Published online by Cambridge University Press: 19 April 2010
Dans le numéro d'août 1957 de la Revue internationale de la Croix-Rouge a paru une étude consacrée aux réserves aux Conventions de Genève de 1949 pour la protection des victimes de la guerre. A cette époque, le nombre des Etats liés par les Conventions de Genève s'élevait à 66, et 18 d'entre eux avaient assorti leur participation de réserves. En 1965, une étude supplémental sur le même sujet a paru dans le numéro du mois de juillet de la même revue. A cette date, le nombre des Etats liés par les Conventions de Geneve de 1949 avait passé à 106, et le nombre de ceux qui avaient exprimé des réserves était de 20.
page 135 note 1 Ce n'est toutefois pas l'avis de la Commission du droit international des Nations Unies (Rapport sur la 24e session, No 10 (A/8710/Rev. 1), p. 15, et 26e session (A/9610/ Rev.), p. 66). Cependant cette opinion a été critiquée au cours des discussions dans l'Assemblée générate par certains orateurs qui voudraient que l'Etat successeur soit entiérement libre de ratifier, d'adhérer, de faire des réserves ou de les retirer selon sa propre volonté. II s'agit en somme d'un cas d'application du principe de la table rase (clean slate) selon lequel les Etats successeurs ne sont en aucune maniere liés par les traités conclus par l'Etat auquel ils succèdent.
page 136 note 1 II s'agit de la déclaration relative à la IVe Convention. Le texte des autres déclarations est le même, sauf qu'il est adapté a la Convention qu'il concerne.
Voici le texte anglais original: Rejecting the reservations—other than to article 68, pargraph 2—which States have made with respect to the Geneva Convention relative to the protection of civilian persons in time of war, the United States accepts treaty relation with all parties to that Convention, except as to the changes proposed by such reservations.
page 137 note 1 Geneva Convention for the protection of war victims. Report of the Committee on Foreign Relations: 84th Congress, 1st Session, Washington 1955. Texte traduit par nos soins.
page 137 note 2 Même référence que note 1.
page 137 note 3 American Journal of International Law, 1955, p. 552. Cette citation est traduite par nos soins, mais en void le texte original: «In effect, this statement constitutes a proposal to agree to disagree... »
page 138 note 1 Texte original: I am further instructed by Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom to refer to the reservations made to Article 85 of the Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War by the following States: the People's Republic of Albania, the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, the Bulgarian People's Republic, the People's Republic of China, the Czechoslovak Republic, the Hungarian People's Republic, the Polish Republic, the Roumanian People's Republic, the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
and to the reservations to Article 12 of the Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War and to Article 45 of the Convention relative to the Treatment of Civilian Persons in Time of War made by all the above-mentioned States and by the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia.
I am instructed by Her Majesty's Government to state that whilst they regard all the above-mentioned States as being parties to the above-mentioned Conventions, they do not regard the above-mentioned reservations thereto made by those States as valid, and will therefore regard any application of any of those reservations as constituting a breach of the Convention to which the reservation relates.
page 139 note 1 Texte original: I am further instructed by the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia to refer to notifications concerning the «German Democratic Republic », the « Democratic People's Republic of Korea », the « Democratic Republic of Viet- Nam », and the « People's Republic of China ». While the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia does not recognize any of the foregoing it has taken note of their acceptance of the provisions of the Conventions and their intention to apply them. The position of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia towards the reservations referred to above applies equally in relation to the similar reservations attached to such acceptance.
page 148 note 1 Voir notamtnent, Bulletin du Magen David Adom No 8 Janvier 1976. S. Rosenne, Israel Year Book on Human Rights, Volume 5, 1975.
page 148 note 2 Le texte de cette réserve est le suivant: The United States in ratifying the Geneva Convention for the amelioration of the condition of the wounded and sick in armed forces in the field does so with the reservation that irrespective of any provision or provisions in said Convention to the contrary nothing contained therein shall make unlawful, or obligate the United States of America to make unlawful, any use or right of use within the United States of America and its territories and possessions of the Red Cross emblem sign, insignia, or words as was lawful by reason of domestic law and a use begun prior to January 5,1905, provided such use bypro-1905 users does not extend to the placing of the Red Cross emblem, sign or insignia upon aircraft, vessels, vehicles, buildings or other structures, or upon the ground.
page 149 note 1 Report of the Committee on foreign relations on Excecs. D.E.F. and G., 82d Cong. 1st Session.
page 149 note 2 Jean S. Pictet, Commentaire, p. 436.