Submarine Telegraph Act, 1886
(50 Vict.) 3
An Act to amend the Submarine Telegraph Act, 1885.
[25th September 1886]
Whereas the delegates of the States, parties to the convention of the fourteenth day of March one thousand eight hundred and eighty-four, mentioned in the schedule to the Submarine Telegraph Act, 1885, have recommended for adoption by their respective States a declaration respecting the interpretation of such convention, and it is expedient to provide for giving effect to such declaration when adopted:
Be it therefore enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lord Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
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Short title and construction.1 Short title and construction.
1. This Act shall be construed as one with the Submarine Telegraph Act, 1885, and that Act and this Act may be cited together as the Submarine Telegraph Acts, 1885 and 1886,and this Act may be cited separately as theSubmarine Telegraph Act, 1886.
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Confirmation of declaration.2 Confirmation of declaration.
2. It shall be lawful for Her Majesty in Council at any time after the passing of this Act to order that the declaration mentioned in the schedule to this Act, as set forth in that schedule, shall be of the same force, and the same shall accordingly be of the same force, as the articles of the convention set forth in the schedule to the Submarine Telegraph Act, 1885.
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Repeal of 48 & 49 Vict. c. 49. s.4.3 Repeal of 48 & 49 Vict. c. 49. s.4.
3. Section four of the Submarine Telegraph Act, 1885, is hereby repealed.
S C H E D U L E
Submarine Telegraph Declaration.
Certain doubts having been raised as to the meaning of the word ‘wilfully’ used in article two of the convention of the fourteenth of March one thousand eight hundred and eighty-four, it is understood that the provision in respect of penal responsibility contained in the said article does not apply to cases of breakage or injury caused accidentally or of necessity in the repair of a cable when all precautions have been taken to avoid such breakage or injury.
It is equally understood that article four of the convention had no other object, and is to have no other effect, than to empower the competent tribunals of each country to decide in conformity with their laws and according to the circumstances the question of the civil responsibility of the owner of a cable who in laying or...
