Certain Norwegian Loans (France v. Norway)

OVERVIEW OF THE CASE

Certain Norwegian loans had been floated in France between 1885 and 1909. The bonds securing them stated the amount of the obligation in gold, or in currency convertible into gold, as well as in various national currencies. From the time when Norway suspended the convertibility of its currency into gold — on several occasions after 1914 — the loans had been serviced in Norwegian kroner. The French Government, espousing the cause of the French bondholders, filed an Application requesting the Court to declare that the debt should be discharged by payment of the gold value of the coupons of the bonds on the date of payment and of the gold value of the redeemed bonds on the date of repayment. The Norwegian Government raised a number of preliminary objections to the jurisdiction of the Court and, in the Judgment it delivered on 6 July 1957, the Court found that it was without jurisdiction to adjudicate on the dispute. Indeed, the Court held that, since its jurisdiction depended upon the two unilateral declarations made by the Parties, jurisdiction was conferred upon the Court only to the extent to which those declarations coincided in conferring it. The Norwegian Government, which had considered the dispute to fall entirely within its national jurisdiction, was therefore entitled, by virtue of the condition of reciprocity, to invoke in its own favour, and under the same conditions, the reservation contained in the French declaration which excluded from the jurisdiction of the Court differences relating to matters which were “essentially within the national jurisdiction as understood by the Government of the French Republic”.


This overview is provided for information only and in no way involves the responsibility of the Court.

Institution of proceedings


Written proceedings

20 December 1955
Procedure(s):Preliminary objections
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20 April 1956
Procedure(s):Preliminary objections
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31 August 1956
Procedure(s):Preliminary objections
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20 February 1957
Procedure(s):Preliminary objections
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25 April 1957
Procedure(s):Preliminary objections
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Oral proceedings

Verbatim record 1957 (bilingual version)
Minutes of the Public Sittings held at the Peace Palace, The Hague, from May 13th to 28th and on July 6th, 1957, the President, Mr. Hackworth, presiding
Procedure(s):Preliminary objections
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Other documents


Orders

Fixing of time-limits: Memorial and Counter-Memorial
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Fixing of time-limit: Written Statement of observations and submissions on Preliminary Objections
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Extension of time-limit: Written Statement of observations and submissions on Preliminary Objections
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Joinder of Objections to the merits, fixing of time-limits: Counter-Memorial, Reply and Rejoinder
Procedure(s):Preliminary objections
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Judgments


Summaries of Judgments and Orders

Summary of the Judgment of 6 July 1957
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Press releases

8 July 1955
The Government of the French Republic files an Application against the Government of the Government of the Kingdom of Norway
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24 September 1955
Certain Norwegian Loans (France v. Norway) - Time-limits for the filing of the Memorial and the Counter-Memorial
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31 May 1956
Certain Norwegian Loans (France v. Norway) - The Court decides to postpone the examination of the case at the request of the Norwegian Government
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28 September 1956
Certain Norwegian Loans (France v. Norway) - The Court joins to the merits the preliminary objections raised by the Government of Norway and fixes the time-limits for the filing of the further pleadings
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8 May 1957
Certain Norwegian Loans (France v. Norway) - Representatives of the Parties at the oral hearings which will begin on May 13th, 1957
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13 May 1957
Certain Norwegian Loans (France v. Norway) - Sittings of May 13th, 1957
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14 May 1957
Certain Norwegian Loans (France v. Norway) - Sittings of May 14th, 1957
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15 May 1957
Certain Norwegian Loans (France v. Norway) - Sittings of May 15th, 1957
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17 May 1957
Certain Norwegian Loans (France v. Norway) - Sittings of May 17th, 1957
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20 May 1957
Certain Norwegian Loans (France v. Norway) - Sittings of May 20th, 1957
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21 May 1957
Certain Norwegian Loans (France v. Norway) - Sittings of May 21st, 1957
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22 May 1957
Certain Norwegian Loans (France v. Norway) - Sittings of May 22th, 1957
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23 May 1957
Certain Norwegian Loans (France v. Norway) - Sitting of May 23rd, 1957
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24 May 1957
Certain Norwegian Loans (France v. Norway) - Sitting of May 24th, 1957
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27 May 1957
Certain Norwegian Loans (France v. Norway) - Sitting of May 25th, 1957
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28 May 1957
Certain Norwegian Loans (France v. Norway) - Sitting of May 28th, 1957
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3 July 1957
Certain Norwegian Loans (France v. Norway) - The Court will read its Judgment on Saturday, July 6th, 1957
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6 July 1957
Certain Norwegian Loans (France v. Norway) - Judgment
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Correspondence

6 July 1955
Correspondence
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