[Navigation of the Rhine.]

CLOSING PROTOCOL.

ON proceeding to the signature of the revised Convention for the Navigation of the Rhine, concluded between them by virtue of their Full Powers, the undersigned have made the following Reserves and Declarations:

Privileges to Boats belonging to the Navigation of the Rhine.

1. Relative to Article I of the Convention. It is understood that the Right to the Free Navigation of the Rhine and its Mouths does not extend to the Privileges which are only granted to Boats belonging to the Navigation of the Rhine, or to those which are assimilated to them.

Exceptions as to Free Navigation of the Rhine and Levying of certain Dues.

2. Relative to Article III of the Convention. A. It has been unanimously recognised that the Stipulations of the first Paragraph of that Article do not apply to Fees for the opening and closing of the Bridges which are levied on other navigable Waters than the Rhine, or to the Duties to be levied for the use of Artificial Navigable Waters or Works of Art, such as Sluices, &c.

B. The Prussian Plenipotentiary remarks that on the Ruhr a small Duty is levied on Navigation; that his Government intend shortly to abolish that Duty, but that he must reserve to his Government the appointment of the time at which such abolition shall take place. The Netherlands Plenipotentiary stated that the Overseers of the Buoys on a part of the Meuse, in the Duchy of Luxemburg, still levy small Buoy Dues which cannot be abolished without the co-operation of Belgium, and that for that reason he must reserve for his Government the execution of the Stipulations contained in the Second Paragraph of Article III, as far as regards that part of the Meuse. No objection was made to these Reserves by the other Plenipotentiaries.

Free Ports.

The Free

3. Relative to Article VIII of the Convention. Ports actually existing are the following:-In France, Strasburg; in Baden, Kehl, Maxau, Leopoldshafen, Mannheim; in Bavaria, Neubourg, Spire, Ludwigshafen; in Hesse, Mayence; in

[Navigation of the Rhine.]

Prussia, Biebrich, Oberlahnstein, Coblentz, Cologne, Neuss, Dusseldorf, Uerdingen, Dinsbourg, Ruhrort, Wesel, Emmerich; in the Netherlands, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Dordrecht. 4 and 5. See Table.

Meaning of Hundredweight.

6. Relative to Article XXIII of the Convention. By Hundredweight is understood here as elsewhere when that expression is used in the present Convention, the Customs Hundredweight of 50 kilogrammes.

[Wounded in War.]

No. 413.-ADDITIONAL ARTICLES (proposed) relating to the Condition of the Wounded in War. Signed at Geneva, 20th October, 1868.*

1. Persons engaged in Ambulances and Hospitals to continue their Duties towards the Wounded after occupation by the Enemy. Commander of occupying Troops to give permission for withdrawal.

2. Pay to be continued to Neutralised Persons whilst in the power of the Enemy.

3. Interpretation of the word Ambulance.

4. Privileges to Inhabitants entertaining Wounded Men.

5. Wounded, with the exception of Officers, whether capable or incapable of serving, to be sent to their Country, on condition of not bearing Arms during the remainder of the War.

6. Boats conveying Shipwrecked or Wounded to a Neutral or Hospital Ship to have the character of Neutrality. Wrecked and Wounded not to serve during continuance of the War.

7. Religious, Medical, and Hospital Staff of a captured Vessel declared Neutral, with power to remove their Private Property.

8. The Staff to assist in removal of the Wounded.

9. Captured Military Hospital Ships and their Stores. Neutrality of Hospital Ships and their Staff during the War.

10. Neutrality of Merchantmen with Sick and Wounded on board. Cargo to enjoy Neutrality of the Merchantman, if not Contraband of War. Interdiction to Neutralised Vessels. Special Conventions for removal of Sick and Wounded.

