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Computation of Time in International Law

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 May 2017

Francis Deák
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Extract

The Council of the League of Nations has recently appointed a committee to report on the possible codification of international law. There are no rules in international law determining computation of time, and the prevailing uncertainty opens the door for arbitrary interpretation of the interested parties, which can lead and has often led to unnecessary differences.

Type
Research Article
Information
American Journal of International Law , Volume 20 , Issue 3 , July 1926 , pp. 502 - 515
Copyright
Copyright © American Society of International Law 1926

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References

1 Halleck,, H. W. International Law, 4th ed., London, 1908, Vol. II, p. 353.Google Scholar

2 Vattel, , The Law of Nations, 1854, Philadelphia, p. 251, §280. 502.Google Scholar

3 Fauchille, Traité de Droit International Public, 8 ed. 1921, Vol. II. (Guerre et Neutralité), p. 328, Art. 1251.

4 Field,, David Dudley Outlines of an International Code, 2d ed., New York, 1876, § § 522- 524, 994.Google Scholar

5 Journal officiel de la République française, 1912, No. 286.

6 Decrét of August 20, 1909. Gazette ufficiale, 1909, No. 232.

7 Das Völkerrecht, 12th ed., 1925, §65, p. 519.

8 Imperial Ordinance XX of Feb. 9, 1904. See Sakuye Takahaski, International Law Applied to the Russo-Japanese War, English ed., 1908, p. 64.

9 30 U. S. Stats, at L., p. 1769.

10 U. S. Foreign Relations, 1903, p. 435.

11 Journal off. de la Rép. franc, Aug. 12, 1914, p. 7337.

12 Ibid., April 23, 1915, p. 2497.

13 Ibid., Aug. 24, 1915, p. 8005.

14 Ibid., Sept. 20, 1916, p. 8303.

15 Ibid., December 8, 1916, p. 10599.

16 Ibid., August 8, 1914, p. 7133.

17 London Gazette, Feb. 26, 1915, p. 1975; April 27, 1915, p. 4060; June 4,1915, p. 5386;Oct. 19, 1915, p. 10261.

18 Naval War College, International Law Documents, 1917, p. 107 ff; U. S. Official Bulletin, No. 221, p. 4.

19 “ Japon et Russie,” by Mr.Rey,, Francis Revue Générale de Droit International Public XIV, 1907, p. 302 ff.Google Scholar

20 Revue Gen. de Droit Internal. Public, VII, 1900, p. 147.

21 For the difference in interpretation of time concerning the ultimatum and declaration of war by Japan against Russia, see Takahaski, op. cit., and H. Ebren, “Obligation juridique de la déclaration de guerre,” Revue Gen. de Droit Internal. Public, XI, 1904, p. 145.

22 Karl Strupp, Urkunden zur Geschichte des Völkerrechts, I, Ergänzungsheft, pp. 72-73.

23 For these documents see the Austro-Hungarian Red Book, No. 7, p. 7, and the German White Book.

24 See Die deutschen Dokumente zum Kriegsausbruch, 1914. Deutsche Verlagsgesellschaft filr Politik und Geschichte, Berlin, 1922.

25 Austro-Hungarian Red Book, No. 66.

26 See A. Rapissardi-Mirabelli, “La guerre italo-turque et le Droit des Gens,” Revue de Droit International et Législation comparée, 25 série, 1912, pp. 103, 424.

27 German White Book, Annex 26, Russian Orange Paper, No. 76. “ . . . Note handed in by the German Ambassador at St. Petersburg on July 19 (Aug. 1) 1914,10 minutes past 7 in the evening.”

28 Journal officiel, Aug. 6, 1914, p. 7133. “ . . . They have in consequence the honour of informing by these presents the government of . . . that a state of war exists between France and Germany, dating from 6.45 p. m. on August 3, 1914 . . . ”

29 London Gazette, Aug. 14, 1914, p. 6375.

30 Austro-Hungarian Red Book, LXV, p. 111.

31 London Gazette, Nov. 5, 1914, pp. 8997, 9011.

32 London Gazette, Oct. 16, 1915, pp. 10229, 10257.

33 Second Austro-Hungarian Red Book, No. 204.

34 Revue Gen. de Droit Internal. Public, Documents 23, 199.

35 Naval War College, International Law Documents, 1917, pp. 73-74. “ . . . therefore now declares that a state of war exists between China and Germany from 10 o’clock a. m. of the 14th day of the 8th month of the sixth year of the Republic of China.”

