XXXII. A prisoner of war cannot be forced to accept release on parole, nor is the enemy's Government obliged to comply with the request of a prisoner claiming to be released on parole. XXXIII. Every prisoner of war liberated on parole, and retaken carrying arms against the Government to which he had pledged his honour, may be deprived of the rights accorded to prisoners of war, and may be brought before the tribunals. XXXIV. Persons in the vicinity of armies, but who do not directly form part of them, such as correspondents, newspaper reporters, "vivandiers," contractors, etc., may also be made prisoners of war. These persons should, however, be furnished with a permit issued by a competent authority, as well as with a certificate of identity. XXXV. The duties of belligerents, with regard to the treatment of sick and wounded, are regulated by the Convention of Geneva of the 22d August, 1864, subject to the modifications which may be introIduced into that convention. XXXVI. The population of an occupied territory cannot be compelled to take part in military operations against their own country. XXXVII. The population of occupied territories cannot be compelled to swear allegiance to the enemy's power. XXXVIII. The honour and rights of the family, the life, and property of individuals, as well as their religious convictions and the exercise of their religion, should be respected. Private property cannot be confiscated. XXXIX. Pillage is expressly forbidden. XL. As private property should be respected, the enemy will demand from parishes (communes) or the inhabitants, only such payments and services as are connected with the necessities of war generally acknowledged in proportion to the resources of the country, and which do not imply, with regard to the inhabitants, the obligation of taking part in the operations of war against their own country. XLI. The enemy, in levying contributions, whether as equivalents for taxes (vide Art. V), or for payments which should be made in kind, or as fines, will proceed, as far as possible, according to the rules of the distribution and assessment of the taxes in force in the occupied territory. The civil authorities of the legal Government will afford their assistance, if they have remained in office. Contributions can be imposed only on the order and on the responsibility of the General-in-Chief, or of the superior civil authority established by the enemy in the occupied territory. For every contribution a receipt shall be given to the person furnishing it. XLII. Requisitions shall be made only by the authority of the Commandant of the locality occupied. For every requisition an indemnity shall be granted or a receipt given. XLIII. An individual authorized by one of the belligerents to confer with the other, on presenting himself with a white flag, accompanied by a trumpeter (bugler or drummer), or also by a flag-bearer, shall be recognized as the bearer of a flag of truce. He, as well as the trumpeter (bugler or drummer), and the flag-bearer, who accompany him, shall have the right of inviolability. XLIV. The commander to whom a bearer of a flag of truce is despatched is not obliged to receive him under all circumstances and conditions. It is lawful for him to take all measures necessary for preventing the bearer of the flag of truce taking advantage of his stay within the radius of the enemy's position to the prejudice of the latter; and if the bearer of the flag of truce is found guilty of such a breach of confidence, he has the right to detain him temporarily. He may equally declare beforehand that he will not receive bearers of flags of truce during a certain period. Envoys presenting themselves after such a notification from the side to which it has been given forfeit their right of inviolability. XLV. The bearer of a flag of truce forfeits his right of inviolability if it be proved in a positive and irrefutable manner that he has taken advantage of his privileged position to incite to, or commit, an act of treachery. XLVI. The conditions of capitulations shall be discussed by the Contracting Parties. These conditions should not be contrary to military honour. When once settled by a Convention, they should be scrupulously observed by both sides. XLVII. An armistice suspends warlike operations by a mutual agreement between the belligerents. Should the duration thereof not be fixed, the belligerents may resume operations at any moment; provided, however, that proper warning be given to the enemy, in accordance with the conditions of the armistice. XLVIII. An armistice may be general or local. The former suspends all warlike operations between the belligerents; the latter only those between certain portions of the belligerent armies, and within a fixed radius. XLIX. An armistice should be notified officially and without delay to the competent authorities and to the troops. Hostilities are suspended immediately after the notification. L. It rests with the Contracting Parties to define in the clauses of the armistice the relations which shall exist between the populations. LI. The violation of the armistice by either of the parties gives to the other the right of terminating it (le dénoncer). LII. The violation of the clauses of an armistice by private individuals, on their own personal initiative, only affords the right of demanding the punishment of the guilty persons, and, if there is occasion for it, an indeminty for losses sustained. LIII. The neutral State receiving in its territory troops belonging to the belligerent armies will intern them, so far as it may be possible away from the theater of war. They may be kept in camps, or even confined in fortresses or in places appropriated to this purpose. It will decide whether the officers may be