doctype: protocol

identifier: Geneva Protocol on Asphyxiating or Poisonous Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods, 1925

depositary: France

title: Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare. Geneva, 17 June 1925

country: Libya

action: declaration

reservation: Reservation made on accession: The accession to the Protocol does not imply the recognition nor the establishment of any relations with Israel. The present Protocol is only binding on the Libyan Arab Republic in relation to the States parties to it and will cease to be binding on the Libyan Arab Republic in relation to those States whose forces and the forces of whose allies, do not respect the prohibitions the subject of this Protocol. SOURCE: SCHINDLER/TOMAN, The Laws of Armed Conflicts, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 1988, p.124

country: Senegal

country: Côte d'Ivoire

country: Viet Nam

reservation: Reservation made on accession: The Socialist Republic of Viet Nam shall be bound by the aforesaid Protocol only in its relations with States which have signed and ratified it or which have acceded to it. The Socialist Republic of Viet Nam shall not be bound by the aforesaid Protocol in its relations with enemy States whose armed forces or allies do not respect its provisions. SOURCE: SCHINDLER/TOMAN, The Laws of Armed Conflicts, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 1988, p.127

country: Trinidad and Tobago

action: succession

country: Saudi Arabia

country: Brazil

country: Netherlands

country: Germany

country: Bhutan

country: Central African Republic

country: Hungary

country: Switzerland

reservation: Reservation made on ratification: (1) The said Protocol is only binding on His Britannic Majesty as regards those Powers and States which have both signed and ratified the Protocol or have finally acceded thereto. (2) The said Protocol shall cease to be binding on His Britannic Majesty toward any Power at enmity with him whose armed forces, or the armed forces of whose allies, fail to respect the prohibitions laid down in the Protocol. SOURCE: SCHINDLER/TOMAN, The Laws of Armed Conflicts, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 1988, p.123.

country: Nepal

country: Monaco

country: Holy See

country: Ghana

country: Pakistan

reservation: Reservation made on ratification: (1) The said Protocol is only binding on His Britannic Majesty as regards those Powers and States which have both signed and ratified the Protocol or have finally acceded thereto. (2) The said Protocol shall cease to be binding on His Britannic Majesty toward any Power at enmity with him whose armed forces, or the armed forces of whose allies, fail to respect the prohibitions laid down in the Protocol. SOURCE: SCHINDLER/TOMAN, The Laws of Armed Conflicts, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 1988, p.125.

country: Bulgaria

country: Barbados

country: Liechtenstein

country: Sweden

country: Lesotho

country: Grenada

country: Portugal

country: Uganda

country: Finland

reservation: Reservation made on accession: The Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea (CGDK) reserves the right not to be bound by the aforesaid Protocol as regards any enemy whose armed forces or allies no longer respect the prohibitions contained in this Protocol. SOURCE: SCHINDLER/TOMAN, The Laws of Armed Conflicts, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 1988, p.122.

reservation: Reservation made on accession: The Protocol is obligatory for Nigeria only in relation to States which are effectively bound by it and will cease to be binding on Nigeria with regard to States whose forces and allies' armed forces will not respect the interdictions being object of this Protocol. SOURCE: SCHINDLER/TOMAN, The Laws of Armed Conflicts, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 1988, p.125.

reservation: Reservation made upon accession: The People's Republic of Angola accedes to the Protocol of 17 June 1925 and declares that it is bound by that Protocol only in relation to States that have signed and ratified it or formally acceded to it. The People's Republic of Angola accedes to the Protocol of 17 June 1925 and declares that it shall cease to be bound by that Protocol in relation to any enemy State whose armed forces or whose de jure or de facto allies do not respect the prohibitions laid down by that instrument. SOURCE: Instrument of accession of 2 March 1990 (original portuguese translated by the ICRC)

reservation: Reservation made on accession: Subject to the reservations that the Government of Iraq is bound by the said Protocol only towards those Powers and States which have both signed and ratified the Protocol or have acceded thereto, and that the Government of Iraq shall cease to be bound by the Protocol towards any Power at enmity with him whose armed forces, or the armed forces of whose allies, do not respect the Protocol. SOURCE: SCHINDLER/TOMAN, The Laws of Armed Conflicts, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 1988, p.123.

reservation: Reservation made on accession: "(1) The said Protocol is only binding on the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh as regards States which have signed and ratified it or which may accede to it; (2) The said Protocol shall ipso facto cease to be binding on the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh in regard to any enemy State whose armed forces or whose allies fail to respect the prohibitions laid down in the Protocol." SOURCE: Instrument of accession, 6 January 1989.

reservation: Reservation made upon accession: The Yemen Arab Republic's acceptance of this Protocol, which will be strictly complied with, in no way implies recognition of Israel or a willingness to enter into any dealings with Israel within the framework of the Protocol. SOURCE: Note addressed to the depositary by the Government of the Arab Republic of Yemen on 16 September 1973. (Translation from the arabic by the ICRC).

reservation: The People's Republic of China engaged itself to apply the Protocol "under the reservation of reciprocity as from all other contracting and acceding Powers." SOURCE: SCHINDLER/TOMAN, The Laws of Armed Conflicts, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 1988, p.122.

reservation: Reservation made on accession: The accession by the Syrian Arab Republic to this Protocol and the ratification of the Protocol by its Government does not in any case imply the recognition of Israel or lead to the establishment of relations with the latter concerning the provisions laid down in the Protocol. SOURCE: SCHINDLER/TOMAN, The Laws of Armed Conflicts, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 1988, p.126.

reservation: Reservation made upon accession: The Algerian Government shall be bound by the Protocol only in relation to States that have ratified it or acceded to it and shall cease to be bound by the Protocol vis-à-vis any State whose armed forces or whose allies' armed forces fail to comply with the Protocol's provisions. (Original french translated by the ICRC).

reservation: Reservation made on accession: "1. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea recognizes the 1925 Geneva Protocol as one of major elements for the promotion of disarmament and the maintenance of lasting peace and hereby expresses its conviction that the obligations of this Protocol will be faithfully carried out by all the Contracting Parties. "2. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea also states that it will not exclude the right to exercise its sovereignty vis-a-vis the other Contracting Party which violates this Protocol in its implementation." SOURCE: Instrument of accession of 8 December 1988.

