IV. TREATY OF PARIS, APRIL 16, 1856.

Declaration respecting Maritime Law, signed by the Plenipotentiaries of Great Britain, Austria, France, Prussia, Russia, Sardinia, and Turkey, assembled in Congress at Paris, April 16, 1856.

LES Plénipotentiaires qui ont signé le Traité de Paris du trente Mars, mil huit cent cinquante-six, réunis en Conférence,—

Considérant:

Que le droit maritime, en temps de guerre, a été pendant longtemps l'objet de contestations regrettables;

Que l'incertitude du droit et des devoirs en pareille matière donne lieu, entre les neutres et les belligérants, à des divergences d'opinion qui peuvent faire naître des difficultés sérieuses et même des conflits;

Qu'il y a avantage, par conséquent, à établir une doctrine uniforme sur un point aussi important;

Que les Plénipotentiaires assemblés au Congrès de Paris ne sauraient mieux répondre aux intentions dont leurs Gouvernements sont animés, qu'en cherchant à introduire dans les rapports internationaux des principes fixes à cet égard;

Dûment autorisés, les susdits Plénipotentiaires sont convenus de se concerter sur les moyens d'atteindre ce but; et étant tombés d'accord ont arrêté la Déclaration solennelle ci-après :

1. La course est et demeure abolie;

2. Le pavillon neutre couvre la marchandise ennemie, à l'exception de la contrebande de guerre;

3. La marchandise neutre, à l'exception de la contrebande de guerre, n'est pas saisissable sous pavillon ennemi;

4. Les blocus, pour être obligatoires, doivent être effectifs, c'està-dire, maintenus par une force suffisante pour interdire réellement l'accès du littoral de l'ennemi.

Les Gouvernements des Plénipotentiaires soussignés s'engagent à porter cette Déclaration à la connaissance des Etats qui n'ont pas été appelés à participer au Congrès de Paris, et à les inviter à y accéder.

Convaincus que les maximes qu'ils viennent de proclamer ne sauraient être accueillies qu'avec gratitude par le monde entier, les Plénipotentiaires soussignés ne doutent pas que les efforts de leurs Gouvernements pour en généraliser l'adoption ne soient couronnés d'un plein succès.

La présente Déclaration n'est et ne sera obligatoire qu'entre les Puissances qui y ont ou qui y auront accédé.

Fait à Paris, le seize Avril, mil huit cent cinquante-six.

The Plenipotentiaries who signed the Treaty of Paris of the thirtieth of March, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, assembled in Conference,—

Considering:

That maritime law, in time of war, has long been the subject of deplorable disputes;

That the uncertainty of the law and of the duties in such a matter gives rise to differences of opinion between neutrals and belligerents which may occasion serious difficulties, and even conflicts;

That it is consequently advantageous to establish a uniform doctrine on so important a point;

That the Plenipotentiaries assembled in Congress at Paris cannot better respond to the intentions by which their Governments are animated, than by seeking to introduce into international relations fixed principles in this respect ;

The above-mentioned Plenipotentiaries, being duly authorised, resolved to concert among themselves as to the means of attaining this object; and, having come to an agreement, have adopted the following solemn Declaration :

1. Privateering is, and remains, abolished;

2. The neutral flag covers enemy's goods, with the exception of contraband of war;

3. Neutral goods, with the exception of contraband of war, are not liable to capture under enemy's flag;

4. Blockades, in order to be binding, must be effective, that is to say, maintained by a force sufficient really to prevent access to the coast of the enemy.

The Governments of the undersigned Plenipotentiaries engage to bring the present Declaration to the knowledge of the States which have not taken part in the Congress of Paris, and to invite them to accede to it.

Convinced that the maxims which they now proclaim cannot but be received with gratitude by the whole world, the undersigned Plenipotentiaries doubt not that the efforts of their Governments to obtain the general adoption thereof will be crowned with full

success.

The present Declaration is not and shall not be binding, except between those Powers who have acceded, or shall accede, to it.

Done at Paris, the sixteenth of April, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.

Protocol No. 24.-Sitting of April 16, 1856.

On the proposition of Count Walewski, and recognising that it is for the general interest to maintain the indivisibility of the four principles mentioned in the Declaration signed this day, the Plenipotentiaries agree that the Powers which shall have signed it, or which shall have acceded to it, cannot hereafter enter into any arrangement in regard to the application of the right of neutrals in time of war, which does not, at the same time, rest on the four principles which are the object of the said Declaration.

