Codification Division Publications: United Nations Legislative Series Codification Division Publications: United Nations Legislative Series

Book 20: Materials on Jurisdictional Immunities of States and their Property (1982)

Complete PDF View PDF file
Table of Contents Page
Introduction View PDF file
Part I. National legislation View PDF file
Première partie. Législation nationale
A. Argentina  
    The Argentine Constitution 3
B. Austria  
  1. Austrian declaration in accordance with article 28, paragraph 2, of the European Convention on State Immunity 5
  2. Federal Act of 3 May 1974 on the exercise of jurisdiction in accordance with article 21 of the European Convention on State Immunity 5
  3. Declaration by the Republic of Austria in accordance with article 21, paragraph 4, of the European Convention on State Immunity 5
  4. Repertory of precedents, No. 28  6
C. Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic  
    Article 395 of the Code of Civil Procedure of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic  6
D. Canada  
    Canadian Bill on "State Immunity Act" (1981) 7
E. Chile  
    Analysis of legislative principles 12
F. Colombia  
    Code of Civil Procedure 13
G. Czechoslovakia  
    Section 47 of the Act concerning Private International Law and the Rules of Procedure relating thereto 14
H. German Democratic Republic  
  1. Civil Code of the German Democratic Republic of 19 June 1975 15
  2. Civil Procedure Code of 19 June 1975  
    (a) Recognition of Decisions 15
    (b) Declaration of Enforceability 16
I. Hungary  
  1. Law-Decree No. 13 of 1979 on Private International Law  
    (a) State as subject of Law 17
    (b) Exclusive jurisdiction 17
    (c) Precluded jurisdiction  17
  2. Law-Decree No. 7 of 1973 of the Presidential Council of the Hungarian People's Republic on Procedure in Matters-of Diplomatic Immunities and other Exemptions 18
J. Norway  
    National Legislation of 17 March 1939 19
K. Pakistan  
    State Immunity Ordinance, 1981 20
L. Romania  
    Décret No. 443 du 20 novembre 1972 concernant la navigation civile 27
M. Singapore  
    State Immunity Act 1979 28
N. South Africa  
    Foreign Sovereign Immunity Act (1981) 34
O. Union of Soviet Socialist Republics  
    Article 61 of the Fundamentals of Civil Procedure of the USSR and the Union Republics 40
P. United Kingdom of Great Britain And Northern Ireland  
  1. State Immunity Act 1978 41
  2. The State Immunity (Merchant Shipping) (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) Order 1978 51
  3. International Immunities and Privileges. The State Immunity Act 1978 (Commencement) Order 1978 52
  4. International Immunities and Privileges. The State Immunity (Federal States) Order 1979 52
  5. International Immunities and Privileges. The State Immunity (Overseas Territories) Order 1979 53
Q. United States of America  
  1. The Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976, Public Law 94-583, 90 Stat. 2891 55
  2. Income of Foreign Governments (Department of the Treasury) 63
R. Yugoslavia  
  1. Excerpt from the law on litigious procedure 69
  2. Excerpt from the law on executive procedure 69
  3. Excerpt from the law on the general administrative procedure 69
  4. Excerpt from the law on maritime and inland navigation   70
Part II. Official records and correspondence View PDF file
Deuxième partie. Actes officiels et correspondance
A. Argentina  
    Analysis of the relevant Argentine national legislation and the decisions of national courts regarding jurisdictional immunities of States and their property transmitted by that Government to the Secretariat on 8 May 1979   73
B. Barbados  
    Letter concerning the topic of jurisdictional immunities of States and their property transmitted by the Government of Barbados to the Secretariat on 16 July 1979 74
C. Canada  
  1. Reply by the Secretary of State for External Affairs to a request by the Ambassador of Government X regarding the granting of sovereign immunity for the aircraft carrying the President of X 75
  2. Government memorandum concerning the issue of sovereign immunity in relation to a case in the United States District Court 75
D. Colombia  
  1. Letter regarding the topic of jurisdictional immunities of States and their property transmitted by the Government of Colombia to the Secretariat on 16 July 1979 78
  2. Note O/J 767/86 of 24 August 1964, addressed to the Ambassador of Colombia in Bonn 79
E. Czechoslovakia  
    Analysis of the topic of jurisdictional immunities of States and their property submitted by the Government of Czechoslovakia to the Secretariat on 20 July 1979 82