36 Deutscher Reichsanzeiger, Dec. 18, 1917.

37 For the original text of these armistices see Guerre Ewopienne, Documents, 1918. Paris, Imprim. Nationale, 1919.

38 League of Nations Treaty Series, IV, p. 32. Annex 2 to the Treaty of Riga, Oct. 12,1920.

39 Reichgeselzblatt, 1920. No. 35. Verordnung No. 7311.

40 Reichsgesetzblatt, 1920. No. 6. Bekanntmachung No. 6.

41 The only case in Roman law, where natural computation is applied, is that of majority: “Minorem antem XXV annis natu videndum an etiam die natalis sui adhuc dicimus ante horam qua natus est, ut si captus sit, restitatur et cum nondum compleverit, ita erit dicendum, ut a momento ad momentum tempus spectator.” (L. 3 §3 D. de minor [4, 41-)

42 Puchta: Pandekten (II. ed. Leipzig, 1844.) §§74, 75.

43 Deutsches Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch, I, 1923. §§187, 188, 191.

44 Reichsgesetz, March 12, 1893.

45 Österreichisches Allgemeines Börgerliches Gesetzbuch. Art. 902.

46 Deutsches Handelsgesetzbuch, §332.

47 Calendar Act, 1750, 24 Geo. 2, c. 23.

48 Halisbury, The Laws of England, Vol. XXVII, §854.

49 Interpretation Act, 1889, 52 & 53 Vict., c. 63, s. 22.

50 Public Revenue and Consolidated Fund Charges Act, 1854,17 & 18 Vict., c. 94, s. 2.

51 Local Government Act, 1888, 51 & 52 Vict., c. 41, s. 73.

52 Taxes Management Act, 1880, 43 & 44 Vict., c. 41, s. 48.

53 Government Annuities Act, 1882, 45 & 46 Vict., c. 51, s. 14.

54 "For interpretation of “year” see: Pluralities Act, 1838, 1 & 2 Vict., c. 106, s. 120; Bartlett v. Kirwood (1853), 2 E. & B. 771; Gibson v. Burton (1875), L. R. 10, Q. B. 329; Salton v. New Beesteen Cycle Co., (1899), 1 Ch. 775.

55 52 & 53 Vict., c. 63.

56 Halisbury, The laws of England, Vol. XXVII, §863.

57 45 & 46 Vict., c. 61.

58 61 & 62 Vict., c. 41.

59 R. S. C, Ord. 64, r. 1.

60 Shops Act, 1912, 2 & 3 Geo. 5 c. 3, s. 19.

61 Stat. R. & O., 1912, p. 1002.

62 1 & 2 Geo. 5., c. 55.

63 Comfort v. Royal Exchange Assurance Association (1904), 1 K. B. 40. C. A.

64 32 & 33 Vict., c. 130.

65 48 & 49 Vict., c. 72, s. 9.

66 54 & 55 Vict., c. 76, s. 141.

67 Chambon v. Heighwey (1890), 54 J. P. 520; Steedman v. Hakim, (1888), 22 Q. B. D.16 C. A.

68 Page v. More (1851), 5 Q. B. 684; Weston v. Fidler (1903), 47 Sol. Jo. 567.

69 43 & 44 Vict. c. 9. Art. 1: “Whenever any expression of time occurs in any Act of Parliament, deed or other legal instruments, the time referred shall, unless it is otherwise specifically stated, be held in the case of Great Britain to be Greenwich mean time, and in the case of Ireland, Dublin mean time.”

70 South Staffordshire Tramway Co. v. Sickness & Accident Assurance Association (1891), 1Q. B. 402 C. A.; Goldsmith's Co. v. West Metropolitan Bail Co. (1904), 1K. B. 1., 4 C. A. 1.

71 Bills of Exchange Act, 1882, 45 & 46 Vict. c. 61, s. 14. Casual Poor Act, 1882, 45 & 46 Vict. c. 36, s. 4; Municipal Corporation Act, 1882, 45 & 46 Vict. c. 50, s. 230, incorporated with the Local Government Act, 1888r 51 & 52 Vict. c. 41, s. 15; Bankruptcy Act, 1883, 46 & 47 Vict. c. 52, s. 141; London Government Act, 1899, 62 & 63 Vict. c. 14, s. 3, 24.

72 52 & 53 Vict. c. 63, s. 36 (2).