reservation: Reservation made on accession: The said protocol is only binding on Israel as regards the States which have signed and ratified it or which may accede to it. The said Protocol shall ipso facto cease to be binding on the State of Israel in regard to any enemy State whose armed forces or the armed forces of its allies or the regular or irregular forces or the groups or individuals operating from its territory fail to respect the prohibitions which are the object of this Protocol. ***** Israel addressed the following note to the depositary on 25 January 1972, concerning the reservations of Kuwait and the Libyan Arab Republic: The Government of Israel has taken note of the political nature of the declaration made in the first sentence of the reservations formulated by the State of Kuwait and the Libyan Arab Republic. The Government of Israel feels that this Protocol cannot be used as a vehicle for political declarations of this nature. To the extent that the above-mentioned reservations are intended to rule out the Protocol's applicability to a conflict with the State of Israel, Article 19 of the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties applies as it stipulates that reservations are unacceptable if they are incompatible with the object and purpose of the treaty in connection with which they are formulated. The above-mentioned declarations therefore in no way affect the obligations by which the State of Kuwait and the Libyan Arab Republic are already bound under general international law. As regards the substance of the Protocol's provisions, the Government of Israel will be guided vis-à-vis the State of Kuwait and the Libyan Arab Republic by the principles enunciated in the reservation which accompanied the State of Israel's instrument of accession, done on 22 January 1969 in Jerusalem and deposited with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France on 20 February 1969. As the depositary of the above-mentioned Protocol, the French government is asked kindly to take the measures required in the event of an objection to a reservation. SOURCE: Note of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel to the depositary (Original french; translated by the ICRC)

reservation: Reservation made on succession: (1) The Protocol is only binding on Fiji as regards States which have both signed and ratified it and which will have finally acceded thereto. (2) The Protocol shall cease to be binding on Fiji in regard to any enemy State whose armed forces or the armed forces of whose allies fail to respect the prohibitions which are the object of the Protocol. SOURCE: SCHINDLER/TOMAN, The Laws of Armed Conflicts, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 1988, p.123.

reservation: Reservation made on accession: Accession by Jordan does not compel it to conclude with Israel any of the arrangements mentioned in the Protocol. Jordan commits itself to the respect of the obligations contained in the Protocol towards States which do likewise. Jordan undertakes no commitment toward States whose regular or irregular armed forces do not observe the provisions of the Protocol. SOURCE: SCHINDLER/TOMAN, The Laws of Armed Conflicts, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 1988, p.124.

reservation: Reservation made on succession: The Government of Papua New Guinea is bound by the aforesaid Protocol only towards the Powers and States which have signed and ratified the Protocol or which have acceded to it, and the Government of Papua New Guinea shall cease to be bound by the Protocol towards any enemy State whose armed forces or those of its allies do not respect the Protocol. SOURCE: SCHINDLER/TOMAN, The Laws of Armed Conflicts, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 1988, p.125.

reservation: Reservation made on accession: "(a) The said Protocol is only binding on the Government of the State of Bahrain as regards those States which have signed and ratified the Protocol or have acceded thereto; (b) The said Protocol shall cease to be binding on the Government of the State of Bahrain in regard to any enemy State whose armed forces, or the armed forces of whose Allies, fail to respect the prohibitions laid down in the Protocol; (c) The accession by the State of Bahrain to the said Protocol, signed on June 17, 1925, shall in no way constitute recognition of Israel or be a cause for the establishment of any relations of any kind therewith." SOURCE: Instrument of accession of 20 October 1988.

reservation: Reservation made on ratification: The Protocol shall cease to be binding on the government of the United States with respect to the use in war of asphyxiating, poisonous or other gases, and of all analogous liquids, materials, or devices, in regard to an enemy state if such state or any of its allies fails to respect the prohibitions laid down in the Protocol. SOURCE: SCHINDLER/TOMAN, The Laws of Armed Conflicts, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 1988, p.126.

reservation: Reservation made on succession: The obligations stemming from the aforesaid Protocol shall be binding upon the Solomon Islands only in their relations with States which have ratified the Protocol or acceded to it and which respect its provisions. SOURCE: SCHINDLER/TOMAN, The Laws of Armed Conflicts, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 1988, p.125.

reservation: Reservation made on accession: The accession by the State of Kuwait to this Protocol does not in any case imply the recognition of Israel or lead to the establishment of relations with the latter concerning the provisions laid down in the present Protocol. In case of violation of the prohibition mentioned in this Protocol by any one of the Parties to it, the State of Kuwait shall not consider itself bound by the provisions of this Protocol. SOURCE: SCHINDLER/TOMAN, The Laws of Armed Conflicts, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 1988, p.124.

reservation: Reservation made on accession: "(1) The said Protocol is only binding on the Government of the Republic of Korea as regards States which have signed and ratified it or which may accede to it; (2) The said Protocol shall ipso facto cease to be binding on the Government of the Republic of Korea in regard to any enemy State whose armed forces or whose allies fail to respect the prohibitions laid down in the Protocol. SOURCE: Instrument of accession of 26 December 1988.

text: The undersigned Plenipotentiaries, in the name of their respective Governments:

text: (Here follow the names of Plenipotentiaries)

text: Whereas the use in war of asphyxiating, poisonous or other gases, and of all analogous liquids materials or devices, has been justly condemned by the general opinion of the civilized world; and

text: Whereas the prohibition of such use has been declared in Treaties to which the majority of Powers of the world are Parties; and

text: To the end that this prohibition shall be universally accepted as a part of International Law, binding alike the conscience and the practice of nations;

text: Declare:

text: That the High Contracting Parties, so far as they are not already Parties to Treaties prohibiting such use, accept this prohibition, agree to extend this prohibition to the use of bacteriological methods of warfare and agree to be bound as between themselves according to the terms of this declaration.

text: The High Contracting Parties will exert every effort to induce other States to accede to the present Protocol. Such accession will be notified to the Government of the French Republic, and by the latter to all Signatory and Acceding Powers, and will take effect on the date of the notification by the Government of the French Republic.

text: The present Protocol of which the French and English texts are both authentic, shall be ratified as soon as possible. It shall bear today's date.

text: The ratifications of the present Protocol shall be addressed to the Government of the French Republic, which will at once notify the deposit of such ratification to each of the Signatory and Acceding Powers.

text: The instruments of ratification and accession to the present Protocol will remain deposited in the archives of the Government of the French Republic.

text: The present Protocol will come into force for each Signatory Power as from the date of deposit of its ratification, and, from that moment, each Power will be bound as regards other Powers which have already deposited their ratifications.

