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Comments On The Bremen V. Zapata Off-Shore Co., Journal Staff

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

The Bremen v. Zapata Off-Shore Co., by bringing domestic law more into harmony with international custom and comparative practice, represents a step in the development of uniformity in transnational law. For this reason the Journal invited the following comments. Professors Charles L. Black, Jr., Robert Leflar and Harold G. Maier explore various aspects of this highly significant case.

The Bremen, Cogsa And The Problem Of Conflicting Interpretation, Charles L. Black, Jr.

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

All aspects of the important Bremen decision will be explored in these Comments and elsewhere. I propose to present just two ideas, without needless connective verbal tissue between them: I. The Bremen case has nothing to do with the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act (COGSA); both choice-of-forum and choice-of-law clauses should continue to be invalidated in bills of lading subject to that Act. II. The best solution for international conflicts of interpretation as to COGSA (and doubtless as to other statutes based on international conventions) would be an international court of appeals, exercising a discretionary jurisdiction, but empowered to …

The Bremen And The Model Choice Of Forum Act, Robert A. Leflar

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

The Model Choice of Forum Act, promulgated by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (NCCUSL) in 1968, was designed to set standards for the effectuation of contractual forum-selecting clauses, sometimes called "derogation" or "prorogation" clauses, while restricting their effectiveness to situations in which their operation would be fair to all concerned parties. The Commissioners chose not to draft the statute as a Uniform Act to be recommended for adoption by all the states, but rather as a Model Act setting out sound standards that might be followed not only by states drafting their own statutes on the …

The Three Faces Of Zapata: Maritime Law, Federal Common Law, Federal Courts Law, Harold G. Maier

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

In The Bremen v. Zapata Off-Shore Co., the Supreme Court upheld the selection of a London forum in a towage contract between a German firm and an American firm and dismissed a suit brought in a Florida federal district court whose jurisdiction was otherwise valid. In doing so, the Court stated the rule: "[Forum-selection clauses] are prima facie valid and should be enforced unless enforcement is shown by the resisting party to be 'unreasonable' under the circumstances." The Court qualified the rule by indicating that to be enforceable such clauses must be actually bargained for and agreed to by the …

Exports And Antitrust: Must Competition Stop At The Water's Edge?, Dudley H. Chapman

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

The ground rules governing competition in international trade rank high among current issues of economic policy. The President's pending Trade Bill and its companion bill on competitive practices place a new emphasis on issues of unfair competition. These issues were prominent during the early 1900's and the interwar years but have rested in abeyance through the long post-war transition. The economic predominance of the United States characterized the post-war period. Now that Europe and Japan are once again formidable competitors in the world marketplace, the rules governing competition on the international level have regained their prior importance. As may be …

Securities Regulation In Japan, Mitsuru Misawa

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

Japanese securities exchanges, which were closed at the beginning of the Allied Force occupation in 1945, were permitted to reopen in 1949. During the following two decades, the Japanese economy displayed vigorous growth. An expansion of the operations of the securities markets accompanied the expansion of the economy, but the expansion did not progress evenly. The development of the securities markets in the post-War period can be divided into a number of stages: (1) the period of confusion and frustration (August 1945 to August 1949); (2) the period of reorganization (May 1949 to January 1954); (3) the period of high …

Securities Regulation In Switzerland, Roger Dagon

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

The Swiss system of securities regulation, to the extent that it exists at all, is primarily a system of self-regulation. The basic company law, the Code des obligations of 1911, as amended, which enumerates the minimum disclosure requirements for public offerings of foreign or domestic debt securities and for public offerings of new shares of domestic corporations, represents the only formal regulation of corporate issues. The Code exempts secondary offerings of outstanding shares as well as initial issues of foreign shares. Secondary offerings of outstanding shares and issues of new foreign shares, however, must comply with the prospectus requirements established …

