blatchford,
(6) TheJohn Gilpin (l^^),B\aAxih- Prize Cases, 236.
ford, Prize Oases, 291 ; Yeaton v. Fry (/) The John Gilpin (1863), Blatch-
(1809), 5 Cranch, 335. Of. Halleck, ford, Prize Cases, 291.
eh. 23, § 23. {g) Geipel v. S^nith, L. R. 7 Q. B.
(c) The Circassian, 2 Wallace, 135; 404.
The Baigorry (1864), 2 Wallace, 474;
>^^ 50
786 EIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS.
Violation of
respect to violating a blockade by coming
With out with a
blockade by
for although it
cargo, the time of shipment
is very material;
egress.
port, and sailed out in ballast, she was held not to have violated
the blockade {i) So where goods were sent into the blockaded
.
ih) The Betsey (1798), 1 C. Rob. {k) The Potsdam (1801), 4 O. Rob.
93.
89; Olivera v. Union Insurance Com-
CO The Vrow Judith (1799), 1 O. pany (1818), 3 Wheaton, 183.
Rob. 150.
EIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS. 787
(l) The Juffrow Maria Schroeder (1799), 2 O. Rob. 128; The Lisette
<1800), 3 C. Rob. 147, n. (1807), 6 O. Rob. 387.
(m) The TVelvaurt Van Pillaw (n) Art. 17.
50 (2)
788 RIGHTS OF WAE AS TO NEUTRALS.
"
A vessel whicli has broken blockade outwards, or which has
is liable to capture so long
attempted to break blockade inwards,
as she is pursued by a ship of the blockading force. If the pur-
suit is abandoned, or if the blockade is raised, her capture may
"
no longer be effected (p).
The adds by way of commentary: "This vessel
Eeport
must
remain liable to capture so long as she pursued by a ship of the
is
ship of the second line, until the limit of the area of the operations
is reached. In certain conditions there might be several lines,
each having its respective zone of pursuit" (r).
*
Continuous "
*
Whatever may be the ulterior destination of a vessel or of her
voyage in-
cargo, she may not be captured for breach of blockade, if at the
"
time she is on her way to a non-blockaded port (s).
We '
is applied
by the Declaration of London to the case of absolute contraband,
but not to that of conditional contraband. It is also excluded in
"
the case of blockade. The Report adds: It is the true destina-
tion of the vessel which must be considered when a breach of
blockade is in question, and not the ulterior destination of the
"
A found guilty of breach of blockade is liable to con-
vessel Penalty for
demnation. The cargo
is also condemned, unless it is proved that blockade,
at the time the goods were shipped the shipper neither knew nor Liability of
" cargo.
could have known of the intention to break the blockade (u)
Under the British practice the general rule is that when a ship
is condemned for breach of blockade the cargo follows the same
fate. The owners of the cargo, are bound by the act of the master,
even though the breach of blockade was without their privity, or
contrary to their wishes; though in such a case the owners of the
cargo have their remedy against the master and owners of the
ship (x). When the owners of the cargo knew, or might have
known, of the existence of the blockade when the shipment was
made, the inference of law is irresistible that they were privy toi
violating the blockade. The master is to be treated as the agent
for the cargo as well as for the ship (y) If the goods were shipped
.
The right of visit and search of neutral vessels at sea is a The eight
^^"
belligerent right, essential to the exercise of the right of capturing search!
enemy's property, contraband of war, and vessels committing a Convoy.
breach of blockade, or an act of unneutral service. Even if the
right of capturing enemy's property be ever so strictly limited,
and the rule of 'free ships free goods' be adopted, the right of
visit and search is essential, in order to determine whether the
searched, does not appear what the ships or the destination are;
it
.
(*) Bynkershoek, Qusest. Jur. Pub. upon a neutral vessel, but upon a vessel
lib. i. cap. 14. Vattel, Droit des Gens, the character of which is unknown,
liv. iii. ch. 7, § 114.
Martens, Precis, Heffter, § 168,Geffcken, note 3, citing
&c., liv. viii. c. 7, §§ 317, 321. Gal- Hautefeuille.
ham, Dei Doveri d© Principi Neutrali, (o) It is to be noted that this judg-
&c.,p. 458. Lampredi, Del Oommercio ment was delivered more than half a
dePopoliNeutrali,&c. p. 185. Kluber, century before the Declaration of
Droit des Gens Moderne de I'Europe, Paris.
§ 293. It has been well observed that {d) M. Von Hubner, De la saisie
at bottom the right is not exercised des b^timents neutres (1778).
EIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS. 791
"
sioned belligerent cruiser. Two sovereigns may unquestionably
agree, if they think fit, as in some late instances they have agreed,
by special covenant, that the presence of one of their armed ships
along with their merchant ships shall be mutually understood to
imply that nothing is to be found in that convoy of merchant ships
inconsistent with amity or neutrality; and if they consent to
accept this pledge, no third party has a right to quarrel with it,
any more than any other pledge which they may agree mutually
to accept. But surely no sovereign can legally compel the accept-
ance of such a security by mere force. The only security known to
the law of nations upon this subject, independently of all special
covenant, is the right of personal visitation and search, to be
exercised by those who have the interest in making it."
That the penalty for the violent contravention of this right Long-
3.
is the confiscation of the property so withheld from visit and established
' . practice,
search .For the proof of this I need only refer to Vattel, one of
the most correct, and certainly not the least indulgent, of modern
contrebande, Ton ne
visite pas les vaisseaux neutres.
si On est
done en droit de les visiter. Quelques nations puissantes ont refuse
en differents temps de so soumettre a cette visite. Aujourd'hui
un vaisseau neutre, qui refuseroit de souffrir la visite, se feroit
condamner par cela seul, comme etant de bonne prise.' Vattel is
here to be considered, not as a lawyer merely delivering an opinion,
—
but as a witness asserting a fact the fact that such is the existing
practice of modern Europe. Conformably to this principle, we
find in the celebrated French ordinance of 1681, now in force.
'
directs, That when any ship, met withal by the royal navy or
other ship commissionated, shall fight or make resistance, the
in saving that it was the rule, and the undisputed rule, of the
British Admiralty. I will not say that the rule may not have
been broken in upon, in some instances, by considerations of
comity or of policy, by which it may be fit that the administration
of this species of law should be tempered in the hands of those
tribunals which have a right to entertain and apply them for no ;
case, any other right and title than what the State itself would
possess under the same fa-cts of capture. But I stand with confi-
dence upon all principles of reason —upon the distinct authority of
Vattel — upon the institutes of other great maritime countries, as
well as those of our own country, when I venture to lay it down
that, by the law of nations, as now understood, a deliberate and
continued resistance to search, on the part of a neutral vessel, to a
lawful cruiser, is followed by the legal consequence of confisca-
tion "(e).
The Armed The judgment of condemnation pronounced in this case was
of 1800. followed by the treaty of Armed Neutrality, entered into by the
Baltic Powers, in 1800, which league was dissolved by the death
of the Emperor Paul; and the points in controversy between these
Powers and Great Britain were finally adjusted by the Convention
of 5th June, 1801. By the fourth Article of this Convention,
the right of search as to merchant vessels sailing under neutral
In the case of The Maria, the resistance of the convoying ship Forcible
^^si^^^^^^ce by
was held to be a resistance of the whole fleet of merchant vessels
an enemy
imder convoy, and subjected the whole to conflscation. This was master.
(/) The question arising out of the 1801). "Substance of the Speech of
•case of the Swedish convoy gave rise Lord Grenville in the House of Lords,
to several instructive polemic essays. November 13, 1801 " (London, 1802).
The judgment of Sir W. Scott was Wheaton, Hist. Law of Nations,
attacked by Professor J. F. W. pp. 390
—420.
:Schlegel, ofCopenhagen, in a Treatise (g) Cf Pari. Papers, Miscell. No. 4
.
teneo
'
— and if he can withdraw himself he has a right so
to do"(Z).
Neutral goods The question how far a neutral merchant has a right to carry
enemy vessel, his goods on board an armed enemy vessel, and how far his pro-
can Court, Sir W. Scott held directly the contrary doctrine, and
decreed salvage for the recapture of neutral Portuguese property,
puts off her pacific character and undertakes for the discharge
of duties which belong only to the military marine. If, then, th(^
association be voluntary, the neutral, in suffering the fate of the
entire convoy, has only to regret his own folly in wedding his
fortune to theirs; or if involved in the resistance of the convoying
ship, he shares the fate to which the leader of his own choice is
port.
But it might perhaps be said, that as resistance to the right of
search is, by the law and usage of nations, a substantive ground
of condemnation in the case of the master of a single ship, still
more must it be so, where many vessels are associated for the
purpose of defeating the exercise of the same right. In order to
render the two cases stated perfectly analogous, there must have
been an actual resistance on the part of the vessels in question, or,
at least, on the part of the enemy's fleet,
having them at the time
under its protection, so as to connect them inseparably with the
acts of the enemy. Here was no actual resistance on the part of
either, but only a constructive resistance on the part of the neutral
vessels, implied from the fact of their having joined the enemy's
convoy. This, however, was, at most, a mere intention to resist,
RIGHTS OF WAR AS TO NEUTRALS. 797
never carried into effect, which had never been considered in the
case of a single ship, as involving the penalty of confiscation. But
the resistance of the master of a single ship, which is supposed to
be analogous to the case of convoy, must refer to a neutral master,
whose resistance would, by the established law of nations, involve
both ship and cargo in the penalty of confiscation. The same
principle would not, however, apply to the case of an enemy
master, who has an incontestable right to resist his enemy, and
whose resistance could not affect the neutral owner of the cargo,
unless he was on board, and actually participated in the resist-
ance. Such was, in a similar case, the judgment of Sir W. Scott.
Moreover, to sail under a belligerent convoy is not necessarily
to injure the right of the other belligerent. If any such right is
injured, must
it be the right of visit and search. But that right
is not a substantive and independent right, with which belli-
With regard to the question of neutral vessels sailing under British prac-
Declaration
gy\ the Declaration of London (1909), provision is made for
of London on
convoy.
, , „
the right of convoy
, „
and ior resistance
.
, ,
to search:
,
—
"
Neutral vessels under convoy of their national flag are exempt
from search. The commander of a convoy gives, in writing, at
the request of the commander of a belligerent warship, all infor-
mation as to the character of the vessels and their cargoes, which
"
could be obtained by search (s).
The exemption conferred by this Article is conditional on the
convoying commander's assurance of the innocent character of the
vessel and cargo under convoy The very act of convoying vessels
.
"
If the commander of the belligerent warship has reason to
"
The situation is
altogether different if a
convoyed vessel is
found beyond the possibility of dispute to be carrying contraband.
The vessel has no longer a right to protection, since the condition
upon which such protection depends has not been fulfilled. She
has deceived her own Government, and has tried to deceive the
belligerent. She must therefore be treated as a neutral merchant
vessel which, in the ordinary way, encounters a belligerent cruiser
and is visited and searched by her. She cannot complain at being
treated thus rigorously, since there is in her case an aggravation of
the offence, committed by a carrier of contraband" (x).
capture" (g).
"
As an exception, a neutral vessel which has been captured by a
belligerent warship, and which would be liable to condemnation,
may be destroyed if the observance of Article 48 would involve
danger to the safety of the warship or to the success of the opera-
"
tions inwhich she is engaged at the time (h).
The Eeport emphasizes, in reference to this Article, that it is
the circumstances existing at the moment of destruction that must
be considered, in order to decide whether the conditions specified
are or are not fulfilled (^) .
"
Before the vessel is destroyed all persons on board must be
placed in safety, and all the ship's papers and other documents
which the parties interested consider relevant for the purpose o£
deciding on the validity of the capture must be taken on board
"
the warship (k).
"
A
captor who has destroyed a neutral vessel must, prior to any
decision respecting the validity of the prize, establish that he
entitled (m)
"
If goods not liable to condemnation have been The
neutral cargo,
a prize crew on board the vessel and take her into port for adjudica-
tion. He may, in conformity with the provisions of Article 44 (g),
adjudicate" (r).
<'
Compensa- j| ^^^ capture of a vessel or of goods is not upheld by the Prize
Court, or if the prize is released without any judgment being
given, the parties interested have the right to compensation, unless
there were good reasons for capturing the vessel or goods" (s).
(r) Pari. Papers, Misoell. No. 4 (s) Declar. of London, Art. 64.
(1909), pp. 52, 97.
TEEATY OF PEACE. 803
CHAPTER V.