F. Denmark  
    Letter concerning the topic of jurisdictional immunities of States and their property transmitted by the Government of Denmark to the Secretariat on 16 November 1981 83
G. Finland  
    Letter concerning the topic of jurisdictional immunities of States and their property transmitted by the Government of Finland to the Secretariat on II June 1979 84
H. German Democratic Republic  
    Letter concerning the basic position of the German Democratic Republic on the topic of jurisdictional immunities of States and their property transmitted by that Government to the Secretariat on 7 April 1981 84
I. Germany, Federal Republic of  
  1. Circular note transmitted by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany to foreign Embassies in Bonn on 20 December 1973 (transmitted to the Secretariat by that Government) 86
  2. Note from the Chargé d’Affaires of the Permanent Mission of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Secretariat on 7 August 1979   88
J. Greece  
    Letter concerning the topic of jurisdictional immunities of States and their property transmitted by the Government of Greece to the Secretariat on 14 August 1981 89
K. Norway  
    Letter concerning the topic of jurisdictional immunities of States and their property transmitted by the Government of Norway to the Secretariat on 26 July 1979 90
L. Poland  
    Analysis of Polish domestic legislation and decisions of national tribunals regarding jurisdictional immunities of States and their property, transmitted by that Government to the Secretariat on 17 July 1979   90
M. Suriname  
    Letter concerning the topic of jurisdictional immunities of States and their property transmitted by the Government of Suriname to the Secretariat on 20 July 1981  91
N. Union of Soviet Socialist Republics  
    Extract from note no. 36 of 1 I July 1977 from the Embassy of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in the United States of America to the State Department of the United States of America (transmitted by the USSR Government to the Secretariat) 92
O. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland  
  1. Letter from the United Kingdom's Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe addressed to the Council of Europe regarding the ratification of European Convention on State Immunity (transmitted by that Government to the Secretariat) 93
  2. Note from the United Kingdom's Ambassador in Brussels, addressed to the Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs to accompany UK Instrument of Ratification of the International Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules concerning the Immunity of State-owned Ships, 1926 8c Protocol, thereto 94
  3. Instruments of Ratification of the International Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules concerning the Immunity of State-owned Ships, 1926 8c Protocol, thereto 95
  4. Letter concerning the topic of jurisdictional immunities of States and their property submitted by the United Kingdom Government to the Secretariat on 3 July 1979 96
P. United States of America  
  1. Legislative history of Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976; House Report No. 94-1487 98
  2. Text of letter to the Attorney General from Department of State legal adviser on 2 November 1976 126
Part III. Treaty provisions View PDF file
Troisième partie. Dispositions conventionnelles de traités
A. Bilateral treaties  
  1. Treaties of friendship, commerce and navigation between nonsocialist countries  
    (a) United States of America and Denmark of 1951 131
    (b) United States of America and Federal Republic of Germany of 1954 131
    (c) United States of America and Greece of 1951  131
    (d) United States of America and Korea of 1956 132
    (e) United States of America and Iran of 1955 132
    (f) United States of America and Ireland of 1950 132
    (g) United States of America and Israel of 1951 133
    (h) United States of America and Italy of 1948 133
    (i) United States of America and Japan of 1953 133
    (j) United States of America and the Netherlands of 1956 134
    (k) United States of America and Nicaragua of 1956 134
  2. Treaties on trade and navigation between Socialist Countries  
    (a) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Albania of 1958 134
    (b) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Bulgaria of 1948 135
    (c) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and China of 1958 135
    (d) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Czechoslovakia of 1947   136
