STATISTICS INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION AND PROTOCOL RELATING TO ECONOMIC STATISTICS Australia The Secretary-General of the League of Nations transmitted to the Secretary of State, under date of November 21, 1930, a copy of the letter which the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia addressed to him, containing the reservations which that Government made in adhering to the international convention relating to economic statistics, signed at Geneva, December 14, 1930. The text of the letter follows: SIR: COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PRIME MINISTER CANBERRA, F.C.T., September 25, 1930. With reference to the international convention relating to economic statistics, dated Geneva, December 14, 1928, I have the honour to inform you that the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia is ready to accede to the convention, subject to certain reservations which are communicated hereunder in accordance with article 17 of the convention, viz.: (1) Article 3, annex I, part I (b). The provision for separate returns for direct transit trade shall not apply to the Commonwealth of Australia. The Commonwealth Government is unable to comply with the prescribed requirements in this connection, since direct transit trade is practically nonexistent and, in the majority of instances of transshipment, the information required is not available. (2) Article 3, annex I, part I, paragraph IV. The provision that when the quantity of goods of any kind is expressed in any unit or units of measure other than weight, an estimate of the average weight of each unit, or multiple of units, shall be shown in the annual returns, shall not apply to the Commonwealth of Australia. Although the greater part of the quantity units at present employed in Australia in this connection are weight, there are other quantity units in use, and, without involving great trouble and expense, the Department concerned would not be in a position to comply with the requirements of this paragraph in every respect. Arrangements have recently been made for records of quantity as well as value to be kept in respect of some further 170 items of import for which quantity records were not previously available. It is hoped that in the future it may be possible to further increase the number of items recorded by weight. JOHN A. BEASLEY MISCELLANEOUS CLAIMS AGREEMENT WITH SWEDEN FOR THE ARBITRATION OF CERTAIN CLAIMS' 2 On February 14, 1931, the Senate gave its advice and consent to the ratification of the agreement with Sweden for the arbitration of the claims on account of the detention of the motorships Kronprins Gustaf Adolf and Pacific. The Secretary of State received from the Minister of Sweden on February 13, 1931, a note containing the information that the agree ment had been ratified by the King of Sweden on January 3, 1931. TEXTS OF CONVENTIONS INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE UNIFICATION OF CERTAIN RULES RELATING TO BILLS OF LADING [Translation] The President of the German Republic, the President of the Argentine Republic, His Majesty the King of the Belgians, the President of the Republic of Chile, the President of the Republic of Cuba, His Majesty the King of Denmark, His Majesty the King of Spain, the Chief of the Estonian State, the President of the United States of America, the President of the Republic of Finland, the President of the French Republic, His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Possessions beyond the seas, Emperor of India, the Regent of the Kingdom of Hungary, His Majesty the King of Italy, His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, the President of the Republic of Latvia, the President of the Republic of Mexico, His Majesty the King of Norway, Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands, the President of the Republic of Peru, the President of the Republic of Poland, the President of the Portuguese Republic, His Majesty the King of Rumania, His Majesty the King of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, His Majesty the King of Sweden and the President of the Republic of Uruguay. Having recognized the utility of laying down in common accord certain uniform rules relating to bills of lading have decided to conclude a Convention to that effect and have designated as their Plenipotentiaries, namely: The President of the German Republic: His Excellency Mr. von Keller, Minister of Germany at The President of the Argentine Republic: His Majesty the King of the Belgians: Mr. L. Franck, Minister of Colonies, President of the International Maritime Committee; Mr. A. Le Jeune, Senator, Vice President of the International Maritime Committee; Mr. F. Sohr, Doctor of Law, Secretary General of the International Maritime Committee; Professor at the University of Brussels. The President of the Republic of Chile; The President of the Republic of Cuba; His Majesty the King of Denmark; His Majesty the King of Spain; His Excellency the Marquis of Villalobar and Guimarey, Chief of the Estonian State: His Excellency Mr. Pusta, Minister of Estonia at Brussels. The President of the United States of America: His Excellency Mr. William Phillips, Ambassador of the The President of the Republic of Finland: The President of the French Republic: His Excellency Mr. M. Herbette, Ambassador of France at His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Possessions beyond the seas, Emperor of India: His Excellency the Right Honorable Sir George Grahame, G.C.V.O., K.C.M.G., Ambassador of His Britannic Majesty at Brussels. The Regent of the Kingdom of Hungary: Count Olivier Woracziczky, Baron of Pabienitz, Chargé d'Affaires of Hungary at Brussels. His Majesty the King of Italy: Mr. J. Daneo, Chargé d'Affaires ad interim of Italy at His Majesty the Emperor of Japan: His Excellency Mr. M. Adatci, Ambassador of Japan at The President of the Republic of Latvia: The President of the Republic of Poland: His Excellency Count Jean Szembek, Minister of Poland at The President of the Portuguese Republic: His Majesty the King of Rumania: His Excellency Mr. Henry Catargi, Minister of Rumania His Majesty the King of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes: His Majesty the King of Sweden: The President of the Republic of Uruguay: Who, duly authorized there for have agreed on the following: ARTICLE 1 In this convention the following words are employed with the meanings set out below: (a) "Carrier" includes the owner of the vessel or the charterer who enters into a contract of carriage with a shipper. (b) "Contract of carriage" applies only to contracts of carriage covered by a bill of lading or any similar document of title, in so far as such document relates to the carriage of goods by sea; it also applies to any bill of lading or any similar document as aforesaid issued under or pursuant to a charter party from the moment at which such instrument regulates the relations between a carrier and a holder of the same. (c) "Goods" includes goods, wares, merchandise, and articles of every kind whatsoever except live animals and cargo which by the contract of carriage is stated as being carried on deck and is so carried. sea. (d) "Ship" means any vessel used for the carriage of goods by (e) "Carriage of goods" covers the period from the time when the goods are loaded on to the time they are discharged from the ship. ARTICLE 2 Subject to the provisions of Article 6 under every contract of carriage of goods by sea the carrier, in relation to the loading, handling, stowage, carriage, custody, care, and discharge of such goods shall be subject to the responsibilities and liabilities, and entitled to the rights and immunities hereinafter set forth. ARTICLE 3 1. The carrier shall be bound before and at the beginning of the voyage to exercise due diligence to (a) Make the ship seaworthy: (b) Properly man, equip, and supply the ship: |