AERIAL INCIDENT OF 27 JULY 1955
(ISKAEL 7).HL'I,(I;A4;I'NI'fET) STATES01; XJIERlC;\
7JBUI~(.;AI<;AI~XITEI~I~IXC;I)OAv.imx;ir<r;i)
INCIDENT AÉRIEN DLJ 27 JUILLET 195j
S.
P5 au- -4w 4)
(- 7 - 3. REQUET IE TRODUCTIVE D'INSTANC AEU NOMDU
3. APPLICATION INSTITUTING PROCEEDIN OGNSBEHALFOF
THE GOVERNMENTOF THE UNITED KINGDOMOF GOUVERNEhIEKD TU ROYAUME-UNIDE GRANDE-BRETAGNE
ET D'IRLAKDEDU NORD
GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
FOKEIGX OFIKE,
Londres, S. W. I.
No\~cnibcr 19, 10 57. Lc 19 novembre 1957.
Sir, 3loiiçicur le Greffier,
1 have the honour to rcfer to Article 40 (1) of tlic Statiitv of tlicb
J'ai l'honricur de lnc ri.fi.1-cr ;Ll'article 40 (1) du Statut de la
International Court of Justice and Article 32 (2) of tlic Iiiilcs of Cour i~iterriatiunale de Jiisticc et à lJ:i~;ticle32(2) du I<Cglcmcntclc
Court and, by direction of Hcr hlajcsty's 1'riiicil):il Srcrc.t:ir!r of la Cour ct, d'ortlrc di1 SCcrct:iirc d'Et;it principal de Sa hlajesté
State for Foreign Affairs, to siibniit ;in App1ic;itioii institutiiig aux LAflairckscl.tr;ing;>rcs,de soiiniettrc uiie rcqiiîitc i~itrocluctivc
proccedings in the name of the United I<ingtloiii of <;rt.;it 13ritaiii ci'instnncc ail iioiii tliilia!-:~iimcb- Lc-(;1-aridc-13rctagrit>c.td'Ir-
and Northern lreland against thc I'coplc's Rcl,iil>lic of 13iilg;iria landc du Wortl contr-c I:t1ii.l)iil)licliic~ic)l)iilrlccBulgarie dans
in the follouring circumstances. les circonsti~nccs ci-aprus :
2. On July 27, 1955, a Constellation aircraft, rc~gistcrc(1iiiiiiil~cr 2. Lc 27 jiiillct 1jJ, 111:i\.i(.)ii(tyl~eConstcllatiuii irnniatriciili)
4 X-AKC, oivncd and operatcd by El Al Isriicl -Air-Liiics Ltd., sous lc no 4 S-AIX, ripp:irtt.narit :Lla (I:'Z;i lsracl -4irLilrcsLtrz'.
~vlien flying on a schcduled passenFer fliglit froin 1.oncloii to Tc1 et exploité 1)ar cllc, ;il1coiir.; d'uii vol comiiiercinl rbgulicr entrc
Aviv, deviatcd in bad weather slightly off its coiirse I)ct\i.t~cii Londrcs ct l'c~l-A\.i\.,s'cst l'gihrcniciit Ccnrtcde sii route par niailvais
Belgrade and Salonica, and iiiadvtrteiitly crossctl tlic I3iilgn1-i:iii teinl)s ïiitrc 13c~l~i-;i~cl.tt~S:il()iii(liic ;i, 1~~sii~~g;irclc,l);iss(l la
frontier. \ITitlioiit "113~sufficicnt wnrning hcing gi\.thii, tlic Coiisti~l- frontii!rc l)iil~;ii-tC;;i11sclii'lii;i\-crtiss~int~iltsuffis;i~it liii :lit ;te
lation aircraft nxs tlien nttackctl 111U . ulgariari figlitcr airci-af,aiit1 doniii., l'a\-iotli.tj-l)~.('otisti~l1:it;i:ilors i)tCattnqii6 par l'a\-intioii
was hrouglit do\vii iri flaincs n fc\\. miles \vitliin t 11th13itIqi1-i11 dc cli;isscl1)iilg;ir-ct,:Li>til:il)ttii (IIf1:iriiiiis (1ii(~1(1ucsniillct1~
frontier. Tlicrc. wcre 011 board at tlic tiinc of tliis incitlciit, fift!.-oiit> la froiitii1rci1)iiIg;irrlii iiionic~nt( 1 cet iiiciclcnt, cinqii:intc ctilri
passcngcrs ancl a crc\v of scvcn, al1of wlioin wcre killc(1.:Ill ~)crso~i;il pass";ig~'r~~t 1111i'(1lii~);lg(i(11'svl)t llli~l1t:bti-c)ii\.nic~;i.l~orclct
effects and frciglit carricd on the aircraft wcre conil~lctcly dest roj-c(l. tous ont Et6ti1i.s.Toiis les cffets l~crsonnc~le st la cargaisori de l'aviori
The pilot of the aircraft and tlire(: of the passcngvrs wcrc I3ritibli ont 6ti. conili1i:tc~ini~itiltCtriiits. I,c pilote di)l'avioii ct trois passagc.rs
subjects who ivcrc citizens of the Cnitccl liingtlotii :ind ('oloiiitbs; étaient siij(1ts 1)rit;innirliit~s.rcssi)rtiss:i~i(111lioj-aiimc-LTni et de
part of the freight carricd on board \vas owncd by citizciis of tlic scs Co1onic:s ;ilritpiirtic tlii frtt transporté app:irtcn;iit i des ressor-
United Kingdo111and Colonies. tissants tlii lio~.:iiiriit:-lc hclc!scs Coloiiics.