TREATY OF PEACE.
depends upon the municipal constitution of the State. These au- dependent on
thorities are generally associated. In unlimited monarchies, both the municipal
constitution.
.,
reside m the sovereign
. , .
;
and even m Tlimited or constitutional/ mon-
. . , . .
the Cabinet (as in Great Britain) that actually exercises it. But
the real power of making both peace and war resides ultimately
in the two Chambers, which have the authority of granting or
other treaties with foreign States is, or may be, limited in its J^gatief of
extent by the national constitution . We have already seen that a peace
51(2)
804 TREATY OF PEACE.
(6) Vide ante, Pt. iii. ch. 2, p. 365. des Gens, liv. i. ch. 20, § 244; liv. iv.
(c) Grotius, De Jur. Bel. ac Pac. ch. 2, § 12. Kent, Comment, on
lib. iii. cap. 20, § 7. Vatftel, Droit American Law, vol. i. p. 178 (5th ed.).
*
original cause which first kindled it, or for whatever may have
occurred in the course of it. But the reciprocal stipulation of
perpetual peace and amity between the parties does not imply
that they are never again to make war against each other for
any cause whatever. The peace relates to the war which it ter-
minates; and is perpetual, in the sense that the war cannot be
revived for the same cause. This will not, however, preclude the
country or places, they remain with the conqueror, and his title
cannot afterwards be called in question. During the continu-
ance of the war, the conqueror in possession has only a usufruc-
tuary right, and the latent title of the former sovereign continues,
until the treaty of peace, by its silent operation, or express
(0) Of. Kent, Comment, vol. i. Martens, Precis du Droit des Gens,
p. 168 (5th ed.). Uv. iii. ch. 4, § 282. Kluber, Droit
(/) Grotius, De Jur. Bel. ac Pac. des Gens Moderne de I'Europe, §§ 254
cap. 6, §§ 4, 5. Vattel, Droit
lib. iii. —259.
dee Gens, liv. iii. ch. 13, §§ 197, 198.
808 TREATY OF PEACE.
From what A treaty of peace binds the contracting parties from the time
time the
of its signature. Hostilities are to cease between them from that
treaty of
peace com- time, unless some other period be provided in the treaty itself {h) .
mences its
operation. But the treaty binds the subjects of the belligerent nations only
from the time it is notified to them. Any intermediate acts of
hostilitycommitted by them before it was known, cannot ]be
punished as criminal acts, though it is the duty of the State to
make restitution of the property seized subsequently to the con-
clusion of the treaty (^); and in order to avoid disputes respecting
the consequences of such acts, it is usual to provide, in the treaty,
itself, the periods at which hostilities are to cease in different
but with a knowledge of the peace on the part of the captor, the
capture is still for since constructive knowledge of the
invalid;
peace, after the periods limited in the different parts of the world,
renders the capture void, much more ought actual knowledge of
the peace to produce that effect It may, however, be questionable
.
end, from the time limited, to all force; and then the general
principle applied, that things acquired in war remain, as to title
and possession, precisely as they stood when the peace took place.
The uti possidetis is the basis of every treaty of peace, unless the
contrar}^ bo expressly stipulated. Peace gives a final and perfect
title to captures without condemnation, and as it forbids all force,
operations of war. A
fortress or town is to be restored as it was
when taken, so far as it still remains in that condition when the
peace is concluded. There is no obligation to repair, as well as
Wheaton, Hist. Law of Nations, (s) Ante, p. 119. See further ante,
{q)
—
pp. 538 655. Part II. ch. 1; Lawrence, Essays on
(r) Ante, p. llo. some disputed questions in modem
International Law (1885), Essay V.
APPENDIX A.
Preliminary.
"
1. This Act may be cited for all purposes as The Foreign Enlist- Short title
ment Act, 1870." of Act.
2. This Act shall extend to all the dominions of Her Majesty,
Application
including the adjacent territorial waters. of Act.
3. This Act shall come into operation in the United Kingdom im- Commence -
mediately on the passing thereof, and shall be proclaimed in every ment of Act.
British possession by the governor thereof as soon as may be after he
receives notice of this Act, and shall come into operation in that
British possession on the day of such proclamation, and the time at
which this Act comes into operation in any place is, as respects such
place, in this Act referred to as the commencement of this Act.
Illegal Enlistment.
4. If any person, \vithout the license of Her Majesty, being a Penalty on
British subject, within or without Her Majesty's dominions, accepts enlistment in
or agrees to accept any commission or engagement in the military or service of
^ ®*
naval service of any foreign State at war with any foreign State at ^^^^^^
peace with Her Majesty, and in this Act referred to as a friendly
State, or whether a British subject or not within Her Majesty's
dominions, induces any other person to accept or agree to accept any
commission or engagement in the military or naval service of any
such foreign State as aforesaid, —
He shall be guilty of an offence against this Act, and shall be
punishable by fine and imprisonment, or either of such punish-
ments, at the discretion of the Court before which the offender is
convicted; and imprisonment, if awarded, may be either with or
without hard labour.
814 APPENDIX.
Illegal Prize.
Illegal prize
14. If, during the continuance of any war in which Her Majesty
brought into may be neutral, any ship, goods, or merchandize captured as prize of
British ports war within the territorial jurisdiction of Her
restored. Majesty, in violation of
the neutrality of this realm, or
captured by any ship which may
have been built, equipped, commissioned, or
despatched, or the force
of which may have been to the of
augmented, contrary provisions
this Act, are brought within the limits of Her Majesty's dominions
FOREIGN ENLISTMENT. 817
Legal Procedure.
16. Any Act shall, for all purposes of and
offence against this Jurisdiction
in respect of
incidental to the trial and punishment of any person guilty of any
such offence, be deemed to have been committed either in the place ^
pers^M^
in which the offence was wholly or partly committed, or in any place
against Act.
within Her Majesty's dominions in which the person who committed
such offence may be.
17. Any offence against this Act may be described in any indict- Venue in
ment or other document relating to such offence, in cases where the respect of
mode of trial requires such a description, as having been committed o^ences by
the provisions of this Act, and any officer seizing or detaining any
ship under this Act may use force, if necessary, for the purpose of
enforcing seizure or detention, and if any person is killed or maimed
by reason of his resisting such officer in the execution of his duties,
or any person acting under his orders, such officer so seizing or
detaining the ship, or other person, shall be freely and fully in-
demnified as well against the Queen's Majesty, her heirs and suc-
cessors, as against all persons so killed, maimed, or hurt.
23. If the Secretary of State or the chief executive authority is Special
satisfied that there is a reasonable and probable cause for believing power of
that a ship within Her Majesty's dominions has been or is being
state or^ hi f
built, conmaissioned, or equipped contrary to this Act, and is about executive
to be taken beyond the limits of such dominions, or that a ship is authority to
about to be despatched contrary to this Act, such Secretary of State detain ship,
or chief executive authority shall have power to issue a warrant
stating that there is reasonable and probable cause for believing ^
aforesaid, and upon such warrant the local authority shall have power
to seize and search such ship, and to detain the same until it has
been either condemned or released by process of law, or in manner
hereinafter mentioned.
The owner of the ship so detained, or his agent, may apply to the
Court of Admiralty for its release, and the Court shall as soon as
possible put the matter of such seizure and detention in course of
trial between the applicant and the Crown.
If the applicant establish to the satisfaction of the Court that the
ship was not and is not being built, commissioned, or equipped, or
intended to be despatched contrary to this Act, the ship shall be
released and restored.
If the applicant fail to establish to the satisfaction of the Court
that the ship was not and is not being built, commissioned, or
equipped, or intended to be despatched contrary to this Act, then
the ship shall be detained until released by order of the Secretary
of State or chief executive authority.
The Court may in cases where no proceedings are pending for its
condemnation, release any ship detained under this section on the
owner giving security to the satisfaction of the Court that the ship
shall not be employed contrary to this Act, notwithstanding that the
applicanfc may have failed to establish to the satisfaction of the Court
that the ship was not and is not being built, commissioned, or
intended to be despatched contrary to this Act. The Secretary of
State or the chief executive authority may likewise release any ship
detained under this section on the owner giving security to the
satisfaction of such Secretary of State or chief executive authority
that the ship shall not be employed contrary to this Act, or may
release the ship without such security if the Secretary of State or
chief executive authority think fit so to release the same.
If the Court be of opinion that there was not reasonable and pro-
bable cause for the detention, and if no such cause appear in the
course of the proceedings, the Court shall have power to declare that
the owner is to be indemnified by the payment of costs and damages
in respect of the detention, the amount thereof to be assessed by the
Court, and any amount so assessed shall be payable by the Commis-
sioners of the Treasury out of any moneys legally applicable for that
purpose. The Court of Admiralty shall also have power to make a
like order for the indemnity of the owner, on the application of such
owner to the Court, in a summary way, in cases where the ship is
52(2)
820 APPENDIX.
Majesty, and such powers and jurisdiction may also be exercised by State or chief
executive
any of the following officers, in this Act referred to as the chief
executive authority, within their respective jurisdictions; that is to ^-uthonty.
say,
(1.) In Ireland by the Lord Lieutenant or other the chief governor
or governors of Ireland for the time being, or the chief
secretary to the Lord Lieutenant:
(2.) In Jersey by the Lieutenant Governor:
(3.) In Guernsey, Alderney, and Sark, and the dependent islands
by the Lieutenant Governor:
(4.) In the Isle of Man by the Lieutenant Governor:
(5.) In any British possession by the Governor.
Acopy of any warrant issued by a Secretary of State or by any
officer authorized in pursuance of this Act to issue such warrant in
Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man shall be laid before
Parliament.
27. An appeal may be had from any decision of a Court of Admi- Appeal from
Court of
ralty under this Act to the same tribunal and in the same manner to
and in which an appeal may be had in cases within the ordinary juris- -^"^^^i^^ity
diction of the Court as a Court of Admiralty.
28. Subject to the provisions of this Act providing for the award Indemnity to
of damages in certain cases in respect of the seizure or detention of a officers,
ship by the Court of Admiralty no damages shall be payable, and no
officer or local authority shall be responsible, either civilly or crimi-
Interpretation Clause.
30. In this Act, not inconsistent with the context, the following
if Interpreta-
terms have the meanings hereinafter respectively assigned to them; tion of terms.
that is to say,
"
province or people:
"
Military service shall include military telegraphy and any other
<»
Military-
"
employment whatever, in or in connection with any miHtary service:
operation:
"Naval service" shall, as respects a person, include service as a "Naval
marine, employment as a pilot in piloting or directing the service:"
course of a ship of war or other ship when such ship of war or
other ship is being used in any military or naval operation,
and any employment whatever on board a ship of war, trans-
port, store ship, privateer or ship under letters of marque; and
as respects a ship, include any user of a ship as a transport,
store ship, privateer or ship under letters of marque:
"United Kingdom" includes the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands, ** United "
'
«*
British 'British possession" means any territory, colony, or place being"
possession :
''
"
Court of Admiralty shall mean the High Court of Admiralty
''
"Court of
" of England or Ireland, the Court of Session of Scotland, or
Aiioiiralty :
"Ship and Ship and equipment" shall include a ship and everything in or
equipment :
belonging to a ship:
"
"Master." Master shall include any person having the charge or command
of a ship.
33. Nothing in this Act contained shall extend or be construed to Penalties not
*o extend to
extend to subj ect to any penalty any person who enters into the
military service of any prince, State, or potentate in Asia, with such gnterini? into
leave or license as is for the time being required by law in the ca^e military
of subjects of Her Majesty entering into the military service of service in
-^s^^-
princes, States, or potentates in Asia.
59 Geo. III.
c. 69, 8. 12.
Now, in order that none of our subjects may unwarily render them-
selves liable to the penalties imposed by the said statute, we do hereby
strictly command that no person or persons whatsoever do commit any
act, matter, or thing whatsoever contrary to the provisions of the said
statute, upon pain of the several penalties by the said statute imposed
and of our high displeasure.
And we do hereby further warn and admonish all our loving sub-
jects, and all persons whatsoever entitled to our protection, to observe
towai-ds each of the aforesaid powers, their subjects, and territories,
and towards all belligerents whatsoever with whom we are at peace,
the duties of neutrality; and to respect, in all and each of them, the
exercise of belligerent rights.
