Note 790 — Chapter IV · MISCELLANEOUS AGENCIES

Attention ought to be drawn here to Convention VII. (concerning the conversion of merchant-ships into war-ships) of the second Hague Peace Conference of 1907. Although this convention concerns the time of war only, it is indirectly of importance for the time of peace. Its stipulations are the following:—No merchant-ship converted into a war-ship can have the rights and duties appertaining to that status unless it is placed under the direct authority, immediate control, and responsibility of the Power whose flag it flies (art. 1). Merchant-ships converted into war-ships must bear the external marks which distinguish the war-ships of their nationality (art. 2). The commander must be in the service of the State and duly commissioned by the proper authorities. His name must figure on the list of the officers of the military fleet (art. 3). The crew must be subject to the rules of military discipline (art. 4). Every merchant-ship converted into a war-ship is bound to observe, in its operations, the laws and customs of war (art. 5). A belligerent who converts a merchant-ship into a war-ship must, as soon as possible, announce such conversion in the list of the ships of its military fleet (art. 6).