The 1907 Hague Peace Conference was the only worldwide diplomatic summit ever before WW I and the League Era. Summoned in the wake of war between the waning Russian and rising Japanese empires, the concluding of the epochal Anglo-French Entente and amidst growing naval rivalry between Germany and Britain, the Conference met at a highly critical moment. It boldly and very pragmatically addressed the many vexing questions issuing from the distinctly shifting power balance on the global and European planes. The intriguing debate between powers great and small, western and non-western traditions, and two altogether different outlooks on the role of the law in global society – that of stern diplomats in the Austinian tradition and the champions of the Institut – unerringly augured the complexities of debate within later League and UN bodies.

The Conference's failure of immediate, palpable result proved ominous. Incapacity to solve the political riddles of international adjudication – the selection of judges, the composition of benches – along with impotence to curb naval rivalry, sealed the fate of peace. Still, it was the nations' obstinacy which barred change, not recalcitrance of subject-matter or lack of insight. In fact, at The Hague, in 1907, the legal and intellectual blueprint of a new world society was first advanced.

International Law — Relation to Municipal Law — Prize Courts — National Legislation in Matters of Prize and International Law — The Law of the Netherlands.

Warfare at Sea — Capture — Enemy Merchantmen — Flag as Test of Enemy Character — Ships Sailing Under Non — enemy Flag Deemed by Enactment to be Enemy Ships

Warfare at Sea — Restrictions on Right of Capture — Ships at Sea Unaware of Outbreak of Hostilities — Position Where All Belligerents Parties to Hague Convention No. VI — Relevance of Reciprocity — The Law of Holland

Prize Law — Nature and Jurisdiction of Prize Courts — The Law of the Netherlands

Prize Law — Jurisdiction of Prize Courts — Necessity for Procedural Rules — Incompetence of Court in Absence of Such

Enemy Character — Of Ships — Ships which are Neutral Property and Sailing under Non-Enemy Flag — Assimilation by Virtue of Dutch Legislation to Ships Under Enemy Flag — Ships of States with which Diplomatic Relations Have Been Servered and which have Taken Up an Attitude Contrary to Dutch Interests — Construction of Municipal Legislation — Non-Enemy Interests.

War — Termination of — Termination of Hostilities — Taking of Prizes Subsequent thereto.

Prize Law — Wrecks — Whether Subject to Capture in Prize — Capture after Termination of Hostilities — The Law of Norway.

War — In General — Enemy Character — Of Goods — Of Individuals.

Peace Treaties — Effects of — Miscellaneous — Provision for Review of Prize Court Decisions — Whether Reviewing Authority has Power to Decide on Merits of Case.

Prize Law — Nature and Extent of Jurisdiction of Prize Courts — Enemy Goods — Necessity for Proof of Enemy Nationality of Owner.

Enemy Character — Of Ships — Whether Ship Condemnable in Prize by Reason of Flag Alone — Ship on Two Registers — Involuntary Enemy Domicile of Owner.

Prize Law — Vessel on Two Registers — Release of Vessel from Requisition for Sole Purpose of Seizing in Prize — Whether Vessel Condemnable by Reason of Flag Alone — Withholding of Evidence from Prize Court — Commercial Domicile — Neutral Owner with Involuntary Enemy Domicile — Whether Order of Condemnation can be Set Aside on Further Evidence.

Termination of War — Meaning of Surrender and its Effect on Belligerent Rights — Capture of Ships — Whether Surrender Equivalent to Armistice — German Unconditional Surrender of 1945 — Meaning of Allied Declaration of June 5, 1945 — Effect on Belligerent Rights.

Prize Law — Meaning of Capture — Whether Capture of Port Includes Vessels Therein — Whether Act of Conscious Volition — Unfinished Structures — Whether Subject to Capture in Prize — Whether Shipbuilding Yard Part of Port — Capture after Termination of Hostilities — Meaning of Surrender and its Effect on Belligerent Rights — Whether Surrender Equivalent to Armistice — German Unconditional Surrender of 1945 — Meaning of Allied Declaration of June 6, 1945 — Effect on Belligerent Rights.

Prize Law — Search and Capture — Neutral Vessel Diverted for Examination — Whether Reasonable Grounds for Suspicion — Whether Unreasonable Delay Before Release — Action for Damages for Delay.

War — Armistice — Unconditional Surrender — Effect on Belligerent Rights — Effect on Seizures in Prize — Unconditional Surrender of Germany, 1945.

War on Land — Enemy Property — Seizure of Unfinished Hulls in Shipyard — Whether Liable to Capture in Prize or Private Property on Land.

Prize Law — Prize Courts — Jurisdiction of — Whether Postponement of Seizure in Prize Postpones Jurisdiction of Prize Court — Meaning of Seizure or Capture — Distinction between Seizure and Seizure in Prize — Capture of Enemy Port — Whether Includes Capture of Vessels Therein — Whether Shipbuilding Yard a Port — Unfinished Hulls — Whether Subjects of Capture in Prize or to be Regarded as Private Property on Land — Meaning of Unconditional Surrender — Effect on Continuance of Belligerent Rights — German Surrender of May 8, 1945

Prize Law — Enemy Destination — Cargo Shipped before Commencement of Hostilities to Persons who later became Enemies — Continuous Enemy Ownership — Later Occupation by Enemy of Place of Seat of Business of Consignee.

War — Effects of — Enemy Character of Vessel — Conclusiveness of Enemy Flag.

Prize Law — Enemy Character of Merchant Vessel — Conclusiveness of Enemy Flag — Vessel Owned by Enemy Corporation — Enemy Corporation Owned and Controlled by Neutral Corporation — Enemy Flag Accepted under Pressure.

Enemy Character — Merchantmen — Conclusiveness of Enemy Flag — Vessel Owned by Enemy Corporation — Enemy Corporation Owned and Controlled by Neutral Corporation — Enemy Flag Accepted under Pressure.

Prize Law — Contraband — Enemy Character of Cargo — Test of — Domicile or Nationality — Sale of Cargo after Capture — Whether Capable of being set up against Captor.

Recognition of States — Effect of Non — Recognition of Israel by Egypt — Belligerent Rights of Egypt.

International Canals — Suez Canal — Convention of 1888 — Exercise of Belligerent Rights by Egypt.

Prize Law — Visit and Search — Conditions of — Position of Customs Officers — Contraband — Seizure of — Enemy Destination Possible though Not Established — Burden of Proof — Effect of Absence of Formal Declaration of War — Hostilities between Egypt and Israel in 1948 — Suez Canal Convention, 1888 — Effect on Belligerent Rights of Egypt.

Prize Law — Evidence — Proof of Enemy Destination — Production of Only One Copy of Bill of Lading — Presumptions as to Enemy Destination.

Prize Law — Indemnities and Damages — Diversion of a Ship from her Course — Adequate Grounds for Suspicion — Unreasonable Delay — Questions for Prize Court — Costs of Discharge of Cargo.

Prize Law — Nature of Law Administered by Prize Court — Requisition of Vessel out of Prize Court — Whether under International or Municipal Law — Compensation (Defence) Act, 1939.

Prize Law — Evidence — Enemy Destination — Presumption of — Grounds for Suspicion of Enemy Destination — Adequacy of Proof of Ownership — Status of Creditors — Status of Assurers — Enemy Character.