3. On July 30, 1955, Hcr Majcsty's Cliargk (l'i\flair<hsiii Suli:i
3. Lc :{O jiiillc>i<)jg, le cl1;irgi.<l':iffaircsdc Sa Jlajesti. :L Suiiii
addressecl a Notc (sec hnncs I in tliis ilpplication) to tlic I3iilg:lriaii a adrcssib ail iiiiiiistrc\ tltls ;lf't'airt:si.triiislc I3iilgriric iinc note
Minister of Foreign ilffairs, yrotesting at tliis ;ictiori :~ritlrtqiiestiii;: (nnncsv 1) l)rot(~slant (.oiit~ctlttc :icticiiict clciii;iii(laiit unc rcparil-
appropriatc redress. On August 4, 1055, tlic Bulgariuii 3Iiiiistcr of tien :i(l<~li~:~tId(>4 :io<it 10.55,l iininistrc ilcs Afiaires i.tri~iigi~rc~s
Foreign Affairs ;rdtlrcssed to Hu hlajcstjr's Cli;irgi. d'iISiairi.siii (le 13~il~:ii-i:i :i~li.c~ssi~ cIi;ii-gi~cl';ii.S;icl(>Si1 AIaj~>st( :i Sofia
Sofia a Reply (sec Annes 2 to this ill~plication) in \vIiicli it w;is uilc r61)oiisc*(;iiiiiox2) oii il i1(~1;1ri;(11e
stated that
"Les forccs de la défense anti-aérienne biilgarc ont fait ((I,cs forccs clc la tiihfcnsc.anti-acriennc bulgare ont fait
preuve d'une certaine hâte et n'ont pas pris toutes los iiiihsiircs ~)rcu\.c d'iiiic ccrtaiiie Iiitc c.t n'ont pas pris toutes les mesures
nécessaires pour contraindre l'avion à sc sounictti-i: ct ;L n6ccssnircs 1)oor coiitrniiiclre l'al-ion i se soumcttrc et i
atterrir." atterrir. ))
See Part IV, Cov~espo)tde~zccSectic~iC, So. 1.
1 \'o~r (,j~~~itr~i~~iIi'C.ot ~c~po~/~/~iSc( t1o1C, 11'1. APPLICATION OF UNITED KINGDOXI (22 SI 57)
35
The same Note expressed the profound regret of the Bulgarian Cette note exprimait le profond regret du Gouvernernent ct du
Government and people for the catastrophe resulti ng froni tlie peuple bulgares pour la catastroplic causée par l'action des forces
and stated that the Bulgarian bulgares et dkclarait qiic le Goii\:crnemc nt bulgare
action of the Bulgarian forces,
Government
"est prêt à assumer le dédommagement dû à leurs fainilles ((est prîtt i assumer 1t.kclEc1oinm;igcincnt dû à leurs farnillcs
ainsi que sa part de l'indemnitk des dégâts mat6ricls". ainsi que sa part clc I'iritlc~nniti. clebsdcg:its riiûtéricls )).
4. In a Note dated March 12, 1956 (see Anncs 3 to tliis Appli- 4. ])ans tinc riotc c1:iti.odi1 12 riiars 1956 (nrinesc 3), lc niiriistrck
cation), Her Majesty's Minister at Sofia presentcd to tlic I3ulg:iriari de Sa hlrijesti. à Sofia a ~)rcs'iitC iiiiriiinistrc dcs /Iffaires ktrangères
Minister for Foreign Affairs the claim of the (;overnmc~it of tlic% de Bulgaric la rCclar-nation forinii1i.c par le Gouvcrncnicnt du
United Kingdom against the Government of tlie I'eoyle's I<cl)iil)lic Koyaiirnc-Uiii coiitrcb 1cGoil\-ctrncmcnt clcbla li6piil)liqiic popillaire
of Bulgaria for compensation totalling ÇgS,SGq. I .5tl. in rcspcct of dc Hiilgaric. rclati\~~ r'l iilitr6p:ir;ition sc rnoritarit à I: 58.869.II. jd.
