CO885-(13-15) — Page 500

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

C.O.885

Reference :-

14 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

warlike force of any ship which at the time of her being within the ports or waters of Cyprus was a ship in the military or naval service of any State at war with any friendly State:

Such person shall be guilty of an offence against this Order in Council, and shall be punishable by fine and imprisonment, or either of such punishments, at the discretion of the Court.

Penalty on fitting out Naval or Military Expeditions without License.

“13. If any person without the license of Her Majesty, and within the Island of Cyprus,―

Prepares or fits out any naval or military expedition to proceed against the dominions

of any friendly State, the following consequences shall ensue :—

(1.) Every person engaged in such preparation or fitting out or assisting therein or employed in any capacity in such expedition, shall be guilty of an offence against this Order in Council, and shall be punishable by fine and imprisonment, or either of such punishments, at the discretion of the Court. (2.) All ships and their equipments, and all arms and munitions of war used in

or forming part of such expedition, shall be forfeited to Her Majesty.

"Punishment of Accessories.

"14. Any person who aids, abets, counsels, or procures the commission of any offence against this Order in Council shall be liable to be tried and punished as a principal

offender."

And whereas by the said Order in Council it is further provided that ships built, commissioned, equipped, or despatched in contravention of the said Order in Council, may be condemned and forfeited by judgment of the High Court of Justice for Cyprus, and that if Her Majesty's High Commissioner is satisfied that there is a reasonable and probable cause for believing that a ship within the limits of Cyprus has been or is being built, commissioned, or equipped contrary to the said Order in Council, and is about to be taken beyond the limits of Cyprus, or that a ship is about to be despatched contrary to the Order in Council, the High Commissioner shall have power to issue a warrant authorising the seizure and search of such ship and her detention until she has been either condemned or released by process of law. And whereas certain of seizue and detention are conferred by the said Order in Council on certain local powers authorities :

Now, in order that none of the natives of Cyprus or persons domiciled there may unwarily render themselves liable to the penalties imposed by the said Order in Council, I do hereby signify Her Majesty's strict commands that no person or persons whatsoever do commit any act, matter, or thing whatsoever contrary to the provisions of the said Order in Council, upon pain of the several penalties by the said Order in Council imposed, and of Her Majesty's high displeasure.

And all natives of Cyprus or persons domiciled there, and all persons whatsoever entitled to Her Majesty's protection, are hereby further warned and admonished to observe towards each of the aforesaid Sovereigns, their subjects and territories, and towards all belligerents whatsoever with whom Her Majesty is at peace, the duties of neutrality, and to respect in all and each of them the exercise of those belligerent rights which Her Majesty and Her Majesty's royal predecessors have always claimed to exercise.

And all natives of Cyprus or persons domiciled there, and all persons whatsoever entitled to Her Majesty's protection, are hereby further warned that if any of them shall presume, in contempt of this proclamation and of Her Majesty's high displeasure, to do any acts in derogation of the duty imposed upon them by Her Majesty's position as a neutral Sovereign in a war between other Sovereigns, or in violation or contravention of the Law of Nations in that behalf, as more especially by breaking or endeavouring to break any blockade lawfully and actually established by or on behalf of either of the said Sovereigns, or by carrying officers, soldiers, despatches, arms, ammunition, military stores, or materials, or any article or articles considered and deemed to be contraband of war according to the law or modern usages of nations, for the use or service of either of the said Sovereigns, that all persons so offending, together with their ships and goods, will rightfully incur and be justly liable to hostile capture, and to the penalties denounced by the Law of Nations, in that behalf.

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And notice is hereby given that all natives of Cyprus and persons domiciled there and persons entitled to Her Majesty's protection who may misconduct themselves in the premises will do so at their peril, and of their own wrong; and that they will in nowise obtain any protection from Her Majesty against such capture or such penalties as aforesaid, but will, on the contrary, incur Her Majesty's high displeasure by such misconduct.

R. E. W.

R. B. F.

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