And we hereby further warn all our loving subjects, and all persons
whatsoever entitled to our protection, that if any of them shall pre-
sume, in contempt of this our royal proclamation, and of our high dis-
pleasure, to do any acts in derogation of their duty as subjects of a
neutral power in a war between other powers, or in violation or con-
travention of the law of nations in that behalf, as more especially
by breaking, or endeavouring to break, any blockade lawfully and
actually established by or on behalf of either of the said powers, or
by carrying officers, soldiers, despatches, arms, ammunition, military
stores or materials, or any article or articles considered and deemed to
be contraband of war according to the law or modern usages of
nations, for the use or service of either of the said powers, that all
persons so offending, together with their ships and goods, will right-
fully incur and be justly liable to hostile capture, and to the penalties
denounced by the law of nations in that behalf.
And we do hereby give notice that all our subjects and persons
entitled to our protection who may misconduct themselves in the pre-
mises will do so at their peril and of their own wrong and that they
;
your lordships, for your guidance, the following rules, which are to
be treated and enforced as His Majesty's orders and directions: —
Kule 1. During the continuance of the present state of war, all
ships of war of either belligerent are prohibited from making use of
any port or roadstead in the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man, or
the Channel Islands, or in any of His Majesty's colonies or foreign
possessions or dependencies, or of any waters subject to the territorial
jurisdiction of the British Crown, as a station or place of resort for
any warlike purpose, or for the purpose of obtaining any facilities for
warlike equipment; and no ship of war of either belligerent shall
fiereafter be permitted to leave any such port, roadstead, or waters
from which any vessel of the other belligerent (whether the same
shall be a ship of war or a merchant ship) shall have previously
departed until after the expiration of at least twenty-four hours from
the departure of such last-mentioned vessel beyond the territorial
jurisdiction of His Majesty.
Eule 2. If there is now in any such ^jort, roadstead, or waters
subject to the territorial jurisidiction of the British Crown any ship of
war of either belligerent, such ship of war shall leave such port, road-
stead, or waters within such time not less than twenty-four hours as
shall be reasonable, having regard to all the circumstances and the
condition of such ship as to repairs, provisions, or things necessary for
the subsistence of her crew; and if after the date hereof any ship of
war of either belligerent shall enter any such port, roadstead, or
waters subject to the territorial jurisdiction of the British Crown, such
ship shall depart and put to sea within twenty-four hours after her
entrance into any such port, roadstead, or waters, except in case of
stress of weather, or of her requiring provisions or things necessary
for the subsistence of her crew, or repairs; in either of which cases
the authorities of the port, or of the nearest port (as the case may be),
shall require her to put to sea as soon as possible after the expiration
of such period of twenty-four hours, without permitting her to take in
supplies beyond what may be necessary for her immediate use; and
no such vessel which may have been allowed to remain within British
waters for the purpose of repair shall continue in any such port^
roadstead, or waters, for a longer period than twenty-four hours after
her necessary repairs shall have been completed. Provided, never-
theless, that in all cases in which there shall be any vessels (whether
ships of war or merchant ships) of both the said belligerent parties in
the same port, roadstead, or waters within the territorial jurisdiction
of His Majesty, there shall be an interval of not less than twenty-four
hours between the departure therefrom of any such vessel (whether a
ship of wai' or merchant ship) of the one belligerent, and the subse-
quent departure therefrom of any ship of war of the other belligerent;
and the time hereby limited for the departure of such ships of war
respectively shall always, in case of necessity, be extended so far
as may be requisite for giving effect to this proviso, but no further or
otherwise.
Rule 3. No ship of war of either belligerent shall hereafter be
permitted, while in any such port, roadstead, or waters subject to the
territorial jurisdiction of His Majesty, to take in any supplies, except
provisions and such other things as may be requisite for the sub-
sistence of her crew, and except so much coal only as may be sufficient
to carry such vessel to the nearest port of her own country, or to some
nearer named neutral destination, and no coal shall again be supplied
to any such ship of war in the same or any other port, roadstead, or
826 APPENDIX.
the limits of the United States, fit out and arm, or attempt to fit out
and arm, or procure to be fitted out and armed, or shall knowingly be
concerned in the furnishing, fitting out, or arming, of any ship or
vessel with intent that such ship or vessel shall be employed in the
service of any foreign prince or State, or of any colony, district, or
people, to cruise or commit hostilities against the subjects, citizens,
or property of any foreign prince or State, or of any colony, district,
or people with whom the United States are at peace, or shall issue or
deliver a commission within the territory or jurisdiction of the United
States, for any ship or vessel, to the intent that she may be employed
as aforesaid, every person so offending shall be guilty of a high
misdemeanour, and shall be fined not more than ten thousand dollars,
and imprisoned not more than three years; and every such ship or
vessel, with her tackle, apparel, and furniture, together with all
material, arms, ammunition, and stores, which may have 'been pro-
cured for the building and equipment thereof, shall be forfeited;
one-half to the use of the informer, and the other half to the use of
the United States.
Sect. 4. And be it further enacted. That if any citizen or citizens of
the United States shall, without the limits thereof, fit out and arm, or
attempt to fit out and arm, or procure to be fitted out and armed, or
shall knowingly aid or be concerned in the furnishing, fitting out, or
arming, any private ship or vessel of war, or privateer, with intent
that such ship or vessel shall be employed to cruise, or commit hos-
tilities, upon the citizens of the United States, or their property, or
shall take the command of, or enter on board of any such ship or
vessel, for the intent aforesaid, or shall purchase any interest in
any such ship or vessel, with a view to share in the profits thereof,
such persons so offending shaU. be deemed guilty of a high misde-
meanour, and fined not more, than ten thousand dollars, and im-
prisoned not more than ten years; and the trial for such offence, if
committed within the limits of the United States, shall be in the
district in which the offender shall be apprehended or first brought.
Sect. 5. And be it further enacted, That if any persons shall,
within the territory or jurisdiction of the United States, increase or
augment, or procure to be increased or augmented, or shall knowingly
be concerned in increasing or augmenting the force of any ship of
war, cruiser, or other armed vessel, which, at the time of her arrival
within the United States, was a ship of war, or cruiser, or armed
vessel, in the service of any foreign prince or State, or of any colony,
district, or people, or belonging to the subjects or citizens of any
such prince or State, colony, district, or people, the same being at war
with any foreign prince or State, or of any colony, district, or people
with whom the United States are at peace, by adding to the number
of the guns of such vessel, or by changing those on board of her for
guns of a larger calibre, or by the addition thereto of any equipment
solely applicable to war, every person so offending shall be deemed
guilty of a high misdemeanour, shall be fined not more than one
thousand and be imprisoned not more than one year.
dollars,
Sect. 6. And be
it further enacted. That if
any person shall, within
the territory or jurisdiction of the United States, begin or set on foot,
or provide or prepare the means for any military expedition or enter-
prise, to be carried on from thence against the territory or dominions
of any foreign prince or State, or of any colony, district, or people,,
with whom the United States are at peace, every person so offending
shall be deemed guilty of a high misdemeanour, and shall be fined
'
828 APPENDIX.
APPENDIX B.
Preliminary.
Short title.
1. This Act may be cited as The Naval Prize Act, 1864.
Interpreta-
2. In this Act—
tion of terms.
The term "the Lords of the Admiralty" means the Lord High
Admiral of the United Kingdom, or the Commissioners for exe-
cuting the office of Lord High Admiral:
"
The term " the High Court of Admiralty means the High Court
of Admiralty of England:
The term "any of Her Majesty's ships of war" includes any of
Her Majesty's vessels of war, and any hired armed ship or vessel
in Her Majesty's service:
The term " officers and crew " includes flag officers, commanders,
and other officers, engineers, seamen, marines, soldiers, and others
on board any of Her Majesty's ships of war:
The term "ship" includes vessel and boat, with the tackle, furni-
ture, and apparel of the ship, vessel, or boat:
The term "ship papers" includes all books, parses, sea briefs,
charter parties, bills of lading, cockets, letters, and other docu-
ments and writings delivered up or found on board a captured
ship :
" "
The term goods includes all such things as are by the course of
admiralty and law of nations the subject of adjudication as prize
(other than ships).
I. Prize Courts.
High Court of 3. The High Court of Admiralty, and every Court of Admiralty or
Admiralty of Vice -Admiralty, or other Court
and other exercising admiralty jurisdiction in
Her Majesty's dominions, for the time being authorized to take cogni-
courts to be
zance of and judicially proceed in matters of
Prize Courts prize, shall be a Prize
for purposes Court within the meaning of this Act.
of Act. Every such Court, other than the High Court of Admiralty, is com-
NAVAL PEIZE. 831
"
prised in the term Vice-Admiralty Prize Court," when hereafter used
in this Act.
Every appeal shall be made in such manner and form and subject
to such regulations (including regulations as to fees, costs, charges,
and expenses), as may for the time being be directed by Order in
Council, and in the absence of any such order, or so far as any such
order does not extend, then in such manner and form and subject
to such regulations as are for the time being prescribed or in force
respecting maritime causes of appeal.
6. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council shall have jurisdic- Jurisdiction
tion to hear and report on any such appeal, and may therein exercise of Judicial
all such powers as for the time being appertain to them in respect of Committee m
^^^^® appea s.
appeals from any Court of Admiralty jurisdiction, and all such powers
as are under this Act vested in the High Court of Admiralty, and all
such powers a^ were wont to be exercised by the Commissioners of
Appeal in Prize Causes.
7. All processes and documents required for the purposes of any
Custody of
such appeal shall be transmitted to and shall remain in custody of the processes,
Eegistrar of Her Majesty in Prize Appeals (c). papers, &c.
8 In every such appeal the usual inhibition shall be extracted from
.
Limit of time
the Kegistry of Her Majesty in Prize Appeals within three months for appeal,
after the date of the order or decree appealed from if the appeal be
from the High Court of Admiralty, and within six months after that
date if it be from a Vioe-Admiralty Prize Court.
The Judicial Committee may, nevertheless, on sufficient cause shown,
allow the inhibition to be extracted and the appeal to be prosecuted
after the expiration of the respective periods aforesaid (c).
(c) Repealed by the Prize Courts (Procedure) Act, 1914; see infra, p. 842.
832 APPENDIX.
General 13. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, with the Judge
orders for of the High Court of Admiralty, may from time to time frame General
Prize Courts. Orders for regulating (subject to the provisions of this Act) the pro-
cedure and practice of Prize Courts, and the duties and conduct of the
officers thereof and of the practitioners therein, and for regulating
the fees to be taken by the officers of the Courts, and the costs,
charges, and expenses to be allowed to the practitioners therein.
Any such General Orders shall have full effect, if and when
approved by Her Majesty in Council, but not sooner or otherwise.
Every Order in Council made under this section shall be laid
before both Houses of Parliament.
Every such Order in Council shall be kept exhibited in a con-
spicuous place in each Court to which it relates (^d) .
Prohibition of 14. It shall not be lawful for any registrar, marshal, or other officer
officer of of any Prize Court, or for the Registrar of Her Majesty in Prize
Prize Court
Appeals, directly or indirectly to act or be in any manner concerned
acting as as ladvocate, proctor, solicitor, or agent, or otherwise, in
proctor, &c. any Prize
Cause or Appeal, on pain of dismissal or suspension from office, by
order of the Court or of the Judicial Committee (as the case may
require).
Prohibition of 15. It shall not be lawful for any proctor or solicitor, or person
proctors being practising as a proctor or solicitor, being employed by a party in a
concerned for
Prize Cause or Appeal, to be employed or concerned, by himself or
adverse
his partner, or by any other person,
parties in a directly or indirectly, by or on
cause. behalf of any adverse party in that Cause or Appeal, on pain of
exclusion or suspension from practice in prize matters, by order of
the Court or of the Judicial Committee (as the case may
require).
Proceedings by Captors.
16. Every ship takenas prize, and brought into port within the
Custody of
prize ship. jurisdiction of a Prize Court, shall forthwith, and without bulk
broken, be delivered up to the marshal of the Court.
(d) This section is repealed by section three of the Prize Courts Act, 1894;
see infra, p. 841.
NAVAL PEIZE. 833
ship, or some other person who was present at the capture, and saw
the ship papers delivered up or found on board, shall make oath that
they are brought in as they were taken, without fraud, addition,
subduction, or alteration, or else shall account on oath to the satis-
faction of the Court for the absence or altered condition of the ship
papers or any of them.
Where no ship papers are delivered up or found on board the
captured ship, the officer in command, or one of the chief officers of
the capturing ship, or some other person who was present at the
capture, shall make oath to that effect.
