AN AUTHENTICATED COPY OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION RELATING TO SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA, THE DETAILED REGULATIONS THEREUNDER, A FINAL PROTOCOL AND THE “VOEUX” EXPRESSED BY THE CONFERENCE, ALL SIGNED AT LONDON JANUARY 20, 1914. MARCH 17, 1914.—Message read; convention read the first time and referred to the To the Senate: I transmit herewith, to receive the advice and consent of the Senate to ratification, an authenticated copy of the International Convention Relating to Safety of Life at Sea, the detailed regulations thereunder, a final protocol, and the "Voeux" expressed by the conference, all signed at London January 20, 1914. The attention of the Senate is invited to the accompanying report of the Secretary of State. THE WHITE HOUSE, Washington, March 17, 1914. The PRESIDENT: WOODROW WILSON. The undersigned, the Secretary of State, has the honor to lay before the President for transmission to the Senate, if his judgment approve thereof, with a view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate to their ratification, an authenticated copy of the International Convention Relating to Safety of Life at Sea, of the detailed regulations thereunder, and of a final protocool, and of the 66 "Voeux "" expressed by the conference, all signed at London on January 20, 1914. The convention embodies the unanimous conclusions of the International Conference on Safety of Life at Sea which met at London from November 12, 1913, to January 20, 1914. The conference was comprised of the representatives of the 14 principal maritime nations and of three of the self-governing British dominions. It was called in a large measure upon the suggestion of the Government of the United States, and the advice of the American delegation was influential upon a great many particulars which entered into this convention. The conference was composed of men trained to the sea and experienced in the administration of the laws relating to maritime affairs, and its unanimous conclusions carry weight on the matters of which the convention treats. The American delegates, who took an active part in the framing of every article and regulation of the convention, are agreed that the international standards for the safety of life at sea thus proposed to be established are higher than those of any nation now in force, and that the ratification of the convention will secure benefits for humanity by the joint action of maritime nations which could not be accomplished by any one nation, however powerful upon the sea. There are probably points in detail in which the convention may be criticized, especially by particular interests, but in its entirety it is high testimony to the will and ability of nations to put aside special and local considerations in order to promote the progress and welfare of mankind. By its terms the ratifications shall be deposited not later than December 31, 1914. Early and favorable action, accordingly, is recommended. Respectfully submitted. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, D. C., March 13, 1914. W. J. BRYAN. [TRANSLATION.] INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON THE SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA. CONVENTION. PREAMBLE. His Majesty the German Emperor, King of Prussia, in the name of the German Empire; His Majesty the Emperor of Austria, King of Bohemia and Apostolic King of Hungary; His Majesty the King of the Belgians; His Majesty the King of Denmark; His Majesty the King of Spain; the President of the United States of America; the President of the French Republic; His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Possessions beyond the Seas, Emperor of India; His Majesty the King of Italy; His Majesty the King of Norway; Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands; His Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias; His Majesty the King of Sweden; having recognized the desirability of establishing by common agreement certain uniform rules with respect to the safety of life at sea, have decided to conclude a Convention for this purpose, and have appointed as their Plenipotentiaries the following: H. M. THE GERMAN EMPEROR, King of PRUSSIA, in the name of the German Empire: His Excellency Dr. von Koerner, Privy Councilor, Director of Schütt, Privy Councilor of the Government, Councilor to the Dr. Riess, Privy Councilor of the Government, Member of the Professor Pagel, Director of the Classification Society "German- Schrader, High Privy Councilor for the Imperial Post Office, Rear Admiral Behm (retired), Director of the German Hydro- H. M. THE EMPEROR OF AUSTRIA, KING OF BOHEMIA AND APOSTOLIC KING OF HUNGARY: Baron G. de Franckenstein, Councilor of Legation and Director of Commercial Affairs of the Embassy of Austria-Hungary at London Paul Schreckenthal, Doctor of Laws, Secretary to the Imperial and Royal Austrian Ministry of Commerce Ladislaus Dunay, Councilor of the Bureau of the Royal Hungarian Maritime Administration at Fiume H. M. THE KING OF THE BELGIANS: E. A. Pierrard, Director General of Marine in the Department Ch. Le Jeune, President of the International Maritime Committee H. M. THE KING OF DENMARK: A. H. M. Rasmussen, Director of Instruction of State Engineers Höst, Director of the United Steamship Company, Ltd. V. Topsöe-Jensen, Deputy Chief of Bureau and Secretary to the H. M. THE KING OF SPAIN: Captain Don Rafael Bausá, Chief of the Spanish Naval Commission at London THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: J. W. Alexander, Member of the House of Representatives J. Hamilton Lewis, United States Senator E. T. Chamberlain, Commissioner of Navigation Captain Commandant E. P. Bertholf, Revenue-Cutter Service Homer L. Ferguson, General Manager of the Newport News Ship- Alfred Gilbert Smith, Vice President of the New York & Cuba Captain Wm. H. G. Bullard, U. S. N., Superintendent of the George Uhler, Supervising Inspector General, Steamboat-In- THE PRESIDENT OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC: Monsieur Guernier, Professor of Political Economy at the Uni- H. M. THE KING OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND Lord Mersey, former President of the Admiralty Division of the High Court of Justice and President of the Court of Inquiry on the loss of the steamship Titantic E. G. Moggridge, Assistant Secretary of the Board of Trade for the Marine Department Sir Archibald Denny, Bart., Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Bulkheads and Watertight Compartments Sir Norman Hill, Chairman of the Merchant Shipping Advisory Sir John Biles, LL. D., D. Sc., former Chairman of the Depart- Captain Acton Blake, Deputy Master of Trinity House Captain A. H. F. Young, Professional Officer to the Marine C. Hipwood, of the Marine Department of the Board of Trade Captain R. Muirhead Collins, Official Secretary of the Com For Canada Alexander Johnston, Deputy Minister of Marine and Fisheries For New Zealand— Thomas Mackenzie, High Commissioner of the Government of New Zealand at London H. M. THE KING OF ITALY: Carlo Bruno, Director General of the Merchant Marine in the Major General Vittorio Ripa di Meana, of the Naval Constructors H. M. THE KING OF NORWAY: Harald Pedersen, Director of the Bureau of the Merchant Marine Dr. Johannes Bruhn, Director of the "Norske Veritas" Classification Society Jens Evang, Secretary in the Foreign Office H. M. THE QUEEN OF THE NEtherlands: J. V. Wierdsma, Chairman of the Committee of Directors of the H. S. J. Maas, Consul General of the Netherlands at London J. Wilmink, Director of the Royal Netherlands Lloyd's Steam- J. W. G. Coops, Chief of Division, Department of Agriculture, H. M. THE Emperor of all the RUSSIAS: N. de Etter, Counselor of the Embassy at London H. M. THE KING OF SWEDEN: Vice Admiral Olsen, former President-General of the Naval N. G. Nilsson, Inspector of Lifesaving Appliances in the Depart- |