Occidental of Umm Al Qaywayn Inc. v. A Certain Cargo of Petroleum Laden Aboard The Tanker dauntless Colocotronis, et al.

Abstract

International law in general — Nature and binding force — Dispute concerning sovereignty over island and surrounding waters — Whether governed by law — Whether States subject to law in their external relations — Whether any manageable judicial standards exist for determination of such a dispute — The law of the United States

International law in general — Relation to municipal law — Capacity of municipal courts to determine question of international law — Act of State doctrine — Political question — The law of the United States

States as international persons — In general — Sovereignty and independence — Conduct of foreign relations — Conclusiveness of statements of the Executive — Political question — Jurisdiction of the courts — Case involving boundary dispute between foreign States — Executive indication that judicial determination would prejudice conduct of foreign relations — Judicial restraint — The law of the United States

State territory — Parts of — Territorial waters — Breadth and delimitation of the maritime belt — Whether any rule of international law governs seaward extent of territorial waters — The law of the United States

State territory — Parts of — Continental shelf — Dispute over ownership of continental shelf — Whether governed by judicially manageable standards of international Law — The law of the United States

States as international persons — In general — Recognition of acts of foreign States and governments — Act of State doctrine — Political question doctrine — Constitutional separation of powers — Reservation of political questions for the Executive — Boundary dispute between foreign States — State Department indication that judicial determination would be prejudicial to United States interests — Judicial restraint — Absence of manageable standards for court to apply — The law of the United States