File No. 763.72/2304
[Enclosure—Translation]
Proclamation concerning the convoying of
Swedish merchant ships during war between foreign
powers1
We Gustaf, by the grace of God, King of
Sweden, and of the Goths and Wends, make proclamation: that We,
revoking the ordinance, dated 10 June 1812, regarding merchant
ships under convoy of men-of-war, have found it good, after
deliberating with the competent authorities, to decree as
follows:
Section 1
The purpose of convoying during war between foreign powers is,
with due observance of what is decreed in this proclamation, to
afford Swedish merchant ships protection against search and
detention by warships of foreign powers.
Section 2
A convoy is arranged when the King or that naval authority to
whom the decision of the matter has been entrusted, considers
that the circumstances necessitate such convoy.
A requisition for the arrangement of a convoy is to be made in
writing, or by telegraph, to the King in the Naval Defense
Department, or to that naval authority to which the decision in
the matter has been confided, and shall contain particulars as
to the owners, or as regards the shipping company, the names of
the principal owners, and also that of the captain, the name of
the ship, its place of registration and number in the register
of ships, the description and destination of the cargo, the
shipper and consignee, the port of departure and destination of
the ship, also the expected time of sailing.
Section 3
Application for the inclusion of a ship in the convoy shall, even
if the ship has been mentioned in the requisition which has
occasioned the arranging of the convoy, be made to the commander
of the convoy and be accompanied by particulars as provided in
the second part of Section 2; and the commander of the convoy
shall decide, with due reference to what is enacted in Section
4, as to whether the application may be granted.
The application must be accompanied by a written undertaking to
contribute such sum towards the expenses of the convoy as the
King may decide. Such undertaking shall be immediately sent in
to the naval defense department.
Section 4
Merchant ships which carry contraband of war, or which may
reasonably be suspected of intending to render assistance
contrary to the laws of neutrality to a neutral power, may not
under any circumstances be included in the convoy.
Section 5
In order to prevent merchant ships referred to in Section 4 being
included in the convoy, such measures of control as are
considered suitable may be taken with regard to ships for which
convoying has been applied for.
It shall be obligatory for the captain of a ship for which
convoying has been granted, both, before sailing of the convoy
to hand over the original ship’s papers to the commander of the
convoy, and also, on requirement by the commander of the convoy,
to give him a written assurance that the documents handed over
are complete and in accordance with the actual conditions.
The ship’s papers shall be returned to the captain at such time
as the commander of the convoy considers desirable.
Section 6
In order to prevent contraband being put on board it shall be the
duty of the customs authorities on request of the commander of
the convoy and to the extent he may consider necessary to set a
watch over the ship for which a convoy has been requested, both
while loading and after up to the sailing of
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the convoy, and also to assist in
any examination of the cargo which may be undertaken by the
commander of the convoy.
A report shall be drawn up by the authorized custom authorities
with regard to the measures which they have taken, of which a
certified copy shall be handed to the commander of the convoy
before it sails. Where it can conveniently be done, the report
may be replaced by a certificate issued by the customs
authorities regarding the watch kept over the ship.
The shipowner shall defray the expense incurred by the customs
authorities according to the certified scale of charges.
Section 7
The commander of the convoy shall issue a certificate to the
captains of those merchant ships which have obtained permission
to be included in the convoy, and this certificate with the
necessary instructions and a copy of this proclamation shall be
handed to the catain of the merchant ship before the sailing of
the convoy.
Section 8
The captain of a merchant ship which is included in the convoy
shall, together with his crew, be under obligation to obey the
orders and directions which are given by the commander of the
convoy, or by his authorized representative on his behalf under
pain of the ship’s otherwise being excluded from the convoy.
This proclamation shall come into force immediately upon being
issued.
These ordinances are to be observed by all concerned. And
hereunto have we set our hand and seal.
Stockholm
Palace
,
October 29,
1915.
Gustaf
Naval Defense Department
Dan Broström