released on giving their parole not to quit the neutral territory without authority. LIV. In default of a special agreement, the neutral State which receives the belligerent troops will furnish the interned with provisions, clothing, and such aid as humanity demands. The expenses incurred by the internment will be made good at the conclusion of peace. LV. The neutral State may authorize the transport across its territory of the wounded and sick belonging to the belligerent armies, provided that the trains which convey them do not carry either the personnel or material of war. In this case the neutral State is bound to take the measures necessary for the safety and control of the operation. LVI. The Convention of Geneva is applicable to the sick and wounded interned on neutral territory. Acte Final de la Conférence Inter nationale de la Paix La Conférence Internationale de la Paix, convoquée dans un haut sentiment d'humanité par Sa Majesté l'Empereur de Toutes les Russies, s'est réunie, sur l'invita Final Act of the International The International Peace Conference, convoked in the best interests of humanity by His Majesty the Emperor of All the Russias, assembled on the invitation of the tion du Gouvernement de Sa Majesté la Reine des Pays-Bas, à la Maison Royale du Bois, à La Haye, le 18 Mai, 1899. Les Puissances, dont l'énumération suit, ont pris part à la Conférence, pour laquelle elles avaient désigné les Délégués nommés ci-après: [Noms.] Dans une série de réunions, tenues du 18 Mai au 29 Juillet, 1899, où les Délégués précités ont été constamment animés du désir de réaliser, dans la plus large mesure possible, les vues généreuses de l'auguste Initiateur de la Conférence et les intentions, de leurs Gouvernements, la Conférence a arrêté, pour étre soumis à la signature des Plénipoténtiaires, le texte des Conventions et Déclarations énumérées ci-aprés et annexées au présent Acte: I. Convention pour le règlement pacifique des conflits internationaux. II. Convention concernant les lois et coutumes de la guerre sur terre. III. Convention pour l'adaptation à la guerre maritime des principes de la Convention de Genève du 22 Août, 1864. IV. Trois Déclarations concernant: 1. L'interdiction de lancer des projectiles et des explosifs du haut de ballons ou par d'autres modes analogues nouveaus. Government of Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands in the Royal House in the Wood at the Hague, on the 18th May, 1899. The Powers enumerated in the following list took part in the Conference, to which they appointed the Delegates named below: [Names.] In a series of meetings, between the 18th May and the 29th July, 1899, in which the constant desire of the Delegates above mentioned has been to realize, in the fullest manner possible, the generous views of the august Initiator of the Conference and the intentions of their Governments, the Conference has agreed, for submission for signature by the Plenipotentiaries, on the text of the Conventions and Declarations enumerated below and annexed to the present Act: I. Convention for the peaceful adjustment of international differences. II. Convention regarding the laws and customs of war by land. III. Convention for the adaptation to maritime warfare of the principles of the Geneva Convention of the 22d August, 1864. IV. Three Declarations: 1. To prohibit the launching of projectiles and explosives from balloons or by other similar new methods. 2. L'interdiction de l'emploi des projectiles qui ont pour but unique de répandre des gaz asphyxiants ou délétères. 3. L'interdiction de l'emploi de balles qui s'épanouissent ou s'aplatissent facilement dans le corps humain, telles que les balles à enveloppe dure dont l'enveloppe ne couvrirait pas entièrement le noyau ou serait pourvue d'incisions. Ces Conventions et Déclarations formeront autant d'Actes séparés. Ces Actes porteront la date de ce jour et pourront être signés jusqu'au 31 Décembre, 1899, par les Plenipotentiaires des Puissance ances représentées à la Conférence Internationale de la Paix à La Haye. Obéissant aux mêmes inspirations, la Conférence a adopté à l'unanimité la Résolution suivante: "La Conférence estime que la limitation des charges militaires qui pèsent actuellement sur le monde est grandement désirable pour l'accroissement du bien-être matériel et moral de l'humanité." Elle a, en outre, émis les voeux sauivants: 1. La Conférence, prenant en considération les démarches préliminaires faites par le Gouvernement Fédéral Suisse pour la revision de la Convention de Genève, émet le voeu qu'il soit procédé à bref délai, à la réunion d'une Con 2. To prohibit the use of projectiles, the only object of which is the diffusion of asphyxiating or deleterious gases. 3. To prohibit the use of bullets which expand or flatten easily in the human body, such as bullets with a hard envelope, of which the envelope does not entirely cover the core, or is pierced with incisions. These Conventions and Declarations shall form so many separate Acts. These Acts shall be dated this day, and may be signed up to the 31st December, 1899, by the Plenipotentiaries of the Powers represented at the International Peace Conference at The Hague. Guided by the same sentiments, the Conference has adopted unanimously the following Resolution: "The Conference is of opinion that the restriction of military charges, which are at present a heavy burden on the world, is extremely desirable for the increase of the material and moral welfare of mankind." It has, besides, formulated the following wishes: 1. The Conference, taking into consideration the preliminary step taken by the Swiss Federal Government for the revision of the Geneva Convention, expresses the wish that steps may be shortly taken for the assembly of a Special |