H

BULGARIA.

BRITISH NOTICE as to the Existence of a State of War be'ween Great Britain and Bulgaria. London, October 15, 1915.*

THE King of the Bulgarians, an Ally of the Central Powers, being now in a state of war with the King of Serbia, an Ally of His Majesty King George V, His Majesty's Government have notified the Swedish Minister in London, who is in charge of Bulgarian interests in this country, that a state of war exists between Great Britain and Bulgaria as from 10 p.m. to-night.

Foreign Office.

October 15, 1915.

BRITISH PROCLAMATION extending to the War with Bulgaria the Proclamations and Orders in Council in force relating to the War. London, October 16, 1915.*

George R.I.

WHEREAS, owing to the King of the Bulgarians, an Ally of the Central Powers, being now in a state of war with the King of Serbia, Our Ally, a state of war now exists between Us and the King of the Bulgarians;

And whereas on the 4th day of August, 1914, a state of war came into existence between Us and the German Emperor; And whereas We did on the same date and on certain other dates subsequent thereto issue certain Proclamations and Orders in Council connected with such state of war;

And whereas on the 12th day of August, 1914, a state of war came into existence between Us and the Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary;

And whereas certain of the aforesaid Proclamations and Orders in Council have since been extended so as to cover the

* "London Gazette," October 19, 1915.

state of war between Us and the Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary;

And whereas on the 5th day of November, 1914, a state of war came into existence between Us and the Sultan of Turkey. And whereas certain of the aforesaid Proclamations and Orders in Council have since been extended so as to cover the state of war between Us and the Sultan of Turkey;

And whereas We have since the said 5th day of November, 1914, issued certain other Proclamations and Orders in Council with reference to the state of war between Us and the German Emperor, the Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary, and the Sultan of Turkey;

And whereas it is desirable now to provide for the state of war between Us and the King of the Bulgarians;

And whereas the Convention relating to the status of enemy merchant vessels at the outbreak of hostilities, signed at The Hague on the 18th day of October, 1907, has not been ratified by the King of the Bulgarians, and therefore We do not think fit to extend to Bulgarian ships the Order in Council issued. on the 4th day of August, 1914, with reference to the departure from Our ports of enemy vessels, which at the outbreak of hostilities were in any such port or which subsequently entered the same:

Now, therefore, We have thought fit, by and with the advice of Our Privy Council, to issue this Our Royal Proclamation declaring, and it is hereby declared, as follows:

1. The Proclamations and Orders in Council issued with reference to the state of war between Us and the German Emperor, or with reference to the state of war between Us and the German Emperor and the Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary, or with reference to the state of war between Us and the German Emperor, the Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary, and the Sultan of Turkey, other than the Order in Council issued on the 4th day of August, 1914, with reference to the departure from Our ports of enemy vessels, which at the outbreak of hostilities were in any such ports, or which subsequently entered the same, shall, if still in force, apply to the state of war between Us and the King of the Bulgarians as from this 16th day of October, 1915.

2. The Proclamation issued on the 5th day of August, 1914, warning all Our subjects, and all persons resident or being in Our Dominions, from contributing to or participating in, or assisting in the floating of, any loan raised on behalf of the German Government, or from advancing money to or entering

into any contract or dealings whatsoever with the said Government, or otherwise aiding abetting, or assisting the said Government, shall be deemed as from this 16th day of October, 1915, to apply to all loans raised on behalf of, or contracts or dealings entered into with, or to aiding, abetting, or assisting the Bulgarian Government.

3. The words "enemy country" in any of the Proclamations or Orders in Council referred to in Article 1 of this Proclamation shall include the Dominions of the King of the Bulgarians, and the words "persons of enemy nationality in any of the said Proclamations or Orders in Council shall include subjects of the King of the Bulgarians.

Given at Our Court at Buckingham Palace, this 16th day of October, in the year of our Lord 1915, and in the 6th year of Our Reign.

GOD SAVE THE KING.

BRITISH NOTICE respecting the Blockade of the Bulgarian Coast in the Egean Sea. London, October 16, 1915.*

Foreign Office, October 16, 1915.

THE Vice-Admiral commanding the Eastern Mediterranean Squadron of the Allied Fleets has declared a blockade of the Bulgarian coast in the Ægean Sea, commencing from 6 a.m. on the 16th instant. Forty-eight hours' grace from the moment of the commencement of the blockade has been assigned for the departure of neutral vessels from the blockaded

area.

