matters in which the rights and interests of the British Empire are vitally involved, and will not admit them to be questioned or discussed by any other Power. In pursuance of this principle, they will regard as an unfriendly act any attempt at interference in the affairs of Egypt by another Power, and they will consider any aggression against the territory of Egypt as an act to be repelled with all the means at their command. I am, &c. CURZON OF KEDLESTON. AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND ESTHONIAN GOVERNMENTS RESPECTING COMMERCIAL RELATIONS.1 My Lord, No. 1. M. Piip to Earl Curzon of Kedleston. Esthonian Legation, London, IT being the desire of our respective Governments to establish close commercial relations between the United Kingdom and Esthonia, I have the honour to inform you that, on condition of reciprocity, British nationals and goods, the produce or manufacture of the territories of His Britannic Majesty, will enjoy unconditionally in Esthonia treatment at least as favourable in all respects as that accorded to the nationals and goods, the produce or manufacture of the most favoured foreign country. This treatment shall be accorded in all matters of commerce and navigation as regards importation, exportation and transit, and, in general, in all that concerns customs duties and formalities and commercial operations, the establishment of British subjects in Esthonia, the exercise of commerce, industries and professions, and the payment of taxes. 2. British vessels will enjoy in the ports, rivers and territorial waters of Esthonia treatment not less favourable than that accorded to Esthonian vessels or to vessels of the most favoured foreign country, subject however to the right of the Esthonian Government to reserve the coasting trade to Esthonian vessels. 3. Esthonia further undertakes, on condition of reciprocity, to accord freedom of transit to persons, goods, vessels, aircraft, carriages, wagons and mails in transit to or from the United Kingdom over Esthonian territory, including territorial waters, and to treat them at least as favourably as Esthonian persons, goods, vessels, aircraft, carriages, wagons and mails, respectively, or those of any other more favoured nationality, origin, importation or ownership, as regards facilities, charges, restrictions and all other matters. 4. The foregoing stipulations will not be applicable to India or to any of 1 British Treaty Series, 1920, No. 19. His Britannic Majesty's Dominions, Colonies, Possessions or Protectorates beyond the seas, unless notice of accession to this arrangement shall have been given on behalf of India or any such Dominion, Colony, Possession or Protectorate by His Britannic Majesty's representative at Reval before the expiration of twelve months from this date. Nevertheless, goods, the produce or manufacture of India or of any of His Britannic Majesty's Dominions, Colonies, Possessions and Protectorates, will enjoy in Esthonia complete and unconditional most-favoured-nation treatment so long as India or such Dominion, Colony, Possession or Protectorate accords to goods, the produce or manufacture of Esthonia, treatment as favourable as that accorded to the produce of the soil or industry of any other foreign country. 5. The above arrangement will have effect as from the date of this note, and will remain in force unless and until either of our respective Governments has given notice to the other of its intention to terminate it. In that case, it will remain in force until the expiration of six months from the date of such notice. As regards India and the British Dominions, Colonies, Possessions and Protectorates which may have acceded to this arrangement in virtue of the provisions of paragraph 4, either of our respective Governments shall have the right to terminate it separately on giving six months' notice to that effect. Ir being the desire of our respective Governments to establish close commercial relations between the United Kingdom and Esthonia, I have the honour to inform you that, on condition of reciprocity, Esthonian nationals and goods, the produce or manufacture of the territories of Esthonia, will enjoy unconditionally in the territories of His Britannic Majesty treatment at least as favourable in all respects as that accorded to the nationals and goods, the produce or manufacture of the most favoured foreign country. This treatment shall be accorded in all matters of commerce and navigation as regards importation, exportation and transit, and, in general, in all that concerns customs duties and formalities and commercial operations, the establishment of Esthonian subjects in the territories of His Britannic Majesty, the exercise of commerce, industries and professions, and the payment of taxes. 2. Esthonian vessels will enjoy in the ports, rivers and territorial waters of the territories of His Britannic Majesty treatment not less favourable than that accorded to British vessels or to vessels of the most favoured foreign country, subject, however, to the right of the British Government to reserve the coasting trade to British vessels. 3. His Majesty's Government further undertake, on condition of reciprocity, to accord freedom of transit to persons, goods, vessels, aircraft, carriages, wagons and mails in transit to or from Esthonia over the territories of His Britannic Majesty, including territorial waters, and to treat them at least as favourably as British persons, goods, vessels, aircraft, carriages, wagons and mails, respectively, or those of any other more favoured nationality, origin, importation or ownership, as regards facilities, charges, restrictions and all other matters. 