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MULTILATERAL AGREEMENTS, 1776-1917

Mr. Eugène Borel, Colonel of the General Staff, Professor in the University of Geneva;

Mr. Max Huber, Professor of Law in the University of Zürich.

His Majesty the Emperor of the Ottomans:

His Excellency Turkhan Pasha, His Ambassador Extraordinary, Minister of the Evkaf;

His Excellency Rechid Bey, His Ambassador at Rome;

His Excellency Mehemmed Pasha, Vice Admiral.

The President of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay:

His Excellency Mr. José Batlle y Ordoñez, former President of the Republic, Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration;

His Excellency Mr. Juan P. Castro, former President of the Senate, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the Republic at Paris, Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

The President of the United States of Venezuela:

Mr. José Gil Fortoul, Chargé d'Affaires of the Republic at Berlin.

Who, after having deposited their full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed upon the following provisions:

Article 1

Military hospital-ships, that is to say, ships constructed or assigned by States specially and solely with a view to assisting the wounded, sick, and shipwrecked, the names of which have been communicated to the belligerent Powers at the commencement or during the course of hostilities, and in any case before they are employed, shall be respected, and cannot be captured while hostilities last.

These ships, moreover, are not on the same footing as warships as regards their stay in a neutral port.

Article 2

Hospital-ships, equipped wholly or in part at the expense of private individuals or officially recognized relief societies, shall be likewise respected and exempt from capture, if the belligerent Power to whom they belong has given them an official commission and has notified their names to the hostile Power at the commencement of or during hostilities, and in any case before they are employed.

These ships must be provided with a certificate from the competent authorities declaring that the vessels have been under their control while fitting out and on final departure.