'League of Nations, Conference for the Supervision of the International Trade in Arms and Ammunition and in Implements of War, Geneva, 17th June 1925' [‎25r] (56/138)

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3. For the purpose of verifying the nationality of the suspected vessel,
a boat commanded by a commissioned officer in uniform may be sent to visit the
vessel after she has been hailed so as to give notice of such intention. The officer
sent on board the vessel shall act with all possible consideration and moderation.
Before leaving the vessel, the officer shall draw up a proces-verbal in the form
and language in use in his own country. This proces-verbal shall state the facts
of the case and shall be dated and signed by the officer.
Should there be on board the warship no commissioned officer other than the
^Commanding Officer, the above prescribed operations may be carried out by
a warrant, petty or non-commissioned officer at the discretion of the Command
ing Officer.
The captain or master of the vessel visited, as well as the witnesses, shall be
invited to sign the proces-verbal and shall have the right to add to it any explana
tions which they may consider expedient.
4. In the cases referred to in paragraph 1 [a) hereof, unless the right to fly the
flag can be established, the vessel may be conducted to the nearest port in the
maritime zone where there is a competent authority of the Power whose flag has
been flown and shall be handed over to such authority, but if such a port should be
at such a distance from the point of detention that the warship would have to
leave her station or patrol to escort the detained vessel thereto, the vessel may be
taken to the nearest port where there is a competent authority of one of the High
Contracting Parties of nationality other than that of the warship and handed
over to such authority, and steps shall at once be taken to notify this fact to the
competent authority representing the power concerned.
No proceedings shall be taken against the vessel or her crew until the arrival
of the representative of the Power whose flag the vessel was flying or without
authority from such representative. •
Instead of conducting the suspected vessel to a port as laid down above, the
Commanding Officer of the detaining warship may hand her over to a warship
of the nation, whose flag she has flown if the latter consents to take charge of her.
5. The procedure laid down in paragraph 4 may also be followed if, after the
verification of the flag and m spite of the voluntary production of the manifest the
Commanding Officer of the warship continues to suspect the vessel of engaging in
the illicit conveyance of articles covered by Categories I, II, IV and V.
6. In the cases referred to in paragraph 1 (h) hereof, if it is ascertained, as a
result of the visit made on board the vessel that, whereas it flew no flag, it was also
not entitled to fly the flag of a recognised State, the vessel may, unless the innocent
nature of her cargo can be duly established to the satisfaction of the Commanding
Omcer of the warship, be conducted to the nearest point in the maritime zone where
there is a competent authority of the Power to which the detaining warship belongs
and shall be handed over to such authority. 0 "'
7. The authority before whom the suspected vessel has been brought shall
institute a full enquiry in accordance with the laws and regulations of his countrv
and m conformity with the procedure laid down in paragraph 8 below.
warship' 8 enqUiry slia11 be carrieii out in tlie presence of an officer of the detaining
If, however, the presence of such officer is impracticable owina to the duties
upon which the warship is engaged, an affidavit sworn by the Commandino- Officer
may m special cases be accepted by the authority holding the enquiry in place of th e
oral evidence of an officer of the warship. 4 ^ P