A.—s

the other Powers and inform them of the date on which it was received. The notice shall be deemed to have been given and shall take effect on that date. In the event of notice of termination being given by the Government of the United States, such notice shall be given to the diplomatic representatives at Washington of the other contracting Powers, and the notice shall be deemed to have been given and shall take effect on the date of the communication made to the said diplomatic representatives. Within one year of the date on which a notice of termination by any Power has taken effect all the contracting Powers shall meet in conference. Article XXIV. The present Treaty shall be ratified by the contracting Powers in accordance with their respective constitutional methods, and shall take effect on the date of the deposit of'all the ratifications, which shall take place at Washington as soon as possible. The Government of the United States will transmit to the other contracting Powers a certified copy of the proces-verbal of the, deposit of ratifications. The present Treaty, of which the, French and English texts aro both authentic, shall remain deposited in the archives of the Government of the United States, and duly certified copies thereof shall be transmitted by that Government to the other contracting Powers. Tn faith whereof the above-named Plenipotentiaries have, signed the present Treaty. Done at tho City of Washington, the sixth day of February, one thousand nine hundred and twenty-two. Charles Evans Hughes.[l.s.'J Arthur James Balfour.[l.s.] Henry Cabot Lodge, [l.s.] V. S. Srinivasa.Sastri. [l.s.] Oscar W. Underwood, [l.s.] A. Sarraut. [l.s.] Elihu Root. [l.s.] Jusserand. [ l -s.] Arthur James Balfour.[l.s.] Carlo Schanzer. [l.s.] Lee of Fareham. [ l -S.] V. Rolandi Riooi. [l.s.] A. C. Geddes. [l.s.] Luigi Albertini. [l.s.] R. L. Borden. [l.s.] T. Kato. [l.s.] G. F. Pearce. [l.s.] K. Shidehara. [l.s.] John W. Salmond. [l.s.] M. Hanihara. [l.s.] 11. Treaty between the United States of America, the British Empire, France, Italy, and Japan as to the Use of Submarines and Poisonous Gas. Signed at Washington, 6th February, 1922. The United States of America, the. British Empire, France, Italy, and Japan (hereinafter referred to as the signatory Powers), desiring to make more effective the rules adopted by civilized nations for the protection of the lives of neutrals and non-combatants at sea in time of war, and to prevent the use in war of noxious gases and chemicals, have determined to conclude a Treaty to this effect, and have appointed as their Plenipotentiaries — Who, having communicated their full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed as follows : — Article I. The signatory Powers declare that among the rules adopted by civilized nations for the protection of the lives of neutrals and non-combatants at sea in time of war, the following are to be deemed an established part of international law : — (1.) A merchant vessel, must be ordered to submit to visit and search to determine its character before it can be seized. A merchant vessel must not be attacked unless it refuse to submit to visit and search after warning, or to proceed as directed after seizure. A merchant vessel must not be destroyed unless the crew and passengers have been first placed in safety. (2.) Belligerent submarines are not, under any circumstances, exempt from tho universal rules above stated.; and if a submarine cannot capture a merchant vessel in. conformity with these rules the existing law of nations requires it to desist from attack and. from seizure, and to permit the merchant vessel to proceed unmolested. Article 11. The signatory Powers invite all other civilized Powers to express their assent to the foregoing statement of established law, so that there may-be a clear public understanding throughout the world of the standards of conduct by which the public opinion of the world is to pass judgment upon future belligerents. Article 111. The signatory Powers, desiring to ensure the enforcement of the humane rules of existing law declared by them with respect to attacks upon and the seizure and destruction of merchant ships, further declare that any person in the service of any Power who shall violate any of those rules, whether or not such person is under orders of a governmental superior, shall be deemed to have violated the laws of war, and shall be liable to trial and punishment as if 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 may be found.

5~ ( Ol^ev

26