BRITISH ORDER IN COUNCIL extending British Prize Court Jurisdiction to Bulgarian Ships, &c. London, November 10, 1915.†

At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 10th day of November,

1915.

PRESENT THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY IN COUNCIL.

WHEREAS a state of war now exists between this Country and His Majesty the King of the Bulgarians, so that His Majesty's Fleets and Ships may lawfully seize all ships, * "London Gazette,” October 19, 1915.

+ London Gazette" November 12 1915.

vessels and goods belonging to the said King or the Bulgarian Government or the Citizens and Subjects thereof, or other persons inhabiting within any of the countries, territories or dominions of the said King, and bring the same to judgment in such Courts of Law within His Majesty's Dominions, Possessions or Colonies, or elsewhere as shall be duly commissionated to take cognisance thereof:

His Majesty is therefore pleased, by and with the advice of His Privy Council, to order, and it is hereby ordered, that a Commission in the form of the draft annexed hereto, shall issue under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom, authorising the Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral to will and require His Majesty's High Court of Justice and the Judges thereof, and His Britannic Majesty's Prize Court in Egypt, His Britannic Majesty's Court for Zanzibar in Zanzibar, and the Supreme Court of Cyprus in Cyprus, and all the Judges of those Courts or other the persons or person executing the duties of the Office of Judge, for the time being, to take cognisance of and judicially proceed upon all and all manner of captures, seizures, prizes and reprisals of all ships, vessels, and goods that are or shall be taken, and to hear and determine the same, and according to the course of Admiralty and the Law of Nations, and the Statutes, Rules, and Regulations for the time being in force in that behalf, to adjudge and condemn all such ships, vessels, and goods as shall belong to the King of the Bulgarians or the Bulgarian Government or to the Citizens or Subjects thereof, or to any other persons inhabiting within any of the countries, territories, or dominions of the said King, or be otherwise condemnable as Prize.

ALMERIC FITZROY.

GEORGE THE FIFTH, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions Beyond the Seas, King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India, to Our right trusty and well beloved The Right Honourable Arthur James Balfour, M.P., Admiral Sir Henry Bradwardine Jackson, K.C.B., K.C.V.O., ViceAdmiral Sir Frederick Tower Hamilton, K.C.B., C.V.O., Rear-Admiral Frederick Charles Tudor Tudor, C.B., Commodore Cecil Foley Lambert, R.N., the Most Noble Victor Christian William, Duke of Devonshire, G.C.V.O., and the Right Honourable Sir Francis John Stephens Hopwood,

G.C.M.G., K.C.B., Our Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral of Our United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging, and to Our Commissioners, for executing that Office for the time being, Greeting:

Whereas a state of war now exists between this Country and His Majesty the King of the Bulgarians so that Our Fleets and Ships may lawfully seize all ships, vessels, and goods belonging to the said King or the Bulgarian Government or the Citizens and Subjects thereof, or other persons inhabiting within any of the countries, territories, or dominions of the said King and bring the same to judgment in such Courts of Admiralty within Our Dominions, Possessions, or Colonies,. or elsewhere as shall be duly commissionated to take cognisance thereof:

These are therefore to authorise and We do hereby authorise and enjoin you, Our said Commissioners, now and for the time being, or any two or more of you, to will and require Our High Court of Justice and the Judges thereof and Our Prize Court in Egypt, Our Court for Zanzibar in Zanzibar, and Our Supreme Court of Cyprus in Cyprus, and all the Judges. of those Courts or other persons or person executing the duties of the Office of Judge for the time being, and the said High Court and other the said Courts and the Judges thereof and other the persons or person executing the duties of the Office of Judge for the time being are hereby authorised and required to take cognisance of and judicially to proceed upon all and all manner of captures, seizures, prizes and reprisals of all ships, vessels, and goods already seized and taken, and which hereafter shall be seized and taken, and to hear and determine the same, and according to the course of Admiralty and the Law of Nations, and the Statutes, Rules, and Regulations for the time being in force in that behalf, to adjudge and condemn all such ships, vessels, and goods as shall belong to the King of the Bulgarians or to the Bulgarian Government or to the Citizens or Subjects thereof, or to any other persons inhabiting within any of the countries, territories, or dominions. of the said King or which are otherwise condemnable as Prize. In Witness whereof We have caused the Great Seal of the United Kingdom to be put and affixed to these Presents.

Given at Our Court at Buckingham Palace, this 10th day of November, in the Year of our Lord 1915, and in the 6th year of Our Reign.