671683-1885-Protection-of-Submarime-Telegraph-Cables-Act- — Page 5

950

A.D. 1885.

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 7TH NOVEMBER, 1885.

ARTICLE X.

Offences against the present Convention may be verified by all means of proof allowed by the legisla. tion of the country of the court. When the officers commanding the ships of war, or ships specially commissioned for the purpose by one of the High Contracting Parties, have reason to believe that at infraction of the measures provided for in the present Convention has been committed by a vessel other than a vessel of war, they may demand from the captain or master the production of the official documents proving the nationality of the said vessel. The fact of such document having been exhibited shall the be endorsed upon it immediately. Further, formal statements of the facts may be prepared by the said officers, whatever may be the nationality of the vessel incriminated. These formal statements shall be drawn up in the form and in the language used in the country to which the officer making them belongs: they may be considered, in the country where they are adduced, as evidence in accordance with the law. of that country.

The accused and the witnesses shall have the right to add, or to have added, thereto, in their own language, any explanations they may consider useful.

These declarations shall be duly signed.

ARTICLE XI.

The proceedings and trial in cases of infraction of the provisions of the present Convention sha!! always take place as summarily as the laws and regulations in force will permit.

ARTICLE XII.

The High Contracting Parties engage to take or to propose to their respective Legislatures the necessary measures for insuring the execution of the present Convention, and especially for punishing, by either fine or imprisonment, or both, those who contravene the provisions of Articles II., V., and VI.

ARTICLE XIII.

The High Contracting Parties will communicate to each other laws already made, or which may hereafter be made, in their respective countries relating to the object of the present Convention.

ARTICLE XIV.

States which have not signed the present Convention may adhere to it on making

a request to that effect. This adhesion shall be notified through the diplomatic channel to the Government of the French Republic, and by the latter to the other Signatory Powers.

ARTICLE XV.

It is understood that the stipulations of the present Convention do not in any way restrict the freedom of action of belligerents.

ARTICLE XVI.

The present Convention shall be brought into force on a day to be agreed upon by the High Cou tracting Powers.

It shall remain in force for five years from that day, and unless any of the High Contracting Parties have announced, twelve months before the expiration of the said period of five years, its intention to terminate its operation, it shall continue in force for a period of one year, and so on from year to year.

If one of the Signatory Powers denounce the Convention, such denunciation shall have effect only as regards that Power.

ARTICLE XVII.

The present Convention shall be ratified, and the ratifications exchanged at Paris with as little delay as possible, and, at the latest, at the expiration of a year.

ADDITIONAL ARTICLE.

The stipulations of the Convention concluded under to-day's date for the protection of submari cables shall be applicable, in conformity with Article I., to the colonies and possessions of Her Britannic Majesty, with the exception of those herein-after mentioned, namely :-

Canada.

Newfoundland.

The Cape.

Natal.

New South Wales.

Victoria.

Queensland.

Tasmania..

South Australia.

Western Australia.

New Zealand.

Provided always, that the stipulations of the said Convention shall be applicable to any of the above. named colonies or possessions on whose behalf notice to that effect shall have been given by Her Britani? Majesty's Representative at Paris to the French Minister for Foreing Affairs.

Each of the above-named colonies or possessions which may have acceded to the said Convention shal be at liberty to withdraw from it in the same manner as the powers parties to it. In the event of sur the said colonies or possessions desiring to withdraw from the Convention, a notification to that effect s be made by Her Britannic Majesty's Representative at Paris to the French Minister for Foreign Affairs.