439 



amendments to the Convention at the earliest practicable date 

 to bring about — 



" ( 1 J International uniformity in fines and penalties ; 



"(2) International uniformitj^ of enforcement; 



"(3) A more realistic definition of what shall constitute oil 

 pollution ; 



" (4) The right of access of each contracting government to the 

 official reports of other contracting governments filed with the 

 bureau which relate to its own vessels ; and 



"(5) A more flexible arrangement for fixing the time within 

 which contracting governments shall notify the bureau whether 

 or not they accept an amendment" ; 



Whereas the said Convention was duly ratified by the President of 

 the United States of America on May 29, 1961, in pursuance of the 

 said advice and consent of the Senate, subject to the understanding and 

 reservations and with the recommendation as aforesaid ; 



Whereas it is provided in Article XIV of the Convention that Gov- 

 ernments may become parties by (i) signature without reservation as 

 to acceptance, (ii) signature subject to acceptance followed by accept- 

 ance, or (iii) acceptance; 



Whereas it is provided in Article XV of the Convention that the 

 Convention shall enter into force twelve months after the date on 

 which not less than ten Governments have become parties to the Con- 

 vention, including five Governments of countries each with not less 

 than 500,000 gross tons of tanker tonnage ; 



Whereas it is further provided in Article XV of the Convention 

 that for each Government which signs the Convention without reserva- 

 tion as to acceptance or accepts uie Convention before the date on 

 which the Convention comes into force it shall come into force on 

 that date, and for each Government which accepts the Convention on 

 or after that date it shall come into force three months after the date 

 of deposit of that Government's acceptance ; 



Whereas no signature was affixed to the Convention without res- 

 ervation as to acceptance, all signatures affixed thereto being subject 

 to acceptance or ratification ; 



Whereas instruments of acceptance of the Convention were de- 

 posited with the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain 

 and Northern Ireland pursuant to Article XIV and Article XXI of 

 the Convention as follows : 



(a) By Governments of countries each having a tanker tonnage 

 of not less than 500,000 gross tons : The United Kingdom of Great 

 Britain and Northern Ireland on May 6, 1955 ; Sweden on May 

 24, 1956 ; Denmark on November 26, 1956 ; Norway on January 26, 

 1957 ; and France on July 26, 1957 ; and 



(b) By other Governments : Mexico on May 10, 1956; the Fed- 

 eral Republic of Germany on June 11, 1956 -Canada on December 

 19, 1956; Ireland on February 13, 1957; Belgium on April 16, 

 1957 ; and the Netherlands on July 24, 1958. 



Whereas the Convention entered into force for the aforesaid Gov- 

 ernments, pursuant to Article XV, on July 26, 1958. 



Whereas an instrument of acceptance by the Government of Fin- 

 land was deposited on December 30, 1958 with the Government of 