    (e) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Czechoslovakia of 1973   136
    (f) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and German Democratic Republic of 1957 137
    (g) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Hungary of 1947 137
    (h) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Democratic Republic of Korea of 1960 138
    (i) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Mongolia of 1957 138
    (j) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Romania of 1947   139
    (k) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Democratic Republic of Viet-nam of 1958 139
  3. Treaties between Socialist Countries and developed countries  
    (a) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Austria of 1955 140
    (b) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Denmark of 1946 140
    (c) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Finland of 1947 141
    (d) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and France of 1951 141
    (e) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Germany, Federal Republic of, of 1958 142
    (f) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Italy of 1948 143
    (g) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Japan of 1957 143
    (h) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the Netherlands of 1971   144
    (i) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Switzerland of 1948 144
  4. Treaties between Socialist Countries and developing countries  
    (a) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Bolivia of 1970 145
    (b) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Brazil of 1963 145
    (c) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Costa Rica of 1970 146
    (d) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Egypt of 1956 147
    (e) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Ghana of 1961 147
    (f) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and India of 1953 148
    (g) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Iraq of 1958 148
    (h) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Singapore of 1966 149
    (i) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Togo of 1961 149
    (j) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Yemen of 1963 150
B. Multilateral treaties  
  1. Bustamante Code, Code of Private International Law 150
  2. Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards 151
  3. Convention on the Execution of Foreign Arbitral Awards 153
  4. Convention on the High Seas 155
  5. Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes between States and Nationals of other States 155
  6. Convention on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone 156
  7. European Convention on State Immunity and Additional Protocol 156
  8. International Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules relating to the Immunity of State-owned Vessels 173
  9. International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage 176
  10. Protocol on Arbitration Clauses 176
  11. Treaty on International Commercial Navigation Law 177
Part IV. Decisions of domestic tribunals View PDF file
Quatrième partie. Jugements des tribunaux nationaux
A. Australia  
    Grunfeld and Another v. United States of America and Others. Decision by the Supreme Court on 26 April 1968   181
B. Austria  
  1. Decision by the Supreme Court on 10 May 1950. X v. the Government of Czechoslovakia 183
  2. Decision by the Supreme Court on 10 February 1961. X v. the Government of the United States 203
  3. Decision by the Supreme Court on 14 February 1963. X v. the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany  207
C. Belgium  
  1. Decision by the Court of Appeal of Leopoldville on 29 May 1956. De Decker v. United States of America 209
  2. Decision by the Court of Appeal of Brussels of 4 December 1963. Société Anonyme "Dhlellemes et Masurel" v. Banque Centrale de la République de Turquie   210
D. Burma  
  1. U Kyaw Din v. The British Government. Decision by the High Court of Rangoon on 14 July 1948 214
  2. U Zeya v. The British Secretary of State for War. Decision by the High Court of Rangoon on 2 February 1949   215
  3. Kovtunenko v. U Law Yone. Decision by the Supreme Court on 1 March 1960   217
E. Canada  
  1. Fraser-Brace et al. v. Saint John County et al. Decision by the Supreme Court of New Brunswick on 17 August 1956   221
  2. Fraser-Brace Overseas Corporation et al. v. Municipality of the City and County of Saint John et al. Decision by the Supreme Court of New Brunswick (Appeal Division) on 9 May 1957 226