Upon an observation made by the Plenipotentiaries of Russia, the Congress admits, that as the present resolution cannot have any retroactive effect, it cannot invalidate antecedent Conventions.

V. Declaration of Her Majesty, dated March 28, 1854, with reference to Neutrals and Letters of Marque.*

HER Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, having been compelled to take up arms in support of an Ally, is desirous of rendering the war as little onerous as possible to the Powers with whom she remains at peace.

To preserve the commerce of Neutrals from all unnecessary obstruction, Her Majesty is willing for the present, to waive a part of the belligerent rights appertaining to her by the Law of Nations.

It is impossible for Her Majesty to forego the exercise of her right of seizing articles contraband of war, and of preventing Neutrals from bearing the Enemy's despatches, and she must maintain the right of a belligerent to prevent Neutrals from breaking any effective blockade which may be established with an adequate force against the Enemy's forts, harbours, or coasts.

But Her Majesty will waive the right of seizing Enemy's property laden on board a neutral vessel, unless it be contraband of

war.

It is not Her Majesty's intention to claim the confiscation of neutral property, not being contraband of war, found on board Enemy's ships; and Her Majesty further declares, that being anxious to lessen as much as possible the evils of war, and to restrict its operations to the regularly organised forces of the country, it is not her present intention to issue Letters of Marque for the commissioning of Privateers.

Westminster, March 28, 1854.

VI. Order in Council of April 15, 1854, in furtherance of Her Majesty's Declaration of the 28th March 1854, respecting the Trade of Neutrals and British Subjects.

AT THE COURT AT WINDSOR,

The 15th Day of April 1854,

PRESENT

THE QUEEN'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY IN COUNCIL.*

WHEREAS Her Majesty was graciously pleased on the twentyeighth day of March last, to issue Her Royal Declaration in the following terms :

"Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, having been compelled to take up arms in sup

*The above Declaration and Order in Council ceased to be in force upon the close of the Russian War. They are here inserted only as indicating the probable policy of Great Britain in future wars.

port of an Ally, is desirous of rendering the war as little onerous as possible to the Powers with whom she remains at peace.

66 Το preserve the commerce of Neutrals from all unnecessary obstruction, Her Majesty is willing, for the present, to waive a part of the belligerent rights appertaining to her by the Law of Nations.

"It is impossible for Her Majesty to forego the exercise of her right of seizing articles contraband of war, and of preventing Neutrals from bearing the Enemy's despatches, and she must maintain the right of a belligerent to prevent Neutrals from breaking any effective blockade which may be established with an adequate force against the Enemy's forts, harbours, or coasts.

"But Her Majesty will waive the right of seizing Enemy's property laden on board a neutral vessel unless it be contraband of

war.

"It is not Her Majesty's intention to claim the confiscation of neutral property, not being contraband of war, found on board Enemy's ships; and Her Majesty further declares, that being anxious to lessen as much as possible the evils of war, and to restrict its operations to the regularly organised forces of the country, it is not her present intention to issue Letters of Marque for the commissioning of Privateers."

Now it is this day ordered, by and with the advice of Her Privy Council, that all vessels under a neutral or friendly flag, being neutral or friendly property, shall be permitted to import into any port or place in Her Majesty's dominions all goods and merchandise whatsoever, to whomsoever the same may belong; and to export from any port or place in Her Majesty's dominions to any port not blockaded any cargo or goods, not being contraband of war, or not requiring a special permission, to whomsoever the same may belong.

And Her Majesty is further pleased, by and with the advice of Her Privy Council, to order, and it is hereby further ordered, that, save and except only as aforesaid, all the subjects of Her Majesty and the subjects or citizens of any neutral or friendly State shall and may, during and notwithstanding the present hostilities with Russia, freely trade with all ports and places wheresoever situate which shall not be in a state of blockade, save and except that no British vessel shall under any circumstances whatsoever, either under or by virtue of this Order or otherwise, be permitted or empowered to enter or communicate with any port or place which shall belong to or be in possession or occupation of Her Majesty's Enemies.

And the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, and Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for War and the Colonies, are to give the necessary directions herein as to them may respectively appertain.

C. C. GREVILLE.