The Gazette 1955-58

The handling of property of enemy nationals and residents in enemy occupied territory.

example of analysing and surveying the work of an organisation. The amendments suggested were complicated and controversial, but it is a great tribute to the way in which the Committee had carried out their work and to the capacity of the Speaker of the House of Deputies that the Com mittee's Report and the consequential amendments were discussed and dealt with in a comparatively short time. The House of Deputies also adopted for recommendation to Member Organisations the International Code of Ethics. The Code will come before the Council of our Society for detailed consideration in due course; but the fact that it has been adopted and recommended to Member Organisations throughout the world is an excellent example of the work which the Association can carry out. 7. The remaining work of the Conference con sisted of symposia and committee meetings on selected subjects. Broadly speaking, the method adopted is that certain subjects are selected for discussion ; that members from different countries contribute papers setting out their particular aspects of the problems arising or the procedure concerned ; that the papers are collated and summarised by a Rapporteur; that the authors of the papers are free to add to their papers, and the subject is then thrown open to general discussion. 8. The subjects so dealt with were as follows :— Monday Legal problems in connection with finance and security in International Shipbuilding Contracts. Tuesday The Legal Profession-the work of the organised Bar in furthering the legal Administration of Foreign Estates Problems of Executors and possible Solutions. Wednesday International economic co-operation. Emigration and Naturalisation. Suggestions for improvement of Inter national Treaties to avoid double taxation. Thursday Suggestions for alleviating 'hardships arising from sovereign immunity in Tort and Contract. Ways and Means of improving facilities for legal aid for foreign nationals. , profession and its public services. Human Rights.

9. While most of the subjects were of not immediate practical interest to us in this country, none the less the meetings were of absorbing, technical interest, and the standard both of the papers and of the discussions was exceedingly high. 10. The outstanding subject, as far as we were concerned, was the discussion of the work of the organised Bar in furthering the legal profession and its public services. On this subject papers were submitted by Canada, Denmark, England, France, Norway, Switzerland and the U.S.A. The papers, which were contributed by the representatives of the Societies in each of these countries, contained a full description of the work and activities of the Societies in their respective countries and were impressive and illuminating, and afforded us very considerable material for thought. 11. In addition to the actual work of the Conference a very full social programme had been arranged, viz. : Monday Lunch with Sir Edwin Herbert, President of the Incorporated Law Society of England. Reception at the Town Hall, Oslo, given by the Mayor of Oslo. Tuesday Cocktail party given by the Norwegian Bar Association. Wednesday Cocktail party given by the General Council of the Bar of England. Thursday Our Cocktail Party. Friday Official Banquet at the Bristol Hotel. 12. Apart from the official functions various sight-seeing trips were organised for conferees and their guests and during the week there was a considerable amount of private hospitality. 13. We have in this report only been able to give a very brief outline of the work and activities of the Conference. We all felt that the International Bar Association is a most alive and vital organisation with an immense capacity to be of benefit to the legal profession throughout the world, and that lawyers cannot fail to benefit from examining the law procedures and practices of other countries. The International Bar Association provides a forum for the exchange of views. It is yet a young Associa tion but the scope and possibilities exist and in time will bring very beneficial results. 14. We feel that we have been very privileged to attend the Conference and to enjoy a unique 57 Soiree Dansante given by the Minister of Justice of the Royal Norwegian Yacht Club.

Friday

International Judicial Co-Operation in relation to difficulties arising in taking evidence abroad and serving judicial documents abroad. Foreign Divorce Problems arising and

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•• possible solutions.

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