losses sustained by citizcns of the United Tiingtlom and Colonics pour lcs ~~ortc~s sii1)ic.s piir clc>src~ssortissants tlii Iioyaurnc-lTni
as the rcsult of the shooting down of thc Constel1;ition liircriift oii et de scbsC'oloiiicbs ;'L1;isilitt' (1~'1;~(lc~tr-~ictiolide l';~\'ioii(1~t~~l)c*
July 27, 1955. This sum rcpreseiited compensritiori for Constcll:itio~i, 1 c b27 jiiillt>t r055. ('c'ttel so~iini(~rc~pr6wnt;~it 1;~
réparat' 1011
(a) pecuniary loss sustained by the relatives, bcing citizcris of a) des pertes tl'ordrc. pbciirii;iirv siibics par lcs membres des
the United Kingdom and Colonies, of the persons killecl; familles clebs1)crsoriries t~ii.~s, cils-iiiC~iics rcssortissarits di1
1ioyriiiriic'-L-riict (le>selsColonies ;
(b) loss of bagage and persona1 effccts of citizcns of the C'nitccl b) dc la pc)rtc clcs lxig:ig,.c> cd effvts pcrsonncls (les ressortissants
Kingdom and Colonies aboard the aircraft ; di1 Itoy-riiiriitb-1-rii>tcl(>scbsColni~ics,à bord clc l'aviori;
(c) loss of cargo owned by citizens of thc Unitcd Iiingclorn niicl c) de 1:il)c>rtctblcs iri:ii-cli:iritlisc\s;~~)p:irtc.iiiide.srcssortisc;;ints
Colonies. (lu I<oj-;minc~-L-ncit tlcbsc.sColonies.
Repeated attempts have bcen made through the diplornatic clianncl Des efforts ri,l)6tihsont Ctt! faits, p:ir 1ri \-oie>diplornaticlue, poiir
to reach a satisfactory scttlcment of tliis claim, tlie anioiint of \\.liicli aboutir riiiri ~-i~glc~iitic~s;riitisfiiis:iiit clc cchsri.cl;irn:itioris, port:tri
was assessed in accordri~ice witli rccognised ~,riricil~lcsof iritclr- sur ilri ~iioiit;iritcliii :i iltc i,\.;iliiC co1iform61iicrit :L dcs pririci1)c.s
national law. Tlie Govc'rniiicnt of tlic l'eople's 1Ccpiil1licof I3iilg:ii.i;~ rccoririils cl(cli-oiti~it~~i-~i;~tioiilrx~l. ;oii\-c~rtic't~ic(~ltcit1;il<bp~il)li(liic~
appear now, however, to have repiidiated liallilitv for tlic sliootiiig p0pul;iiri: tlth I3iiI~iiric~sc~iiil)lc.,c.c~l)e~ritl;~i;iit\,.oir ii ~)r~sc.ritrcljcti*
down of tlie Constellatioxi aircraft, arid instead of offcriiig coiiil,cri- la.rcspoiis;~l)ilitibtlc'1,~clc~.stsiictioicilcI',L\.iorid~i t~.l)cCoiistcl1,ition
sation on the basis of the losses actually sustaincd, have ~)rol)~sctl, et, au 1ic.ucl'olfrir iiric ri,l)iiratioii calciilCc1siir la Inse cles pcrtcls
without prejudice to the question of responsibili ty, an c.z-gvu ftc effectivenicnt siibie1s,il a 1)i-ol)osCs ,riris prCjiidicv dc 1;icl~ifitiioride
payment of 56,000 transferable levas iii respect of eacli victirii of rcsponsal)ilitC, iiii1)aicniciit cv.r3cvll llhl50.000 lc\.as tra~isft:rablc~s,
the incident. This amount is quite inadeqiiate ancl iri no \va>.rcprcb- pour cliaciiric dos victi~ncs (le\1';iccicle~ritC . chttcsonimc est tout r'i
sents the losses involved. No offer at al1 lias becri made iii rc'spc\ct fait i~isiiffis;iritvc1t richcorrc~spo~iclcri iiiicunc. 1nanii.r-caux pcrtcs
of the British owned freight carried in the aircraft. subies. ~Iiic-iincoftrcl ii';~<btcfilitchcil cc cliiiconcc.riie 1t.sriiarcliaii-
dises tr;iiisl)c)rti1c.sfans I';i\-ion, cliiict :iiciit propri6tC britanniclilch.