text: In witness whereof the Plenipotentiaries have signed the present Protocol.

text: Done at Geneva in a single copy, the seventeenth day of June, One Thousand Nine Hundred and Twenty-Five.

text: Protocol

summary: The Geneva Protocol of 1925 was drawn up and signed at the conference for the supervision of the international trade in arms and ammunition, which was held in Geneva under the auspices of the League of Nations from 4 May to 17 June 1925. The conference adopted a convention for the supervision of the international trade in arms, munitions and implements of war which has not entered into force and, as a separate document, a protocol on the use of gases. The earlier treaties prohibiting the use of gases to which the protocol refers are in particular the Hague Declaration concerning asphyxiating gases of 29 July 1899 and the Treaty of Versailles of 28 June 1919 as well as the other peace treaties of 1919. Article 171 of the Treaty of Versailles provides: "The use of asphyxiating, poisonous or other gases and all analogous liquids, materials or devices being prohibited, their manufacture and importation are strictly forbidden in Germany." See also Article 5 of the Treaty of Washington of 6 February 1922 and the note introducing the Hague Declaration (IV,2) of 1899. The United Nations General Assembly has adopted several resolutions in which it calls for strict observance by all states of the principles and objectives of the Geneva Protocol of 1925, condemns all actions contrary to those objectives and invites all states to accede to the Protocol (resolutions 2162 B (XXI) of 5 December 1966, 2454 A (XXIII) of 20 December 1968, 2603 B (XXIV) of 16 December 1969, and 2662 (XXV) of 7 December 1970). Resolution 2603 A (XXIV) of 16 December 1969 gives an interpretation of the Geneva Protocol of 1925.


doctype: treaty

identifier: Havana Convention on Maritime Neutrality, 1928

depositary: Organization of American States (OAS)

languages: English Spanish French Portuguese

publisher: International Committee of the Red Cross

reference: Havana Convention on Maritime Neutrality, 1928

title: Convention on Maritime Neutrality. Havana, 20 February 1928.

action: signature

country: Mexico

country: Paraguay

country: Costa Rica

country: Uruguay

country: Peru

country: Chile

country: Argentina

action: accession

country: Bolivia

country: El Salvador

country: Colombia

country: Brazil

country: Cuba

country: Panama

country: Haiti

country: Guatemala

country: Dominican Republic

country: Nicaragua

country: Ecuador

country: Honduras

country: Venezuela

country: United States of America

reservation: Reservation made at the time of ratification : Subject to a reservation regarding Article 12, Section 3, which the Government of the United States does not accept. SOURCE : Organization of American States, Law and Treaty Series, Nr. 34.

text: The Governments of the Republics represented at the Sixth International Conference of America States, held in the City of Havana, Republic of Cuba, in the year 1928;

type: stycke

text: Desiring that, in case war breaks out-between two or more states the other states may, in the service of peace, offer their good offices or mediation to bring the conflict to an end, without such an action being considered as an unfriendly act;

text: Convinced that in case this aim cannot be attained, neutral states have equal interest in having their rights respected by the belligerents;

text: Considering that neutrality is the juridical situation of states which do not take part in the hostilities, and that it creates rights and imposes obligations of impartiality, which should be regulated;

text: Recognizing that international solidarity requires that the liberty of commerce should be always respected, avoiding as far as Possible unnecessary burdens for the neutrals;

text: It being convenient, that as long as this object is not reached, to reduce those burdens as much as possible; and

text: In the hope that it will be possible to regulate the matter so that all interests concerned may have every desired guaranty;

text: Have resolved to formulate a convention to that effect and have appointed the following Plenipotentiaries:

text: Who, after having presented their credentials, which were found in good and correct form, have agreed upon the following provisions:

text: Preamble

type: artikel

text: Article 1. The following rules shall govern commerce of war:

text: (1) Warships of the belligerents have the right to stop and visit on the high seas and in territorial waters that are not neutral any merchant ship with the object of ascertaining its character and nationality and of verifying whether it conveys cargo prohibited by international law or has committed any violation of blockade. If the merchant ship does not heed the signal to stop, it may be pursued by the warship and stopped by force; outside of such a case the ship cannot be attacked unless, after being hailed, it fails to observe the instructions given it.

text: The ship shall not be rendered incapable of navigation before the crew and passengers have been placed in safety.

text: (2) Belligerent submarines are subject to the foregoing rules. If the submarine cannot capture the ship while observing these rules, it shall not have the right to continue to attack or to destroy the ship.

text: Article 1

text: Art. 2. Both the detention of the vessel and its crew for violation of neutrality shall be made in accordance with the procedure which best suits the state effecting it and at the expense of the transgressing ship. Said state, except in the case of grave fault on its Part, is not responsible for damages which the vessel may suffer.

text: Article 2

text: Art. 3. Belligerent states are obligated to refrain from performing acts of war in neutral waters or other acts which may constitute on the part of the state that tolerates them, a violation of neutrality.

text: Article 3

text: Art. 4. Under the terms of the preceding article , a belligerent state is forbidden:

text: (a) To make use of neutral waters as a base of naval operations against the enemy, or to renew or augment military supplies or the armament of its ships, or to complete the equipment of the latter;

text: (b) To install in neutral waters radio-telegraph stations or any other apparatus which may serve as a means of communication with its military forces, or to make use of installations of this kind it may have established before the war and which may not have been opened to the public.

text: Article 4

text: Art. 5. Belligerent warships are forbidden to remain in the ports or waters of a neutral state more than twenty-four hours. This provision will be communicated to the ship as soon as it arrives in port or in the territorial waters, and if already there at the time of the declaration of war, as soon as the neutral state becomes aware of this declaration.

text: Vessels used exclusively for scientific, religious, or philanthropic purposes are exempted from the foregoing provisions.

text: A ship may extend its stay in port more than twenty-four hours in case of damage or bad conditions at sea, but must depart as soon as the cause of the delay has ceased.

text: When, according to the domestic law of the neutral state, the ship may not receive fuel until twenty-four hours after its arrival in port the Period of its stay may be extended an equal length of time.

text: Article 5

text: Art. 6. The ship which does not conform to the foregoing rules may be interned by order of the neutral government.

text: A ship shall be considered as interned from the moment it receives notice to that effect from the local neutral authority, even though a petition for reconsideration of the order has been interposed by the transgressing vessel, which shall remain under custody from the moment it receives the order.

