3. The colours of a vessel being prima facie the distinctive mark of her nationality, and consequently of the jurisdiction to which she is subject, it is natural that a merchant-vessel on the high seas, passing within view of a ship of war should hoist her flag in declaration of her nationality. So soon, therefore, as the ship of war has made herself known by the display of her own colours, the merchant-vessel should also hoist her national flag. 4. Should the merchant-vessel neglect to do so, it is admitted by the two Governments that a warning may be given to her; first, by firing a blank gun, and should that be without effect, it may be enforced by a second gun, shotted, but pointed in such a manner as to ensure that she is not struck by the shot. 5. Immediately that the merchant-vessel has, by hoisting her colours, announced her nationality, the foreign ship of war can not longer pretend to exercice the least control over her. At most, in certain cases, she may exercise the right to speak with her, and demand answers to questions addressed to her through a speaking-trumpet, or otherwise, but without obliging her to alter or impede her course. When, however, the presumption of nationality resulting from the colours which may have been shown by a merchant-vessel may be seriously thrown in doubt, either from positive information, or from indications of a nature to create a belief that the vessel does not belong to the nation whose colours she has assumed, the foreign ship of war may have recourse to the verification of her assumed nationality. 6. A boat may, for this purpose, be sent to the suspected vessel, after she has been first hailed to give notice of the intention. The verification shall consist in an examination of the papers establishing the nationality of the vessel. Nothing can be claimed beyond the exhibition of those documents. The papers to be produced by the merchant-vessels shall be, for english vessels the certificate of registry and the ship's articles, and for french vessels the acte de francisation and the conge The officer charged with the duty of verification should always be a commissioned officer, if there is such an officer on board, and should be in uniform. He should proceed whith all possible courtesy and consideration. 7. Any inquiry into the nature of the cargo, or the commercial operations of the vessel, or, in short, into any other fact besides that of her nationality, is prohibited. Any search or inspection whatever is absoluttey forbidden." 8. Before the officer of the cruizer quits the vessel, a written statement (procès-verbal) shall be prepared by the officer of the cruizer and the master of the merchant-vessel wherein shall be stated all circumstances attending the verification. It shall be signed by both parties, each of whom is to keep a copy thereof. If there should be any difference of opinion as to its terms, the officer of the cruizer and the master of the merchant-vessel are each to prepare a statement and furnish each other with a certified copy. 9. Except in the case of legitimate suspicion of fraud, it should never be necessary for the commander of a foreign ship of war to send on board a marchant-vessel; so numerous are the indications which, apart from the colours, are sufficient to show to the practised eye of a seamam the nationality of a vessel. 10. In every case it is to be clearly understood that the captain of a ship of war who determines to board a merchant-vessel must do so at his own risk and peril, and must remain responsible for all the consequences which may result from his own act. 11. The commander of a ship of war who may have recourse to that measure should in all cases report the fact to his own Government and should explain the reasons for his having so acted. A communication of such report and of the reasons which may have led to the verification, shall be given officially to the Government to which the vessel may belong which shall have been subjected to such verification of her flag. 12. If, after examination of her papers, all merchant-vessel suspected of fraud shall be detained by a foreign cruizer, she must, as soon as possible, be taken into a port or to an authority of the nationality claimed, in order that the right to her flag may be verified by the authorities of the nation to which that flag belongs. If the claim is recognized to be fraudulent, the vessel will, of course, remain at the disposal of the captor. In the contrary case a claim may be made for indemnification as under the circumstances defined in article 13. 