5. In the absence of any proposais 1)y tlie Govcrrimcnt c~ftlic 5. Ici11'al)licbncc c l tc~iitc1i)rol)ositio~ii~iiianririttlii Goii\.c'riic~invrit
People's Kepiiblic of Bulgaria for a scttlciilcrit iii confor~iiit il \vili de la I<(~l)iil~liitl 1))1)1il:iii-c~ f3iilg;iric1)oiir1111i-i~glc~~i~cc\o~riitf,orr~i(~
international laiv of the clairn prcsentcd by tlie (;o\~cr~i ricbit of tlie. au clroit iritc~~.iiatioii;~ 1,0s r-~~cl;~~ii;~til~)r6iscriti~~sp;ir le Goil\-cbr-
United Kingdorn, the latter Govcrriineiit consiclcrs tli:it ;L r1isl)iitcb ncincnt t1ii I\lo!.,iiiiiic~-l'icc, tlc~r-iiicoii';i~l;~r-ct~i'ilcsistc iin clif-
exists within tlie contexnplation of Article 36 (2) of tlic Statiitc. of férclridcbritrcblc. 1<o!-aiiriic>-Yiicit 1;i Bulgarie) rclc\-arit de l'rirticle -30
the Court between tlie United ICingdorn and Uulgaria. Tliis clisi)iitc* (2) (111 C;t:itiitc l cla (70ii~-. ('c' tliffihrc'ndrissiiltc dv la tlcstriictioii
arises out of tlie shooting down by Biilgarian figlitcr aircraft oii par l':il-iritioii cl(,c11;isx~I)iilg:~rc~1,~27 jiiillc~t1(1.55 ,lYiin:i\-iori ci~vil
July 27, 1955, of an unarmed civil riircraft innocc'ntly oi-c~i--!I~-irig non arnib siii-\.ol;int iiii~oc-c~ni~iic~ le>ittc~rritoirc.hiilgarch(airisi qii'il
~ul~arian territory (as set out in parngrapli 2 of tlic ~Ircsriit A\l)l)li- est (lit :III1);ir:igr-;il)l2 clc 1:i ~~1-~~~tl r(vl~~Ct(>:)l,te qilc le (ioiil-cr- 36 APPLICATION OF UNITED KINGDOM (22 XI 57)
cation), which the United Kingdom Government claims to liavc been nemcnt du Iioyaurnc-Uiii soutient akroir Cté répréhensible et
wrongful and contrary to international law and practice; and oiit contraire ail clroit intcrnational et à ln pratique intcrnationalel ; et
of the failure of the Govcrnment of the Pcople's Rcpiiblic of Bul- de ce que le Goiivcr~icnicnt dc lri 1ii.piiblitliic populiiircl de Uii1g;iric~
garia to admit responsibility for tliis act and to proviclc ridi~lii;itc na 1:s lriis s rs~islilit~ polir CC~ ;icte t.t n'cii a pas (lciiini.
compensation tliercfor in accordancc witli rccogiiisccl princil)lc~s dc rCl';iratiun :idi~lii:it ch ç()iiforiiii.riictiails l)riiicipc>srclcoiiiiiis clii
of international law. droit iritcrriatioiial.
6. The Court has jurisdiction to deterrninc tlic dispiitc submitted 6. La Coiir cst coi-ril)i.tciitc~Iloiir conii:iîtrc du clifférciid ri elle
to it by the present Application. 130th the United Iiingdorii arid soumis par la présente i-ccluî.tcl.Le I<oj-:tuiiic-L-iiiot la Bulgarie ont,
Bulgaria have made declarations acccpting tlic conipiilsorj. jiiris- l'un ct l'autrc, accc.11ti.1;~ juriclictioii o11lig:itoirc.clcl1;iCoiir. L1accc~)-
diction of the Court. The Unitcd I<ingdoiii acccptancc of tlic tation par le I<o~-:~~ii~ic~-' dIb~li jiiri(1ictioii obligatoire dc la Coiir
compulsory jurisdiction of the Court is containcd in the L)ccl:lration est formiilcc d;iiis la tli.c.Iaratioii tlil IS a\-ri1 1957, rei-iiplaqaiit la
dated April 18, 1957, rep1;icing tlie ~)rc\~io~is1)ccl;ir;ition of d6claratiori niitCric~iire~ elii .;r oct01)rcbI<).j,j, ct s'n1)l)liclii:int ails
Octobcr 31, 1955, and coveri~ig tlispiitcts arisirig ;iftcbrT;c~l)rii;ir~j. diffi.rcrids 1ii.b:iprCs le1.j fibi.i-ic.rI~).;o, conccbriiant clcs sitiiatio~is
1930, ivith regard to sitiiations and facts subscqiiciit to tli~~tclcite>. et dcs faits 1)osti>ric1iir"h 1c*cbtt (1;itc'.1,;iI<iily;lr-iil ;icex~~)t~6~iir-criit~rit
Bulgaria's acceptaricc of tlic coiill)ulsor~-jiiristlictio~i of tlic Coiirt is et si~nl)lc~i~lci ltt ji~~-itIi~tioo~i)Iig;itoiso Iii(.oiir, l (20 jiiillc~t102 r ,
unconditional, and was ~i-i:iclocn .Jiily 29, 10.21, n.1iciitlic i~ibtriiiiichiit à 1'occ;isioii tliiclibl)Gt ilch I'i~ibt~-ii~ll((le'r;ltilic;itio~i l);l1;i I3iilg:~ric~
di1 l)i-c)toc (le>tlc sigii;~t111-c(le>1:~ (-0111-1)e~i-~ii;~rii*CritL,-iistic~ciiitcr-
of Bulgaria's ratification of tlic 1'1-otocolof Sigi1atiii.i. of tlichI'c.r~ii;l- nationalc, ot ccltte. ;1cccb )lt~ioii cbt tle~\.i~iiiicf'tvcti\.c r'l1'Cg:irtldel
nent Court of International Jiisticc \vas dcpositc\(l, ancl I~.c;i~ii'
effective as to tlie juristliction of the Intcrnationiil ('oiirt of .liisticcb, la jiiritlictioii el(> 1;i ('oiii- iitt.1-ri;ti)11;~1c' (1.Justicc~ ;111s t(>rnlcs del
by virtue of Article 93 (1) of tlie Cliartcr of tlie LTriiteclS;ltioiih xi(1 l'articlr 9.3 (1) clt>1;~C'li;li-tctlc.5Satioiih I-nit.:, et c l l'article .;O(5)
Article 36 (5) of the Statute of tlic Court, ori tlic date of 13iilg,rai-i;~'.s di1Statut clc 1;it'oiir, il ln elate tic*1':icliiii~sioiiclcla 13ulg:iriclcoiliiiie
admission to mcmbcrsliiy of the Vnitcd Sations. RIcni1)r-cdcbsSatic ,115 L-nie-S.