  3. Municipality of the City and County of Saint John, Logan and Clayton v. Fraser-Brace Overseas Corporation et al. Decision by the Supreme Court on 1 April 1958   232
  4. Flota Marttima Browning de Cuba S.A. v. The Steamship Canadian Conqueror et al. and The Republic of Cuba. Decision by the Supreme Court on I 1 June 1962   241
  5. Chateau-Gai Wines Ltd. v. Le Gouvernement de la République française. Decision by Exchequer Court on 11 April 1967 245
  6. Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo v. Venne. Decision by the Supreme Court of Canada in 1971 248
  7. Smith v. Canadian Javelin Ltd. Decision by the High Court of Ontario in 1976 249
F. Chile  
  1. Decision by the Supreme Court on 22 October 1968. X v. the Embassy of Yugoslavia 250
  2. Decision by the Supreme Court on 3 September 1969. X v. the Government of China 250
  3. Decision by the Supreme Court on 10 December 1969. X v. the Government of Bolivia  250
  4. Decision by the Supreme Court on 2 June 1975. X v. the Government of Cuba  251
G. China  
    Rizaeff Frères v. the Soviet Mercantile Fleet. Decision by the Provisional Court of Shanghai (Civil Division) on 30 September 1927 251
H. Czechoslovakia  
    In re Produst, Ex parte Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia. Decision by the Regional Court in Prague on 16 December 1955 252
I. France  
  1. Décision du Tribunal Civil de la Seine en date du 30 janvier 1956. Salabert c. Gouvernement des États-Unis d'Amérique du Nord  253
  2. Décision de la Cour d'appel de Paris en date du 16 mars 1960. Société immobilière des Cités Fleuries Lafayette c. États-Unis d'Amérique 255
  3. Décision de la Cour de Cassation (Civil Chambre) en date du 19 décembre 1961. Gugenheim c. Etat du Viet-Nam  257
  4. Décision de la Cour de Cassation en date du 19 décembre 1961. Soc. Bauer-Marchal et Cie c. Min. des finances de l’Etat turc 258
  5. Décision de la Cour d'appel de Paris en date du 7 février 1962. United States of America (Director of the United States Foreign Service) v. Perignon and others 258
  6. Décision de la Cour d'appel de Rouen en date du 10 février 1965. Société Bauer-Marchal et Cie c. Gouvernement turc  260
  7. Décision de la Cour d'appel de Paris en date du 22 février 1966. Chaussois c. La Tabacoop de Bône  262
  8. Décision de la Cour de Cassation en date du 25 février 1969. Administration des Chemins defer du Gouvernement Iranien c. Société Levant Express Transport  264
  9. Décision du Tribunal de Grande Instance de Paris en date du 16 janvier 1969. Neger c. Gouvernement du Land de Hesse 266
  10. Décision du Tribunal de Grande Instance de Paris en date du 14 mai 1970. Etat Espagnol c. Société Anonyme de l'Hôtel George V  267
J. Germany, Federal Republic of  
  1. Decision by the Federal Constitutional Court on 30 October 1962. X v. Yugoslavia 272
  2. Decision by the Federal Constitutional Court on 30 April 1963. X v. Empire of 282
  3. Decision by the District Court of Frankfurt on 2 December 1975. Non-resident Petitioner v. Central Bank of Nigeria   290
  4. Decision by the Land High Court of Frankfurt on 30 June 1977. X v. Spanish Government Tourist Bureau 294
  5. Decision by the Federal Constitutional Court on 13 December 1977. X v. Republic of Philippines 297
  6. Decision by the Federal Court of Justice on 26 September 1978. X v. The Head of Scotland Yard 321
K. Italy  
  1. Decision by the Court of Cassation on 14 August 1953. Borga v. Russian Trade Delegation   325
  2. Decision by the Tribunal of Rome on 30 January 1955. La Mercantile v. Kingdom of Greece   329
  3. Decision by the Court of Cassation on 24 May 1956. Hungarian People's Republic et al. v. Onori   331
  4. Decision by the Court of Cassation on 17 October 1956. Paver v. Hungarian People's Republic 333
  5. Decision by the Court of Cassation on 14 July 1960. Hungarian Papal Institute v. Hungarian Institute (Academy) 335
L. Japan  
  1. Decision by the Supreme Court on 28 December 1928. Matsuyama et al. v. Republic of China 338
  2. Decision by the District Court of Tokyo on 9 June 1954. Limbin Hteik Tin Lat v. Union of Burma 339
  3. Decision by the District Court of Tokyo on 23 December 1955. Republic of China v. Chuka Newspaper Co., Ltd., et al.   340
M. Madagascar  
  1. Decision by the Court of Appeal on 27 January 1965. Mahe v. Agent Judiciary du trésor français   342
  2. Decision by the Supreme Court on 12 May 1965. Ramiandrisoa v. The French State   343
N. Netherlands  
  1. Decision by the Court of Appeal of The Hague on 28 November 1968. N.V. Cabolent v. National Iranian Oil Company 344