4. The foregoing stipulations will not be applicable to India or to any of His Britannic Majesty's Dominions, Colonies, Possessions or Protectorates beyond the seas, unless notice of accession to this arrangement shall have been given on behalf of India or any such Dominion, Colony, Possession or Protectorate by His Britannic Majesty's representative at Reval before the expiration of twelve months from this date. Nevertheless, goods, the produce or manufacture of India or of any of His Britannic Majesty's Dominions, Colonies, Possessions and Protectorates, will enjoy in Esthonia complete and unconditional most-favoured-nation treatment so long as India or such Dominion, Colony, Possession or Protectorate accords to goods, the produce or manufacture of Esthonia, treatment as favourable as that accorded to the produce of the soil or industry of any other foreign country. 5. The above arrangement will have effect as from the date of this note, and will remain in force unless and until either of our respective Governments has given notice to the other of its intention to terminate it. In that case, it will remain in force until the expiration of six months from the date of such notice. As regards India and the British Dominions, Colonies, Possessions and Protectorates which may have acceded to this arrangement in virtue of the provisions of paragraph 4, either of our respective Governments shall have the right to terminate it separately on giving six months' notice to that effect. I have, &c. CURZON OF KEDLESTON. CONVENTION BETWEEN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND FRANCE RESPECTING LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IN CIVIL AND COMMERCIAL MATTERS.1 Signed at London, February 2, 1922; ratifications exchanged at London, May 2, 1922. 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 the President of the French Republic, being desirous to facilitate the conduct of legal proceedings between persons resident in their respective territories, have decided to conclude a Convention for this purpose and have accordingly nominated as their 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 Honorable the Marquess Curzon of Kedleston, K.G., His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; The President of the French Republic: His Excellency Count de SaintAulaire, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic in London; Who, having communicated their full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed as follows: ARTICLE 1. This Convention applies only to civil and commercial matters. Transmission of Judicial and Extra-judicial Documents. ARTICLE 2. In cases where the law of one of the High Contracting Parties permits documents to be served in the territory of the other, such service may be effected in either of the following ways indicated in Articles 3 and 4. ARTICLE 3. (a.) The request for service is addressed: In France, by the British Consul to the "Procureur de la République" within whose jurisdiction the recipient of the document is; In England, by the Consul-General of France in London to the Senior Master of the Supreme Court of Judicature in England. (b.) The request is drawn up in the language of the authority applied to. It contains the name of the authority from whom the document enclosed emanates, the names and descriptions of the parties, and the address of the recipient. It is accompanied by the original and two copies of the document in question in the language of the State making the request, and by a trans 1 British Treaty Series, 1922, No. 5. lation certified by the consular authority of that State, and a copy of such translation. (c.) The service is effected by the delivery of the original or a copy of the document, as indicated in the request, and the copy of the translation, to the recipient in person, in England, by a process server; in France, by a "huissier" appointed by the "Procureur de la République.' (d.) The judicial authority applied to transmits to the consular authority making the request a certificate establishing the fact and the date of the service in person, or indicating the reasons for which it has not been possible to effect it. (e.) When the document transmitted to the "Procureur de la République" is intended for a person resident in another jurisdiction, this magistrate will immediately notify the consular authority making the request, and will, of his own motion, transmit the document to the "Procureur de la République" who is competent. (f.) No State fees of any nature whatever shall be charged in respect of the service. Nevertheless, the State making the request must repay to the State applied to any charges which are payable under the local law to the persons employed to effect service. These charges are calculated in accordance with the tariff in force in the State applied to. Repayment of these charges is claimed by the judicial authority applied to from the consular authority making the request when transmitting the certificate provided for in paragraph (d.). (g.) The execution of a request for service can only be refused if the State in whose territory it is to be effected considers it such as to compromise its sovereignty or safety. (h.) Any difficulties which may arise in respect of the request shall be settled through the diplomatic channel. ARTICLE 4. The service of judicial or extra-judicial documents may also be made directly and without the application of any compulsion through the medium and under the responsibility of the consular authority of each of the High Contracting Powers in the territory of the other. Commissions rogatoires. ARTICLE 5. Evidence which is required for use in one of the contracting countries is taken in the territory of the other, at the request of the party interested, in one of the ways indicated in Articles 6, 7 and (where applicable) 8. ARTICLE 6. (a.) The competent judicial authority of one of the parties addresses itself by means of a "commission rogatoire" to the competent judicial authority |