Page:Harvard Law Review Volume 32.djvu/313

277 ACTIONS AGAINST THE PROPERTY OF SOVEREIGNS 277 There is, further, in our cases a limitation, the extent of which has not been settled, dependent upon the possession of the sovereign. The trend of recent decision, however, is probably toward a full recognition of the varied interests of government in property. With a large part of the world's shipping now owned or requisi- tioned by sovereign nations, many maritime claims can not be Uquidated except through the favor of government, through re- course to foreign courts, or through diplomatic exchanges. This situation is unsatisfactory and will probably require regulation by treaty. It is possible that the peace conference will provide new machinery. An elaborate scheme for an International Court of Appeal in Prize Cases was drawn up by the Hague Conference of 1907. A similar tribunal with either original or appellate juris- diction might be erected to determine claims asserted in times of peace against ships of foreign sovereigns. Charles H. Weston. Washington, D. C.