Practice Relating to Rule 68. Precautions while Receiving Parlementaires
Section A. General
Hague Regulations (1899)
Article 33 of the 1899 Hague Regulations provides that the chief who receives a parlementaire “can take all steps necessary to prevent the parlementaire taking advantage of his mission to obtain information”.
Regulations concerning the Laws and Customs of War on Land, annexed to Convention (II) with Respect to the Laws and Customs of War on Land, The Hague, 29 July 1899, Article 33.
Hague Regulations (1907)
Article 33 of the 1907 Hague Regulations provides that the commander who receives a parlementaire “may take all the necessary steps to prevent the parlementaire taking advantage of his mission to obtain information”.
Regulations concerning the Laws and Customs of War on Land, annexed to Convention (IV) respecting the Laws and Customs of War on Land, The Hague, 18 October 1907, Article 33.
Brussels Declaration
Article 44 of the 1874 Brussels Declaration provides: “It is lawful for [a commander] to take all the necessary steps to prevent the parlementaire taking advantage of his stay within the radius of the enemy’s position to the prejudice of the latter.”
Project of an International Declaration concerning the Laws and Customs of War, Brussels, 27 August 1874, Article 44.
Oxford Manual
Article 30 of the 1880 Oxford Manual provides: “The commander who receives a parlementaire has a right to take all the necessary steps to prevent the presence of the enemy within his lines from being prejudicial to him.”
The Laws of War on Land, adopted by the Institute of International Law, Oxford, 9 September 1880, Article 30.
Oxford Manual of Naval War
Article 45 of the 1913 Oxford Manual of Naval War provides that the commanding officer to whom a cartel ship is sent “can take all measures necessary to prevent the cartel ship from profiting by its mission to obtain information”.
The Laws of Naval War Governing the Relations between Belligerents, adopted by the Institute of International Law, Oxford, 9 August 1913, Article 45.
Argentina
Argentina’s Law of War Manual (1969) provides that a commander “may adopt all necessary measures to prevent the parlementaire from taking advantage of his mission to collect information”.
Argentina, Leyes de Guerra, RC-46-1, Público, II Edición 1969, Ejército Argentino, Edición original aprobado por el Comandante en Jefe del Ejército, 9 May 1967, § 6.002.
Belgium
Belgium’s Field Regulations (1964) states that “all precautions must be taken to avoid parlementaires obtaining information”.
Belgium, Règlement sur le Service en Campagne, Règlement IF 47, Ministère de la Défense Nationale, Etat-Major Général, Force Terrestre, Direction Supérieure de la Tactique, Direction Générale du Planning, Entraînement et Organisation, 1964, § 22.
Belgium
Belgium’s Law of War Manual (1983) provides that the commander may “take measures (e.g. blindfolding) to prevent the parlementaire from taking advantage of his mission to collect information”.
Belgium, Droit Pénal et Disciplinaire Militaire et Droit de la Guerre, Deuxième Partie, Droit de la Guerre, Ecole Royale Militaire, par J. Maes, Chargé de cours, Avocat-général près la Cour Militaire, D/1983/1187/029, 1983, p. 41.
Canada
Canada’s LOAC Manual (1999) notes:
The belligerent to whom a parlementaire is proceeding may take all steps necessary to protect the safety of the belligerent’s position, and prevent the parlementaire from taking advantage of the visit to secure information. The adverse party may therefore prescribe the route to be taken by the parlementaire, employ blindfolds, limit the size of the party, or take similar action.
Canada, The Law of Armed Conflict at the Operational and Tactical Level, Office of the Judge Advocate General, 1999, p. 14-1, § 7.
Canada
Canada’s LOAC Manual (2001) states in its chapter entitled “Communications and contact between opposing forces”:
The belligerent to whom a parlementaire is proceeding may take all steps necessary to protect the safety of the belligerent’s position, and prevent the parlementaire from taking advantage of the visit to secure information. The adverse party may therefore prescribe the route to be taken by the parlementaire, employ blindfolds, limit the size of the party, or take similar action. A parlementaire may proceed on foot, by vehicle, or otherwise, as agreed with the adverse party.
Canada, The Law of Armed Conflict at the Operational and Tactical Levels, Office of the Judge Advocate General, 13 August 2001, § 1402.5.
