La Commission du Droit International a tenu sa septième session à Genève, du 2 mai au 8 juillet 1955. Toute la session était vouée à l'étude de deux questions du droit de la mer, le régime de la haute mer et celui de la mer territoriale.

When the International Military Tribunal on October 1, 1946, pronounced judgment on 22 Germans accused as major war criminals, a truly historic trial came to an end. It was the first such tribunal constituted by a number of Great Powers and in the interests of all the United Nations. Since the beginning of the modern state system, this was the first time that die leaders of a Great Power, its statesmen, soldiers, journalists and propagandists were held accountable for crimes against peace and humanity, which themselves were substantial innovations or developments. Ordinary war crimes, usually within the province of domestic military courts, were also for the first time tried by an international tribunal.

Although there is abundant literature about the legal aspects of nationality, its consequences in law and the extent of jurisdiction in connection therewith, there is very little adequate appreciation of the growth and evolution of nationality.

It is obvious that the birth of the State of Israel gives rare opportunities to observe the gradual development of loyalty feelings, of common understanding and of the influence of a common purpose in moulding the aspirations of a people.

Among the institutions created by the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (E.C.S.C.), the Court of Justice deserves special attention of lawyers interested in the development of international organisation. Indeed the position of this Court within the framework of the Treaty is profoundly original insofar as its functions cover the judicial settlement of disputes between member states and the judicial review of the decisions of other institutions of the E.C.S.C. on the complaint of the private individuals involved. Furthermore the Court is entrusted with a few tasks of a “constitutional” character, such as giving a binding opinion on the applicability of the special procedure of amending the Treaty before the proposed amendment is put to the final vote (art. 95).