fabric suitable for aircraft" in the list of goods the exportation of which is prohibited to all foreign countries in Europe and on the Mediterranean and Black Seas, other than France, Russia (except through Baltic ports), Italy, Spain, and Portugal, should be deleted, and there be substituted therefor the heading "All manufactures and products of cotton, except cotton lace and cotton waste."

2. That the heading "Coal, all kinds, and coke, but not including coal allowed by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise to be shipped as bunker coal," in the list of goods the exportation of which is prohibited to all destinations abroad other than British Possessions and Protectorates should be deleted, and there be substituted therefor the heading "Coal, all kinds, and coke made in gasworks, but not including coal allowed by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise to be shipped as bunker coal."

3. That the heading "Grindstones, carborundum wheels, and emery wheels," in the list of goods the exportation of which is prohibited to all foreign countries in Europe and on the Mediterranean and Black Seas, other than France, Russia (except through Baltic ports), Italy, Spain, and Portugal, should be deleted, and there be substituted therefor the headings "Grindstones and " Emery, corundum, natural or artificial (such as alundum), carborundum, and crystolon, and manufactures thereof (including wheels, discs, paper, cloth, stones, and powder)."

4. That the exportation of the following goods, which is at present prohibited to all foreign countries in Europe and on the Mediterranean and Black Seas, other than France, Russia (except through Baltic ports), Italy, Spain, and Portugal, should be prohibited to all destinations abroad other than British Possessions and Protectorates:

Chronometers and all kinds of nautical instruments;

Compasses for ships and parts thereof, including fittings such as binnacles;

Hair, animal, of all kinds; and tops, noils, and yarns of animal hair.

5. That the exportation of the following goods should be prohibited to all destinations:

Acetic ether;

Ether;

:

Phosgene (carbonyl chloride);
Platinum.

6. That the exportation of the following goods should be prohibited to all destinations abroad other than British Possessions and Protectorates :

-

Copper wire, insulated, electric-light wires and cables, and power cables.

7. That the exportation of the following goods should be prohibited to all foreign countries in Europe and on the Mediterranean and Black Seas, other than France, Russia (except through Baltic ports), Italy, Spain, and Portugal:

:

Arsenical ore;

Black plates and black sheets under th inch in thickness; Furs, dressed or undressed, and manufactures thereof; Ramie.

Now, therefore, their Lordships, having taken the said recommendation into consideration, are pleased to order, and it is hereby ordered, that the same be approved.

Whereof the Commissioners of His Majesty's Customs and Excise, the Director of the War Trade Department, and all other persons whom it may concern, are to take notice and govern themselves accordingly.

J. C. LEDLIE.

BRITISH INSTRUCTIONS for Defensively Armed
Merchant Ships.-London, October 20, 1915.

(A.)—The Status of Armed Merchant Ships.

1. THE right of the crew of a merchant vessel forcibly to resist visit and search, and to fight in self-defence, is well recognized in international law, and is expressly admitted by the German Prize Regulations in an addendum issued in June 1914, at a time when it was known that numerous merchant vessels were being armed in self-defence.

2. The armament is supplied solely for the purpose of resisting attack by an armed vessel of the enemy. It must not be used for any other purpose whatsoever.

3. An armed merchant vessel, therefore, must not in any circumstances interfere with or obstruct the free passage of other merchant vessels or fishing craft, whether these are friendly, neutral, or hostile.

4. The status of a British armed merchant vessel cannot be changed upon the high seas.

(B.)-Rules to be observed in the exercise of the Right of

Self-defence.

1. The master or officer in command is responsible for opening and ceasing fire.

2. Participation in armed resistance must be confined to persons acting under the orders of the master or officer in command.

3. Before opening fire, the British colours must be hoisted. 4. Fire must not be opened or continued from a vessel which has stopped, hauled down her flag, or otherwise indicated her intention to surrender.

* Vol. CVII, page 856.

5. The expression "armament" in these instructions includes not only cannon, but also rifles and machine guns in cases where these are supplied.

6. The ammunition used in rifles and machine guns must conform to Article 23, Hague Convention IV, 1907*: that is to say, the bullets must be cased in nickel or other hard substance, and must not be split or cut in such a way as to cause them to expand or set up on striking a man. The use of explosive bullets is forbidden.

(C.)-Circumstances under which the Armament should be

employed.

1. The armament is supplied for the purpose of defence only, and the object of the master should be to avoid action whenever possible.

2. Experience has shown that hostile submarines and aircraft have frequently attacked merchant vessels without warning. It is important, therefore, that craft of this description should not be allowed to approach to a short range at which a torpedo or bomb launched without notice would almost certainly take effect.