Côte d’Ivoire
Côte d’Ivoire’s Teaching Manual (2007) provides in Book III, Volume 1 (Instruction of first-year trainee officers):
II.4. The white flag (the flag of truce)
We have already spoken of this element of customary law; let us now see how it can be used during operations.
… The party which uses the white flag must cease firing. As soon as it has done so, the other side must do the same … If a discussion with parlementaires is accepted, the members of the delegation must be protected as long as the negotiation procedures last. After the negotiations, they must be allowed to return safely to their own lines.
However, safety measures must be taken in order to counter any eventuality, in particular in case of perfidy.
Côte d’Ivoire, Droit de la guerre, Manuel d’instruction, Livre III, Tome 1: Instruction de l’élève officier d’active de 1ère année, Manuel de l’élève, Ministère de la Défense, Forces Armées Nationales, November 2007, pp. 42–43; see also Droit de la guerre, Manuel d’instruction, Livre IV: Instruction du chef de section et du commandant de compagnie, Manuel de l’élève, Ministère de la Défense, Forces Armées Nationales, November 2007, p. 33.
Germany
Germany’s Military Manual (1992) provides: “It is permissible to take all necessary precautions (e.g. blindfolding) to prevent the parlementaire from taking advantage of his mission to obtain information.”
Germany, Humanitarian Law in Armed Conflicts – Manual, DSK VV207320067, edited by The Federal Ministry of Defence of the Federal Republic of Germany, VR II 3, August 1992, English translation of ZDv 15/2, Humanitäres Völkerrecht in bewaffneten Konflikten – Handbuch, August 1992, § 227.
Italy
Italy’s IHL Manual (1991) provides: “The commander who receives [a parlementaire] shall take all required precautions to prevent him from acquiring information of military character.” Measures to prevent the presence of a parlementaire from being prejudicial can include blindfolding.
Italy, Manuale di diritto umanitario, Introduzione e Volume I, Usi e convenzioni di Guerra, SMD-G-014, Stato Maggiore della Difesa, I Reparto, Ufficio Addestramento e Regolamenti, Rome, 1991, Vol. I, § 57.
Netherlands
The Military Manual (2005) of the Netherlands states:
[F]or the sake of security, and to prevent the parlementaire from gathering intelligence, the route which he has to follow may be preassigned. The parlementaire and escorts may be blindfolded. The number of persons accompanying the parlementaire is limited.
Netherlands, Humanitair Oorlogsrecht: Handleiding, Voorschift No. 27-412, Koninklijke Landmacht, Militair Juridische Dienst, 2005, § 0419.
New Zealand
New Zealand’s Military Manual (1992) states:
The belligerent to whom a parlementaire is proceeding may take all steps necessary to protect the safety of his position or unit and to prevent the parlementaire from taking advantage of his visit to secure information. The adverse Party may prescribe the route to be taken by the parlementaire or may bind his eyes, may limit the size of the party or take similar action.
New Zealand, Interim Law of Armed Conflict Manual, DM 112, New Zealand Defence Force, Headquarters, Directorate of Legal Services, Wellington, November 1992, § 406(5).
Nigeria
Nigeria’s Manual on the Laws of War provides: “The force commander (of the other side) … may take security measures to prevent the parlementaire from abusing his privileges for spying.”
Nigeria, The Laws of War, by Lt. Col. L. Ode PSC, Nigerian Army, Lagos, undated, § 24.
Russian Federation
The Russian Federation’s Regulations on the Application of IHL (2001) states:
When receiving the parlementaire and persons who accompany him, the commander shall take all the necessary steps to keep secret the activities related to the preparation and conduct of combat operations.
Russian Federation, Regulations on the Application of International Humanitarian Law by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation, Moscow, 8 August 2001, § 68.
Spain
Spain’s LOAC Manual (1996) states: “The commander to whom a parlementaire is sent … may take, in all cases, the measures necessary to prevent the parlementaire from taking advantage of his mission to obtain information.”
Spain, Orientaciones. El Derecho de los Conflictos Armados, Publicación OR7-004, 2 Tomos, aprobado por el Estado Mayor del Ejército, Division de Operaciones, 18 March 1996, Vol. I, § 2.6.c.(1).
