77
be in a good position to protest if this country were to take
cognizance of crimes committed by aliens outside the
recognised jurisdiction of British Courts which, though
piratical in their nature, did not come within the admitted
definition of piracy in international law, such action
would be uite inconsistent with British professions and
policy in the past.
12. It is not an easy mat er to give a definition
of piracy which would be agreed to by all international
jurists as being ex.ct. dor need such a definition be
attempted here. It will be sufficient to indicate what
legislation could, in the opinion of the writers, properly
be passed without going beyond what is quasi-universally
acknowledged to be within the ambit of piracy jure
gentium.
13.
There can be no doubt that in international as
in English law the notion of piracy is intimately connect-
ed with that of robbery. (19)
The principal difference
is that, as most writers are agreed, the mere attempt at
robery on the high seas, if accompanied by unauthorized
acts of violence, threats or intimidation, will, in
inter-national law, anffice to constitute piracy. Thus
Ha: (20) defines piracy 28
"Robbery or attempt at robbery of a vessel by force or intimidation either by way of attack from without, or by way of revolt or the crew and con- version of the vessel and cargo to their own use".
In...
19.
20.
A convenient summary of the opinions of international Jurists will be found in Hall's International Law, 8th Ed. p.313, footnote 1.
Op. cit. p.314.