18. As soon as the affidavit as to ship papers is filed, a monition issue of
shall issue, returnable within twenty days from the service thereof, monition,
citing all persons in general to show cause why the captured ship
should not be condemned (e).
19. The captors with
all practicable speed after the captured Examinations
shall,
ship brought into port, bring three or four of the principal persons on standing
is
belonging to the captured ship before the Judge of the Court or some "iterroga-
*°"^^'
person authorized in this behalf, by whom they shall be examined on
oath on the standing interrogatories.
The preparatory examinations on the standing interrogatories shall,
if possible, be concluded within five days from the commencement
thereof.
20. After the return of the monition, the Court shall, on production
Adjudication
of the preparatory examinations and ship papers, proceed with all by Court,
convenient speed either to condemn or to release the captured ship.
21. Where, on production of the preparatory examinations and ship Further
papers, it appears to the Court doubtful whether the captured ship is proof,
good prize or not, the Court may direct further proof to be adduced
either by affidavit or by examination of witnesses, with or without
pleadings, or by production of further documents; and on such further
proof being adduced the Court shall with all convenient speed proceed
to adjudication.
22. The foregoing provisions, as far as they relate, to the custody of Custody, &c.,
the ship, land to examination on the standing interrogatories, shall not of ships of
^^^"
apply to ships of war taken as prize.
Claim.
•
23. At any time
before final decree made in the cause, any person Entry of
claiming an interest in the ship may enter in the registry of the claim;
^°''
Court a claim, verified on oath.
JosS^*^
Within five days after entering the claim, the claimant shall give
security for costs in the sum of sixty pounds; but the Court shall have
power to enlarge the time for giving security, or to direct security to
be given in a larger sum, if the circumstances appear to require it.
(e) Sections 18 to 29, 32, 33 and 36 are repealed by the Prize Courts (Pro-
cedure) Act, 1914; see infra, p. 842.
w. 53
834 APPENDIX.
Appraisement.
Power to 24. The Court may, if it thinks fit, at any time direct that the
Court to
captured ship be appraised.
Every .appraisement shall be made by competent persons
direct ap- sworn to
praisement.
maJke the same according to the best of their skill and knowledge.
Delivery on Bail.
Power to Court may, if it thinks fit, direct that
25. After appraisement, the
Court to the captured ship be delivered up to the claimant, on his giving
direct delivery
security to the satisfaction of the Court
to pay to the captors the
Sale.
Power to 26. The Court may at any time,if it thinks fit, on account of the
Court to condition of the captured ship, or on the application of a claimant,
order sale. order that the captured ship be appraised as aforesaid (if not already
appraised), and be sold.
Sale on con- 27. On or after condemnation the Court may, if it thinks fit, order
demnation.
that the ship be appraised as aforesaid (if not already appraised), and
be sold.
How sales to 28. Every sale shallbe made by or under the superintendence of
be made. the Marshal of the Court or of the officer having the custody of the
captured ship.
Payment of 29. The proceeds of any sale, made either before or after condemna-
proceeds to tion, and after condemnation the appraised value of the captured
Paymaster-
General or ship, in case she has been delivered up to a claimant on bail, shall be
official paid under an order of the Court either into the Bank of England to
accountant. the credit of Her Majesty's Paymaster-General, or into the hands of
an ofl&cial accountant (belonging to the commissariat or some other
department) appointed for this purpose by the commissioners of Her
Majesty's Treasury or by the Lords of the Admiralty, subject in either
case to such regulations as may from time to time be made, by Order
in Council, as to the custody and disposal of money so paid.
Small-Armed Ships.
One adjudica- 30. The
captors may include in one adjudication any number, not
tion as to
several small exceeding six, of armed ships not exceeding one hundred tons each,
taken within three months next before institution of proceedings.
ships.
Godds.
Application 31. The foregoing provisions relating
to ships shall extend and
of foregoing
apply, mutatis mutandis, to goods taken as prize on board ship; and
provisions to the Court may direct such goods to be unladen, inventoried and
prize goods.
warehoused.
Claim on Appeal.
33. Where any person, not an original party in the cause, inter- Person inter-
venes on appeal, he shall enter a claim, verified on oath, and shall vening on
give security for costs. enteTcMm.
junction with any forces of any of Her Majesty's allies, a Prize expedition
Court shall have jurisdiction as to the same as in case of prize,; with ally,
and shall have power, after condemnation, to apportion the due share
of the proceeds of Her Majesty's ally, the proportionate amount and
the disposition of which share shall be such as may from time to time
be agreed between Her Majesty and Her Majesty's ally.
Joint Capture.
36. Before condemnation, a petition on behalf of asserted joint Restriction
petitions
captors shall not (except by special leave of the Court) be admitted, ^
unless and until they give security to the satisfaction of the Court
j(^nt captors,
to contribute to the actual captors a just proportion of any costs,
charges, or expenses or damages that may be incurred by or awarded
against the actual captors on account of the capture and detention of
the prize.
After condemnation, such a petition shall not (except by special
leave of the Court) be admitted unless and until the asserted joint
captors pay to the actual captors a just proportion of the costs,,
chaises, and expenses incurred by the actual captors in the case, and
give such security as aforesaid, and show sufficient cause to the Court
why their petition was not presented before condemnation.
Provided, that nothing in the present section shall extend to the
asserted interest of a flag officer claiming to share by virtue of hi^
flag.
Pre-emption.
38. Where a ship of a foreign nation passing
the seas laden with
Purchase by
to a port of any
Admiralty for naval or victualling stores intended to be carried
public service of Her is taken and brought into a port of the United
of stores on
g^emy Majesty
board foreign j^jng^^m^
and the purchase for the service of Her Majesty of the
stores on board the to the Lords of the Admiralty expe-
ship appears
dient without the condemnation thereof in a Prize Court, in that case
the Lords of the Admiralty may purchase, on the account or for the
service of Her Majesty, all or any of the stores on board the ship;
and the Commissioners of Customs may permit the stores purchased
to be entered and landed within any port.
V. —Prize Bounty.
42. If, in relation to any war, Her Majesty is pleased to declare, by Prize
bounty
proclamation or Order in Council, her intention to grant prize bounty to officers and
to the officers and crews of her ships of war, then such of the officers present
^-^^^
and crew of any ofHer Majesty's ships of war as are actually present men^^w^h'an
at the taking or destroying of any armed ship of any of Her Majesty's
enemy,
enemies shall be entitled to have distributed among them as prize
bounty a sum calculated at the rate of five pounds for each person on
board the enemy's ship at the beginning of the engagement (^r).
43. The number of the persons so on board the enemy's ship shall Ascertain-
be proved in a Prize Court, either by the examinations on oath of the ment of
survivors of them, or of any three or more of the survivors, or if there amount of
is no survivor by the papers of the
enemy's ship, or by the examina- b^^^ecree^of
tion on oath of three or more of the officers and crew of Her Majesty's prize Court,
ship, or by such other evidence as may seem to the Court sufficient in
the circumstances.
The Court shall make a decree declaring the title of the officers and
crew of Her Majesty's ship to the prize bounty, and stating the
amount thereof.
The decree shall be subjectto appeal as other decrees of the Court.
44. On production of an official copy of the decree the commis- Payment of
sioners of Her Majesty's Treasury shall, out of money provided by prize bounty
awarded.
Parliament, pay the amount 'of prize bounty decreed, in such manner
as any Order in Council may from time to time direct.
CofDvoy.
46. If the master or other person having the command of any ship Punishment
of any of Her Majesty's subjects, under the convoy of any of Her of masters of
(g) It has already been pointed out prize bounty was substituted for the
that during the Great War (1914) ordinary grant of prize proceeds.
838 APPENDIX.
Regulations 48. Where any ship or goods taken as prize is or are brought into
of customs to a port of the United Kingdom, the master or other person in charge
be observed as
or command of the ship which has been taken or in which the goods
to prize ships
and goods. are brought shall, on arrival at such port, bring to at the proper
place of discharge, and shall, when required by any officer of Customs,
deliver an account in writing under his hand concerning such ship
and goods, giving such particulars relating thereto as may be in his
power, and shall truly answer all questions concerning such ship or
goods asked by any such officer, and in default shall forfeit a sum
not exceeding one hundred pounds, such forfeiture to be enforced as
forfeitures for offences against the laws relating to the Customs are
enforced, and every mich ship shall be liable to such searches as
other ships are liable to, and the officers of the Customs may freely
go on board such ship and bring to the Queen's wareliouse any goods
on board the same, subject nevertheless to such regulations in respect
of ships of war belonging to Her Majesty as shall from time to time
be issued by the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury.
Power for 49 Goods taken as prize may be sold either for home consumption
.
treasury to re- or for exportation; and if in the former case the proceeds thereof,
mit Customs
after payment of duties of Customs, are insufficient to satisfy the
duties in
certain cases. just and reasonable claims thereon, the Commissioners of Her
Majesty's Treasury may remit the whole or such part of the said
duties as they see fit.
Ferjury.
Punishment 50. If :any person wilfully and corruptly swears, declares, or affirms
of persons
falsely in any prize cause or appeal, or in any proceeding under this
guilty of
Act, or in respect of any matter required by this Act to be verified on
perjury.
oath, or suborns any other person to do so, he shall be deemed guilty
of perjury, or of subornation of perjury (as the case may be), and
shall be liable to be punished accordingly.
NAVAL PRIZE. 839
may, if the suppliant thinks fit, be intituled in the High Court of High Court of
Admiralty, in case the subject-matter of the petition or any material eti^rns of^"
part thereof arises out of the exercise of any belligerent right on fio-ht in
behalf of the Crown, or would be cognizable in a Prize Court within certain cases,
Her Majesty's dominions if the same were a matter in dispute between as in 23 & 24
^^^*' ^- ^*'
private persons.
Any petition of right under the last-mentioned Act, whether in-
tituled in the High Court of Admiralty or not, may be prosecuted
in that Court, if the Lord Chancellor thinks fit so to direct.
The provisions of this Act relative to appeal, and to the framing
and approval of general orders for regulating the procedure and
practice of the High Court of Admiralty, shall extend to the case of
any such petition of right intituled or directed to be prosecuted in
that Court; and, subject thereto, all the provisions of the Petitions
of Right Act, 1860, shall apply, mutatis mutandis, in the case of any
such petition of right; and for the purposes of the present section,
the terms "Court" and "Judge" in that Act shall respectively be
understood to include and to mean the High Court of Admiralty and
840 APPENDIX.
the judge thereof, and other terms shall have the respective meanings
given to them in that Act.
Orders in Council.
Power to 53. Her Majesty may from time to time make such
in Council
make orders Orders in Council as seem meet for the better execution of this Act.
54. Every Order in Council under this Act shall be published in
in council.
the London Gazette, and shall be laid before both Houses of Parlia-
Order in
council to be
ment within thirty days after the making thereof, if Parliament is
gazetted, &c.
then sitting, and, if not, then within thirty days after the ne'xt
meeting of Parliament.
Commencement.
Commence- Act shall commence on the commencement of the Naval
56. This
ment of Act.
Agency and Distribution Act, 1864 (/i).
(A) By the operation of the Supreme currence of the Lord Chancellor, or,
Court of Judicature Act, 1873 (36 & in his absence, of the Lord Chief Jus-
37 Vict. c. 66), the jurisdiction of the tice, be heard by anotheir judge of the
High Court of Admiralty is assigned, High Court. By sect. 18 of the same
subject to any rule under the Act Act, the appellate jurisdiction of the
which may transfer it to some other Judicial Committee on appeal from
division, to the Probate, Divorce, and the High Court of Admiralty is trans-
Admiralty Division of the High Court ferred to the Court of Appeal; from
of Justice. But any cause or matter which Court a further appeal lies to
assigned to that division may, at the the House of Lords (Appellate Juris-
request of the president, with the con- diction Act, 1876, s. 3). The appeal
NAVAL PETZE. 841
from Vice- Admiralty Courts, and other 1863 (26 Vict. c. 24), s. 22; and supra,
prize courts, etill lies to the Privy p. 831.)
Council. (Vice- Admiralty Courts Act,
842 APPENDIX.
in a conspicuous place in
Parliament, and shall be kept exhibited
each Court to which it relates.
hereby repealed.
and that Act and the Prize Courts Act, 1894, and this Act may he
cited together as the Naval Prize Acts, 1864 to 1914.
Schedule.
Provisions of Naval Prize Act, 1864, repealed.