Spain
Spain’s LOAC Manual (2007) states: “Commanders to whom parlementaires are sent … may take all necessary steps to prevent [the parlementaires] from taking advantage of their mission to obtain information.”
Spain, Orientaciones. El Derecho de los Conflictos Armados, Tomo 1, Publicación OR7–004, (Edición Segunda), Mando de Adiestramiento y Doctrina, Dirección de Doctrina, Orgánica y Materiales, 2 November 2007, § 2.6.c.(1).
Switzerland
Switzerland’s Basic Military Manual (1987) provides: “The commander to whom a parlementaire is sent … may take all measures necessary to prevent the parlementaire from taking advantage of his mission to obtain information.”
Switzerland, Lois et coutumes de la guerre (Extrait et commentaire), Règlement 51.7/II f, Armée Suisse, 1987, Article 14.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
The UK Military Manual (1958) states:
All measures necessary to prevent the parlementaire from taking advantage of his mission to obtain information are allowable. Care should be taken to prevent him and his attendants from communication with anyone except the persons nominated to receive him. If permission is given for the parlementaire to enter the position for the purpose of negotiation, or if the officer in command of the position or post, or any superior officer, thinks it desirable for any special reason to send him to the rear, he should be blindfolded, and taken to the destination by a circuitous route.
United Kingdom, The Law of War on Land being Part III of the Manual of Military Law, The War Office, HMSO, 1958, § 410.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
The UK LOAC Manual (2004) states:
10.8. The commander to whom a parlementaire is sent is not obliged to receive him in every case. However, it is no longer permissible for a belligerent to declare beforehand, even for a stated period, that he will not receive parlementaires. However, the commander is entitled to take all steps necessary to protect the safety of his position or unit and to prevent the parlementaire from taking advantage of his visit to secure information.
10.8.1. The reason for these security measures is that there may be troop movements in progress or, owing to the state of the defences, it may be considered undesirable to allow an envoy to approach a besieged locality. Measures taken may involve prescribing the route he takes, the hour and place of his visit or even blindfolding. An unnecessary repetition of visits need not be allowed.
United Kingdom, The Manual of the Law of Armed Conflict, Ministry of Defence, 1 July 2004, §§ 10.8–10.8.1
United States of America
The US Field Manual (1956) provides: “The commander to whom a parlementaire is sent … may take all the necessary steps to prevent the parlementaire taking advantage of his mission to obtain information.”
United States, Field Manual 27-10, The Law of Land Warfare, US Department of the Army, 18 July 1956, as modified by Change No. 1, 15 July 1976, § 463.
Yugoslavia, Socialist Federal Republic of
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia’s Military Manual (1988) provides:
A party that receives a parlementaire must define the time and the place where he will be received. Those conditions must not be humiliating for the parlementaire. …
When the parlementaire is received, he is escorted to the commander in charge of receiving him. On this occasion, all measures should be taken so that the parlementaire does not make any contact with an unauthorized person or sees or finds out things that are military secrets … If military interest requires so, the parlementaire may be blindfolded while escorted.
Yugoslavia, Socialist Federal Republic of, Propisi o Primeri Pravila Medjunarodnog Ratnog Prava u Oruzanim Snagama SFRJ, PrU-2, Savezni Sekretarijat za Narodnu Odbranu (Pravna Uprava), 1988, §§ 127 and 128.
Italy
Italy’s Law of War Decree (1938), as amended in 1992, states: “The commander who receives the parlementaire shall take all necessary measures to prevent him from acquiring information of military character.”
Italy, Law of War Decree, 1938, as amended in 1992, Article 71.
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Hague Peace Conference (1899)
The Report of the Second Commission of the 1899 Hague Peace Conference stated that Article 33 of the 1899 Hague Regulations “deals with the right that every belligerent has … to take measures necessary in order to prevent [a parlementaire] from profiting by his mission to get information … All these rules conform to the necessities and customs of war.”
James B. Scott (ed.), The Reports of the Hague Conferences of 1899 and 1907, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1917, p. 147.
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ICRC
To fulfil its task of disseminating IHL, the ICRC has delegates around the world teaching armed and security forces that a commander “may impose safety measures (e.g. blindfolding)” with regard to a parlementaire.
Frédéric de Mulinen, Handbook on the Law of War for Armed Forces, ICRC, Geneva, 1987, § 540.
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