Cod war legalities
Sir: Mr Chowdharay-Best draws attention (September 8) to the nature of the International Court's ruling on the Cod War Case. I agree with him that the court orders of -August 17, 1972 and July 12, 1973 concern interim measures only. There was, however, a judgement of February 5, 1973 when the Court, by 14 votes to one, decided It had jurisdiction to hear the merits of the case. In so doing, it had to decide that the jurisdictional clause, at the least, of the 1961 Exchange of Notes, Was valid, and it did so find. I regret that my phraseology misled on this,
lie is of course right to mention Britain's earlier, muchwider claims, Readers who have noted the fifteenthcentury 'claims to the "King's Chambers,' and later to the Narrow Seas,
aY well think that, in the long term ;t is a case of plus et change, plus c'est merne chose. It is, of course, open to _the Crown by Order in Council,, or to Parliament, to extend tile territorial limits eithergenerally, or for a specific Purpose Indeed, section 38 of this year's Finance Act did just that for tax Purposes.
4 Blenheim Road, DBraisvtol
iCi Wyn Williams
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