, 1922-02-01
FORMAL ASSENT
BY BIC POWERS
IS GIVEN TODAY

Continued from Page IL
dered TO submit to visit and search. TO
determine it's character before 1t can
be seized.
A merchant vessel must not be at
tackled until It refuses to submit to
visit and search after warning. or to
proceed as directed after seizure.
A merchant vessel must not be de-
stroyed unless the crew and passen-
gers have first been placed in safety.
() Belljgerent submarines are not
under any circumstances exempt
from the universal rules above stated;
and II a submarine cannot capture
a merchant vessel In conformity with
these rules the existing law of ma
tons requires 1t to ,desist from attack
and from seizure and to permit the
merchant vessel to proceed unmo-
Tested.
Section 1.-THE signatory powers
invite all other civilized powers to ex-
press their assent to the foregoing
statement Of established law so that
there may be q clear public under
standing throughout the world OF the
standards of conduct by which the
public opinion of the world is to pass
Judgment upon the future belliger-
ents-
Section III-The signatory powers
desiring 10 insure the enforcement Of
the humane rules of existing law de-
clared by them with respect to at
tacks upon and the seizure and de-
struction of merchant ships. further
declare that n person in the serv-
leo of any power who shall violate
any of those rules. whether or not
such person is under orders Of a gov
ernmental superior. shall be deemed
to have violated the laws of war and
shall be liable to trial and punish
ment as IL for an act of piracy and
may be brought to trial before the
civil or military authorities of any
power within the Jurisdiction Of which
he nay be found
Section IV.-The signatory powers
recognize the practical im~possibility
Il using submarines as commerce de-
5troyers without violating, as they
we're violated in the war OF 191b-1Si3
the requirements universally accepted
~ civilized nations for tho protection
the lives of neutrals and nrn.com-
batants. and to the enc thai. n pro
hihition of the use Of subn;ai ines as
.onmerce c~estroyers shall De univ I
ally accepted as q part Of the law Of
| nations they row accept that prohibi
ticn us lem efcrth binding as between
themselves and they invite all other
nations to adhere thereto.
Section V.@The use in war of as
~phyxiating. poisonous or other gases.
md all analogous liquids. materials or
devices having been Justly condemned
by tho public opinion of the civilized
world and a prohibition of such use
baving been declared IN treaties in
which a majority Of tho civilized pow
ers are parties. the signatory powers
to the end that this prohibition shall
be universally accepted as a part of
International law binding alike the
conscience and practice of nations. de-
clare their assent to such prohibition.
agree TO be bound thereby as between
themselves and invite all other civilized
nations to adhere thereto.
Sevtion V.-The present treaty
shall be ratified as 500 as possible In
accordance with the constitutional
methods Of the signatory powers and
shall take effect on the deposit OF all
the Publications, which shall take
place at Washington.
The government of the United
States OF America will transmit to
all the signatory powers a certified
copy of the process.verbal OF the de-
post Of ~ratihcations.
The present treaty, in French and