11. Captors to protect and take care of the Wounded. Conditions of their return to their own Country.

12. Distinctive Flag of Neutralised Vessel or Boat. Verification of Flag. Colours of Military Hospital Ships.

13. Neutrality of Hospital Ships equipped at expense of Aid Societies. Recognition and Protection by Belligerents. Flag to be used by the Ship, and Armlet to be worn by the Staff. Non-interference with the Combatants. Duty to be performed at their own risk and peril. Right of Belligerents to control and visit them. Wounded and Wrecked not to serve during the continuance of the War.

14. Suspension of Convention in case a Belligerent takes advantage of benefit of Neutrality.

15. Original of Act to be kept in Archives of the Swiss Confederation, and a copy sent to each of the Signatory and Adhering Powers.

* Provisionally accepted in July, 1870, by France and Germany, in the war of 1870-1.

[Wounded in War.]

(Translation.)

Persons engaged in Ambulances and Hospitals to continue their Duties towards the Wounded after occupation by the Enemy.

ART. I. The Persons designated in Article II of the Convention (No. 365) shall, after the occupation by the Enemy, continue to fulfil their Duties, according to their wants, to the Sick and Wounded in the Ambulance or the Hospital which they

serve.

Commander of occupying Troops to give permission for withdrawal.

When they request to withdraw, the Commander of the occupying Troops shall fix the time of Departure, which he shall only be allowed to delay for a short time in case of Military necessity.

Pay to be continued to Neutralised Persons whilst in the power of the Enemy.

ART. II. Arrangements will have to be made by the Bellige rent Powers to ensure to the Neutralised Person, fallen into the hands of the Army of the Enemy, the entire enjoyment of his Salary.

Interpretation of the word Ambulance.

ART. III. Under the conditions provided for in Articles I and IV of the Convention (No. 365), the name Ambulance applies to Field Hospitals and other Temporary Establishments which follow the Troops on the Field of Battle to receive the Sick and Wounded.

Privileges to Inhabitants entertaining Wounded Men.

ART. IV. In conformity with the spirit of Article V of the Convention (No. 365) and to the reservations contained in the Protocol of 1864, it is explained, that for the apportionment of the charges relative to the Quartering of Troops and of the Contributions of War, account only shall be taken in an equitable manner of the charitable zeal displayed by the Inhabitants.

Wounded, with the exception of Officers, whether capable or incapable of serving, to be sent to their Country on condition of not bearing Arms during the remainder of the War.

ART. V. In addition to Article VI of the Convention (No.

[Wounded in War.]

365), it is stipulated that, with the reservation of Officers whose detentiom might be important to the fate of Arms and within the limits fixed by the second paragraph of that Article, the Wounded fallen into the hands of the Enemy, shall be sent back to their Country, after they are cured, or sooner if possible, on condition nevertheless of not again bearing Arms during the continuance of the War.

Boats conveying Shipwrecked or Wounded to a Neutral or Hospital Ship to have the character of Neutrality.

ART. VI. The Boats which, at their own risk and peril, during and after an engagement pick up the Shipwrecked or Wounded, or which, having picked them up, convey them on board a Neutral or Hospital Ship, shall enjoy, until the accomplishment of their mission, the character of Neutrality, as far as the circumstances of the engagement, and the position of the ships engaged will permit.

The appreciation of these circumstances is entrusted to the humanity of all the combatants.

Wrecked and Wounded not to serve during continuance of the War. The Wrecked and Wounded thus picked up and saved, must not serve again during the continuance of the War.

Religious, Medical, and Hospital Staff of a captured Vessel declared Neutral, with power to remove their Private Property.

ART. VII. The Religious, Medical, and Hospital Staff of any captured Vessel are declared Neutral, and, on leaving the Ship, may remove the Articles and Surgical Instruments which are their private property.

The Staff to assist in removal of the Wounded.

ART. VIII. The Staff designated in the preceding Article must continue to fulfil their functions in the captured Ship, assisting in the removal of Wounded made by the victorious party; they will then be at liberty to return to their Country in conformity with the second paragraph of the first Additional Article.

The stipulations of the second Additional Article are applicable to the pay and allowance of the Staff.