At the same time I have the honour to enclose a copy of the prize
court rules which will govern proceedings in the prize courts
established in the United Kingdom, and which either have been or
will, it is anticipated, shortly be adopted throughout the
British Empire.
All persons having any claims in respect of vessels or cargoes
which are the subject of proceedings in the prize courts should
take steps to have their interests represented in accordance
with these rules. With respect to vessels Which may be in the
custody of the prize courts established in the United Kingdom, I
would call your attention to the following notice which appears
daily on the front page of the Times
newspaper:
PRIZE COURTS
Admiralty Marshal’s Office
Royal Courts of Justice, London, W.
C.
Registry of the Prize Courts in Great
Britain and Ireland
August 14, 1914
.
All persons having any interest in cargoes other than enemy
cargoes laden on enemy ships captured as prizes, and
requiring a release of such cargoes or portion of cargoes,
should make enquiries in London at the offices of His
Majesty’s procurator general, Treasury Chambers, Whitehall,
and at the outports of the United Kingdom, at the offices of
the agents for His Majesty’s procurator general, whose
addresses can be obtained from the collectors of customs at
such outports.
His Majesty’s procurator general will require proof of
ownership and particulars as to freight, whether paid or
unpaid.
In cases where the title of persons domiciled in allied or
neutral States, or of friendly aliens domiciled in this
country, who are interested in such cargoes, is clear and
established without doubt to the satisfaction of the
procurator general, such cargoes or portions of cargoes will
be released with as little delay as possible, provided that
no question of contraband arises, and subject to the
adjustment of any matters relating to freight or other
charges falling on the cargo. In more doubtful cases
recourse to the ordinary prize-court procedure will be
necessary. It will in most cases be convenient
[Page 313]
that the parties
should communicate with the agent of the procurator general
at the port where the ship is rather than with the
procurator general himself.
I have also the honour to inform you that notice will be
given on the front page of the Times
newspaper of the institution of proceedings in cases in
which vessels are in the custody of the prize courts in the
United Kingdom. In cases where vessels have been detained in
or brought into British ports outside the United Kingdom, it
is not practicable to give similar notice in the press of
this country; but with a view to minimising the
inconvenience caused to subjects or citizens of allied or
neutral States, I have made arrangements under which I shall
be informed of the names of all ships detained in or brought
into British ports. Lists of such ships will be communicated
periodically to your excellency.
It is also provided in the prize court rules that where
proceedings are instituted in respect of a ship purporting
to be neutral, notice shall be sent to the consular officer
of the state to which the ship purports to belong.
I trust that these arrangements will minimise the
inconvenience to which subjects or citizens of allied or
neutral States must inevitably be put, in this connection,
by reason of the existence of a state of war.
I have [etc.]
For the Secretary of State:
Ralph Paget
