Page 81 - NAVAL SCIENCE 3 TEXTBOOK

86 NAVAL KNOWLEDGE

tin)' states of Luxembourg and 1,,1011aco are examples of this. The pie, remains a member of the COlllmonwealth, even though it is a
traditional doctrine of sovcreignty also includes the right of a state republic with no ties to the Crown.
to decide how to conduct its international affairs, and to resort to
war when judged necessary to defend its national interests.
Rights and Duties of Sovereign States
Sovereign states send diplomats to other sovereign states and
conclude treaties with one another without interference. They are AJI sovereign states have rights, and with those rights are associ-
expected to live up to their treaty commitments, though an abso- ated duties. Some rights ilrc regarded as fundamental-the right
lute definition of the term sovereignty would imply complete free- of freedom from interference or intervention, the right of contin-
dorn to break treaties as well as make them if it is in the national LIed existence, and the right of self-defense. These rights are so fun-
interest of the state to do so. damental that they have always been resefved for interpretation
' ,Vhile most of the world today is composed of sovereign by each state in accordance with its own national policy. To that
states, there are some political entities that have a status that dif- extent, each state is free to determine its own conduct. This implies
fers somewhat from the strict definition of the word. Switzerland, that a sovereign state can do no wrong when acting on these mat-
for instance, has been officially regarded as illlclltmlizerl state since ters in its OWI1 behalf------a situation that makes the quest for peace
the Congress of Vienna in 1815. It has been successful in main- in a warlike world difficult.
taining its neutrality, and consequently, any invasion of its territory Each state has the right of equal ,Kcess to international courts.
or involvement in any war, since that time. formal permanent sta- Also, each one can control its diplomatic relations with other coun-
tus of neutrality or neutralization by a treaty guaranteed by other tries. 'Vhile all do not maintain embassies i.n every cOllntry, most
states differs from self-proclaimed Ilel/tmlit)', which is the volun- have accredited (formally appointed) ambassadors who visit reg-
tary non participation in a particular war. There are no guarantees ularly, even though they are not resident. States have the right to
in such neutrality other than the rights normally granted to neu- enter into treaties with other states on matters of COlllmon interest.
trals in time of war by internationalla\\'. The rights of existence and self-defense are of particular interest
The Commonwealth of Nations (formerly known as the to the armed forces of a nation. Of unique importance in this regard
British Commonwealth) is a unique group in international law. is the legal right of a state to respond with military action in self·
Composed mainly of nations that were at one time under British defense, even before an attack is clearly imminent. Consequently,
colonial rule, Great Britain and its Dominions of Australia, Canada, if i.l neighboring state builds up its forces, it is considered sufficient
New Zealand, and some fifty other countries enjoy complete sover- grounds for <l state to respond with a similar buildup in its own
eignty and independence in their internal and external affairs, but defense. In other words, no state is expected to wait passively until
acknowledge an ideological allegiance to the British Crown bilsed attacked, since the right of self-defense includes the right to pre-
on common tradition and economic interest. India, for exam- vent attack. The right to wage war in self-defense is recognized by

A cargo ship docked at
Malaka Island in the Pacific
takes on a load of dried meat
of coconuts, the principal
export of the island. Now
independent, Malaka Island
was a member of the Trust
Territories of the Pacific
Islands administered by the
United States for many years
following World War II.