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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]

Printed for the use of the Oversea Defence Committes.

45

SECRET.

No. 463 M.

C.O. Nos. 22415: 28106: 28223: 28181: 37040/12.

The Treatment of Neutral and Enemy Merchant Ships in Time of War.

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Memorandum by the Oversea Sub-Committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence.

SINCE the issue of the Oversea Defence Committee's Memorandum No. 446 M, dated the 10th April, 1912, on the Treatment of Neutral and Enemy Merchant Ships in Time of War, several questions have arisen in connection with the detailed arrange- ments for giving effect to the policy recommended by the Committee of Imperial Defence.

The Oversea Defence Committee propose, therefore, to deal with these questions in the following Memorandum.

2. The Committee are informed that it has been found necessary to make some small amendments in the text of the Order in Council relative to the granting of days of grace," and that the wording of the Order in Council, which it is proposed to publish on the outbreak of war, will be as shown in the revised draft printed as Appendix I to this Memorandum.

3. The revised draft should be substituted for that printed as Appendix I to the Oversea Defence Committee's Memorandum No. 446 M, dated the 10th April, 1912.

4. It has been suggested that, in publishing in the Dominions, Colonies, and Protectorates, and in India, the above-mentioned Order in Council, a Notice should be published at the same time showing the standard local time corresponding with the Greenwich Mean Time mentioned in Article 3 of the document.

5. The Oversea Defence Committee concur in the suggestion, and recommend that a Notice giving this information should be printed as a footnote to the Order in Council.

6. On further consideration of the question of the form of pass, to be issued to enemy ships allowed to depart from British ports under the privilege of "days of grace," the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have recommended that the following words should be added to the provisos embodied in the pass, viz. :—

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Provided also that she keeps her colours constantly flying during her vogage, and makes no attempt to evade stoppage and search by British ships of war which she may fall in with.”

7. The addition of these words will, in the opinion of the Admiralty, not only facilitate the work of His Majesty's Ships after the outbreak of war, but will tend to expedite the movements of enemy vessels granted “days of grace.'

8. The Oversea Defence Committee recommend, therefore, that the form of pass printed as Appendix II to this Memorandum should be substituted for that printed as Appendix III to their Memorandum No. 446 M, dated the 10th April, 1912.

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