Italy. July 8, 1924. L. N. O. J., Aug. 1924, p. 1034. Ratification deposited: Brazil. June 3, 1924. Monit., Aug. 24, 1924, p. 4270. E. G., Aug. 27, 1924, p. 389. OBSCENE PUBLICATIONS. Geneva, Sept. 12, 1923. Signatures: Danzig. Mar. 31, 1924. Finland. Mar. 14, 1924. Irish Free State. Mar. 31, 1924. Japan. Mar. 31, 1924. Monaco. Mar. 29, 1924. South Africa. Mar. 15, 1924. Turkey. Mar. 31, 1924. L. N. O. J., May, 1924, p. 750. OPIUM CONVENTION, 2D. The Hague, Jan. 23, 1912. Ratification: Switzerland. June 5, 1924. For. Pol. Assoc. News bulletin, July 18, 1924. PARCEL POST CONVENTION. Madrid, Nov. 30, 1920. Ratification: Serbia. June 28, 1924. Ga. de Madrid, July 3, 1924, p. 110. POLISH TREATY. Versailles, June 28, 1919. Ratification deposited: Poland. Aug. 22, 1924. J. O., Aug. 31, 1924, p. 8034. POSTAL CONVENTION. Buenos Aires, Sept. 15, 1921. Adhesion: Spain. Aug. 5, 1924. Ga. de Madrid, Aug. 13, 1924, p. 855. POSTAL CONVENTION. Madrid, Nov. 13, 1920. Promulgation: Brazil. Feb. 20, 1924. P. A. U., July, 1924, p. 732. POSTAL SUBSCRIPTIONS TO NEWSPAPERS. Ratification: Madrid, Nov. 30, 1920. Serbia. June 28, 1924. Ga. de Madrid, July 3, 1924, p. 110. POSTAL TRANSFERS. Madrid, Nov. 30, 1920. Ratification: Serbia. June 28, 1924. Ga. de Madrid, July 3, 1924, p. 110. PROTECTION OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY. Paris, March 20, 1883. Revision. Brussels, Dec. 14, 1900; Washington, June 2, 1911. Adhesion: Syria. Lebanon. E. G., Aug. 27, 1924, p. 388. RADIOTELEGRAPH CONVENTION. London, July 5, 1912. Adhesion: Irish Free State. April 22, 1924. Tanganyika Territory. March 5, 1924. E. G., May 28, 1924, p. 274. RAILWAYS REGIME. Signature: Convention and statute. Geneva, Dec. 9, 1923. Czechoslovakia. June 3, 1924. L. N. O. J., Aug. 1924, p. 1033. REFRIGERATION, INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF. Paris, June 21, 1920. Ratification deposited: Japan. March 4, 1924. Monit., May 23, 1924, p. 2691. RIGHT TO A FLAG OF STATES HAVING NO SEACOAST. Barcelona, April 20, 1921. Austria. July 10, 1924. L. N. O. J., Aug. 1924, p. 1033. SANITARY CONVENTION. Paris, Jan. 17, 1912. Ratification deposited: Hungary. Aug. 1, 1924. J. O., Aug. 20, 1924, p. 7754. SERVICE DES RECOUVREMENTS. Madrid, Nov. 30, 1920. Ratification: Serbia. June 28, 1924. Ga. de Madrid, July 3, 1924, p. 110. SPITZBERGEN. Paris, Feb. 9, 1920. Ratification: Italy. July 19, 1924. G. U., Aug. 19, 1924, p. 2879. TANGIER CONVENTION. Paris, Dec. 18, 1923. Ratifications deposited: Great Britain, France, Spain. May 14, 1924. G. B. Treaty series, no. 23 (1924) Cmd. 2203. TRADE-MARKS REGISTRATION. Madrid, April 14, 1891. Revision. Brussels, Dec. 14, 1900; Washington, June 2, 1911. Adhesion: Luxemburg. E. G., Aug. 27, 1924, p. 389. UNEMPLOYMENT CONVENTION. Washington, Nov. 28, 1919. Ratification: Austria. June 6, 1924. Poland. June 11, 1924. I. L. O. B., July 15, 1924. UNEMPLOYMENT INDEMNITY IN CASE OF LOSS OF SHIP. Geneva, July 9, 1920. Ratification: Poland and Spain. I. L. O. B., July 15, 1924. UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION. Revision. Madrid, Nov. 30, 1920. Adhesion: Soviet Union. June 24, 1924. E. G., July 2, 1924. Ratification: Serbia. June 28, 1924. Ga. de Madrid, July 3, 1924, p. 110. WEEKLY REST IN INDUSTRY. Geneva, Nov. 17, 1921. Ratification: Poland and Spain. I. L. O. B., July 15, 1924. E. G., WEIGHTS AND MEASURES BUREAU. Paris, May 20, 1875. Revision. Oct. 6, 1921. Ratification deposited: Italy. Aug. 6, 1924. J. O., Aug. 21, 1924, p. 7802. WHITE LEAD IN PAINT. Geneva, Nov. 19, 1921. Ratification: Austria. June 6, 1924. Poland. June 23, 1924. Spain. June 7, 1924. I. L. O. B., July 15, 1924. WHITE SLAVE TRADE. Paris, May 4, 1910. Adhesion: Gold Coast. June 21, 1924. Monit., Aug. 22, 1924, p. 4246. Falkland Islands. Monit., July 31, 1924, p. 3884. Leeward Islands and Mauritius. Monit., June 4, 1924, p. 2888. Ratifications deposited: Brazil. June 3, 1924. Italy. May 28, 1924. WHITE SLAVE TRADE. Adhesion: Monit., Aug. 27, 1924, p. 4314. Monit., July 31, 1924, p. 3884. Falkland Islands. May 8, 1924. L. N. O. J., June, 1924, p. 