7. Altcrnati\7cl~-, the United 1l;ingdom Go\,crnn~c>tii Iic~ri.l,~. 7. Siil.)sitli:ii lrcC ~;oii\.~~rriir~,ic~dit Koj.aiiiiic-L-ni dCcliirc
submits specifically and unconditionally to tlic juriscliction of tIIV par la j)ri!schiitc;b~ccc!l)ters~)i.cifitliic!~ncnc tlt piirc!~ncntct simp1crni:nt
Court for al1 tlic yiir-poses of the l)rc>scnt clisputcb, iiricl iii\.okc:, la juricliction Iiit'oiir ;LI~S lins clil 1)ri.sent tliffCrcnd, et il iii\.ocliic.
Bulgaria's iincontlitiorial ricccptancc of thcl ('0111-t'scoriil)iil.soi-y llacccyt:itioli l)iii.cc.tsi~iil)lt1x11 I;L131ilh;irict.ic.I;ijiir-iclictioiio1)li~:i-
jiirisdiction, cflecti\.e in tlie niriniicr clcsci-i1)c.d iii tlii~ l)r<~cc(liii~ toirc: (le:1iit'oiii-,;it-c.c~l)tiitioioritliitc~lYccti\.c tc.1:~ iii;iriii>rcintlicliitlc
au p;ir;lgs;il)l~clj~rCcCtli:r it
paragraph .
8. Subject to the directions of tlie Court, tlic L7nitcrl Itirigtloin S. Soiis ri~s(~r\-c (~~siiistriictioiis clt!1;~(..(-)iir,le>~ioiii-c~r~ic~riic ~lilt
Governrnent will, in subsequent writtcr-i. or oral plc:~din~s, riloi-cb , l<oyailiiic~-[-~iiibsl)os(br;l1)11is (>~i c1't:~ilc1;~iislcs Ccritiirc>sc>tplai-
fully set out tlie issues of fact and the issues of la\v for.th(. ~)iirposv doiries (~iiisiii\.rc)rit 1c.~)oirit..; elf;iitrt il<.clroit, nliii cli.~.icr~iic.ttrc
à la t'(.)iir c.10tr;iriclit>r lis (liic~stioi~~so~ilc\-i.c~s i1;liis 1:i l.~r~si:~itc:
of enabling the Court to deterniine the mattcrs raiscc1in thcl prcsciit
Application, and will ask tlic Court- rcquCtc\, cbtil tlc~iii:i~i~l~~i-;1;~(Toii~-:
(a) to declarc that the Peoplcs' Govcrnmcnt of 13iilxaria is rzj tlc cli~c.l;ii-~1~0~.;i~ii\~c~siii'iiic:(le'la 1<6publiclucpopulriirc tic:
rcsponsiblc to the Gai-crnmcnt of tlicb Vnitc.t1 liiiigtloiii 131iI~;iric rt~s~)(.)~is:ili~ll1<-g.iixc-ltili(;oiii-e!rrie~ii~duitl<o~-;ii~iiiit-
under iritcrnational lalv for thc losscs siistriiric.tlII!. citizciis l.:iii,c.11 i.chr.ti(111 (11-oitiiitcrriatiorial, c1c.spertes siibicls p;tr
of the United 1l;ingdorn arid Colonies bj- rc>:isonof tlii: clcb;ltli t1c.si-cssortic;s;i~its tliiI<oj-aiiiiic~-l'nict clc ses Co1onic.sdu filit
of p(l~-sonsc~'n board the Constcllritio~i air-cr;ift or1 .Jiil~-27, (le la iiioi-t ( l ~);issi~gc~s (stl lJ:i\-ioii cl(!t?-pc~~~c)~istc~Il~itio 1ii,
27 jiiillvt I0.j.j; tlc nii.mc clut' de. la pcrtt: d'cffets ~)c.rsoniie~ls
1955; as nvcll as for the loss of persona1 offccts antl frc~iglit
owned by citizens of tlie Vnitctl Iiingtlorii liritl ('olo~ii~s et tlc frc't(lui ;ipl)artcwai(..nt 11closressortissaiits (lu 1io~~aiiiiic~-
which werc carried on that aircraft ; L'ni (it (.listhsColonic>s.ot (1 11i.tr;i~isl)~~;-ltit cet ai-ion ;
(b) to award darnages in favour of the Govcrnrnciit of tlio I-iiitchtl
I<ingdoin against the Govcrnmcnt of tlicbI'col~lct'si<c~l)iil)lic APPLICiiTION OF UNITED IiINGDOJI (21 SI 57)
37
of Bulgaria in the amount of X58,86g. II.gd. with interest, popul;iire clc Hulgaric pour la somme de X 58.S6g.11 5d., plus
and any such other reparation and redress as the Court lnay lcs intCrcts, ainsi qiié lcs autres rtparations et remèdes qiic
deem appropriate, including the award of costs against thc la Cour jugera ;~p~)sol)riCs , cconil)rislcs frais de la proci.durc,
Government of the People's Kepublic of 13ulgaria. coiitrc Ic (;oii\.c.riicnic~ritclc la I<épiiblicluc populaire dc.