Sections 7 and 8, 18 to 29, 32, 33, and 36, and in section 41, the
words "either by warrant of arrest against the ship or goods, or
by monition and attachment against the owner" (i).
(i) As to procedure and practice, were issued during tlie Great War.
there is a considerable number of (Cf. Manual of Emergency Legisla-
Orders, rules and regulations; many tion, ed. by A. Pulling, passim.)
844 APPENDIX.
APPENDIX C.
Article I.
And whereas Her Britannic Majesty has authorized Her High Com-
missioners and Plenipotentiaries to
express, in a friendly spirit, the
regret felt by Her Majesty's government for the escape, under what-
TREATY OF WASHINGTON, 1871. 845
Article II.
United States and Her Britannic Majesty respectively. All ques- majority to
^ ®°^ ®*
tions considered by the tribunal, including the final award, shall be
decided by a majority of all the Arbitrators.
Each of the High Contracting Parties shall also name one person to Agents of
attend the tribunal as its agent to represent it generally in all matters each party,
connected with the arbitration.
Article III.
The written or printed case of each of the two parties, accompanied Case of each
by the documents, the official correspondence, and other evidence on party, &c.,
which each relies, shall be delivered in duplicate to each of the Arbi- ^.^^^
^
^^
trators and to the agent of the other party as soon as may be after the fJbitrators.
organization of the tribunal, but within a period not exceeding six
months from the date of the exchange of the ratifications of this
treaty.
846 APPENDIX.
Article IV.
Counter-case, Within four months after the delivery on both sides of the written
&e. or printed, case, either party may, in like manner, deliver in duplicate
to each of the said Arbitrators, and to the agent of the other party, !a
counter-case, and additional documents, correspondence, and evidence,
in reply to the case, documents, correspondence, and evidence so pre-
sented by the other party.
Time may be The Arbitrators may, however, extend the time for delivering such
counter-case, documents, correspondence, and evidence, when, in their
extended.
Article V.
Arguments It shall be the duty of the a^ent of each party, within two months
and briefs. after the expiration of the time limited for the delivery of the counter-
case on both sides, to deliver in duplicate to each of the said Arbi-
trators and to the agent of the other party a written or printed
argument showing the points and referring to the evidence upon
which his government relies: and the Arbitrators may, if they desire
further elucidation with regard to any point, require a written or
printed statement or argument, or oral argument by counsel upon it;
but in such case the other party shall be entitled to reply either
orally or in writing, as the case may be.
Article VI.
Rules to In deciding the matters submitted to the Arbitrators, they shall be
govern the
arbitrators in
governed by the following three rules, which are agreed upon by the
their decision. High Contracting Parties as rules to be taken as applicable to the
case, and by such principles of international law not inconsistent
therewith as the Arbitrators shall determine to have been applicable
to the case.
RULES.
Obligation of A neutral government is bound —
neutral First, to use due diligence to prevent the fitting- out, arming, or
government
as to fitting equipping, within its jurisdiction, of any vessel which it has reason-
able ground to believe is intended to cruise or to
out vessels in carry on war against
its waters a Power with which it is at peace; and also to use like
:
diJigeince to
prevent the departure from its jurisdiction of any vessel intended to
cruise or carry on war as above, such vessel
having been specially
adapted, in whole or in part within such jurisdiction, to warlike use.
as to the use Secondly, not to permit or suffer either belligerent to make use of
of its ports its ports or waters as the base of naval
operations against the other,,
;
Thirdly, to exercise due diligence in its own ports and waters, and, to prevent
as to all persons within its jurisdiction, to prevent any violation of violation of its
the foregoing obligations and duties. obligations.
Her Britannic Majesty has commanded her High Commissioners These rules
and Plenipotentiaries to declare that Her Majesty's Government not admitted
cannot assent to the foregoing rules as a statement of principles of *o been
^^^^
international law Avhich were in force at the time when the claims
the claknl
mentioned in Article I. arose; but that Her Majesty's Government, arose.
in order to evince its desire of strengthening the friendly relations
between the two countries and of making satisfactory provision for
the future, agrees that, in deciding the questions between the two
countries larising out of those claims, the Arbitrators should assume
that Her Majesty's Government had undertaken to act upon the
principles set forth in these rules.
And the High Contracting Parties agree to observe these rules as Rules to
between themselves in future, and to bring them to the knowledge of govern future
cases.
other maritime powers, and to invite them to accede to them.
Article VII.
The decision of the tribunal shall, if possible, be made within three Decision to be
months from the close of the argument on both sides. made, when,
It shall be made in writing, and dated, and shall be signed by the "^^^^
|^*^ ^^
^°^'
Arbitrators who may assent to it.
The said tribunal shall first determine as to each vessel separately If Great
whether Great Britain has, by any act or omission, failed to fulfil any Britain is
of the duties set forth in the foregoing three rules, or recognized by tound in fault,
copy shall be delivered to the agent of Great Britain for his Govern-
ment.
Article VIII.
Each Government shall pay its own agent, and provide for the Expenses of
proper remuneration of the counsel employed by it and of the Arbi- the arbitra-
trator appointed by it, and for the expense of preparing and sub-
® ® ^^^
J^^^'
^^^®
^^ '
mitting its case to the tribunal. All other expenses connected with
the arbitration shall be defrayed by the two Governments in equal
moieties.
Article IX.
The Arbitrators shall keep an accurate record of their proceedings. Arbitrators to
and may appoint and employ the necessary oflScers to assist them. ^^ep a record.
Article X.
In case the tribunal finds that Great Britain has failed to fulfil any If Great
duty or duties as aforesaid, and does not award a sum in gross, the Britain is
found in fault.
848 APPENDIX.
aud a gross High Contracting Parties agree that a Board of Assessors shall be
appointed to ascertain and determine what
sum is not claims are valid, and what
awarded, amount or amounts shall be paid by Great Britain to the United
board of
States on account of the liability arising from such failure, as to each
asseasors to
be appointed vessel according to the extent of such liability as decided by the
to determine Arbitrators.
claims. The Board of Assessors shall be constituted as follows: One member
thereof shall be named by the President of the United States, one
memiber thereof shall be named by Her Britannic Majesty, and one
member thereof shall be named by the representative at Washington
of His Majesty the King of Italy and in case of a vacancy happening
;
from any cause, it shall be filled in the same manner in which the
original appointment was made.
Board, when As soon as possible after such nominations the Board of Assessors
to meet. shall be organized in Washington, with power to hold their sittings
Members to
there, or in New York, or in Boston. The members thereof shall
subscribe a
declaration. severally subscribe a solemn declaration that they will impartially and
carefully examine and decide, to the best of their judgment, and
according to justice and equity, all matters submitted to them, and
shall forthwith proceed, under such rules and regulations as they
may prescribe, to the investigation of the claims which shall be
presented to them by the Government of the United States, and shall
examine and decide upon them in such order and manner as they may
think proper, but upon such evidence or information only as shall
be furnished by or on behalf of the Governments of the United States
and of Great Britain respectively. They shall be bound to hear on
each separate claim, if required, one person on behalf of each Govern-
ment, ,as counsel or agent. A
majority of the Assessors in each case
shall be sufiicient for a decision.
Decision, The decision of the Assessors shall be given upon each claim in
when and and shall be signed by them respectively and dated.
how given. writing,
Every claim shall be presented to the Assessors within six months
Claims, when from the
to be pre- day of their first meeting; but they may, for good cause
sented. shown, extend the time for the presentation of any claim to a further
period not exceeding three months.
Report of The Assessors shall report to each Government at or before the
expiration of one year from the date of their first meeting the amount
of claims decided by them up to the date of such report; if further
claims then remain undecided, they shall make a further report at or
before the expiration of two years from the date of such first meeting;
and in case any claims remain undetermined at that time, they shall
make a final report within a further period of six months.
how to be The report or reports shall be made in duplicate, and one copy
made and to thereof shall be delivered to the
whom de- Secretary of State of the United
livered. States, and one copy thereof to the representative of Her Britannic
Majesty at Washington.
Awards, when All sums of money which may be awarded under this Article shall
and where to be at Washington, in coin, within twelve months after the
be paid. payable
delivery of each report.
Clerks. The Board of Assessors may employ such clerks as they shall think
necessary.
Expenses. The expenses of the Board of Assessors shall be borne
equally by
the two Governments, and
paid from time to time, as may be found
expedient on the production of accounts certified by the Board. The
remuneration of the Assessors shall also be
paid by the two Govern-
ments in equal moieties in a similar manner.
TREATY OF WASHINGTON, 1871. 849
Article XI.
The High Contracting Parties engage to consider the result of the Decisions of
the arbitra-
proceedings of the Tribunal of Arbitration and of the Board of
^^^^ ^
Assessors, should such Board be appointed, as a full, perfect, and ,
final settlement of all the claims hereinbefore referred to and further ^^ final.
;
engage that every such claim, whether the same may or may not claims not
have been presented to the notice of, made, preferred, or laid before presented to
the Tribunal or Board, shall, from and after the conclusion of the be deemed
settled,
proceedings of the Tribunal or Board, be considered and treated as finally
finally settled, barred, and thenceforth inadmissible.
Article XII.
The High Contracting Parties agree that all claims on the part of Certain claims
States, upon the Government of Her Britannic Majesty, arising out of ciaimst^
acts committed against the persons or property of citizens of the
against either
United States during the period between the 13th of April, 1861, and government
the 9th of April, 1865, inclusive, not being claims growing out of the to be referred
*o <^om-
acts of the vessels referred to in Article I. of this treaty, and all *"/^^
claims, with the like exception, on the part of corporations, 'com-
panies or private individuals, subjects of Her Britannic Majesty,
upon the Government of the United States, arising out of acts com-
mitted against the persons or property of subjects of Her Britannic
Majesty during the same period, which may have been presented to
either Government for its interposition with the other, and which
yet remain unsettled, as well as any other such claims which may be
presented within the time specified in Article XIV. of this treaty,
shall be referred to three Commissioners, to be appointed in the
following manner, that is to say: One Commissioner shall be named
by the President of the United States, one by Her Britannic Majesty,
and a third by the President of the United States and Her Britannic
Majesty conjointly; and in case the third Commissioner shall not
have been so named within a period of three months from the date of
the exchange of the ratifications of this treaty, then the third Com-*
missioner shall be named by the representative at Washington of
His Majesty the King of Spain. In case of the death, absence, or
incapacity of any Commissioner, or in the event of any Commissioner
omitting or ceasing to act, the vacancy shall be filled in the manner
hereinbefore provided for making the original appointment; the
period of three months in case of such substitution being calculated
•
Article XIII.
The Commissioners shall then forthwith proceed to the investiga- claims to be
tion of the claims which shall be presented to them. They shall investigated.
w. 54
850 APPENDIX.
Article XIV.
Claims, when Every claim shall be presented to the Commissioners within six
to be pre-
months from the day of their first meeting, unless in any case where
sented to the
commis- reasons for delay shall be established to the satisfaction of the Com-
sioners. missioners, and then, and in any such case, the period for presenting
the claim may be extended by them to any time not exceeding three
months longer.
When to be The Commissioners shall be bound to examine and decide upon
decided.
every claim within two years from the day of their first meeting.
It shall be competent for the Commissioners to decide in each case
whether any claim has or has not been duly made, preferred, and
laid before them, either wholly or tp any and what extent, according
to the true intent and meaning of this
treaty.
Article "XV.
Awards, when All sums of money which may be awarded by the Commissioners on
to be paid. account of any claim shall be paid by the one government to the other,
as the case may be, within twelve months after the date of the final
award, without interest, and without any deduction save as specified
in Article XVI. of this treaty.
Article XVI.
Records. The Commissioners shall keep an accurate record and correct
minutes or notes of all their
proceedings, with the dates thereof, and
Secretary. may appoint and employ a secretary, and any other necessary officer
or officers, to assist them in the transaction of the business which
may come before them.
Expenses. Each government shall pay its own Commissioner and
agent or
counsel. All other expenses shall be
defrayed by the two govern-
ments in equal moieties.
Chargeable The whole expenses of the Commission,
on awards. including contingent
expenses, shall be defrayed by a rateable deduction on the amount of
the sums awarded by the Commissioners,
provided always that such
TEEATY OF WASHINGTON, 1871. 851
deduction shall not exceed the rate of five per cent, on the sums so
awarded.
Article XVII.