827. Gold Coast. Monit., Aug. 29, 1924, p. 4359. L. N. O. J., Aug. 1924, Spain. May 25, 1924. Ga. de Madrid, June 5, 1924, p. 1182. Monit., Ratification deposited: Germany. July 8, 1924. L. N. O. J., Aug., 1924, p. 1033. Italy. June 30, 1924. Monit., July 31, 1924, p. 3885. WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION IN AGRICULTURE. Ratification: Geneva, Nov. 12, 1921. Poland and Irish Free State. I. L. O. B., July 15, 1924. M. ALICE MATTHEWS JUDICIAL DECISIONS INVOLVING QUESTIONS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW AMERICAN AND BRITISH CLAIMS ARBITRATION TRIBUNAL1 FIJI LAND CLAIMS American traders acquired certain lands in the Fiji Islands by purchase from native chiefs years before the cession of the islands to Great Britain in 1874. After the cession, Great Britain established a board of land commissioners to pass upon the validity of titles to land in the islands, and by 1882 more than 1,300 claims were passed upon. The titles of these American claimants were denied by the land commissioners, and Great Britain contended that the chiefs who sold the lands could not acting alone convey the equivalent of a fee simple title; that under native custom certain occupiers of the soil had specific rights which could not be alienated without their express consent, and that as the latter were not parties to the deeds, no valid titles had been conveyed. The Tribunal held that the chiefs had the power to convey, and drew a distinction between the want of power and the possible abuse of the power. Each case was thereupon considered upon its merits and awards rendered accordingly. CASE OF GEORGE RODNEY BURT (CLAIM NO. 44) Award rendered at London, October 26, 1923 Held, that the claimant had valid conveyances from the chiefs, and that the British authorities, by refusing to recognize his title, failed to carry out the obligation which Great Britain, as the succeeding power in the islands, must be held to have assumed from the point of view of international law. Speculative valuation and prospective profits not included in the award. On the tenth day of October, 1874, Great Britain acquired by peaceful cession "the possession of and full sovereignty and dominion over" the Fiji Islands. The deed of cession executed by Thakombau (or Cakobau), the then reputed overlord chief or King in Fiji, and by twelve other natives styled the "high chiefs" of the islands, reads as follows: WHEREAS, divers subjects of Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland have from time to time settled in the Fijian group of Islands, and have acquired property or certain pecuniary interests therein; And whereas the Fijian Chief Thakombau, styled Tui Viti and Vunivalu, and other high Chiefs of the said Islands, are desirous of securing the promotion of civilisation and Christianity, and of increasing trade and industry within the said Islands; And whereas it is obviously desirable in the interests as well of the natives as of the white population that order and good government should be established therein; And whereas the said Tui Viti and other high Chiefs have conjointly and severally requested Her Majesty 1 Established in pursuance of the special agreement between Great Britain and the United States, signed at Washington, Aug. 18, 1910. (Supplement to this JOURNAL, Vol. 5, pp. 257-267.) Arbitrators: Henri Fromageot, Edward A. Mitchell Innes, Robert E. Olds. Agents and Senior Counsel: United States-Mr. Fred K. Nielsen; Great Britain-Sir Cecil J. B. Hurst. Previous decisions of the tribunal will be found printed in this JOURNAL, Vol. 7, pp. 875890; Vol. 8, pp. 650-665; Vol. 15, pp. 292–304; Vol. 16, pp. 106–116, 301–333. Headnotes supplied by the Managing Editor. the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland aforesaid to undertake the government of the said Islands henceforth; And whereas, in order to the establishment of British government within the said Islands, the said Tui Viti and other the several high Chiefs thereof, for themselves and their respective tribes, have agreed to cede the possession of