Case Digest, Journal Staff

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

Case Digest

1. ADMINISTRATIVE

NON-VESSEL-OPERATING COMMON CARRIERS HAVE BURDEN OF PROOF TO JUSTIFY THE REASONABLENESS OF PROPOSED RATE INCREASE IN A FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION PROCEEDING

2. ADMIRALTY

COMPARATIVE NEGLIGENCE STANDARD APPLICABLE TO THE CANAL ZONE COMPANY DOES NOT SUPERSEDE THE RULE OF DIVIDED DAMAGES BETWEEN VESSELS

FAILURE TO OBEY COMMANDS OF SHIP MASTER BECAUSE OF VOLUNTARY INTOXICATION CONSTITUTES WILLFUL DISOBEDIENCE

PREJUDGMENT INTEREST FROM DATE OF JUDICIAL DEMAND IS PROPER WHEN ORIGINAL ACTION AT LAW Is CHANGED TO ADMIRALTY BY WITHDRAWAL OF JURY DEMAND

THE PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE ALONE HAS STANDING TO BRING A WRONGFUL DEATH ACTION IN GENERAL MARITIME LAW

PERMITTING …

Licensing In The Eastern Bloc, Lajos Schmidt

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

This article will discuss the legal problems faced by American enterprises desiring to license industrial property rights--principally patents, trademarks and know-how--in Eastern Europe. Licensing in seven countries--the Soviet Union, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) and Bulgaria--will be examined. Of course, these countries form separate and independent legal and political jurisdictions; and even their cultural backgrounds differ. Any generalization about them must be taken in that context. Nonetheless, each of these countries is governed by similar political and economic principles--in particular, the principle of centralized economic planning. These common factors are reflected in common problems faced …

Unlawful Seizures And Irregular Rendition Devices As Alternatives To Extradition, M. Cherif Bassiouni

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

Extradition is a legal device whereby a state requests from an-other the surrender of a person accused or convicted of a crime. It is one of the modes of cooperation in penal matters between states. One rationale for extradition is that all states have an obligation to cooperate in the suppression of criminality and must, therefore, surrender to each other accused and fugitive offenders. This ration-ale is based on the maxim "aut dedere aut iudicare". Extradition law and practice have been slow to recognize the rights of those persons who are the objects of its proceedings. In fact, the whole …

Presidential Discretion In Foreign Affairs, Glen E. Thurow

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

Madison's argument, which attempts to state that the powers in foreign relations can be separated on principle, is in contrast to the arguments of Locke and Montesquieu that we have sketched as well as to the thrust of the Federalist. Our brief discussion of it does not do it justice, but is justified by the failure of the legislation under consideration to move in Madison's direction. The current legislation does not attempt to specify certain powers belonging to Congress as legislative in their nature, and others to the President as executive, but to limit discretion and share the remaining discretion …

The Import Surcharge Of 1971: A Case Study Of Executive Power In Foreign Commerce, David Pollard, David A. Boillot

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

The importance of foreign trade in the conduct of foreign affairs demonstrates that many foreign commerce questions contain foreign affairs overtones. For example, President Nixon has recently noted that congressional restrictions on granting the Soviet Union most-favored-nation treatment would be "a hurdle to further detente." Although article I, section 8 of the Constitution vests the power to regulate foreign commerce in the legislative branch, the Congress has delegated a great deal of that power to the Executive. Moreover, it appears that the President possesses certain inherent powers in foreign commerce as a result of his extensive, albeit undefined, authority in …

The Nature And Extent Of Executive Power To Espouse The International Claims Of United States Nationals, Jesse W. Hill, Steven M. Lucas

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

International law is generally considered to be law that governs the conduct of sovereign states only. While individual private persons, both natural and juridical, undoubtedly are third-party beneficiaries of the rights and duties created by international law, those rights and duties, in the classical analysis, run only among sovereigns. Because rules of international law and treaties constitute obligations among or between sovereign states, a violation of international law imposes international responsibility not to the private parties who are injured by the violation but to the sovereign states of which they are members. Private parties, therefore, generally have no standing to …