The High Contracting Parties engage to consider the result of the Decision of
commis-
proceedings of this Commission as a full, perfect, and final settle-
ment of ,all such claims as are mentioned in Article XII. of this ^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^
treaty upon either government; and further engage that every such elaims^hat*
claim, whether or not the same may have been presented to the ndghthave
notice of,made, preferred, or laid before the said Commission, shall, beenpre-
from and after the conclusion of the proceedings of the said Commis- rented,
sion, be considered and treated as finally settled, barred, and thence-
forth inadmissible.
Article XVIII.
It is agreed by the High Contracting Parties, that in addition to Rights of the
the liberty secured to the United States fishermen by the Convention inhabitants of
the United
between the United States and Great Britain, signed at London on
the 20th day of October, 1818, of taking, curing, and drying fish on certain sea
certain coasts of the British North American Colonies therein defined, fisheries in
the inhabitants of the United States shall have, in common with the common with
British
subjects of Her Britannic Majesty, the liberty, for the term of years
*^^^3ects.
mentioned in Article XXXIII. of this treaty, to take fish of every
kind, except shell-fish, on the sea-coasts and shores, and in the bays,
harbours, and creeks, of the Provinces of Quebec, Nova Scotia, and
New Brunswick, and the Colony of Prince Edward's Island, and of
the several islands thereunto adjacent, without being restricted to
any distance from the shore, with permission to land upon the said
coasts and shores and islands, and also upon the Magdalen Islands,
for the purpose of drying their nets and curing their fish: provided
that, in so doing they do not interfere with the rights of private
property, or with British fishermen in the peaceable use of any part
of the said coasts in their occupancy for the same purpose.
It is understood that the above-mentioned liberty applies solely to Salmon and
the sea fishery, and that the salmon and shad fisheries, and all other shad fisheries
fisheries in rivers and the mouths of rivers, are hereby reserved
-^ ^^.^^^^^i v
, . , » -r, ... 1 « , British fisher-
'exclusively tor British fishermen. ^^^^
Article XIX.
It is agreed by the High Contracting Parties that British subjects Rights of
shall have, in common with the citizens of the United States, the British
liberty, for the term of years mentioned in Article XXXIII. of this '^^^X^^nited
treaty, to take fish of every kind, except shell-fish, on the eastern grates sea
sea-coasts arid shores of the United States north of the thirty-ninth fisheries,
parallel of north latitude, and on the shores of the several islands^
thereunto adjacent, and in the bays, harbours, and creeks of the said
sea-coasts and shores of the United States and of the said islands,
without being restricted to any distance from the shore, with permis-
sion to land upon the said coasts of the United States and of the
islands aforesaid, for the purpose of drying their nets and curing
their fish: provided that, in so doing, they do not interfere with the
rights of private property, or with the fishermen of the United States
in the peaceable use of any part of the said coasts in their occupancy
'for the same purpose.
54 (2)
852 'APPENDIX.
Article XX.
the Commissioners
Certain places It is agreod that the places designated by
reserved from
appointed under the First Article of the treaty
between the United
the common
gtates and Great Britain, concluded at Wa^shington on the 5th of
fishinff J^^6» 18^4, upon the coasts of Her Britannic Majesty's dominions
and the United States, as places reserved from the common right of
as in like manner re-
fishing under that treaty, shall be regarded
served from the common right of fishing under the preceding Articles.
In case any question should arise between the governments of the
United States and of Her Britannic Majesty as to the common right
of fishing in places not thus designated as reserved, it is agreed that
a Commission shall be appointed to designate such places, and shall
be constituted in the same manner, and have the same powers, duties,
and authority as the Commission appointed under the said First
Article of the treaty of the 5th of June, 1854.
Article XXI.
Certain fish- It is lag-reed that, for the term of years mentioned in Article XXXIII.
wl and fish to of this treaty, fish-oil and fish of all kinds (except fish of the inland
be free of
lakes, and of the rivers falling into them, and except fish preserved in
oil),being the produce of the fisheries of the United States or of the
Dominion of Canada, or of Prince Edward's Island, shall be admitted
into each country, respectively, free of duty (/c).
Article XXII.
Commis- Inasmuch as it is asserted by the. government of Her Britannio
sioners to
Majesty that the privileges accorded to the citizens of the United
determine the States under Article XVIII. of this treaty are of greater value than
compensation,
those accorded by Articles XIX. and XXI. of this treaty to the sub-
ifany, to be
paid by jects of Her Britannic Majesty, and this assertion is not admitted by
United States the government of the United States, it is further agreed that Com-
for privileges
missioners shall be appointed to determine, having regard to the
granted by
Art. XVIII. privileges accorded by the United States to the subjects of her
Britannic Majesty, as stated in Articles XIX. and XXI. of this treaty,
the amount of any compensation which, in their opinion, ought to
be paid by the government of the United States to the government
of Her Britannic Majesty in return for the
privileges accorded to the
citizens of the United States under Article XVIII. of this
treaty; and
that any sum of money which the said Commissioners
may so award
shall^
be paid by the United States government, in a gross sum,
within twelve months after such award shall have been
given.
Article XXIII.
Commis- The Commissioners referred to in the preceding Article shall be
sionershowto appointed in the
be appointed.
following manner, that is to say: One Commissioner
^Yidll be named by the President of the United
States, one by Her
(7c) Arts. XVIII. to XXI. were subsequently abrogated by the United
States, see ante, p. 289.
TEEATY OF WASHINGTON, 1871. 853
Article XXIV.
The proceedings shall be conducted in such order as the Commis- Proceedings
sioners appointed under Articles XXII. and XXIII. of this treaty before these
shall determine. They shall be bound to receive such oral or written commis-
Article XXV.
The Commissioners shall keep an accurate record and correct Eecords,
minutes or notes of all their proceedings, with the dates thereof,
and may appoint and employ a secretary, and any other necessary
officer or officers, to assist them in the transaction of the business
which may come before them.
Each of the High Contracting Parties shall pay its own Commis- Expenses,
sioner and agent or counsel; all other expenses shall be defrayed
by the two governments in equal moieties.
854 APPENDIX.
Article XXVI.
Navigatiou of The navigation of the Eiver St. Lawrence, ascending and de-
the St. Law- of north latitude, where it
scending, from the forty-fifth parallel
rence to be
ceases to form the boundary between the two countries, from, to, and
free.
into the sea, shall for ever remain free and open for the purposes of
oommerce to the citizens of the United States, subject to any laws and
regulations of Great Britain, or of the Dominion of Canada, not
inconsistent with such privilege of free navigation.
Other rivers. The navigation of the Elvers Yukon, Porcupine, and Stikine,
ascending and descending, from, to, and into
the sea, shall for ever
remain free and open for the purposes of commerce to the subjects
of Her Britannic Majesty and to the citizens of the United States,.
either country within its own
subject to any laws and regulations of
territory not inconsistent with such privilege of free navigation.
Article XXVII.
Use in com- The government of Her Britannic Majesty engages to urge upon
men of certain the government of the Dominion of Canada to secure to the citizens
canals to be
^f ^j^^ United States the use of the Welland, St. Lawrence, and other
urged. canals in the Dominion on terms of equality with the inhabitants
of the Dominion, and the government of the United States engages
that the subjects of Her Britannic Majesty shall enjoy the use of the
St. Clair Flats' Canal on terms of equality with the inhabitants of
the United States, and further engages to urge upon the State govern-
ments to secure to the subjects of Her Britannic Majesty the use of
the several State canals connected with the navigation of the lakes
or rivers traversed by or contiguous to the boundary-line between the
possessions of the High Contracting Parties on "terms of equality
with the inhabitants of the United States.
Article XXVIII.
Navigation The navigation of Lake Michigan shall also, for the term of years
of Lake mentioned in Article XXXIII. of this treaty, be free and open for
Michigan. ^^le purposes of oommerce to the subjects of Her Britannic Majesty,
sessions in North America, and destined, for the United States, may be
entered at the proper custom-house and conveyed in transit, without
the payment of duties, through the said possessions, under such rules
and regulations and conditions for the protection of the revenue as
the governments of the said possessions may from time to time pre-
scribe; and, under like rules, regulations, and conditions, goods,,
wares, or merchandise may be conveyed in transit, without payment
of duties, from the United States through the said possessions to
other places in the United States, or for export from ports in the said
possessions.
Article XXX.
agreed that, for the term of years mentioned in Article XXXIII.
It is Carriage of
of this treaty, subjects of Her Britannic Majesty may carry in British goods free of
duty from one
vessels, witliout payment of duty, goods, wares, or merchandise from
place to
one port or place within the territory of the United States upon the another in
St. Lawrence, the Great Lakes, and the rivers connecting the same, to the same
another port or place within the territory of the United States as country.
aforesaid: provided, that a portion of such transportation is made
through the Dominion of Canada by land carriage and in bond,
under such rules and regulations as may be agreed upon between the
government of Her Britannic Majesty and the government of the
United States.
Citizens of the United States may, for the like period, carry in
United States vessels, witliout payment of duty, goods, wares, or
merchandise from one port or place within the possessions of Her
Britannic Majesty in North America to another port or place within
the said possessions: provided, that a portion of such transportation
is made through the territory of the United States by land carriage;
and in bond, under such rules and regulations as may be agreed upon
between the government of the United States and the government of
Her Britannic Majesty.
The government of the United States further engages not to impose Export duties.
any export duties on goods, wares, or merchandise carried under this
Article through the territory of the United States; and Her Majesty's
government engages to urge the parliament of the Dominion of
Canada and the legislatures of the other Colonies not to impose any
export duties on goods, wares, or merchandise carried under this
Article; and the government of the United States may, in case such
export duties are imposed by the Dominion of Canada, suspend,
during the period that such duties are imposed, the right of carrying-
granted under this Article in favour of the subjects of Her Britannic
Majesty.
The government of the United States may suspend the right of Suspension of
these privi-
carrying granted in favour of the subjects of Her Britannic Majesty
under this Article, in case the Dominion of Canada should at any leges by the
United States.
time deprive the citizens of the United States of the use of the canals
in the said Dominion on terms of equality with the inhabitants of
the Dominion, las provided in Article XXVII.
Article XXXI.
The government of Her Britannic Majesty further engages to urge Duty on
upon the parliament of the Dominion of Canada and the legislature luniber cut in
of New
Brunswick that no export duty, or other duty, shall be levied ¥^^"®j^^^.i
on lumber or timber of any kind cut on that portion of the American \j^j^^ States^
856 APPENDIX.
territory in tlie State of Maine watered by the Eiver St. John and its
tributaries, and floated down that river to the sea, when the same is
shipped to theUnited States from the Province of New Brunswick.
And in case any such export or other duty continues to be levied after
of the ratifi-
the expiration of one year from the date of the exchange
it is that the government of the United
cations of this treaty, agreed
under
States may suspend the right of carrying hereinbefore granted
or other
Article XXX. of this treaty for such period as such export
duty may be levied.
Article XXXII.
It is further agreed that the provisions and stipulations
of Articles
Provisions of
Arts. XVIII. XVIII. to XXV. of this treaty, inclusive, shall extend to the Colony
and XXV. k>
of Newfoundland so far as they are applicable. But if the Imperial
extend to
of Newfoundland, or the congress of the
parhament, the legislature
Newfound-
land. United shall not embrace the Colony of Newfoundland
States,
their m
laws enacted for carrying the foregoing Articles into effect, then this
Article shall be of no effect; but the omission to make provision by
law to give it effect, by either of the legislative bodies aforesaid,
shall not in any way impair any other Articles of this treaty.
Article XXXIII.
Arts. XVIII. The foregoing Articles XVIII. to XXV., inclusive, and Article XXX.
to XXV. and of this treaty, shall take effect as soon as the laws required to oa.rry
Art. XXX.
when to take
them into operation shall have been passed by the Imperial parlia-
effect.
ment of Great Britain, by the parliament of Canada, and by the
legislature of Prince Edward's
Island on the one hand, and by the
congress of the United States on the other.
Such assent having been
the said Articles shall remain in force for the period of ten
given,
into operation; and
years from the date at which they may come
further until the expiration of two years after either of the High
its wish
Contracting Parties shall have given notice to the other of
to terminate the same each of the High Contracting Parties being at
;
Article XXXIV.
