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REPLIES OF THE GOVERNMENTS
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of the enforcement of the laws or regulations in each country is, in the generality of cases, a purely administrative matter. and it is in measures of this kind that national customs most frequently differ on account of different habits or mentality. The enforcement of the Conventions on maritime matters which are already in force, particularly as regards safety of navi- gation, creates a certain amount of friction between the authorities of different nations. In order to avoid such friction, individual agreements have been concluded, and they all contemplate a restriction of the supervisory measures which the authority of a particular country can exercise over ships frequenting the ports of that country.
Without being definitely opposed to the measures referred to in Question 6, the French Government considers that, if they are to be effective without causing friction, they should be simple and make supervision easy.
In no case should they authorise the authorities to detain a ship because its complement of officers is irregular.
If breaches are found, the authority finding them should only inform the consular authority of the country to which the ship in question belongs. In any event, it would be for the Govern- ment of the country to which the ship belongs to make enquiries and impose the sanctions provided for in such a case.
GERMANY
6. It does not appear desirable that this question should form the subject of international regulation. Fundamental ideas as to the treatment of foreign ships in territorial waters vary so much that it is doubtful whether a decision on the subject could be adopted at all by the International Labour Conference, and even if such a decision were adopted, whether it would be ratified by the States Members.
It should be mentioned further that the governments of the maritime German States (Küstenländer) have already issued regulations authorising the competent authorities to detain ships which are not provided with officers in accordance with the regulations. In particular, the authorities supervising the engagement of seamen see to the regular equipment of officers.
GREAT BRITAIN
See reply under Question 1, ante, p. 15.
INDIA
6. The Government of India consider that the provision in the Draft Convention should be limited to requiring the