Convention respecting the laws and customs of war on land

Austria/Hungary

27-11-1909

Subject to the reservation to Article 44 of the Regulations in annex to the present Convention that was included in the minutes of the fourth plenary session of 17 August 1907.
The reservation reads as follows:
The Delegation of Austria-Hungary, having accepted the new Article 22a on the condition that Article 44 of the Convention currently in effect be maintained in its current form, cannot accept Article 44a as proposed by the Second Commission.

Belarus

04-06-1962

The Government of the Belorussian Soviet Socialist Republic recognises the Hague Conventions and Declarations of 1899 and 1907 as ratified by Russia and considers itself a party to them to the extent that they do not conflict with subsequent international agreements to which the Belorussian Soviet Socialist Republic is party.

Canada

15-05-2014

The Embassy of Canada to the Netherlands presents its compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and has the honour to refer to the Convention respecting the laws and customs of war on land (The Hague, 18 October 1907) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' communication of 17 April 2014, numbered Conventions 1907 No. 1/2014, relating to that treaty.
The Embassy of Canada to the Netherlands notes that this communication was made pursuant to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' capacity as depositary for the Convention respecting the laws and customs of war on land. The Embassy of Canada to the Netherlands notes the technical and administrative role of the Depositary, and that it is for States Parties to a treaty, not the Depositary, to make their own determination with respect to any legal issues raised by instruments circulated by a depositary.
In that context, the Embassy of Canada to the Netherlands notes that "Palestine" does not meet the criteria of a state under international law and is not recognized by Canada as a state. Therefore, in order to avoid confusion, the Embassy of Canada to the Netherlands wishes to note its position that in the context of the purported Palestinian accession to the Convention respecting the laws and customs of war on land, "Palestine" is not able to accede to this Convention, and that the Convention respecting the laws and customs of war on land on Land does not enter into force, or have an effect on Canada's treaty relations, with respect to the "State of Palestine".

Germany

27-11-1909

Subject to a reservation to Article 44 of the Regulation annexed to the Convention.

Japan

13-12-1911

Subject to a reservation to Article 44.

Netherlands, the Kingdom of the

13-01-1986

On 1 January 1986 the island of Aruba, which was a part of the Netherlands Antilles, has obtained internal autonomy as a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Consequently, the Kingdom consists of three countries, namely the Netherlands (the European part of the Kingdom), the Netherlands Antilles (without Aruba) and Aruba.
As the changes of 1 January 1986 concern a shift only in the internal constitutional relations within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the Kingdom as such will remain the subject of international law with which treaties are concluded, the said changes will have no consequences regarding this Convention, concluded by the Kingdom, which was applicable to the Netherlands Antilles, included Aruba. This Convention remains in force for the Netherlands (European part), the Netherlands Antilles and for Aruba in its new capacity of country within the Kingdom.

18-10-2010

The Kingdom of the Netherlands consisted of three parts: the Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba. The Netherlands Antilles consisted of the islands of Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba.
With effect from 10 October 2010, the Netherlands Antilles ceased to exist as a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Since that date, the Kingdom consists of four parts: the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten. Curaçao and Sint Maarten enjoy internal self-government within the Kingdom, as Aruba and, up to 10 October 2010, the Netherlands Antilles do.
These changes constitute a modification of the internal constitutional relations within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Kingdom of the Netherlands will accordingly remain the subject of international law with which agreements are concluded. The modification of the structure of the Kingdom will therefore not affect the validity of the international agreements ratified by the Kingdom for the Netherlands Antilles. These agreements, including any reservations made, will continue to apply to Curaçao and Sint Maarten.
The other islands that have formed part of the Netherlands Antilles - Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba - became part of the Netherlands, thus constituting 'the Caribbean part of the Netherlands'. The agreements that applied to the Netherlands Antilles will also continue to apply to these islands; however, the Government of the Netherlands will now be responsible for implementing these agreements.

