American Legal Rights In Territorial Waters

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 244, 16 October 1939, Page 8

American Legal Rights In Territorial Waters

RUGBY, Oct. 13. Interest has been aroused in naval circles in London by unofficial reports received of important decisions reached at the Panama conference of the republics of America to the effect that a neutral or safety zone of variously-stated depths from the coast is to be established. It is understood that the zone is in no way intended as an extension of territories waters but that the belligerents are to be invited to accept the limitation of their operations which would be involved by the scheme. , This way of proceeding, it is agreed jamong experts here, is clearly thi Jwisest, since, while the belligerents and particularly the Allies may be anxious •to assist all the neutral countries in keeping war from the proximity of theii .coasts, it must be for them to decide .whether or not to accept i estrictioni which would limit their enjoyment oi 'certain well-established rights On the other hand, neutral States ar« .entitled and bound to demand that belligerents shall abstain from hostilitiei [in their territorial waters, and it is not a hostile act if a neutral repels, even by force, an attack upon his neutrality. During the Great War, Norway, Sweden, Spain, and Holland forbade belligerent submarines to enter their territorial •waters except in case of distress.

| Authorities on naval history point oul {that in olden times many extravagant claims were put forward by various [nations as to the limit of their territorial ,waters, but since those days auch claim? have been drastically modified, and it ii ( now generally recognised that no country can properly claim jurisdiction •over large areas of ocean, nor the right (to control or exclude the movements of 'foreign ships on the high seas.

j This applies equally to belligerents’ ‘operations, though a belligerent can, of course, restrict his operations of his own free will if he so wishes.

Since the Great War, the importance ■of the limit of territorial waters has been brought to the notice of the public in several ways, among others by reason of the National Prohibition Act of America. Resulting from a discussion with Great Britain, an agreement was reached at Washington in 1924 whereby the United States was given the right to board and examine any British vessel suspected of being engaged in liquorsmuggling at a distance from the coast that could be traversed by that vessel in one tour.

By the same agreement, Britain and America declared their firm intention to uphold the principle that three marine miles, extending from the coastline cutwards and measured from the lowwater mark, should constitute the proper limits of territorial waters. ‘Similar agreements were subsequently ■entered into by America with German / t and Sweden. Certain bays, straits and canals have from time to time been the subject of special international agreement, so that when questions of jur«> diction and sovereignth arise careful .reference must be made to any agreements applicable to a particular case. The width of the general belt of territorial waters is now widely accepted as being three miles. SEIZED BY THE THROAT! Ho felt choking—he was desperate—his head ached—millions of dangerous germs had him by the throat. But a friend gave him Pulmonas. They relieved immediately. Germieidal vapours killed the infecting germs. Now he alwavs carries Pulmonas. Only 1/ , 1/6, 2/6—all chemists and stores. I n equalled for colds, coughs, ’flu.