Case Digest, Journal Staff

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

1. ADMIRALTY

DAMAGES FOR SURVIVOR'S GRIEF ARE NOT PROPERLY AWARDABLE IN GENERAL FEDERAL MARITIME ACTION FOR WRONGFUL DEATH

LONGSHOREMAN IS NOT THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARY OF MARITIME STEVEDORING AND CHARTER PARTY CONTRACTS

SHIPOWNER'S LIABILITY FOR REMOVAL OF VESSEL WRECKAGE NOT LIMITED BY THE SHIPOWNERS' LIMITED LIABILITY ACT

COURTS MAY ADOPT STATE LAW FOR MEASUREMENT OF DAMAGES IN MARITIME TORT ACTION

2. BORDER SEARCHES

A HUNCH IS INSUFFICIENT BASIS UNDER FOURTH AMENDMENT FOR BORDER SEARCH AND ARREST

3. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW

STATE STATUTE PROHIBITING THE IMPORTATION OF FOREIGN FIREARMS PARTS IS AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL INVASION OF THE CONGRESSIONAL POWER TO REGULATE FOREIGN COMMERCE

4. …

Recent Decisions, Ronald L. Smallwood, Arden J. Lea, William R. Lauer, John R. Meldorf, Annette Adams, Randolph R. Slaton

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

ADMIRALTY--FLORIDA OIL POLLUTION ACT--STATE OIL POLLUTION REGULATION OF MARITIME Activities Is PERMISSIBLE SO LONG AS THERE Is No FATAL CONFLICT BETWEEN THE STATE LEGISLATION AND FEDERAL MARITIME REGULATORY SCHEMES

Ronald L. Smallwood

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ADMIRALTY--JONES ACT--SHIPOWNER Is NOT A PROPER DEFENDANT IN A SUIT UNDER THE JONES ACT BROUGHT BY EMPLOYEE OF A CONCESSIONAIRE

Arden J. Lea

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ANTITRUST--IMPORT RESTRICTIONS--DIVESTITURE ORDERED TO RESTORE COMPETITION FOLLOWING FINDING OF VIOLATION OF SECTION 7 OF THE CLAYTON ACT MAY BE ACCOMPANIED BY IMPORT RESTRICTIONS WITHOUT BREACH OF GERMAN/AMERICAN TREATY OR GATT PROVISIONS

William R. Lauer

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FOREIGN RELATIONS LAW--STANDING TO SUE--WEIMAR ART COLLECTION DENIED …

Book Reviews, Harry H. Ransom, Nicolas M. Matte

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND THE CONSTITUTION

By Louis Henkin

Mineola, New York: Foundation Press, 1972. Pp. 535. $11.50.

Harry Howe Ransom (reviewer)

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THE CONCEPT OF STATE JURISDICTION IN INTERNATIONAL SPACE LAW

By Imre Anthony Csabafi

The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff,1971. Pp. xix, 155. $9.10.

Nicolas Mateesco Matte (reviewer)

Books Received, Journal Staff

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

AMERICAN LABOR AND THE MULTINATIONAL CORPORATION

Edited by Duane Kujawa

New York: Praeger Publishers, 1973. Pp. xxvii,285. $18.50.

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ASPECTS DU DROIT INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIQUE: ELABORATION CONTROLE--SANCTION.

Societe Francaise pour le Droit International. Paris: A. Pedone, 1972. Pp. 221. n.p. (paper).

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THE BASES OF INTERNATIONAL ORDER

Edited by Alan James

London: Oxford University Press, 1973. Pp. viii, 218 £ 3.50 net.

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CURRENT LEGAL ASPECTS OF DOING BUSINESS IN THE FAR EAST

Edited by Richard C. Allison

Chicago: American Bar Association,1972. Pp. vii, 208. $10.00.

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DOMESTIC TAXATION AND FOREIGN TRADE: THE UNITED STATES-EUROPEAN BORDER TAX DISPUTE

By Michael von …