text: Article 6

text: Art. 7. In the absence of a special provision of the local legislation, the maximum number of ships of war of a belligerent which may be in a neutral port at the same time shall be three.

text: Article 7

text: Art. 8. A ship of war may not depart from a neutral port within less than twenty-four hours after the departure of an enemy warship. The one entering first shall depart first, unless it is in such condition as to warrant extending its stay. In any case the ship which arrived later has the right to notify the other through the competent local authority that within twenty-four hours it will leave the port, the one first entering, however, having the right to depart within that time. If it leaves, the notifying ship must observe the interval which is above stipulated.

text: Article 8

text: Art. 9. Damaged belligerent ships shall not be permitted to make repairs in neutral ports beyond those that are essential to the continuance of the voyage and which in no degree constitute an increase in its military strength.

text: Damages which are found to have been produced by the enemy's fire shall in no case be repaired.

text: The neutral state shall ascertain the nature of the repairs to be made and will see that they are made as rapidly as possible.

text: Article 9

text: Art. 10. Belligerent warships may supply themselves with fuel and stores in neutral ports, under the conditions especially established by the local authority and in case there are no special provisions to that effect, they may supply themselves in the manner prescribed for provisioning in time of peace.

text: Article 10

text: Art. 11. Warships which obtain fuel in a neutral port cannot renew their supply in the same state until a period of three months has elapsed.

text: Article 11

text: Art. 12. Where the sojourn, supplying, and provisioning of belligerent ships in the ports and jurisdictional waters of neutrals are concerned, the provisions relative to ships of war shall apply equally:

text: (1) To ordinary auxiliary ships;

text: (2) To merchant ships transformed into warships, in accordance with Convention VII of The Hague of 1907.

text: The neutral vessel shall be seized and in general subjected to the same treatment as enemy merchantmen:

text: (a) When taking a direct part in the hostilities.

text: (b) When at the orders or under direction of an agent placed on board by an enemy government;

text: (c) When entirely freight-loaded by an enemy government;

text: (d) When actually and exclusively destined for transporting enemy troops or for the transmission of information on behalf of the enemy.

text: In the cases dealt with in this article, merchandise belonging to the owner of the vessel ship shall also be liable to seizure.

text: (3) To armed merchantmen.

text: Article 12

text: Art. 13. Auxiliary ships of belligerents, converted anew into merchantmen, shall be admitted as such in neutral ports subject to the following conditions:

text: (1) That the transformed vessel has not violated the neutrality of the country where it arrives;

text: (2) That the transformation has been made in the ports or jurisdictional waters of the country to which the vessel belongs, or in the ports of its allies;

text: (3) That the transformation be genuine, namely, that the vessel show neither in its crew nor in its equipment that it can serve the armed fleet of its country as an auxiliary, as it did before.

text: (4) That the government of the country to which the ship belongs communicate to the states the names of auxiliary craft which have lost such character in order to recover that of merchantmen; and

text: (5) That the same government obligate itself that said ships shall not again be used as auxiliaries to the war fleet.

text: Article 13

text: Art. 14. The airships of belligerents shall not fly above the territorial waters of neutrals if it is not in conformity with the regulations of the latter.

text: Article 14

text: Art. 15. Of the acts of assistance coming from the neutral states, and the acts of commerce on the part of individuals, only the first are contrary to neutrality.

text: Article 15

text: Art. 16. The neutral state is forbidden:

text: (a) To deliver to the belligerent, directly or indirectly, or for any reason whatever, ships of war, munitions or any other war material;

text: (b) To grant it loans, or to open credits for it during the duration of war.

text: Credits that a neutral state may give to facilitate the sale or exportation of its food products and raw materials are not included in this prohibition.

text: Article 16

text: Art. 17. Prizes cannot be taken to a neutral port except in case of unseaworthiness, stress of weather, or want of fuel or provisions. When the cause has disappeared, the prizes must leave immediately; if none of the indicated conditions exist, the state shall suggest to them that they depart, and if not obeyed shall have recourse to the means at its disposal to disarm them with their officers and crew, or to intern the prize crew placed on board by the captor.

text: Article 17

text: Art. 18. Outside of the cases provided for in Article 17 , the neutral state must release the prizes which may have been brought into its territorial waters.

text: Article 18

text: Art. 19. When a ship transporting merchandise is to be interned in a neutral state, cargo intended for said country shall be unloaded and that destined for others shall be transhipped.

text: Article 19

text: Art. 20. The merchantman supplied with fuel or other stores in a neutral state which repeatedly delivers the whole or part of its supplies to a belligerent vessel, shall not again receive stores and fuel in the same state.

text: Article 20

text: Art. 21. Should it be found that a merchantman flying a belligerent flag, by its preparations or other circumstances, can supply to warships of a state the stores which they need, the local authority may refuse it supplies or demand of the agent of the company a guaranty that the said ship will not aid or assist any belligerent vessel.

text: Article 21

text: Art. 22. Neutral states are not obligated to prevent the export or transit at the expense of any one of the belligerents of arms, munitions and in general of anything which may be useful to their military forces.

text: Transit shall be permitted when, in the event of a war between two American nations, one of the belligerents is a Mediterranean country, having no other means of supplying itself, provided the vital interests of the country through which transit is requested do not suffer by the granting thereof.

text: Article 22

text: Art. 23. Neutral states shall not oppose the voluntary departure of nationals of belligerent states even though they leave simultaneously in great numbers; but they may oppose the voluntary departure of their own nationals going to enlist in the armed forces.

text: Article 23

text: Art. 24. The use by the belligerents of the means of communication of neutral states or which cross or touch their territory is subject to the measures dictated by the local authority.

text: Article 24

text: Art. 25. If as the result of naval operations beyond the territorial waters of neutral states there should be dead or wounded on board belligerent vessels, said states may send hospital ships under the vigilance of the neutral government to the scene of the disaster. These ships shall enjoy complete immunity during the discharge of their mission.

text: Article 25

text: Art. 26. Neutral states are bound to exert all the vigilance within their power in order to prevent in their ports or territorial waters any violation of the foregoing provisions.

text: Article 26

text: Art. 27. A belligerent shall indemnify the damage caused by its violation of the foregoing provisions. It shall likewise be responsible for the acts of persons who may belong to its armed forces.

text: Article 27

text: Art. 28. The present Convention does not affect obligations previously undertaken by the Contracting Parties through international agreements.