Decision as to Whereas it was stipulated by Article I. of the treaty concluded at
North -West
Washington on the 15th of June, 1846, between the United States
boundary to and Her Britannic Majesty, that the line of boundary between the
be left to
territories of the United States and those of Her Britannic Majesty,
Emperor of
Germany as from the point on the forty-ninth parallel of north latitude up to
arbitrator. which it had already been ascertained, should be continued westward
"
along the said parallel of north latitude to the middle of the channel
which separates the continent from Vancouver's Island, and thence
southerly, through the middle of the said channel and of Fuca Straits,
"
to the Pacific Ocean and whereas the Commissioners appointed by
;
Article XXXV.
The award of His Majesty the Emperor of Germany shall be con- Award to be
sidered as absolutely final and conclusive; and full effect shall be conclusive,
^°^"^ ^"^
given to such award without any objection, evasion, or delay what- ^^
soever. Such decision shall be given in writing and dated; it shall be
in whatsoever form His Majesty may choose to adopt; it shall be de-
livered to the representatives or other public agents of the United
States and of Great Britain respectively, who may be actually at
Berlin, and shall be considered as operative from the day of the date
of the delivery thereof.
Article XXXVI.
The written or printed case of each of the two parties, accompanied Cases of the
hy the evidence offered in support of the same, shall be laid before two parties to
His Majesty the Emperor of Germany Avithin six months from the
^^^?,-^^^+^^
J'l^
date of the exchange of the ratifications of this treaty, and a copy of
such case and evidence shall be communicated by each party to the
other through their respective representatives at Berlin.
The High Contracting Parties may include in the evidence to be
considered by the Arbitrator such documents, official correspondence,
and other official or public statements bearing on the subject of the
reference .as they may consider necessary to the support of their
respective cases.
After the written or printed case shall have been communicated by Counter-
each party to the other, each party shall have the power of drawing* cases.
up and laying before the Arbitrator a second and definitive state-
ment, if it think fit to do so, in reply to the case of the other party
so communicated, which definitive statement shall be so laid before
the Arbitrator, and also be mutually communicated in the same
manner as aforesaid, by each party to the other, within six months
from the date of laying the first statement of the case before the
Arbitrator.
Article XXXVII.
If, inthe case submitted to the Arbitrator, either party shall specify
Papers and
or allude to any report or document in its own exclusive possesision documents,
without annexing a copy, such party shall be bound, if the other party
thinks proper to apply for it, to furnish that party with a copy thereof,
and either party may call upon the other, through the Arbitrator, to
produce the originals or certified copies of any papers adduced as evi-
dence, giving in each instance such reasonable notice as the Arbi-
trator may require. And if the Arbitrator should desire further
-elucidation or evidence with regard to any point contained in the
statements laid before him, he shall be at liberty to require it from
either party, and he shall be at liberty to hear one counsel or
ajgsent
for each party, in relation to any matter, and at such time, and; in
such manner, as he may think fit.
868 APPENDIX.
Article XXXVIII.
The of the United States and
Agents of representatives or other public agents
each govern- of Great Britain at Berlin, respectively, shall be considered as the
ment. to conduct their cases before
agents of their respective governments
the Arbitrator, who shall be requested to address all his communica-
tions, and give all his notices, to such representatives or other public
agents, who shall represent
their respective governments generally in
all ^natters connected with the arbitration.
Article XXXIX.
Proceedings It shall be competent to the Arbitrator to proceed in the said arbi-
tration, and all matters relating thereto, as and when he shall see fit^
of the arbi-
trator.
either in person, or by a person or persons named by him for that
purpose, either in the presence or absence of either or both agents, and
either orally or by written discussion or otherwise.
Article XL.
Secretary or The Arbitrator may, if he think fit, appoint a secretary or clerk for
clerk.
the purposes of the proposed arbitration, at such rate of remuneration
as he shall think proper. This and all other expenses of and con-
nected with the said arbitration, shall be provided for as hereinafter
stipulated.
Article XLI.
Expenses, The Arbitrator shall be requested to deliver, together with hi&
how to be
award, an account of all the costs and expenses which he may have
paid.
been put to in relation to this matter, which shall forthwith be repaid
by the two governments in equal moieties.
Article XLII.
Form of The Arbitrator shall be requested to give his award in writing as
award.
early as convenient after the whole case on each side shall have been
laid before him, and to deliver one copy thereof to each! of the Baid
Article XLIII.
Ratifications. The present treaty shall be duly ratified
by the President of the*
United States of America, by and with the advice and consent of the
Senate thereof, and by Her Britannic Majesty; and the ratifications
shall bo exchanged either at
Washington or at London within six
months from the date hereof, or earlier if possible.
In faith whereof, we, the respective Plenipotentiaries, have signed
this treaty, and have hereunto affixed our seals.
Done in Duplicate at Washington the 8th day of May, in the year
of ourXiord 1871.
[L.S.] Hamilton Fish.
[L.S.] ROBT. C. SCHENCK.
[L.S.] Samuel Nelson.
[L.S.] Ebenezer Rockv\^ood Hoar.
[L.S.] Geo. H. Williams.
[L.S.] De Grey and Ripon.
[L.S.] Stafford H. Northcote.
[L.S.] Edv^^d. Thornton.
[L.S.] John A. Macdonald.
[L.S.] Mountague Bernard.
THE ANGLO-FRENCH AGREEMENT, 1904. 85^
APPENDIX D
His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Irelan<:land of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of
India, and the President of the French Eepublic, having resolved to
put an end, by a friendly Arrangement, to the difficulties which have
arisen in Newfoundland, have decided to conclude a Convention to
that effect, and have named as their respective Plenipotentiaries:
His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of
India, the Most Honourable Henry Charles Keith Petty-Fitzmaurice,
Marquess of Lansdowne, His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs; and
The President of the French Republic, his Excellency Monsieur
Paul Cambon, Ambassador of the French Republic at the Court of
His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of
India;
Who, after having communicated to each other their full powers,
found in good and due form, have agreed as follows, subject to the
approval of their respective Parliaments:
—
Article I.
Article VI.
The group known as the lies de Los, and situated opposite Konakry,
is ceded by His Britannic Majesty to France.
Article VII.
Persons born in the territories ceded to France by Articles V. and
VI. of the present Convention may retain British nationality by
means of an individual declaration to that effect, to be made before
the proper authorities by themselves, or, in the case of children under
a^e, by their parents or guardians.
The period within which the declaration of option referred to in the
preceding paragraph must be made, shall be one year, dating from
the day on which French authority shall be established over the
territory in which the persons in question have been born.
Native laws and customs now existing will, as far as possible,
remain undisturbed.
In the lies de Los, for a period of thirty yea*rs from the date of
exchange of the ratifications of the present Convention, British fisher-
men shall enjoy the same rights as French fishermen with regard to
anchorage in all weathers, to taking in provisions and water, to
making repairs, to transhipment of goods, to the sale of fish, and to
the landing and drying of nets, provided always that they observe
the conditions laid down in the French Laws and Eegulations which
may be in force there.
Article VIII.
To
the east of the Niger the following line shall be substituted for
the boundary fixed between the French and British possessions by the
Convention of the 14th June, 1898, subject to the modifications which
may result from the stipulations introduced in the final paragraph of
the present Article.
Starting from the point on the left bank of the Niger laid down in
Article III. of the Convention of the 14th June, 1898, that is to say,
the median line of the Dallul Mauri, the frontier shall be drawn along
this median line until it meets the circumference of a circle drawn
from the town of Sokoto as a centre, with a radius of 160,932 metres
(100 miles). Thence it shall follow the northern arc of this circle to
a point situated 5 kilometres south of the point of intersection of
the above-mentioned arc of the circle with the route from Dosso to
Matankari via Maourede.
Thence it shall be drawn in a direct line to a point 20 kilometres
north of Konni (Birni-N'Kouni), and then in a direct line to a point
15 kilometres south of Maradi, and thence shall be continued in a
direct line to the point of intersection of the parallel of 13° 20/ north
latitude with a meridian passing 70 miles to the east of the seoond
intersection of the 14th degree of north latitude and the northern arc
of the above-mentioned circle.
Thence the frontier shall follow in an easterly direction the parallel
of 13° 20/ north latitude until it strikes the left bank of the River
Komadugu Waube (Komadougou Ouobe), the thalweg of which it
862 APPENDIX.
will then follow to Lake Chad. But, if before meeting this river the
frontier attains a distance of 5 kilometres from the caravan route from
Zinder to Yo, through Sua Kololua (Soua Kololoua), Adeber, and
Kabi, the boundary shall then be traced at a distance of
5 kilometres
to the south of this route until it strikes the left bank of the River
Komadugu Waube (Komadougou Ouobe), it being nevertheless
understood that, if the boundary thus drawn should happen to pass
shall be assigned to the
through a village, this village, with its lands,
Government to which would fall the larger portion of the village and
its lands. The boundary will then, as before, follow the thalweg of
the said river to Lake Chad.
Thence it will follow the degree of latitude passing through the
thalweg of the mouth of the said river up to its intersection with the
meridian running 35/ east of the centre of the town of Kouka, and
will then follow this meridian southwards until it intersects the
southern shore of Lake Chad.
It is agreed, however, that, when the Commissioners of the two
Governments at present engaged in delimiting the line laid down in
Article IV. of the Convention of the 14th June, 1898, return home
and can be consulted, the two Governments will be prepared to
consider any modifications of the above frontier line which may seem
desirable for the purpose of determining the line of demarcation with
greater accuracy. In order to avoid the inconvenience to either party
which might result from the adoption of a line deviating from recog-
nized and well-established frontiers, it is agreed that in those portions
of the projected line where the frontier is not deterniined by the trade
routes, regard shall be had to the present political divisions of the
territories so that the tribes belonging to the territories of Tessaoua-
Maradi and Zinder shall, as far as possible, be left to Prance, and
those belonging to the territories of the British zone shall, as far as
possible, be left to Great Britain.
It is further agreed that, on Lake Chad, the frontier line shall, if
necessary, be modified so as to assure to France a communication
through open water at all seasons between her possessions on the
north-west and those on the south-east of the Lake, and a portion of
the surface of the open waters of the Lake at least proportionate to
that assigned to her by the map forming Annex 2 of the Convention
of the 14th June, 1898.
In that portion of the River Komadugu which is common to both
parties, the populations on the banks shall have equal rights of ,
fishing.
Article IX.
The present Convention shall be ratified, and the ratifications shall
be exchanged, at London, within eight months, or earlier if
possible.
In witness whereof his Excellency the Ambassador of the French
Republic at the Court of His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions
bey(md the
Seas, Emperor of India, and His Majesty's Principal Secretary of
State for Foreign Affairs,
duly authorized for that purpose, have
signed the present Convention and have affixed thereto their seals.
Done at London, in duplicate, the 8th
day of April, 1904.
Article I.
Article II.
They declare that they will not obstruct the action taken by France
for this purpose, provided that such action shall leave intact the
rights which Great Britain, in virtue of Treaties, Conventions, and
usage, enjoys in Morocco, including the right of coasting trade
between the ports of Motocco, enjoyed by British vessels since 1901.
Article III.
His Britannic Majesty's Government, for their part, will respect the
rights which France, in virtue of Treaties, Conventions, and usage
enjoys in Egypt, including the right of coasting trade between
Egyptian ports accorded to French vessels.
Article IV.
The two Governments, being equally attached to the principle of
commercial liberty both in Egypt and Morocco, declare that they will
not, in those countries, countenance any inequality either in the
imposition of customs duties or other taxes, or of railway transport
charges.
The trade of both nations with Morocco and with Egypt shall enjoy
the same treatment in transit through the French and British posses-
sions in Africa. An Agreement between the two Governments shall
settle the conditions of such transit and shall determine the points of
entry.
This mutual engagement shall be binding for a period of thirty
years. Unless this stipulation is expressly denounced at least one year
in advance, the period shall be extended for five years at a time.
Nevertheless, the Government of the French Republic reserve to
864 APPENDIX.
Article VI.
^ In order passage of the Suez Canal, His Britannic
to insure the free
of
Majesty's Government declare that they adhere to the stipulations
the Treaty of the 29th October, 1888, and that they agree to their
being put in force. The free passage of the Canal being thus
1 as
guaranteed, the execution of the last sentence of paragraph
well as of paragraph 2 of Article VIII. of that Treaty will remain
in abeyance.
Article VII.
In order to secure the free passage of the Straits of Gibraltar, the
two Governments agree not to permit the erection of any fortifica-
tions or strategic works on that portion of the coast of Morocco
comprised between, but not including, Melilla and the heights which
command the right bank of the River Sebou.
This condition does not, however, apply to the places at present in
the occupation of Spain on the Moorish coast of the Mediterranean.
