Note 210 — Chapter II · POSITION OF THE STATES WITHIN THE FAMILY OF NATIONS

See Wharton, I. § 50 c, Moore, II. § 217, and Hall, § 84. With the case of the Caroline is connected the case of Macleod, which will be discussed below, § 446. Hall (§ 86), Martens (I. § 73), and others quote also the case of the Virginius (1873) as an example of necessity of self-preservation, but it seems that the Spanish Government did not plead self-preservation but piracy as justification of the capture of the vessel (see Moore, II. § 309, pp. 895-903). That a vessel sailing under another State's flag can nevertheless be seized on the high seas in case she is sailing to a port of the capturing State for the purpose of an invasion or bringing material help to insurgents, there is no doubt. No better case of necessity of self-preservation could be given, since the danger is imminent and can be frustrated only by capture of the vessel.