text: Article 28

text: Art. 29. After being signed, the present Convention shall be submitted to the ratification of the Signatory States. The Government of Cuba is charged with transmitting authentic certified copies to the governments for the aforementioned purpose of ratification. The instrument of ratification shall be deposited in the archives of the Pan American Union in Washington, the Union to notify the signatory governments of said deposit. Such notification shall be considered as an exchange of ratifications. This Convention shall remain open to the adherents of non-Signatory States.

text: In witness whereof, the aforenamed Plenipotentiaries sign the present Convention in Spanish, English, French and Portuguese, in the City of Havana, the twentieth day of February, 1928.

text: (Here follow signatures)

text: Article 29

summary: The present Convention, which was adopted at the Sixth International Conference of American States at Havana in 1928, was based on a project drafted by the American Institute of International Law at its session in Havana in 1917. Many of its provisions reproduce substantially or literally the rules of the Hague Convention (XIII) of 1907. It contains, however, some innovations and additions to the latter Convention, some of which are based on the experiences of World War I.


identifier: Final Act of the Geneva Conference, 1929

title: Final Act of the Diplomatic Conference. Geneva, 27 July 1929.

country: China

country: Australia

country: Ireland

country: Islamic Republic of Iran

country: New Zealand

country: Belgium

country: Spain

country: Greece

country: Finland

country: France

country: Türkiye

country: Uruguay

country: South Africa

country: Thailand

country: Hungary

country: Portugal

country: Netherlands

country: Romania

country: Latvia

country: Canada

country: Egypt

country: Austria

country: Switzerland

country: Luxembourg

country: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

country: Estonia

country: Italy

country: Japan

country: Czechoslovakia

country: Bulgaria

country: Germany

country: India

country: Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes

country: Poland

country: Sweden

country: Mexico

country: Norway

country: Denmark

text: Geneva Conventions

text: Geneva Conventions

text: Geneva Conventions

text: Geneva Conventions

text: The Conference convened by the Swiss Federal Council with a view to the revision of the Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armies in the Field of 6 July 1906, and the elaboration of a Code relating to Prisoners of War, deliberated at Geneva from 1 - 27 July 1929, on the basis of two draft Conventions which had been examined-and approved by the 10th and 11th International Conferences of the Red Cross.

text: The countries enumerated below took part in the Conference for which the Delegates hereinafter named had been appointed:

text: (Here follow the names of delegates)

text: The Conference was presided over by Mr. Paul Dinichert, Minister Plenipotentiary, Delegate of Switzerland.

text: The Conference appointed two Commissions.

text: The First Commission, charged with the revision of the Geneva Convention, was presided over by M. Paul Dinichert, the Second, charged with the elaboration of a Code relating to Prisoners of War, by M. Harald Scavenius. The Second Commission was divided into two Sub-Commissions, one presided over by Mr. Hugh R. Wilson, Delegate of the United States of America, the other by the Right Honourable Sir Horace Rumbold, Delegate of Great Britain.

text: The Conference has drawn up for signature by the Plenipotentiaries, two Conventions bearing this day's date:

text: The Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armies in the Field; and

text: The Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War.

text: The Conference further made the following recommendations and expressed the following views:

text: I. The Conference recommends that the question be examined whether fresh safeguards lasting until the end of their treatment in hospital could not be established for the benefit of persons who are badly wounded or seriously ill land have fallen into the hands of the enemy.

text: II. In view of a request by the Sovereign and Military Order of the Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem, called the Order of Malta, the Conference considers that the provisions laid down by the Geneva Convention governing the position of Aid Societies with armies in the field are applicable to the national organizations of this Order. The same applies as regards the Grand Priory of St. John of Jerusalem in England, the Orders of St. John (Johanniter) and of St. George in Germany, and similar nursing Orders in all countries.

text: III.The Conference recommends that the countries participating in the Geneva Conventions should meet in conference in the near future, with the view to regulate as comprehensively as may be necessary the use of medical aircraft in time of war.

text: IV. The Conference recommends that the consideration and establishment of an uniform pattern of identity certificate for all Red Cross personnel not provided with military uniform should be referred to the International Commission for the Standardization of Medical Material.

text: V. The Conference, recognizing the importance of the mission entrusted to the National Societies of the Red Cross and the voluntary aid societies in their work of solidarity among nations, considers that it is highly desirable that all facilities and immunities for the exercise of their functions in time of peace should be accorded in the widest measure permissible under the national legislations, particularly as regards their establishment, the circulation of their personnel and material, and their nursing activities.

text: VI. The Conference, adopting the unanimous resolutions of its two Commissions, recommends that an exhaustive study should be made with a view to the conclusion of an international Convention regarding the condition and protection of civilians of enemy nationality in the territory of a belligerent or in territory occupied by a belligerent.

text: In witness whereof the delegates have signed the present Final Act.

text: Done at Geneva, 27 July 1929, in a single copy, which shall be deposited in the archives of the Swiss Federation, and of which copies, certified to be correct, shall be transmitted to all the countries represented at the Conference.

text: (Here follow signatures)

text: Final Act

summary: The Diplomatic Conference of 1929 was convened by the Swiss Federal Council for the purpose of revising the Geneva Convention of 1906 and adopting a new convention in relation to the treatment of prisoners of war. The Conference, at which 47 governments were represented, lasted from 1-27 July 1929. The Final Act has no force of law.


identifier: Geneva Convention Wounded and Sick, 1929

depositary: Switzerland

reference: Geneva Convention Wounded and Sick, 1929

title: Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armies in the Field. Geneva, 27 July 1929.

country: Chile

country: Latvia

country: Philippines

country: China

country: Russian Federation

reservation: Reservation made on accession : The act of accession was accompanied by the following declaration by which Article 9 of the Convention is understood by the Government of the Union in the sense that all military personnel on active service but affected to medical formations and establishments will be subject to the treatment provided for in the above-mentioned Article. SOURCE : Schindler/Toman, The Laws of armed conflicts, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, Third ed., 1988, p.338; Great Britain Treaty Serie, 1931, Nr.36, Cmd 3940.