Palestine

15-09-2014

[...] has the honour to refer to the depositary notification No. 2/2014, dated 15 May 2014, regarding a communication of Canada with respect to the accession of the State of Palestine to the Convention respecting the laws and customs of war on land (The Hague, 18 October 1907).
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Palestine considers that such communication, which is explicitly of a political nature, is incompatible with the object and purpose of the Convention and cannot in any way affect whatever obligations are binding upon Canada under general international law or under this particular Convention. The State of Palestine possess the characteristics of a State and is entitled to the rights of a State guaranteed by international law, irrespective of the recognition by Canada.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Palestine therefore states its objection to the aforesaid communication made by Canada and considers the Convention respecting the laws and customs of war on land (The Hague, 18 October 1907), as continuing in force between Canada and the State of Palestine.

15-09-2014

[...] has the honour to refer to the depositary notification No. 2/2014, dated 15 May 2014, regarding a communication of the United States of America with respect to the accession of the State of Palestine to the Convention respecting the laws and customs of war on land (The Hague, 18 October 1907).
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Palestine considers that such communication, which is explicitly of a political nature, is incompatible with the object and purpose of the Convention and cannot in any way affect whatever obligations are binding upon the United States of America under general international law or under this particular Convention. The State of Palestine possess the characteristics of a State and is entitled to the rights of a State guaranteed by international law irrespective of the recognition by the United States of America.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Palestine therefore states its objection to the aforesaid communication made by the United States of America and considers the Convention respecting the laws and customs of war on land (The Hague, 18 October 1907), as continuing in force between the United States of America and the State of Palestine.

Russian Federation

27-11-1909

Subject to the reservation to Article 44 of the Regulation in annex to the present Convention that was included in the minutes of the fourth plenary session of 17 August 1907:
The Delegation of Russia has the honour to declare that, having accepted the new Article 22a proposed by the Delegation of Germany as a replacement for the existing Article 44 of the Regulations of 1899, it has reservations concerning the new wording of this Article 44a.

07-03-1955

The Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics recognises the Hague Conventions and Declarations of 1899 and 1907 as ratified by Russia, to the extent that the said Conventions and Declarations do not conflict with the Charter of the United Nations and provided that they have not been amended or superseded by subsequent international agreements to which the USSR is a party, such as the 1925 Geneva Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Similar Gases and of Bacteriological Means and the 1949 Geneva Conventions for the Protection of Victims of War.

Türkiye

18-10-1907

Subject to a reservation to Article 3 (sc. of the Convention).

Ukraine

29-05-2015

According to Article 7 of the Law of Ukraine on Succession of Ukraine of 12 September 1991 Ukraine is a successor of rights and obligations under international treaties of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics unless they are in conflict with the Constitution of Ukraine and interests of the State.
Taking into account the aforementioned and without prejudice to the Note of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Ukrainian SSR dated 4 April 1962 No. 39 addressed to the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Moscow, the Ukrainian Side confirms validity for Ukraine, by way of succession and as from the date of succession on 24 August 1991, of the 1899 and 1907 Hague Conventions and Declarations recognised by the former USSR in the format and scope as envisaged by the Note of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the USSR dated 7 March 1955 No. 67/I addressed to the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Moscow.

United States of America

15-05-2014

The Embassy of the United States of America presents its compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and refers to the Ministry's notification, transmitted from the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Washington to the Department of State on April 19, 2014, regarding the purported accession of the "State of Palestine" to the Convention respecting the laws and customs of war on land, with annexed regulations, done at The Hague October 18, 1907, for which the Kingdom of the Netherlands is depository.
The Government of the United States of America does not believe the "State of Palestine" qualifies as a sovereign State and does not recognize it as such. Accession to the Convention is limited to sovereign States. Therefore, the Government of the United States of America believes that the "State of Palestine" is not qualified to accede to the Convention and affirms that it will not consider itself to be in a treaty relationship with the "State of Palestine" under the Convention.