HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA

                                                 Chow Hung Ching

                                                          King

                (Latham C.J.(1), Starke(2), Dixon(3), McTiernan(4) and Williams(5) JJ.)

                                                  6 December 1948

LATHAM C.J.

1. The appellants are two Chinese who were convicted in the Supreme January 1948 a native named
Pondranei, and doing bodily harm to him and unlawfully detaining him in a hut against his will. The
offences were alleged to have been committed at Manus in the Admiralty Islands in the Territory of
New Guinea. The appeal is against the convictions on the ground that the Supreme Court of Papua-
New Guinea did not have jurisdiction to try the charges, inasmuch as the offences, if committed,
were committed by members of an armed force of a friendly foreign power admitted with the
consent of the Government of the Commonwealth into territory under the government of the
Commonwealth. Alternatively, the appellants appealed against the sentences of three months'
imprisonment upon the charge of assault and of six months' imprisonment upon the charge of
detention, as being too severe. (at p458)

2. Under the New Guinea Act 1920, s. 14, the Laws Repeal and Adopting Ordinance 1921 was
enacted, and s. 13 of that ordinance made applicable to the Territory of New Guinea The Criminal
Code Act 1899 of Queensland. Subsequent legislation had not made any relevant alteration. The
offences charged were offences against ss. 339 and 355 of The Criminal Code. (at p459)

3. These appeals are brought before this Court as appeals as of right, and the question was raised
whether it was not necessary to obtain the leave of this Court before an appeal could be heard and
determined. (at p459)

4. Under the Judiciary Ordinance 1921-1938 (N.G.), s. 24, it was provided that appeals from the
Supreme Court of New Guinea to the High Court should be by leave of the High Court. The
jurisdiction of the High Court to entertain such appeals was established in Mainka v. Custodian of
Expropriated Property [1924] HCA 20; (1924) 34 CLR 297 ; Porter v. The King; Ex parte Yee
[1926] HCA 9; (1926) 37 CLR 432 ; and see Jolley v. Mainka [1933] HCA 43[1933] HCA 43; ;
(1933) 49 CLR 242 . (at p459)

5. When the Japenese forces were in occupation of New Guinea the judges of the courts of New
Guinea and of Papua were suspended from their functions and, as the islands were reconquered, a
form of emergency government was established: see National Security (External Territories)
Regulations, regs. 6 and 21. (at p459)

6. By the Papua-New Guinea Provisional Administration Act 1945, s. 16, a single new court was
established for both Papua and New Guinea - the Supreme Court of the Territory of Papua-New
Guinea. It is from this court that this appeal is brought. Section 16 (9) of the last-mentioned Act is
in the following terms: - "The High Court shall have jurisdiction, with such exceptions and subject
to such conditions as are prescribed by Ordinance, to hear and determine appeals from all
judgments, decrees, orders and sentences of the Supreme Court of the Territory of Papua-New
Guinea, and the decision of the High Court on any such appeal shall be final and conclusive." These
provisions in terms give a right to appeal to the High Court without imposing any condition as to
obtaining leave. But it will be observed that the jurisdiction of the High Court to entertain appeals is
given "with such exceptions and subject to such conditions as are prescribed by Ordinance." No
ordinance has been made since the Act was passed, but it was suggested that s. 16 (8) continued the
operation of the provision in the Judiciary Ordinance to which reference has already been made.
Section 16 (8) provides that: - "Any reference in any law in force in any part of the Territory at the
date of the commencement of this Act, to the Supreme Court of the Territory of Papua or the
Supreme Court of the Territory of New Guinea, or to a Judge, the Registrar or any other officer of
either of those Courts shall, in relation to anything done or to be done after the commencement of
this Act, be read as a reference to the Supreme Court of the Territory of Papua-New Guinea, Judge,
Registrar or other officer, as the case requires, exercising the jurisdiction, power or authority
conferred by or under this Act". This provision, however, refers to the exercise of jurisdiction by the
new Supreme Court or its judges, registrar or other officer, and not to the High Court. Accordingly,
s. 16 (8) does not in my opinion continue the operation in relation to the High Court of the provision
of the Judiciary Ordinance requiring leave to be obtained before this Court can entertain an appeal
from the present court. Further, s. 16 (10) repeats a provision as to presenting an appeal in writing
without oral argument which is contained in the Judiciary Ordinance, s. 24 (4). Such repetition
would be unnecessary if the Judiciary Ordinance still applied. Finally, the word "ordinance" is
defined in s. 3 of the Papua-New Guinea Provisional Administration Act to mean "ordinance made
under this Act". This interpretation must be applied to the word "ordinance" where it occurs in s. 16
(9) of the Act. No exceptions or conditions have been prescribed under any ordinance made under
that Act. Accordingly the High Court had jurisdiction to hear and determine appeals from any
judgment &c. of the Supreme Court of the Territory of Papua-New Guinea. Thus the appeals are
properly brought before this Court as appeals as of right. (at p460)

7. The evidence which was accepted by his Honour Mr. Justice Phillips showed that four Chinese,
believing that cigarettes belonging to them had been stolen by some native, seized the native,
Pondranei, tied his hands behind his back with wire, and conducted or drove him along a road for
some distance. They went into a hut and there they suspended him by electric wire cable attached to
his hands behind his back, and tied to the roof in such a way that his toes just touched the ground.
They left him there and he fainted. He was released at some time later. The two accused were
identified as being among the four Chinese who dealt with Pondranei in the manner stated and
when, after conviction, they made statements, they admitted their complicity in the affair. (at p460)