and the dominion and sovereignty over the whole of the said Islands, and over the inhabitants thereof, and have requested Her said Majesty to accept such cession; which cession the said Tui Viti and other high Chiefs, relying upon the justice and generosity of Her said Majesty, have determined to tender unconditionally, and which cession, on the part of the said Tui Viti and other high Chiefs is witnessed by the execution of these presents, and by the formal surrender of the said territory to Her said Majesty; And whereas his Excellency Sir Hercules George Robert Robinson, Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Governor, Commander-in-Chief, and Vice-Admiral of the British Colony of New South Wales and its Dependencies, and Governor of Norfolk Island, hath been authorized and deputed by Her said Majesty to accept on her behalf the said cession: Now these presents witness, 1. That the possession of and full sovereignty and dominion over the whole of the group of Islands in the South Pacific Ocean known as the Fijis (and lying between the parallels of latitude of fifteen degrees south, and twenty-two degrees south of the Equator, and between the meridian of longitude of one hundred and seventy-seven degrees west, and one hundred and seventy-five degrees east of the meridian of Greenwich), and over the inhabitants thereof, and of and over all ports, harbours, havens, roadsteads, rivers, estuaries, and other waters, and all reefs and foreshores within or adjacent thereto, are hereby ceded to and accepted on behalf of Her said Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, her heirs and successors, to the intent that from this time forth the said Islands, and the waters, reefs, and other places as aforesaid, lying within or adjacent thereto, may be annexed to and be a possession and dependency of the British Crown. 2. That the form or constitution of Government, the means of the maintenance thereof, and the laws and regulations to be administered within the said islands, shall be such as Her Majesty shall prescribe and determine. 3. That, pending the making by Her Majesty, as aforesaid, of some more permanent provision for the Government of the said islands, His Excellency Sir Hercules George Robert Robinson, in pursuance of the powers in him vested, and with the consent and at the request of the said Tui Viti and other high Chiefs, the ceding parties hereto, shall establish such temporary or provisional Government as to him shall seem meet. 4. That the absolute proprietorship of all lands, not shown to be now alienated, so as to have become bona fide the property of Europeans or other foreigners, or not now in the actual use or occupation of some Chief or tribe, or not actually required for the probable future support and maintenance of some Chief or tribe, shall be and is hereby declared to be vested in Her said Majesty, her heirs and successors. 5. That Her Majesty shall have power, whenever it shall be deemed necessary for public purposes, to take any lands upon payment to the proprietor of a reasonable sum by way of compensation for the deprivation thereof. 6. That all the existing public buildings, houses, and offices, all enclosures and other pieces or parcels of land now set apart or being used for public purposes, and all stores, fittings, and other articles now being used in connection with such purposes, are hereby assigned, transferred, and made over to Her said Majesty. 7. That, on behalf of Her Majesty, His Excellency Sir Hercules George Robert Robinson promises: (1) That the rights and interests of the said Tui Viti and other high Chiefs, the ceding parties hereto, shall be recognized, so far as is consistent with British sovereignty and colonial form of government. (2) That all questions of financial liabilities and engagements shall be scrutinised, and dealt with upon principles of justice and sound public policy. (3) That all claims to titles of land, by whomsoever preferred, and all claims to pensions or allowances, whether on the part of the said Tui Viti and other high Chiefs, or of persons now |