It is pointed out that the rule adopted by the United States and this country, as well as by some others, when neutral, by which the stay of belligerent warships is limited to twenty-four hours, has not been adopted by the nations of the European continent.

The attempt made at The Hague Conference of 1907 to secure the general acceptance of this rule was unsuccessful; and Convention No.xiii.of that year, not yet ratified by Great Britain, which deals with this subject, merely lays down, in Art.

12, that "_In the absence of special provisions to the contrary in the legislation of a neutral Power_, belligerent warships are not permitted to remain in the ports, roadsteads, or territorial waters of the said Power for more than twenty-four hours, except in the cases covered by this Convention." Art.

27 obliges the contracting Powers to "communicate to each other in due course all laws, proclamations, and other enactments, regulating in their respective countries the _Status_ of belligerent warships in their ports laid waters." II.

A neutral State is not bound to prevent such assistance being rendered by its subjects to either belligerent as is involved in, e.g.