B~ilgarie.
I have, etc.
(S~~IIEII)). A.\ C. ~U*~TI<KIL)GI,
Agcnt of thc Go\lcrnincnt of rlgcnt clii Gouvt.rnément du
tlic Knitctl I<iiigdoti~ 1Coyaiirne-Uni. NOTE VEICBALE 01;ilUGUST 4, 1955, FROI11THE
Annexesto the Applicationof the Governmentof the United King-
dom of Great Britain and NorthernIreland BULGLIRIAN XIIXISTI<Y FOR 1;ORI~IGN AFI7AIKS TO
HEIC l3I<ITANNIC MA JESTY'S I,EG:ITION IN SOI;Irl
NOTE OF JULY 30, 1955, 1;ICOR.I HEIC BRITANNIC
MAJESTY'S CHARG~ DIAI;l;AIRES IN SOIiIA TO THE
MINISTER FOR 1;OREIGN AZ;1;A4111S 01; THE 11'E(.)1'1,15'5
IIEPCBLIC 01; I3I'LGilllI;l Le Ministère des :Iffaires 6trangt'rc.s de la République popiilaire
de Bulgarie présc~ite ses coriiplinicrits à la Légation royale dc
Grande-13rctajine à Sofia et, cn réponse à la lettre de Monsieur le
Chargé d'Affaires de Grande-Bretagne cri date du 30 juillet a. c.,
Monsieur le hlinistre, et d'ordre de son Gouvcrncmcnt, a l'honneur de communiquer ce
qui suit:
1 have been instructed by Her I3rit;innic l1;ijcstj~'s 1'riiicil)al De 1'ciiquCtc par la Corni~lisçion goii\rcrnementale s~Gciale il
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to dcliver a strong protest a étéCtabli d'iirie rnriniilrc incoritcstal~lc cc qiii suit:
on behalf of Her 3lajcsty's Gover~imciit iri thc rilitcc1 l<ingclo~n
against the unjustitia1)le action of Biilgarian forces in sliootiiig Lc 27 jiiillct a. c.ri7 11.IO teiiips local, l'ai-ion de la Conipagriic
down an unarmed civil aircraft on tlic. 27th of Jiilj-. 'l'licir ;ictioii de navigation abricnnck d'Israi;l (1El ));L pi.nétr6 dans l'cbspacc
resulted in the loss of the lives of fi\-e United Iiirigclotii 13riti.sli aérieiibiilgrircbdans la rCgioiitlc 1;i\villedc -l'rti,sans auciin pr6ni.i~.
siibjects, four Canadian rlationals aiid four Soiitli r1fric:~iin:~tioiiiils. Après avoir pcnCti-C :L40k111c11profo~id~~ur1 ,';iviona siiri-olC Ics
Her Majesty's Go\-cr~irncritcatiriot acccpt tliat any (;o\.cr~iiiic~rit is villes de Hrc~z~iik,I<:itlc)~ni~-,;t;irik)iiilt~-O\-, 3liigoc\-grad et iri
within its rights iii shootin;: do\\.iirici\-il aircraftin titiicof ~)i~:icc~, continu6 ail siicl. I:i\.olc ail-tlos.siis tl~itcri-itoir-c 1)~iIchiivirori
200 kni.
and demancl punislirncnt of those rcsl)onsiblc. Au sud cle la \.illc de StririkC-I>iriiitrov, l'avioti a étéiritcrce1)té
Her MajcstyJs Govcrnriltmt 1iai.c. notcbcl tliat tlic 13ulfiriiriii1i par deus chassc~irs biilgrirc~s(lui ont rcqii l'ordre de lc contraindru
Government liavc cspressecl regret for the action of tlichirforcchs h atterrir c1aris(~iit~lq:icr-oport I)iilg:ir-c~.
and tliat a Conitnissio~iof ICncluirj~lias bc\ciisot up. Tliq- 1iol)ctliat
the Cornmission's rcport niIl be produccd ivitlioiit cl(h1;~a~ii tli:it 1 Les cliassciirs orit iiiw-ti lJa\-iori, conforniih~~icntaux rilgleniciit~
will bc furnished with a copy, a~icliilformed of tlic stc.1)~t:ikc.ri to intcrnatiori;iux ctal~lis, tl'nttc~rrir. JI;ilgr6 cc fait, il ric s'cst pas
avoid a rcpetition of this tragcdy. soumis, rnriis a corititiii<ii\.ole)r\*ersle sud, cssri!-:irit de s'c~~ifri
1 am finally instructed to rescrvc al1 riglits on 11cli:ilf of Hckr travers la froiitifre bu1g:ir.o-grcccliic.