country: Finland

country: Papua New Guinea

country: Brazil

country: Israel

country: Iraq

country: Thailand

country: Bolivia

country: Lithuania

country: Indonesia

country: San Marino

country: Türkiye

country: Jordan

country: Hungary

country: El Salvador

country: Ireland

country: Austria

country: Liechtenstein

country: Nicaragua

country: Cuba

text: Geneva Conventions

text: Geneva Conventions

text: Geneva Conventions

text: Geneva Conventions

text: Title of the Convention

text: (List of Contracting Parties)

text: Being equally animated by the desire to lessen, so far as lies in their power, the evils inseparable from war and desiring, for this purpose, to perfect and complete the provisions agreed to at Geneva on 22 August 1864, and 6 July 1906, for the amelioration of the condition of the wounded and sick in armies in the field,

text: Have resolved to conclude a new Convention for that purpose and have appointed as their Plenipotentiaries:

text: (Here follow the names of Plenipotentiaries)

text: Who, after having communicated to each other their full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed as follows.

text: Preamble

text: Chapter I: Wounded and Sick

text: Article 1. Officers and soldiers and other persons officially attached to the armed forces who are wounded or sick shall be respected and protected in all circumstances; they shall be treated with humanity and cared for medically, without distinction of nationality, by the belligerent in whose power they may be.

text: Nevertheless, the belligerent who is compelled to abandon wounded or sick to the enemy, shall, as far as military exigencies permit, leave with them a portion of his medical personnel and material to help with their treatment.

text: Article 1

text: Art. 2. Except as regards the treatment to be provided for them in virtue of the preceding Article , the wounded and sick of an army who fall into the hands of the enemy shall be prisoners of war, and the general provisions of international law concerning prisoners of war shall be applicable to them.

text: Belligerents shall, however, be free to prescribe, for the benefit of wounded or sick prisoners such arrangements as they may think fit beyond the limits of the existing obligations.

text: Article 2

text: Art. 3. After each engagement the occupant of the field of battle shall take measures to search for the wounded and dead, and to protect them against pillage and maltreatment.

text: Whenever circumstances permit, a local armistice or a suspension of fire shall be arranged to permit the removal of the wounded remaining between the lines.

text: Article 3

text: Art. 4. Belligerents shall communicate to each other reciprocally, as soon as possible, the names of the wounded, sick and dead, collected or discovered, together with any indications which may assist in their identification.

text: They shall establish and transmit to each other the certificates of death.

text: They shall likewise collect and transmit to each other all articles of a personal nature found on the field of battle or on the dead, especially one half of their identity discs, the other hall to remain attached to the body.

text: They shall ensure that the burial or cremation of the dead is preceded by a careful, and if possible medical, examination of the bodies, with a view to confirming death, establishing identity and enabling a report to be made.

text: They shall further ensure that the dead are honourably interred, that their graves are respected and marked so that they may always be found.

text: To this end, at the commencement of hostilities, they shall organize officially a graves registration service, to render eventual exhumations possible, and to ensure the identification of bodies whatever may be the subsequent site of the grave.

text: After the cessation of hostilities they shall exchange the list of graves and of dead interred in their cemeteries and elsewhere.

text: Article 4

text: Art. 5. The military authorities may appeal to the charitable zeal of the inhabitants to collect and afford medical assistance under their direction to the wounded or sick of armies, and may accord to persons who have responded to this appeal special protection and certain facilities.

text: Article 5

text: Chapter II: Medical formations and establishments

text: Art. 6. Mobile medical formations, that is to say, those which are intended to accompany armies in the field, and the fixed establishments of the medical service shall be respected and protected by the belligerents.

text: Article 6

text: Art. 7. The protection to which medical formations and establishments are entitled shall cease if they are made use of to commit acts harmful to the enemy.

text: Article 7

text: Art. 8. The following conditions are not considered to be of such a nature as to deprive a medical formation or establishment of the protection guaranteed by Article 6 :

text: 1. That the personnel of the formation or establishment is armed, and that they use the arms in their own defence or in that of the sick and wounded in charge;

text: 2. That in the absence of armed orderlies the formation or establishment is protected by a piquet or by sentries;

text: 3. That small arms and ammunition taken from the wounded and sick, which have not yet been transferred to the proper service, are found in the formation or establishment;

text: 4. That personnel and material of the veterinary service are found in the formation or establishment, without forming an integral part of the same.

text: Article 8

text: Chapter III: Personnel

text: Art. 9. The personnel engaged exclusively in the collection, transport and treatment of the wounded and sick, and in the administration of medical formations and establishments, and chaplains attached to armies, shall be respected and protected under all circumstances. If they fall into the hands of the enemy they shall not be treated as prisoners of war.

text: Soldiers specially trained to be employed, in case of necessity, as auxiliary nurses or stretcher-bearers for the collection, transport and treatment of the wounded and sick, and furnished with a proof of identity, shall enjoy the same treatment as the permanent medical personnel if they are taken prisoners while carrying out these functions.

text: Article 9

text: Art. 10. The personnel of Voluntary Aid Societies, duly recognized and authorized by their Government, who may be employed on the same duties as those of the personnel mentioned in the rust paragraph of Article 9 , are placed on the same footing as the personnel contemplated in that paragraph, provided that the personnel of such societies are subject to military law and regulations.

text: Each High Contracting Party shall notify to the other, either in time of peace or at the commencement of or during the course of hostilities, but in every case before actually employing them, the names of the societies which it has authorized, under its responsibility, to render assistance to the regular medical service of its armed forces.

text: Article 10

text: Art. 11. A recognized society of a neutral country can only afford the assistance of its medical personnel and formations to a belligerent with the previous consent of its own Government and the authorization of the belligerent concerned.

text: The belligerent who accepts such assistance is bound to notify the enemy thereof before making any use of it.

text: Article 11

text: Art. 12. The persons designated in Articles 9 , 10 and 11 may not be retained after they have fallen into the hands of the enemy.

text: In the absence of an agreement to the contrary, they shall be sent back to the belligerent to which they belong as soon as a route for their return shall be open and military considerations permit.

text: Pending their return they shall continue to carry out their duties under the direction of the enemy; they shall preferably be engaged in the care of the wounded and sick of the belligerent to which they belong.

text: On their departure, they shall take with them the effects, instruments, arms and means of transport belonging to them.

text: Article 12

text: Art. 13. Belligerents shall secure to the personnel mentioned in Articles 9 , 10 and 11 , while in their hands, the same food, the same lodging, the same allowances and the same pay as are granted to the corresponding personnel of their own armed forces.

text: At the outbreak of hostilities the belligerents will notify one another of the grades of their respective medical personnel.

