DECREE of the Government of Colombia Supplementing those of August 13 and 22, 1914, relative to the Neutrality of the Republic in regard to the actual War between various Powers.-Bogotá, September 1, 1914.

(Translation.)

CONSIDERING :

1. That according to Article 7 of the contract made on the 19th July, 1911, between the Ministry of Government and the United Fruit Company, the wireless telegraphy service of the company in Santa Marta must be absolutely neutral in case of international wars.

2. That in accordance with Article 15 of the contract made between the Ministry of Government and the company for wireless telegraphy (sic), the wireless service of this company in Cartagena in the case of war abroad or in the interior is submitted to the supervision and censure of the local authorities.

3. That even in the case of these definite and special instructions not existing, the mere fact of the wireless installations at Santa Marta and Cartagena being situated in Colombian territory, and perhaps even in land belonging to the Government, would oblige the respective companies enjoying the use of or owning such installations to observe and not to compromise the neutrality of the Republic.

It is decreed :

The wireless telegraphy station of Santa Marta and the wireless telegraphy station of Cartagena, whilst the actual war continues between various nations and whilst for the same reason the duties and rights of Colombia as a neutral State may be in force, may not be made use of except under the strict observance of what is laid down in Article 7 of the contract of the 19th July, 1911, and Article 15 of the contract of the 11th May, 1912.

For this reason the only use which may be made of them will be subject to the supervision and censorship of the authorities of Santa Marta and Cartagena in order that communications, which may be considered of a military character or which may favour warlike operations, may not be despatched or transmitted (sic).

66

Communicate by urgent" telegram to the Governors of Magdalena and Bolívar, requesting them to acknowledge receipt of the corresponding telegram and to take steps without loss of time to put this Resolution into prompt and due effect.

MARCO FIDEL SUAREZ.

CUBAN Proclamation of Neutrality in the European War.Mariel, August 5, 1914.

(Translation.)

To the People of Cuba.

ACCORDING to official information received in the State Department a state of war exists between Austria, Serbia, Germany, Belgium, France, and England. It has been communicated to the belligerent nations that the Cuban Government will observe the strictest neutrality during the conflict in accordance with the rules of international law, and I make known the decision of the Government to the end that the said neutrality may be kept and observed by all the inhabitants of the territory of the Republic and by all Cuban citizens abroad.

Given at Mariel the 5th August, 1914.

M. G. MENOCAL.

CUBAN DECREE regarding the Observance of NeutralityMariel, August 10, 1914.

(Translation.) [Decree 783.]

In accordance with the proclamation of the 5th August of the present year declaring the strict neutrality to be observed. by the Government of Cuba and its people, and likewise by those Cuban citizens resident abroad, in respect of the Powers belligerent in the present European conflict, I have decided to publish the following rules derived from the principles of International Law sanctioned by the practice of nations, by treaties of many countries, and by conventions, to some of which the Republic of Cuba has been a party, in order that they may be borne in mind and properly observed:

1. No belligerent may establish in the territory of the Republic of Cuba a radiotelegraphic station or any other apparatus intended to serve as a means of communication with the belligerent forces on land or sea.

2. Corps of combatants must not be formed nor recruiting agencies opened for the benefit of a belligerent in the territory of the Republic of Cuba.

3. The use of wireless telegraphy apparatus belonging to the Government is prohibited to the belligerents.

4. No Cuban citizen residing in a belligerent country can claim the benefit of his neutrality if he commits hostile acts against or in favour of a belligerent, particularly if he voluntarily enlists in the military service in favour of any of the belligerent parties.

5. No act of hostility including the capture and the exercise

of the right of search shall be committed by a belligerent warship in the jurisdictional waters of Cuba.

6. No belligerent shall establish Prize Courts in the territory of the Republic or in ships in the jurisdictional waters of Cuba.

7. No ship shall be armed or fitted out within the jurisdiction of the Republic in respect of which there is reasonable ground to believe that it is intended to serve as a cruiser or engage in hostile operations against one or more of the belligerent Powers with which this Republic is at peace.

8. Belligerent ships of war may not remain more than twenty-four hours in the ports, roadsteads, and jurisdictional waters of the Republic of Cuba, except on account of damage or stress of weather, or because it may not be possible to provide themselves within that period of time with the amount of fuel necessary to arrive at the nearest port of their nationality; but they must in every case depart as soon as the cause of delay disappears.