hlajesty's Governmerit in tlic United I<ingdom, Ca~iritla:iiirl tlicl Dans ccs circoiistriricc!~, 1t.s clciis c1i:issc~iirsclchsforccts clcl la
Union of South Africa in tlie rnatter of coiiipi_.nsatiorifor tlic Ioss dbfensc aiiti-aCriciiric 1)ulg:ir.c(latis cette 1-égio~iC, tontii's p;ir 1:i
conduite (lc l'aviori, ont oii\-crt le fcii, cri rriisoii clecliioiun pcii plils
of British, Ca1i:iclianand South Africar: livcs. tard, il a pris fcii cbtcbsttoriil~i.c1:iris1:ircgioii dc la \.ille tlc 1'Ctritcl-i.
1 have, etc. Adoptant 1ri co~i(:liisiori dc 1:i Cornrnission gouverncine~itale
(Sig~zl$) -1.~I(:~~I-:xzIIc.
spéciale, c1i;irgCc.tl'cricliiCtt~ le: cas, lu (;oii\~crncmcnt biilgnrc.
admet cliicbIc>sc:~iisc.s cliiin:illic~iircus accidcrit avec l'avion clc
«El Al )se rCsiirnciit tlrins cc cliiis:iit
I. L'avioii s'est 6cartC de so~iitir-i'r-;~ii.ci,l rivioléIr1fronticrc:
d'État de Biilgaric ct, sliiis ouciiri prCn\-is, a ~>i'nEtprofonclCmcnt
à 1'intéric.iircl(. I1csl~:icc:iCrii1iilg:irc.Iliiiii (l'outillagcs tlc na\-i-
gatiori n61-icnriyparfait.;, il ii'a pas nq1';ts voir qu'il avait !viol&
la frontiibr-ccl'lCti~t1)iilg;irCtiie.:il)i-Usa\'oir 4tC riircbrti,il nc s'cst 4O ANNEXES TO U.K. .4I>l'I,ICATION (NO. 2)
pas soumis, mais a continué à voler vers le sud dans la directioii
de la frontière bulgaro-grecque ;
2. Les forces de la défense anti-aérienne bulgare ont fait preuve
d'une certaine hâte et n'ont pas pris toutes les mesures nCccssaircs
pour contraindre l'avion à se sounicttre et à atterrir.
Le Gouverncnicnt bulgare croit niicessairc clc fairc obscn-or
également la circonstance que, au cours de iionibrcus~s riniiFcs,
n'observant pas la souveraineté de la IiCpublique populaire dc
Bulgarie, certains milieus se permettaient dc violcr sjvstCmatiquc-
ment les frontières bulgares. l'eiidant les dcrnièrcs anniics cii Hul-
garie ont &téenrcgistr6s maints survols ill6gaiis des frontiCros
bulgares de la part d'avions ide nationaliti. incoiiriue r. Lors dc 1 liai-cbtlic: lioiiuiii- to rofthi-to tlic Sotcl of Hcr 3I:ijcst!l's Çliargi'
ces survols ill~gausl en terri toirc bulgare Ctaieiit p;iracliu t6s tlcs d'Affaires of tlic .:otli of .\III!-,I9-55,co~icc'r~iing tlichsliooting (Io\\.li
diversionnistes, munis d'armcs, de statioiis dc rriclio ct cl'aiitros on tlic 27th of .Jiil!.of ai1 iiiiiii-iiiecilvil;iii-ci-;ift\i.itli tlicl Ioss of:il1
matériaux. Le Gouverncnierit clc la I<Cl)ul)licliie po~)iil:iirch(le
perçons ori I)o;ircl, iiritlto IWoiir- I<sce~ll~~iic!.S 'stchNo. +So.; of the.
Bulgarie a protest; à plusieurs reprises auprcs du SccrCtnri;it tlc 4th of rliifiiist iii \\.hicli !.oii c.sl)~-(~ss(v tllicb1'1-ofoiiiidrtbgri.t c)f tlic.
l'organisation des Nations L'nics, cc (lui, inallieiii-ciise~iiic~t, ii'a Bulgarian Go\.c~rriiiic~ t i;iiicl 1 )1)1tbfoi- tlit> c-:it:~strol)liclrt>sii1iiig
donné aucun résultat. Tout ccla cr6ait une :ittriosl)lii.rc~tcncliicb(l~i from tlic. :ict.ioii of 1Siil~:ii-i;iiforcc.5, ;iii(lst;ltcl(l tliiitt l i13iiIg;iri;iii
imposait la prise de mesures pour la sauvcg;~r(lc cl(. la s6ciiritb clil Govcriinitbrit "chst 1)rCt ;L ;issi111ior (~~~(IoII~I~I;L~ ~liI;I'II(~>irs
l'État. C'est dans une p;lrcillc atriiosl>lihre tcii(1oc~(lii'c>stclci7c1ii1i farriillcs ;iiiisi (1"''s:i ]);~-t ( 1 I'iii~lc~irii0itilclsclC,$itsni;itcric.ls".
possible le malheureus accident avec l'a\ri«ii isr;ii.licri.
