Det danske Fredsakademi

Kronologi over fredssagen og international politik 20. februar 1928 / Time Line February 20, 1928

19. Februar 1928, 21. Februar 1928

02/20/1928
Convention on Maritime Neutrality, 135 L.N.T.S. 187, entered into force Jan. 21, 1931.
- http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/instree/1928b.htm
'The Governments of the Republics represented at the Sixth International Conference of America States, held in the City of Havana, Republic of Cuba, in the year 1928; Desiring that, in case war breaks out-between two or more states the other states may, in the service of peace, offer their good offices or mediation to bring the conflict to an end, without such an action being considered as an unfriendly act;
Convinced that in case this aim cannot be attained, neutral states have equal interest in having their rights respected by the belligerents;
Considering that neutrality is the juridical situation of states which do not take part in the hostilities, and that it creates rights and imposes obligations of impartiality, which should be regulated;
Recognizing that international solidarity requires that the liberty of commerce should be always respected, avoiding as far as Possible unnecessary burdens for the neutrals;
It being convenient, that as long as this object is not reached, to reduce those burdens as much as possible; and
In the hope that it will be possible to regulate the matter so that all interests concerned may have every desired guaranty;
Have resolved to formulate a convention to that effect and have appointed the following Plenipotentiaries:
...
Who, after having presented their credentials, which were found in good and correct form, have agreed upon the following provisions:
SECTION I
FREEDOM OF COMMERCE IN TIME OF WAR
Article 1. The following rules shall govern commerce of war:
(1) Warships of the belligerents have the right to stop and visit on the high seas and in territorial waters that are not neutral any merchant ship with the object of ascertaining its character and nationality and of verifying whether it conveys cargo prohibited by international law or has committed any violation of blockade. If the merchant ship does not heed the signal to stop, it may be pursued by the warship and stopped by force; outside of such a case the ship cannot be attacked unless, after being hailed, it fails to observe the instructions given it.
The ship shall not be rendered incapable of navigation before the crew and passengers have been placed in safety.
(2) Belligerent submarines are subject to the foregoing rules. If the submarine cannot capture the ship while observing these rules, it shall not have the right to continue to attack or to destroy the ship.
Art. 2. Both the detention of the vessel and its crew for violation of neutrality shall be made in accordance with the procedure which best suits the state effecting it and at the expense of the transgressing ship. Said state, except in the case of grave fault on its Part, is not responsible for damages which the vessel may suffer....

02/20/1928

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