13. In all cases in which the verification of the flag shall not be justified by sufficient reasons, or shall not have been made in a proper manner, a claim may be made for indemnification. 14. You will clearly understand that the foregoing instructions have reference only to vessels navigating under the french flag, and are intended to prevent misunderstanding between the british and french Governments, but cannot affect the vessels of other nations with whom Great Britain has treaties for the suppression of the slave trade, or deprive Her Majesty of the right to seize and detain vessels engaged in the slave trade, when not entitled to the protection of any national flag. London, 1st June 1867. TABLE DES MATIÈRES PAR ORDRE CHRONOLOGIQUE Du Tome 100 (Vol. IV de 1906, Nos 10-11-12). Juillet.... 18. Danemark, Paraguay. Traité d'amitié et convention 116 Traduction. 126 1904 Août.. Octobre 23. Belgique, Luxembourg. — Convention concernant la déli- 8. (25 septembre). Allemagne, Roumanie. Convention de commerce additionnelle au traité de commerce, de 106 5 8. Russie, Luxembourg. Voir 30 octobre. 16/29. Russie, Grande-Bretagne. Arrangement concernant 158 17. Russie, Luxembourg. V. 30 octobre. ... Novembre... 19. 27. Belgique, Pays-Bas. Convention pour l'amélioration de 30 (17). Russie Luxembourg. — Arrangement concernant l'échange 110 163 - Convention concernant l'échange réciproque des colis-postaux.. 94 25. Russie, Italie. -- Convention concernant l'échange des mandats-poste... 168 16/29. Allemagne, Serbie. Convention additionnelle au traité Pages. Décembre... 16/29. Suisse, Roumanie.- Convention additionnelle à la convention de commerce entre la Suisse et la Roumanie.... 230 Décembre..... 21. Russie, Perse. V. janvier 3, 1905. 1905 Janvier..... 3. Russie, Perse. Convention relative à l'échange des Affaires de Mascate (France-Grande-Bretagne).-Contre- Mémoire du Gouvernement britannique.. Conclusions pour le Gouvernement britannique. 233 269 286 309 313 340 353 colis-postaux. 174 Février.... Mars Avril... 5. Russie, Perse. V. Janvier 3, 1905. 23. Bulgarie, Russie.— Traité de commerce et de navigation. 142 23. Belgique, Pays-Bas. Convention concernant les limites 114 5. Belgique, Pays-Bas. Convention en vue de l'amélioration de l'éclairage de l'Escaut et de ses embouchures. 109 15. Belgique, Luxembourg. Convention relative à la réparation des dommages résultant des accidents du travail. Août.......... 30. Belgique, Bolivie. Dénonciation du traité d'amitié, de commerce et de navigation du 1er août 1860.......... Septembre..... 24. Belgique, Bulgarie. Etablissement du traitement de la nation la plus favorisée dans les relations commerciales. Novembre..... 8. Belgique, France. Convention rétablissant la ligne frontière entre les communes belges de l'Escaillère et de Rièzės et les communes françaises de Regniowez et de la Neuville-aux-Tourneurs.. Décembre..... 6. Allemagne, Russie. Convention sur les chemins de fer. Varsovie-Kalisch et Skalmierziece-Ostrowo.. 1906 Janvier........ 18. Italie, Suisse. Convention réglant le service de police 18. Italie, Suisse. 107 93 94 105 131 137 192 Convention réglant les services télégra phiques et téléphoniques à la gare internationale de (Cf. pages 176 et 200). Février........ 12. Autriche-Hongrie, Belgique. - Traité de commerce et de navigation.. 19. Italie, Suisse. Conventions entre l'Administration des (Cf. pages 176 et 200). 19. Italie, Suisse. 190 77 201 Convention entre l'Administration des chemins de fer italiens de l'Etat et l'Administration des chemins de fer fédéraux suisses, pour l'exploitation de la ligne dès la gare internationale de Domodossola jusqu'à l'aiguille d'entrée, côté nord, de la gare d'Iselle....... 214 (Cf. pages 176 et 200). 380 Mars TABLE DES MATIÈRES PAR ORDRE CHRONOLOGIQUE. 19. Italie, Suisse. Message du Conseil fédéral à l'assemblée Pages 224 24. Italie, Suisse. - Convention réglant le service postal sur la ligne du Simplon entre Brigue et Dómodossola et dans la gare internationale de Domodossola............... 177 24. Italie, Suisse. Convention réglant le service des 24. Italie, Suisse. - Convention réglant le service de 29. Italie, Suisse. Arrêté fédéral approuvant les conven- tions conclues entre la Direction générale des chemins de fer fédéraux et la Direction générale des chemins de fer italiens de l'Etat pour la gare internationale de Les Tables analytiques des matières de l'année 1906 seront POUR PARAITRE AVEC LES TABLES ANALYTIQUES: Un fort volume in-8° comprenant la chronique analytique et chronologique, avec Distribué gratuitement aux abonnés de 1906-1907. Le Gérant: A. LEQUEUX. |