text: Article 13

text: Chapter IV: Buildings and material

text: Art. 14. Mobile medical formations, of whatsoever kind, shall retain, if they fall into the hands of the enemy, their equipment and stores, their means of transport and the drivers employed.

text: Nevertheless, the competent military authority shall be free to use the equipment and stores for the care of the wounded and sick; it shall be restored under the conditions laid down for the medical personnel, and as far as possible at the same time.

text: Article 14

text: Art. 15. The buildings and material of the fixed medical establishments of the army shall be subject to the laws of war, but may not be diverted from their purpose so long as they are necessary for the wounded and sick.

text: Nevertheless, the commanders of troops in the field may make use of them, in case of urgent military necessity, provided that they make previous arrangements for the welfare of the wounded and sick who are being treated therein.

text: Article 15

text: Art. 16. The buildings of aid societies which are admitted to the privileges of the Convention shall be regarded as private property.

text: The material of these societies, wherever it may be, shall similarly be considered as private property.

text: The right of requisition recognized for belligerents by the laws and customs of war, shall only be exercised in case of urgent necessity and only after the welfare of the wounded and sick has been secured.

text: Article 16

text: Chapter V: Medical transports

text: Art. 17. Vehicles equipped for the evacuation of wounded and sick, proceeding singly or in convoy, shall be treated as mobile medical formations, subject to the following special provisions:

text: A belligerent intercepting vehicles of medical transport, singly or in convoy, may, if military exigencies demand, stop them, and break up the convoy, provided he takes charge in every case of the wounded and sick who are in it. He can only use the vehicles in the sector where they have been intercepted, and exclusively for medical requirements. These vehicles, as soon as they are no longer required for local use, shall be given up in accordance with the conditions laid down in Article 14 .

text: The military personnel in charge of the transport and furnished for this purpose with authority in due form, shall be sent back in accordance with the conditions prescribed in Article 12 for medical personnel, subject to the condition of the last paragraph of Article 18 .

text: All means of transport specially organized for evacuation and the material used in equipping these means of transport belonging to the medical service shall be restored in accordance with the provisions of Chapter IV.

text: Military means of transport other than those of the medical service may be captured, with their teams.

text: The civilian personnel and all means of transport obtained by requisition shall be subject to the general rules of international law.

text: Article 17

text: Art. 18. Aircraft used as means of medical transport shall enjoy the protection of the Convention during the period in which they are reserved exclusively for the evacuation of wounded and sick and the transport of medical personnel and material.

text: They shall be painted white and shall bear, clearly marked, the distinctive emblem prescribed in Article 19 , side by side with their national colours, on their lower and upper surfaces.

text: In the absence of special and express permission, flying over the firing line, and over the zone situated in front of clearing or dressing stations, and generally over all enemy territory or territory occupied by the enemy, is prohibited.

text: Medical aircraft shall obey every summons to land.

text: In the event of a landing thus imposed, or of an involuntary landing in enemy territory and territory occupied by the enemy, the wounded and sick, as well as the medical personnel and material, including the aircraft, shall enjoy the privileges of the present Convention.

text: The pilot, mechanics and wireless telegraph operators captured shall be sent back, on condition that they shall be employed until the close of hostilities in the medical service only.

text: Article 18

text: Chapter VI: The distinctive emblem

text: Art. 19. As a compliment to Switzerland, the heraldic emblem of the red cross on a white ground, formed by reversing the Federal colours, is retained as the emblem and distinctive sign of the medical service of armed forces.

text: Nevertheless, in the case of countries which already use, in place of the red cross, the red crescent or the red lion and sun on a white ground as a distinctive sign, these emblems are also recognized by the terms of the present Convention.

text: Article 19

text: Art. 20. The emblem shall figure on the flags, armlets, and on all material belonging to the medical service, with the permission of the competent military authority.

text: Article 20

text: Art. 21. The personnel protected in pursuance of Articles 9 (paragaph 1) , 10 and 11 , shall wear, affixed to the left arm, an armlet bearing the distinctive sign, issued and stamped by military authority.

text: The personnel mentioned in Article 9 , paragraphs 1 and 2 , shall be provided with a certificate of identity, consisting either of an entry in their small book (paybook) or a special document.

text: The persons mentioned in Articles 10 and 11 who have no military uniform shall be furnished by the competent military authority with a certificate of identity with photograph, certifying their status as medical personnel.

text: The certificates of identity shall be uniform and of the same pattern in each army.

text: In no case may the medical personnel be deprived of their armlets or the certificates of identity belonging to them.

text: In case of loss they have the right to obtain duplicates.

text: Article 21

text: Art. 22. The distinctive flag of the Convention shall be hoisted only over such medical formations and establishments as are entitled to be respected under the Convention and with the consent of the military authorities. In fixed establishments it shall be, and in mobile formations it may be, accompanied by the national flag of the belligerent to whom the formation or establishment belongs.

text: Nevertheless, medical formations which have fallen into the hands of the enemy, so long as they are in that situation, shall not fly any other flag than that of the Convention.

text: Belligerents shall take the necessary steps, so far as military exigencies permit, to make clearly visible to the enemy forces, whether land, air or sea, the distinctive emblems indicating medical formations and establishments, in order to avoid the possibility of any offensive action.

text: Article 22

text: Art. 23. The medical units belonging to neutral countries which shall have been authorized to lend their services under the conditions laid down in Article 11 , shall fly, along with the flag of the Convention, the national flag of the belligerent to whose army they are attached.

text: They shall also have the right, so long as they shall lend their services to a belligerent, to fly their national flag.

text: The provisions of the second paragraph of the preceding article are applicable to them.

text: Article 23

text: Art. 24. The emblem of the red cross on a white ground and the words "Red Cross" or "Geneva Cross" shall not be used either in time of peace or in time of war, except to protect or to indicate the medical formations and establishments and the personnel and material protected by the Convention.

text: The same shall apply, as regards the emblems mentioned in Article 19 , paragraph 2 , in respect of the countries which use them.

text: The Voluntary Aid Societies mentioned in Article 10 , may, in accordance with their national legislation, use the distinctive emblem in connection with their humanitarian activities in time of peace.

text: As an exceptional measure, and with the express authority of one of the national societies of the Red Cross (Red Crescent, Red Lion and Sun), use may be made of the emblem of the Convention in time of peace to mark the position of aid stations exclusively reserved for the purpose of giving free treatment to the wounded or the sick.

text: Article 24

text: Chapter VII: Application and execution of the Convention

text: Art. 25. The provisions of the present Convention shall be respected by the High Contracting Parties in all circumstances.

