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<br />44
<br />
<br />[Vol. 53
<br />
<br />
<br />THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF rNTERNATIONAL LAW
<br />
<br />the two Governments."" Citing this, France contended that all possible
<br />limitations to its sovereign right to act as it chose must stem from the
<br />treaties, Referring to the article, the Tribunal answered:
<br />
<br />This text itself contains a reservation to the principle of territorial
<br />sovereignty. , .; some provisions of the Treaty [of Bayonne] and
<br />of the Acte Additionnel of 1866 declare the most important limita-
<br />tions; there can be other limitations. [Emphasis added; authors'
<br />translation.] 8.
<br />
<br />2. France fnrther contended that the limitations to its sovereign right
<br />to dispose freely of the waters of its international rivers and lakes must be
<br />strictly construed because they were in derogation of sovereignty, The
<br />Tribunal concluded:
<br />
<br />. . . it has been argued before this Tribunal that these limitations
<br />must be strictly construed beeause they are in derogation of sov-
<br />ereignty. The Tribunal is not able to countenance such an absolute
<br />formula. Territorial sovereignty plays the part of a presumption.
<br />
<br />85 Art. 8 of tl:1.e Acta Additionnel of 1866 reads ,: "All stagnant and flowing waters,
<br />whether they are in the private or public domain, are subject to the sovereignty of the
<br />State in which they are located,. and therefore to that State's legislation, except for
<br />the modifications agreed UPQll between the two Governments. Flowing waters change
<br />jurisdiction at the moment wben they pass from one country to the other, and when
<br />the watercourses constitute a boundary, each State exercises its jurisdiction up to the
<br />middle of the flow." (Authors' translation.) .
<br />86 Sentenoe at 33. A dwindling mino.rity o.f writers has maintained that internatio.nal
<br />law does no.t impose any abligations o.n riparian states desirous of using the waters
<br />of international rivers within their,' jurisdictions. The ECE Report, in its review af
<br />some thirty writers (at 51-68), nnds that nat more than three or four still take this
<br />position.
<br />A related' position j.s taken by Berber, op. cU. note 32 above, at 104, who nevertheless
<br />brands the doctrine of absolute territorial sovereignty as 'based upon an individualiBtie,
<br />anarchical conception' ol international law.
<br />For the majority view that co.-riparians are under mutual obligatio.ns not to. cause
<br />seriaus injuries ,to. each ather IS interests and are entitled to. share in the co.mmon
<br />waters on a reasonable basis, see the follo.wing: Brierly, The Law' of Nations 204-205
<br />(5th ed., 1955); 1 Oppenheim, International Law 346-347 (8th ed" Lauterpacht, 1955) ;
<br />Bevette, op. oit. note 32 -above, at 209 et seq.; Bauaer-Hall, "L'utilisation industrielle
<br />des fleuves internationaux," in 83 Hagu'e Academy Recueil des COUtS 465-586 (-1953,
<br />II); Eagleto.n, "The Use of the Waters of International Rivers," 33 Canadian Bar
<br />Review 1021 (19'55); Andrassy, op. cit. note 32 above; Dept. af State Memorandum,
<br />note 20 above; Principles . . . American Committee, op. oit. note 21 above; Principles
<br />. . . Buenas Aires, op. cU. note 32 abave; Laylin, "The Uses of the Waters af Inter-
<br />national Rivers," in Principles . . . Dubrovnik, op. cU. note 32 above, at 1; 48th
<br />Conference of the Internatianal Law Asso.ciatio.n (New Yark, 1958), Resalutio.n an the
<br />Uses of the Waters of Intel'national Rivers. The Resolution adopted by reference the
<br />Repart of the Co.mmittee on the Uses of the Waters of International Rivers, quated in
<br />part in note 41 below; see also p. 74 below.
<br />Leaning toward tJ;1e oppasite extreme that a riparian may do. nothing to affect a
<br />co~riparian without prior agreement are: Cardona, "El r6giroen jurldica de lo.s rios
<br />internacio.nales," 56 Revista de Derecha Internacio.nal 24 (La. Rabana, 1949); De
<br />Yanguas Messia, "EI aprovechamiento hidraeMctrico de lo.s rios internacionales. en las
<br />zonas franterizaa espaiialas," 1 Revista de la Faeultad de Derecho de, la' Universidad
<br />de Madrid 9 (1957) j Theiler, "Las rios, lagas y canales internacionales," in Principles
<br />. . . Buenas Aires, op. cit. note 32 above.
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