73 Engelman v. State, 2 Ind. (2 Cart.) 91; 52 Am. Dec. 494 (1850).

74 Bell v. Lamprey, 57 N. H. 168 (1876).

75 Gasquet v. Crescent City Brewing Co. (C. C.) 49 Fed. 493 (1892); Parkhill v. Town of Brighton, 61 Iowa 103, 15 N. W. 853 (1883); Guaranty Trust & Safe Deposit Co. v. Green Cove Springs & M. K. Co., 139 U. S. 137,11 Sup. Ct. 512; Oehler v. Walsch, 28 Ohio Cir. Ct. R. 446 (1906): "When an act is required by statute to be performed within a certain number of months after a certain date, the word "month" will be construed to mean calendar months, whether of 28, 29, 30, or 31 days . . . "

76 Steinley v. Bell, 12 Abb. Prac. N. S. 171 (1872).

77 Miner v. Goodyear India Rubber Glove Mfg. Co., 62 Conn. 410, 26 Atl. 643 (1892); Zimmermann v. Conoan, 107 111. 631, 47 Am. Rep. 476 (1883); Schwab v. Mayforth, 1 City Ct. R. 177 (1879).

78 People v. Keating, 93 N. E. 95, 247 111. 76 (1910); Muckenfuss v. State, 116 S. W. 51, 55 Tex. Cr. R. 229 (1909).

79 Town of Louisville v. Portsmouth Savings Bank, 11 Fed. 765, note, (1882); State v. Mcintosh, 122 N. W. 462, 109 Minn. 108 (1909).

80 In re Price's Estate, 112 P. 482; 14 Cal. App. 462 (1911).

81 Wood v. Commonwealth, 74 Ky. (11 Bush) 220; McCullock v. Hopper, 7N. J. Law J. 336, (1884); Frey v. Rhode Island Co., 91 A. 1, 37 R. I. 96, Ann. Cas., (1914).

82 In re Computation of time, 9 Colo. 632, 21 Pac. 475 (1886); Richter v. State, 47 So. 163, 156 Ala. 127, (1908); Rogers v. Wilson, 119 S. W. 369, 220 Mo. 213 (1909); Eliot Nat. Bank v. Gill, 210 F. 933, 218 F. 600 (1914).

83 Kerr,, Hill v. 78 Tex. 213,14 S. W. 566 (1890); Leavenworth Coal Co. v. Barber, 47 Kan. 29, 27 Pac. 114 (1891).Google Scholar

84 Parkinson v. Brandenburgh, 35 Minn. 294, 28 N. W. 919 (1886).

85 In re Wellman, Fed. Cas. No. 17, 407 (20 Vt. 653).

86 In 1900 the Evangelical Conference in Eisenach; in 1910 the London Congress of the Permanent International Committee of the Chamber of Commerce and of Commercial and Industrial Associations (the Swiss Government was requested by the Paris congress of the same associations, in 1914, to convoke an international conference on the question. The outbreak of the World War prevented the convocation); in 1919 and 1922 the congress of the International Astronomical Union.

87 The following books written about the calendar may be referred to: Dr. Ferdinand Wustenfeld, Vergleichungstabellen der Mohammedanisehen und Christtichen Zeitrechnung. F. A. Brockhaus, Leipzig, 1854. Paul Delaporte: Le Calendrier Universel, Paris, 1913.Alexander Philip: The Calendar: its History, Structure and Improvement. Cambridge University Press, 1921. Dr. Wolfgang Schultz, Zeiirechnung und Weltordnung in ihren übereinstimmenden Grundzttgen bei den Indent, Iraniern, Hellenen, Italikern, Kelten, Germanen,Litauern, Slaven. Mannus Bibliothek, Nr. 35. Verlag von Curt Kabitzsch,Leipzig, 1924.

88 Concerning the investigations of the League of Nations Committee, see: C. 712. M. 424. 1922. VIII. Geneva, November 1, 1922. Annex 10; A. 70. C. 574. 1923. VIII. Geneva, September 4, 1923, p. 4-5; C. 366. M. 129. 1924. VIII. (C. C. T./R. C./lst Session/P. V.)

89 International conference held at Washington for the purpose of fixing a Prime Meridian and a Universal Day. Protocols of the proceedings. Gibson Bros., Washington. 1884. See also: Nature, No. 781, Vol. 30, p. 602, "The Prime Meridian Conference"; Science, Vol. IV, 1884. No. 89, pp. 376-378; No. 90, p. 406; No. 91, p. 421, "The Meridian Conference"; Paul S. Reinsch, Public International Unions, p. 69.