1 ~ioivli:~\-(> thcl lioiioi~~-,111i(l(.briiistl-i~ctions fsoiii HcbrlI;~jc~st~-'s
Le Gouvernemcrit et le peuple bulgares csprinicrit iine fois tlcb I'rincil-)al 5e~crcbt;iryof St iitcb f()i-1;oi-c~igrii\ft'nir-s,to ~,rcsciit Htlr
plus leurs profonds regrets pour ce grand iiiallicur (lui a cnusF 1;~ Najcsty'c; (;o\-c1riinic.ii's cl;iiiii foi- coiii~)i~nsation,\vliicli lins 1)r~c~ii
mort de personnes complbternent iiiiioceiitcs. Le Goui7criicinciit arrivctl ;LI ;ift($~-;~~-(hf ~CIl11in!- ;111(1 ;LSS~~SSIIICI~an(l to rc(111~'s it;s
bulgare désire ardemment cluc de pareils nialliciirs iic sc ri:l)i.tcliit full aritl tw-1~- si~ttlt~niïritII!-tlic. Uiilgarinii (;o\.c.rnnivnt. Tlie: C1;iiiii
jamais plus. Il fera établir et punir les pcrsoiincs coiil);il>lcstlc: 1;i
is co111l~)st:~ ;LS foll()\YS:
catastrophe survenue avcc l1a\?ioriisraClicn ct il prc~ri(lr:itoi1tt.s Ics ((t) 1:or l)(~.-i~~ii;ir1!-5ss~~l'f(bi-1 e~.)ltlio f;~iiiiIic:sof >Ir. -1. 13r:iss,
mesures nécessaires pour qiic de parc'illcs c:ttnstrol~lic~s iicb sib ll:~stt11-(.. I*.ox\\.oiI.ti>--\\'iii(ls)(\\7i~i;~-('o~ii~ii;lii(lc5. Hiillis,
réphtent plus cii tcbrritoirc 1)iilgnrc~.
Le Gouvcrrierilciit bulgare corilpatit ~)roforicl~~iie tiiaiis 1)arc6rtis iilr. Il. l.;ist(,i- :III(! 311.5.(;. \loi.g:~ii, \\,Iiicli f;iiiiilit~sartbilIl
des victimes et il est prêt à assurer lc cl6doniiiiage~irie1ic tliii lciii-s citizoiis of tliel L7iiitt)cl Iiiiigtloiii :incl ('oloriic\s,tlic. s~irii of
familles, ainsi que sa part de l'indemnitb clestlCg.'itsiri;iti.ricls. ,CcjS,ooo.'l'liis si1111 tl()cbsiiot incliitlc~ :iii!-nnioiirit iii 1-cbsl)clct
of iiiij-tlc~l)t~ii(l;iii\\.lia iii;i!. Iia\.c1t)vcri lcft II!- AIrs. >Ic)rg:iii
\\.lia :irehiiot 131-itislisiil~je~i-ts.
Sofia, le 4 aoîit 1955.
(b) 1:or 1055 of 1)agg;ige.;m(l ~wrsotinl i~i'icctsof thc nbo\-ih 1-ic-
tiriis, \\.itli t tic>tbscc>l)t il of MI-S. (;. JIor~n~i, tlic siiiii of
XSro.
(c) 1;or loss of C;LI-XO o\\.~lch(1l1)'citizc'ii.:of tlic I-iiitt~cll\iiigrloi~i
aritl ('oloiiic1stlicb siiili of s.j'jcj.11.5tl.-1'otal < ~S.SO~.II.jd.
1)cdail5 ()f tliel ('1;iiiii:LI-(:iiliic~xc~l.
1 rc.(luc.sttlint tliis siiin II(,1);iitlt() Hc\r >Iiijc.st!-'s(.;oi*crriinc.iitiri
tlicht-iiitt)(l li ii~g(loiiil1 sttbi-li~ig.. Annex
1 3. Amount claimed in respect 1
Kame of Victim of pecuniary loss arising 3. Val'" of erso on al ' 4. Individual
from death baggage in aircraft Totals
-. - ...- ...-. ..-- -........-.-- .........................................
I
I 5 I 5 i
I. ,IlIr.Jack Bvass 40,000 360 l i
2. ~TlasterC. Fo..czlortlzy-Tt'indsor 1,850 i I 00
1
3. JV,!CommanderS. A. Hilzks l 4,800 2 O0 I
4. Illv.HerbertLastev 9,s50 i 1.50
5. 1 ~Vrs. ovgan 1,500 I Sot a Claim bu Her i
iJlajesty's Government j
n'2
.L\pprosiinately $I ,000. P
2 Total is net and inclildes nothing in rcspcct of tlic ef'fectof, or of possiLlc claims on belinlf of, nny non-Hritish depcndant of
JIrs. Morgan deceased. w
Application Instituting Proceedings