  2. Decision by the Supreme Court on 26 October 1973. Société Européenne d'Etudes et d'Entreprises en liquidité volontaire (SEEE) v. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 355
O. Philippines  
  1. Syquia v. Almeda Lopez. Decision by the Supreme Court on 17 August 1949 360
  2. Philippine Alien Property Administration v. Castelo. Decision by the Supreme Court on 30 July 1951   364
  3. Parreho v. McGranery. Decision by the Supreme Court on 12 March 1953   367
  4. Johnson v. Turner, et al. Decision by the Supreme Court on 26 April 1954   368
  5. Baer v. Tizon. Decision by the Supreme Court on 3 May 1974   370
P. South Africa  
  1. Lendalease Finance (Pty) Ltd. v. Corporacion de Mercadeo Agricola and Others. Decision by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on 24 May 1976   373
  2. Inter-Science Research and Development Services (Pty) Ltd. v. Republica Popular de Moçambique. Decision by the Transvaal Provincial Division on 14 November 1979   405
  3. Kaffraria Property Co. (Pty) Ltd. v. Government of the Republic of Zambia. Decision by the Eastern Cape Division of the Supreme Court on 4 February 1980   419
Q. Sweden  
    Decision by the Supreme Court on 1 March 1957. Beckman v. Chinese People's Republic   426
R. Switzerland  
  1. Décision du Tribunal fédéral en date du 22 juin 1966. République italienne, Ministère italien des transports et chemins de fer d'Etat italiens c. Beta Holding S.A. et Autorité de séquestre de Bôle-ville 427
  2. Décision du Tribunal supérieur de Zurich en date du 27 mars 1973. X c. République du Ghana 434
  3. Décision du Tribunal fédéral en date du 14 novembre 1978. Banque centrale de la République de Turquie c. Weston compagnie de finance et d'investissement S.A. et juge unique (procédure sommaire) du Tribunal de district de Zurich 435
S. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland  
  1. The Uganda Company (Holdings) Limited v. the Government of Uganda. Decision by the High Court of Justice, Queen's Bench Division, on 11 December 1978   441
  2. Hispano Americana Mercantil S.A. v. Central Bank of Nigeria. Decision by the Court of Appeal on 25 April 1979   449
  3. The I Congreso del Partido. Decision by the Court of Appeal on 12 July 1979 453
T. United States of America  
  1. Yessenin-Volpin v. Novosti Press Agency. Decision by the District Court, S.D. New York on 23 January 1978 468
  2. lpitrade International v. Federal Republic of Nigeria. Decision by the District Court, District of Columbia on 25 September 1978   475
  3. Carey v. National Oil Corporation. Decision by the Court of Appeals, Second Circuit on 24 January 1979 477
  4. Behring International v. Imperial Iranian Air Force. Decision by the District Court, D. New Jersey, on 24 July 1979 479
  5. Behring International v. Imperial Iranian Air Force. Decision by the District Court, D. New Jersey, on 13 August 1979   492
  6. International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers v. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. Decision by the District Court, C.D. California on 18 September 1979 503
  7. Maritime International Nominees Establishment v. The Republic of Guinea. Decision by the District Court, District of Columbia on 12 January 1981   524
  8. Texas Trading and Milling Corp. v. Federal Republic of Nigeria and Central Bank of Nigeria [Decor by Nikkei International, Inc.; Chenax Majesty, Inc.; and East Europe Import-Export, Inc. were plaintiffs-Appellant-Cross-Appellee]. Decision by the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, on 16 April 1981   527
  9. Verlinden B.V. v. Central Bank of Nigeria. Decision by the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, on 16 April 1981   543
Part V. Replies to the Questionnaire View PDF file
Cinquième partie. Réponses au questionnaire
Questionnaire on the topic "Jurisdictional immunities of States and their property” 557
Questionnaire relatif à "l'immunité juridictionnelle des Etats et de leurs biens" 559
A. Brazil   562
B. Czechoslovakia   564
C. Ecuador 567
D. Egypt 569
E. Germany, Federal Republic of 571
F. Hungary   575
G. Kenya   577
H. Lebanon 578
I. Madagascar   581
J. Mexico   584
K. Netherlands   587
L. Norway 589
M. Portugal 592
N. Romania 594
O. Senegal   596
P. Spain 598
Q. Sudan 601
R. Sweden   602
S. Syrian Arab Republic 604
T. Togo   607
U. Trinidad and Tobago 610
V. Tunisia 614
W. Union of Soviet Socialist Republics   616
X. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 619
Y. United States of America 630
Z. Venezuela 638
AA. Yugoslavia 641
Subject index View PDF file