9. In the ports and roadsteads of the Republic belligerent warships may carry out repairs only in the measure necessary to make them seaworthy, and may not add in any manner to their fighting force. The competent authorities or officials of the Republic shall determine the nature of the repairs necessary, and these shall be carried out as rapidly as possible.

10. Belligerent warships may not make use of the ports, roadsteads, and jurisdictional waters of the Republic for replenishing or increasing their military supplies or their armament or for completing their crews. Neither may they revictual in the ports of the Republic except in the measure necessary to bring up their supplies to the normal peace standard, nor may they take a greater quantity of fuel than what is necessary to enable them to reach the nearest port of their nationality.

11. Belligerent warships which have shipped fuel in a port of the Republic may not within a period of three months replenish their supply in any port of the same.

12. Prizes may not be brought to the ports of the Republic except on account of unseaworthiness, stress of weather, or lack of fuel or provisions, and they must always depart as soon as the cause which justified their arrival is at an end. If the prize referred to does not do so, her officers and crew shall be set at liberty and the prize crew shall be interned.

13. A prize brought to a port of the Republic in circumstances other than those mentioned in the preceding paragraph shall be set at liberty.

14. If, notwithstanding the notification made by the competent Cuban authority, a belligerent ship of war does not leave a port of the Republic steps shall be taken to render the ship incapable of putting to sea so long as the war lasts, and the commanding officer of the ship shall facilitate the execution of such measure. When a ship is detained in these conditions the officers and crew shall also be detained, but they may be

kept on the ship or lodged in another ship or on land. A sufficient number of men, however, to look after the vessel must be left on board. The officers may remain on land on giving their word not to leave the territory of the Republic without permission.

This Decree shall have effect from the date of its publication in the "Official Gazette," and the Secretaries of State, Interior, and Treasury are charged with its execution as far as they are respectively concerned.

Given at Mariel the 10th August, 1914.

Countersigned :

PABLO DESVERNINE.

M. G. MENOCAL.

DECREE of the Dominican Republic relative to the Maintenance of Neutrality during the European War.-Santo Domingo, November 25, 1914.

(Translation.)

WHEREAS it is a duty involved by the Neutrality of States to prevent any illicit traffic by sea, I, in the use of the powers with which I am invested,

Decree :

Only Article. That no merchant vessel shall be cleared from the ports of the Republic without a declaration from the consular officer of the country to which the vessel belongs to the effect that the voyage is commercial, and without indication of its destination and ports of call.

To be communicated and published.

Given in Santo Domingo, capital of the Republic, this 25th day of November, 1914, 71st year of Independence and 52nd of the Restoration.

DR. BAEZ.

DECREE of the Government of the Equator relative to the Maintenance of Neutrality in the European War.-Quito, August 17, 1914.

(Translation.)

LEONIDAS PLAZA G., Constitutional President of the Republic, Considering that:

1. A state of war at present exists between Germany and Austria on the one side, and Great Britain, France, and Russia

on the other, and that this conflagration has extended, and may further extend, to other nations;

2. Equator has always maintained good friendly relations with the belligerent nations and desires to continue to maintain the same; and

3. It is the duty of the Government to take adequate measures for the protection of the national interests, which may be affected by the present war;

Decrees:

The Republic of Equator will observe the strictest neutrality in the above-mentioned war, adhering to The Hague Convention of the 18th October, 1907,* which defines the rights and duties of neutrals, and to the general principles of international law in the matter.

Given in the National Palace at Quito, the 17th day of August,

1914.

A true copy:
J. T. MERA,

LEONIDAS PLAZA G.
R. H. ELIZALDE,
Minister of Foreign Relations.

Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs.

DECREE of the Government of the Equator relative to the Treatment of Foreign Vessels in view of the Maintenance of Neutrality during the European War. - Quito, November 28, 1914.

(Translation.) [No. 353.]

LEONIDAS PLAZA G., Constitutional President of the Republic of the Equator,

Considering:

That it is necessary to take all those measures which may be conducive to the maintenance of the strict neutrality declared in the Decree of the 17th August of the present year, and by virtue of the faculties which are conferred by international law,

Decrees:

To the rules of The Hague Convention, which the Government of the Equator has resolved to follow, are to be added the following:

1. No merchant-ship of whatever nationality, whether belonging or not to a belligerent nation, will be able to leave an Equatorian port without the Port Authorities having previously * Vol. C, page 443. + Page 816. [1914. CVII.]

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