In

British and allied submarines and aircraft have orders not to approach merchant vessels. Consequently it may be presumed that any submarine or aircraft which deliberately approaches or pursues a merchant vessel does so with hostile intention. such cases fire may be opened in self-defence in order to prevent the hostile craft closing to a range at which resistance to a sudden attack with bomb or torpedo would be impossible.

3. An armed merchant vessel proceeding to render assistance to the crew of a vessel in distress must not seek action with any hostile craft, though, if she is herself attacked while so doing, fire may be opened in self-defence.

4. It should be remembered that the flag is no guide to nationality. German submarines and armed merchant vesseis have frequently employed British, allied, or neutral colours in order to approach undetected. Though, however, the use of disguise and false colours in order to escape capture is a legitimate ruse de guerre, its adoption by defensively-armed merchant ships may easily lead to misconception. Such vessels, therefore, are forbidden to adopt any form of disguise which might cause them to be mistaken for neutral ships.

Admiralty War Staff, Trade Division, October 20, 1915.

* Vol. C, page 338

BRITISH ORDER IN COUNCIL providing that from the date hereof Article 57 of the Declaration of London shall cease to be put in force.-London, October 20, 1915.*

At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 20th day of October, 1915.

PRESENT: THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY IN COUNCIL.

WHEREAS by "The Declaration of London Order in Council No. 2, 1914," His Majesty was pleased to declare that, during the present hostilities, the provisions of the said Declaration of London should, subject to certain exceptions and modifications therein specified, be adopted and put in force by His Majesty's Government; and

Whereas, by Article 57 of the said Declaration, it is provided that the neutral or enemy character of a vessel is determined by the flag which she is entitled to fly; and

Whereas it is no longer expedient to adopt the said Article: Now, therefore, His Majesty, by and with the advice of his Privy Council, is pleased to order, and it is hereby ordered, that from and after this date Article 57 of the Declaration of London shall cease to be adopted and put in force.

In lieu of the said Article, British Prize Courts shall apply the rules and principles formerly observed in such Courts.

This Order may be cited as "The Declaration of London Order in Council, 1915.”

And the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury, the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, and each of His Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, the President of the Probate, Divorce, and Admiralty Division of the High Court of Justice, all other Judges of His Majesty's Prize Courts, and all Governors, officers, and authorities whom it may concern, are to give the necessary directions herein as to them may respectively appertain.

J. C. LEDLIE.

BRITISH NOTIFICATION of issue of Italian Prize Court Regulations.-London, October 27, 1915."§

Foreign Office, October 27, 1915. WITH reference to the notification which appeared in the "London Gazette" of June 22nd last, His Majesty's Secretary

of State for Foreign Affairs has received from His Majesty's Ambassador at Rome the following translations of decrees and regulations which have been issued with regard to the Italian. Prize Court.

In this connection, reference is also made to the regulations published in the "London Gazette" of the 19th instant:

(Translation.)

1. Decree of May 30, 1915, No. 807.

Thomas, Duke of Genoa, Lieutenant-General of His Majesty Victor Emmanuel III, &c.

In virtue of the authority delegated to us;

In view of Article 225 of the Code for the Mercantile Marine:

In view of the state of war existing between the Kingdom of Italy and other European Powers, after consultation with the Council of Ministers;

On the proposal of the Minister of Marine, in concert with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, of Colonies, of Justice and Worship, we have decreed and we decree :

ART. 1. The Prize Court provided for in Article 225 of the Mercantile Marine Code will have its seat in Rome, and will have authority also for the colonies.

2. The Prize Court will be presided over by a first president of the Court of Appeal, active or retired, or by a president of a section of the Court of Cassation, active or retired.

It will be composed of the following ordinary and supplementary members:

Ordinary members:

(a.) An admiral.

(b.) A member of the "contentieux diplomatique."

(c.) A Counsellor of State.

(d.) The Director-General of the Mercantile Marine. (e.) The inspector of the port captaincies.

(f) A Magistrate of the legal profession, having rank not inferior to that of a Counsellor of Court of Appeal.

In categories (a), (b), (c), and (f) a supplementary member will be selected.

3. A Government Commissioner will initiate the proceedings in the name of the Government, and will record his opinions. A Magistrate of the Public Ministry, of a rank not inferior to a King's Procurator, will act as Government Commissioner. In case of absence or other impediment another Magistrate of the Public Ministry will take his place.

The Government Commissioner and the supplementary Commissioner, when the latter is taking the former's place, have no voice in the discussions, and no vote.

4. The Prize Court will be attended by a secretary, having

* Page 335.