Aspects of the Hague Rules

One: The Scope of the Brussels Convention 1924.- 1. History of the Brussels Convention.- 1. The Origins of the Convention.- 2. The Lessons of History.- 2. Introduction to the Scope of the Brussels Convention.- 1. Juridical Nature of the Convention.- 2. Apparent Scope of the Convention: Article X.- 3. History of Article X.- 4. Meaning of Article X.- (i) Article X is not concerned with the scope of the Convention.- (ii) Article X imposes an insterstate obligation to give effect to the Convention.- (iii) Article X as a ‘Vorbehaltsklausel’.- (iv) Article X as a model for a uniform conflicts rule.- 5. The Convention applies to both International and Domestic Contracts.- 6. Conclusion.- 3. The Scope of the Convention in the Law of England.- 1. Introduction.- 2. History of Section 1, Cogsa 1924.- 3. The Failure of the English Formula for Uniformity.- 4. The Torni.- 5. The Vita Food Case.- 6. The St. Joseph.- 7. Can the English Formula be Remedied?.- (i) The doctrine of renvoi.- (ii) Application of the lex loci contractus.- (iii) Public policy.- 8. The Reform of Article X.- 4. The Scope of the Convention in the Law of France: Introduction.- 1. National and International Contracts.- 2. The Conflict of Texts at Domestic Level.- 3. The ‘Brasiluso’ Solution.- 4. Plan.- 5. The Liberal Approach.- 1. Early Attitudes of the Courts.- 2. The Cases taking a Liberal Approach before the Tribunaux de Commerce.- 3. The Cases taking a Liberal Approach in the Cours d’Appel.- 4. The Academic Writers.- (i) Niboyet and Sauvage.- (ii) Jambu-Merlin.- (iii) Rodière.- 5. The Significance of the Liberal Solution.- (i) The object of the Convention.- (ii) International contracts in the conflict of laws.- (iii) Should uniform law be confined to international contracts ?.- 6. Conclusion.- 6. The Voyage Test.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Introduction to the Cases Applying the Voyage Test.- 3. The Cases in the Lower Courts.- 4. The Cases in the Higher Courts.- 5. Cases in which the Voyage Test was not Applied.- 6. The Cases in which the Voyage Test was Rejected.- 7. The Academic Writers.- (i) Mezger and De Juglart.- (ii) Prodromides, Jambu-Merlin and the implications of Article X.- (iii) Guyon and the merits of the voyage test.- (iv) Dubosc.- 8. Successive Transports.- 9. The Solution for Other Modes of Transport.- 7. The Nationality Test: The Preliminary Problem.- 1. Introduction.- 2. The Attitude of the Courts.- (i) Reference to the parties to the contract.- (ii) Reference to the parties in the bill of lading.- (iii) Reference to the carrier and the shipper.- (iv) Reference to the consignee.- (v) Cases rejecting reference to the consignee.- 3. The Consignee must be known ab initio.- 4. Attitude of the Courts: Summary.- 5. The Academic Writers.- 8. The Nationality Test.- 1. Introduction.- 2. The Cases in the Tribunaux de Commerce.- 3. The Cases in the Cours d’Appel.- 4. The Cases in the Cour de Cassation.- 5. The Cases in which the Nationality Test was Rejected.- 6. The Academic Writers.- 7. Practical Considerations.- 8. The Ripert Solution.- 9. The Double Rule.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Authority that the Parties must be from HCPs.- 3. Cases Requiring that both Ports be in HCPs.- 4. Other Authority.- (i) Other countries.- (ii) Certainty.- (iii) The academic writers.- (iv) The Warsaw Convention.- 5. Conclusion.- 10. Reform of Article X.- 1. The Conferences of the C.M.I. at Rijeka and Stockholm.- 2. The Brussels Conference.- 3. Comment.- 4. The Future.- Two: Due Diligence to Make the Ship Seaworthy.- 11. The History of the Carriers Liability.- 1. Basic Liability of the Carrier — Phase I.- 2. Basic Liability of the Carrier — Phase II.- 3. The Justification of Strict Liability.- 4. Exceptions to Liability.- (i) Ex lege.- 5. Exceptions to Liability.- (ii) Ex contractu.- 6. The Warranty of Seaworthiness.- (i) Its existence.- (ii) The concept.- (iii) Duration.- (iv) Proof.- 12. The Scheme of Proof Under the Convention.- 1. Seaworthiness in the Texts.- 2. The Answer in Outline.- (i) The short route.- (ii) The popularity of article IV rule 2(p) in France.- (iii) The long route.- 3. Performance of Article III Rule I as a Condition Precedent to Exoneration.- (i) The proposition in common law countries.- (ii) The analogy with article III rule 2.- (iii) France: Présomption de responsabilité.- (iv) Conclusion and comparison.- 4. Article IV Rule i as an Excepted Peril.- (i) The proposition.- (ii) England.- (iii) France.- (iv) Criticism and comparison.- 5. Article IV Rule I as a Complement to Article III Rule I.- (i) The need for precaution.- (ii) The overriding effect of article III rule 1.- (iii) The overriding effect of faute in France.- (iv) The systems contrasted.- 6. Summary.- 13. Proof That the Vessel Was Defective.- 1. The Defect.- 2. When Must the Defect Exist?.- (i) On the short route to article IV rule 2(p).- (ii) On the long route.- 3. Proof of the Defect.- (i) Onus.- (ii) Method of proof.- 4. Causation.- (i) The requirement.- (ii) Breach of contract and exemption.- (iii) The merits of the proposition.- (iv) Loss partly caused by unseaworthiness.- (v) The causal connection.- 5. Conclusion.- 14. Due Diligence in General.- 1. Due Diligence and the General Law.- 2. Due Diligence Defined.- 3. Due Diligence and Latent Defects.- 4. Latent Defects and Force Majeure.- 5. The Short Route and the Long Route Compared.- 15. Due Diligence in Practice.- 1. Men and Materials.- 2. Certificates of Seaworthiness.- (i) The attitude of the courts to certificates.- (ii) When will a certificate be conclusive?.- (iii) Rebuttal of certificates.- 3. The Influence of Questions of Fact.- (i) Factors diminishing the carrier’s duty.- (ii) Factors increasing the activity required of the carrier.- 16. When Must Due Diligence Have Been Exercised?.- 1. England.- (i) The effect of article III rule i on the doctrine of stages.- (ii) When must the carrier begin to exercise due diligence?.- (iii) When does the carrier’s duty to exercise due diligence end?.- (iv) Intermediate ports.- 2. England and France.- 3. France: Continuing Diligence.- 17. Liability for Independent Contractors.- 1. The Muncaster Castle.- 2. General Arguments.- 3. Common Law Precedent.- (i) Analogies.- (ii) The Angliss case.- (iii) Decisions under the Harter Act.- (iv) Other cases.- 4. The Law of France and Other Countries.- 5. Conclusion.- 6. Reform.