text: If, in time of war, a belligerent is not a party to the Convention, its provisions shall, nevertheless, be binding as between all the belligerents who are parties thereto.

text: Article 25

text: Art 26. The Commanders-in-Chief of belligerent armies shall arrange the details for carrying out the preceding articles [ Link ] as well as for cases not provided for in accordance with the instructions of their respective Governments and in conformity with the general principles of the present Convention.

text: Article 26

text: Art. 27. The High Contracting Parties shall take the necessary steps to instruct their troops, and in particular the personnel protected, in the provisions of the present Convention, and to bring them to the notice of the civil population.

text: Article 27

text: Chapter VIII: Suppression of abuses and infractions

text: Art. 28. The Governments of the High Contracting Parties whose legislation is not at present adequate for the purpose, shall adopt or propose to their legislatures the measures necessary to prevent at all times:

text: (a) The use of the emblem or designation "Red Cross" or "Geneva Cross" by private individuals or associations, firms or companies, other than those entitled thereto under the present Convention, as well as the use of any sign or designation constituting an imitation, for commercial or any other purposes;

text: (b) By reason of the compliment paid to Switzerland by the adoption of the reversed Federal colours, the use by private individuals or associations, firms or companies of the arms of the Swiss Confederation or marks constituting an imitation, whether as trademarks or as parts of such marks, for a purpose contrary to commercial honesty, or in circumstances capable of wounding Swiss national sentiment.

text: The prohibition in (a) of the use of marks or designations constituting an imitation of the emblem or designation of "Red Cross" or "Geneva Cross," as well as the prohibition in (b) of the use of the arms of the Swiss Confederation or marks constituting an imitation, shall take effect as from the date fixed by each legislature, and not later than five years after the coming into force of the present Convention. From the date of such coming into force, it shall no longer be lawful to adopt a trademark in contravention of these rules.

text: Article 28

text: Art. 29. The Governments of the High Contracting Parties shall also propose to their legislatures should their penal laws be inadequate, the necessary measures for the repression in time of war of any act contrary to the provisions of the present Convention.

text: They shall communicate to one another, through the Swiss Federal Council, the provisions relative to such repression not later than five years from the ratification of the present Convention.

text: Article 29

text: Art. 30. On the request of a belligerent, an enquiry shall be instituted, in a manner to be decided between the interested parties, concerning any alleged violation of the Convention; when such violation has been established the belligerents shall put an end to and repress it as promptly as possible.

text: Article 30

text: Final provisions

text: Art. 31. The present Convention, which shall bear this day's date, may be signed, up to the 1 February 1930, on behalf of all the countries represented at the Conference which opened at Geneva on 1 July 1929, as well as by countries not represented at that Conference but which were parties to the Geneva Conventions of 1864 and 1906.

text: Article 31

text: Art. 32. The present Convention shall be ratified as soon as possible.

text: The ratifications shall be deposited at Berne.

text: A ' procès-verbal ' of the deposit of each instrument of ratification shall be drawn up, one copy of which, certified to be correct, shall be transmitted by the Swiss Federal Council to the Governments of all countries on whose behalf the Convention has been signed, or whose accession has been notified.

text: Article 32

text: Art. 33. The present Convention shall come into force six months after not less than two instruments of ratification have been deposited.

text: Thereafter, it shall enter into force for each High Contracting Party six months after the deposit of its instrument of ratification.

text: Article 33

text: Art. 34. The present Convention shall replace the Conventions of 22 August 1864, and 6 July 1906, in relations between the High Contracting Parties.

text: Article 34

text: Art. 35. From the date of its coming into force, the present Convention shall be open to accession duly notified on behalf of any country on whose behalf this Convention has not been signed.

text: Article 35

text: Art. 36. Accessions shall be notified in writing to the Swiss Federal Council, and shall take effect six months after the date on which they are received.

text: The Swiss Federal Council shall communicate the accessions to the Governments of all the countries on whose behalf the Convention has been signed or whose accession has been notified.

text: Article 36

text: Art. 37. A state of war shall give immediate effect to ratifications deposited and accessions notified by the belligerent Powers before or after the outbreak of hostilities. The communication of ratifications or accessions received from Powers in a state of war shall be made by the Swiss federal Council by the quickest method.

text: Article 37

text: Art. 38. Each of the High Contracting Parties shall be at liberty to denounce the present Convention. The denunciation shall not take effect until one year after the notification thereof in writing has been made to the Swiss Federal Council. The latter shall communicate such notification to the Governments of all the High Contracting Parties.

text: The denunciation shall only have effect in respect of the High Contracting Party which has made notification thereof.

text: Moreover, this denunciation shall not take effect during a war in which the denouncing Power is involved. In such a case the present Convention shall continue to be binding beyond the period of one year, until the conclusion of peace.

text: Article 38

text: Art. 39. A certified copy of the present Convention shall be deposited in the archives of the League of Nations by the Swiss Federal Council. Similarly, ratifications, accessions and denunciations which shall be notified to the Swiss Federal Council shall be communicated by them to the League of Nations.

text: In witness whereof, the above-named Plenipotentiaries have signed the present Convention.

text: Done at Geneva the twenty-seventh July, one thousand nine hundred and twenty-nine, in a single copy, which shall remain deposited in the archives of the Swiss Confederation, and of which copies, certified to be correct, shall be transmitted to the Governments of all the countries invited to the Conference.

text: (Here follow signatures)

text: Article 39

summary: The Convention on the wounded and sick of 1929 represents the third version of the Geneva Convention after those of 1864 and 1906. It was based on the experience of World War I. The alterations which were adopted were of lesser importance than those of 1906. The division into chapters and articles remained essentially unchanged. New provisions were inserted concerning the protection of medical aircraft and the use of the distinctive emblem in time of peace. Furthermore, the emblems of the red crescent and of the red lion and sun were recognized for countries which already used those signs in place of the red cross. The provisions concerning repatriation of the seriously wounded and seriously sick prisoners were transferred to the Convention on prisoners of war. The Convention of 1929 was replaced by the Geneva Convention (I) of 1949. The 1929 Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armies in the Field was replaced by the first Geneva Convention of 12 August 1949 (Geneva Convention I). It is no longer in operation following the universal acceptance of the Geneva Conventions of 1949. A scanned version of the Commentaries by Paul Des Gouttes (in French) is available via the ICRC Library.