Article VIII.
The two Governments, inspired by their feeling of sincere friend-
ship for Spain, take into special consideration the interests which
that country derives from her geographical position and from her
territorial possessions on the Moorish coast of the Mediterranean.
In regard to these interests the French Government will come to an
understanding with the Spanish Government.
The agreement which may be come to on the subject between
France and Spain shall be communicated to His Britannic Majesty's
Government.
Article IX.
The two Governments agree to afford to one another their diplo^
matic support, in order to obtain the execution of the clauses of the
present Declaration regarding Egypt and Morocco.
In witness whereof his Excellency the Ambassador of the French
Republic -at the Court of His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions
beyond the
Seas, Emperor of India, and His Majesty's Principal Secretary of
State for Foreign Affairs,
duly authorized for that purpose, have
signed the present Declaration and have affixed thereto their seals.
Done at London, in duplicate, the 8th day of April, 1904.
I. —Siam.
The Government of His Britannic Majesty and the Government of
the French Republic confirm Articles 1 and 2 of the Declaration
signed in London on the 15th January, 1896, by the Marquess of
Salisbury, then Her Britannic Majesty's Principal Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs, and Baron de Courcel, then Ambassador of the
French Republic at the Court of Her Britannic Majesty.
In order, however, to complete these arrangements, they declare by
mutual agreement that the influence of Great Britain shall be recog-
nized by France in the territories situated to the west of the basin of
the River Menam, and that the influence of France shall be recognized
by Great' Britain in the territories situated to the east of the same
region, all the Siamese possessions on the east and south-east of the
zone alDove described and the adjacent islands coming thus henceforth
under French influence, and, on the other hand, all Siamese posses-
sions on the west of this zone and of the Gulf of Siam, including the
Malay Peninsula and the adjacent islands, coming under English
influence.
The two Contracting Parties, disclaiming all idea of annexing any
Siamese territory, and determined to abstain from any act which
might contravene the provisions of existing Treaties, agree that, with
this reservation, and so far as either of them is concerned, the two
Governments shall each have respectively liberty of action in their
spheres of influence as above defined.
II. — Madagascar.
In view of the Agreement now in negotiation on the questions of
jurisdictionand the postal service in Zanzibar, and on the adjacent
coast. His Britannic Majesty's Government withdraw the protest
which they had raised against the introduction of the Customs Tariff
established at Madagascar after the annexation of that island to
France. The Government of the French Republic take note of this
Declaration.
(L.S.) LANSDOWNE.
(L.S.) PAUL CAMBON.
( 867 )
INDEX.
Note. —See also the Index of Cases for references specific cases
to
and incidents —relative persons, places, and vessels—that have
to
arisen in Prize Courts and other Courts of law, in diplomacy and
negotiation, in arbitration, and in war.
ALASKA, 300.
boundary question, 272 seq.
ALBANIA, 122.
ALGIERS, 65.
'
ALIEN ENEMY,' meaning of, 463 seq.
ALIENS and real property abroad, 136 seq. (See also Enemy.)
resident, local jurisdiction over, 228 seq.
contracts of, 230.
bankruptcy of, 231.
ANDORRA, 55.
ANDRASSY NOTE, 111.
ASSAULT, 508.
BALLOONISTS, 510.
BOSNIA, 122.
'BUNDESSTAAT,' 74.
CESSION, 521.
dependence, 39.
in America. (See American Civil War.)
C0MPR0MI8, 398.
CONSULS, 335.
how differ from ambassadors, 352.
privileges, 353.
CONTKABAND OF WAR—continued.
ships, 735.
coals and machinery, 736.
food, 736.
in Russo-Japanese war, 737.
at the Hague Conference, 738.
under the Declaration of London (1909), 738.
absolute contraband, 739.
conditional contraband, 740.
free list, 741.
continuous voyag-e and destination, 742 seq. (See Continuous
Voyage.)
penalty for carrying, 751.
effect of ignorance, 753 .
CORFU, 635.
COURTS-MARTIAL, 523.
CRETE, 120. .
CRIMEAN WAR, 478, 503, 547, 642, 770, 771, 774, 793.
F(EDERA, 377.
'
FORTIFIED '
FRANCO-GERMAN WAR, 473, 475, 482, 499, 508, 509, 510, 529,
530, 537, 544, 548, 568, 570, 571, 623, 635, 642, 648, 649, 650,
652, 653, 665, 685, 688, 696, 731, 752, 771, 775.
'
FREE SHIPS FREE GOODS,' 702 seq.
FRENCH REVOLUTION WARS, 93. (See Napoleonic Wars.)
FUGITIVES. (See Political Refugees.)
on foreign vessels, 165.
and pirates, 196.
GB.OTIVS—continued.
enemy property within the territory, 417.
rights against enemy, 468.
good faith towards enemies, 512.
Convention of the Caudine Forks, 515.
conduct of invaders, 519.
capture and infra prmsidia, 593.
unjust sentence of Prize Court, 606.
the term 'neutrals,' 628.
neutral goods on enemy vessel, 701.
classification of contraband, 715, 725, 726.
blockade, 767.
HANOVER, 70.
KOREA, 68.
treaty with Japan, 68.
'
KRIEGSMANIER,' 498.
'
KRIEGSRAISON,' 498.
'
LEX LOCI REI SITM, 134, 135, 136, 143, 145, 147, 224, 227.
MALINES, 509.
MOLDAVIA, 54.
MONACO, 55.
NAPOLEONIC WARS, 540, 547, 553, 563, 606, 630, 759, 773, 793.
NATURALIZATION, 143.
in America, 252 seq.
treaty between Great Britain and United States, 254.
in Germany, 258.
in France, 258.
J^iEJJTRALlTY— continued.
trade of neutrals closed to them in time of peace, 765.
the 'rule of the war of 1756 '...765.
blockade, 767 seq. (See Blockade.)
—
right of visit and search convoy, 789 seq. (See Visit and
Search.)
destruction of neutral prizes, 799 seq.
PASSPORTS, 518.
PAXO, 635.
PILLAGE, 533.
POISON, 496.
POLIZZA, 55.
888 INDEX.
REIMS, 509.
REPAIRS of belligerent
shi^s in neutral ports, 692.
REPRISALS, 405.
effect,406.
in war, 470.
and unjust sentence of Prize Court, 606.
RETORSION, 404.
ROUMANIA, 54.
INDEX. 891
RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR (1904), 473, 475, 476, 480, 483 n., 484,
487, 488, 492, 500, 503, 511, 528, 529, 550, 557, 562, 564, 623,
642, 656, 665, 688, 689, 690, 692, 694, 737, 738, 758, 763, 764,
769 n., 770, 799.
SAFE-CONDUCT, 518.
87.
^''SELF-PKESERVATION, right of,
SEMI-SOVEKEIGN STATES, 51.
SERBIA, 54, 111, 115, 120.
•
SLAVES, FUGITIVE, 222 seq.
on foreign ships, 167, 223.
INDEX. 893
SOUTH AFRICAN WAR, 473, 475, 478, 482, 487, 490, 498, 500,
507, 528, 531, 544, 570, 640, 651, 734, 745, 749.
STAATENBUND,' 73.
STATE—continued.
tributary and vassal States, 64 seq.
single or united, 69.
real and personal unions, 70.
incorporate unions, 72.
federal unions, 73 seq.
absolute international rights, 87 seq.
(See also Independence ;
Equality; Property, etc.)
property in war, 536 seq. (See Property, Enemy.)
'THALWEG,' 305.
TREATIES— continued.
Great Britain- Portugal (1642, 1654, 1661, 1703, 1810), 385
seq., 704, 712.
(1891), 640.
Great Britain- Russia (1801), 719, 773.
(1812), 707.
Great Britain- Sweden (1661), 720.
Great Britain-United States (1783), 368, 370 seq.
(1794), 368, 375, 393, 612, 708,
724, 728, 781.
^ (1818), 279, 377.
(1827), 280.
(1846), 2&0.
(1850), 325.
(1854), 319.
(1862), 214.
(1870), 254.
(1873), 287.
(1901), 326, 690, 691, 696.
(1909), 320.
Japan-Korea (1904), 68.
Karlstad (1905), 70.
London (1827), 103.
(1832), 105 n.
(1841), 293, 305.
(1871), 109, 112, 294, 309.
(1883), 309.
Luneville (1800), 805.
Madrid, 804.
Mayence (1831\ 311.
Nimiguen (1678), 704.
Ouchy (1912), 65.
Paris (1763), 88, 317, 705, 719.
(1783), 312.
(1814), 311, 541.
(1815), 632.
390.
(1856), 19, 25, 109, 111, 112, 293, 294, 305, 308,
Portsmouth (1905), 484.
Pyrenees (1659), 704.
Roeskild (1658), 295.
Ryswick (1697), 704.
San Stefano (1878), 113, 115 n.
St. Petersburg (1801), 707.
Tilsit (1807), 707.
United States-Denmark (1830), 613.
United States-France (1778), 708.
United States-Panama (1903), 327.
United States-Prussia (1785), 709.
(1828), 137, 710.
United States-Russia (1824), 274.
United States-Spain (1795), 702.
(1819), 711.
Utrecht (1713), 88, 382, 634, 704, 719.
Versailles (1783), 706, 719.
Vienna (1815), 52, 72, 308, 316, 332. 630, 810.
WangHiya (1844), 181.
INDEX. 897
TREATIES— continued.
Washington (1842), 174, 195.
(1843), 200.
(1871), 24, 281, 289, 319, 666, 693, 698, 783.
(1892), 301.
(1897), 269.
(1903), 275.
Westminster (1678), 381.
Westphalia (1648), 93, 125, 307, 329, 629.
Zurich (1815), 632.
TRIPOLI, 65.
TUNIS, 65.
VALIN, 605.
neutral goods on enemy vessels, 701.
VIENNA, treaty of (1815), 52, 72, 308, 316, 332, 630, 810.
WALLACHIA, 54.
WAR— continued.
forcible measures short of —continued.
retorsion, 404.
reprisals, 405 seq., 407.
pacific blockade, 408.
right to make, 410.
pubKc or solemn, 410.
perfect or imperfect, 411.
civil, 411.
declaration of, 412 seq.
cases without declaration, 413.
in civil war, 414.
recent examples, 414.
Hague rules (1907), 415.
immediate effects of, 417 seq.
enemy property found within the territory, 417 seq.
enemy merchantmen found in the ports, 422 seq.
debts due to the enemy, 424 seq.
trading with the enemy, 427 seq., 434 seq., 462 seq.
by allied subjects, 440 seq.
quitting hostile territory at outbreak of war, 432, 447.
debts contracted between enemies, 439.
contracts with neutrals to be performed in enemy terri-
tory, 439.
contracts with enemy, 441.
persons domiciled in enemy territory, 442 seq.
trade or war domicile, 443 seq.
meaning of 'alien enemy,' 463 seq., 465 seq.
produce of the enemy's territory, 456 seq.
rights of war as between enemies, 468 seq.
fundamental principles, 468 seq., 495.
when reprisals justifiable, 470.
Hague regulations, 471 seq.
persons exempt from acts of hostility, 472.
who are lawful belligerents, 47S^eq.
prisoners of war, 476 seq.
sick and wounded, 484 seq.
means of injuring the enemy on land, 495 seq.
devastation, 504 seq.
sieges and bombardments, 507 seq.
espionage and 'war crime,' 510 seq.
non-hostile intercourse, 512 seq.
truce and armistice, 512.
capitulations for surrender, 514.
military occupation, 519 seq.
military and martial law, 522 seq.
' ' '
war crimes and war treason,' 528 seq.
occupation and the local law, 529.
exacting unlawful information and oath of alle-
giance, 530.
family honour, rights, etc., 531.
private property, 531.
pillage, 533.
collection of taxes, 534.
contributions, 534.
requisitions, 535.
900 .
INDEX.
WAR —continued. —
rights of war as between enemies continued.
—
militaiy occupation continued.
treatment of property generally, 536 seq. (See
Property, Enemy.)
penalties imposed by occupant, 543 seq.
hostages, 544.
maritime warfare, 546 seq.
lawful belligerents, 546 seq.
sick, wounded, etc., 554 seq.
restrictions on maritime capture, 561 seq.
maritime capture and enemy character, 568 seq.
Prize Courts, 604 seq.
naval bombardment, 619 seq.
aerial bombardment, 622 seq.
and neutrals, 628 seq. (See Neutrality.)
YPRES, 509.
w. 58
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