8. It is contended for the accused that there is a principle of international law which gives immunity
from all local jurisdiction, or at least from local criminal jurisdiction, to members of any armed
force which is present in a State with the consent of the Government of the State. (at p461)
9. His Honour Mr. Justice Phillips held that the principle of immunity did not apply because the
accused were outside of their camp and engaged upon their own affairs when the assault and
detention of Pondranei took place and because the arrest and imprisonment of the two accused
would not interfere with the performance of the duties of the Chinese force of which they were
members. (at p461)

10. When an armed foreign force is in a country in pursuance of an actual agreement between
Governments, the terms of the agreement will govern all questions of jurisdiction which are the
subject matter of agreement. Reference is made to such agreements in Hyde, International Law,
chiefly as interpreted and applied by the United States, 2nd ed. (1947), vol. 1, pp. 819, 820. (at
p461)

11. But in the absence of express agreement the permitted presence of an armed force necessarily
implies some degree of exemption from local jurisdiction, because it would be impracticable to have
the armed force of a friendly power subject in respect of such matters as discipline and internal
administration to the control of the local authorities. I agree that as the representatives of the
Commonwealth Government in Manus were aware of the presence of the Chinese, it must be
assumed that they were so present with the consent of the Government. (at p461)

12. The principle applying to such armed forces is stated in Wheaton, International Law, 6th ed.
(1929), vol. 1, at p. 234, in the following terms: - "A third case, in which a sovereign is understood
to cede a portion of his territorial jurisdiction, was where he allows the troops of a foreign prince to
pass through his dominions. In such case, without any express declaration waiving jurisdiction over
the army to which this right of passage has been granted, the sovereign who should attempt to
exercise it would certainly be considered as violating his faith. By exercising it the purpose for
which the free passage was granted would be defeated, and a portion of the military force of a
foreign independent nation would be diverted from those national objects and duties to which it was
applicable, and would be withdrawn from the control of the sovereign whose power and whose
safety might greatly depend on retaining the exclusive command and disposition of this force. The
grant of a free passage, therefore, implies a waiver of all jurisdiction over the troops during their
passage, and permits the foreign general to use that discipline and to inflict those punishments
which the government of his army may require." This is an application in the case of land forces of
a rule which has been applied to visiting vessels of war and public vessels. There is a well
established rule, internationally recognized and adopted into our municipal law, that the control of
persons and things on such ships while in a foreign port is reserved to the authorities of the ship: see
Pitt Cobbett, Leading Cases in International Law, 5th ed. (1931), vol. 1, pp. 260-274. The basis of
the rule with respect to land forces is to be found, as far as judicial decisions are concerned, in the
case of The Schooner Exchange v. M'Faddon [1812] USSC 15; (1812) 11 US 116, at pp 139, 140 (3
Law Ed 287, at pp 294, 295) ; and see Coleman v. Tennessee [1878] USSC 40; (1878) 97 US 509
(24 Law Ed 1118) ). (at p462)

13. International law is not as such part of the law of Australia (Chung Chi Cheung v. The King
(1939) AC 160 , and see Polites v. The Commonwealth [1945] HCA 3; (1945) 70 CLR 60 ), but a
universally recognized principle of international law would be applied by our courts: West Rand
Central Gold Mining Co. v. The King (1905) 2 KB 391, at pp 406, 407 . (at p462)

14. Where the rule with respect to armed forces applies as part of the municipal law it would give
some degree of immunity from local jurisdiction. But there is a considerable conflict of opinion
between authorities on international law as to the extent of the immunity given. Some writers limit
it in respect of area, and to acts done while the members of the force are on duty and not engaged
upon their own affairs, such as recreation or pleasure: see Oppenheim, International Law, 4th ed.
(1928), par. 445; Lawrence, Principles of International Law, 6th ed. (1915), p. 246, and references
to continental authorities in American Journal of International Law, vol. 36 (1942) 539, at p 546 -
article by Colonel A King on Jurisdiction over Friendly Foreign Armed Forces. The dictum of
Marshall C.J. in The Exchange Case [1812] USSC 15; (1812) 11 US 116 (3 Law Ed 287) would
give exemption from all jurisdiction, both civil and criminal, but the reason of the rule does not
justify so wide an exemption: Wright v. Cantrell (1943) 44 SR (NSW) 45 . (at p462)

15. The uncertainty of the extent of immunity in the case of visiting armed forces is illustrated by
the varying language used by authorities upon international law: for example in Hall, International
Law, 8th ed. (1924), p. 251, the learned author says: - "and it is believed that the commanders, not
only of forces in transit through a friendly country with which no convention exists, but also of
forces stationed there, assert exclusive jurisdiction in principle in respect of offences committed by
persons under their command, though they may be willing as a matter of concession to hand over
culprits to the civil power when they have confidence in the courts, and when their stay is likely to
be long enough to allow of the case being watched." I call attention to the words "it is believed". See
Pitt Cobbett to the same effect - Leading Cases on International Law, 5th ed. (1931), vol. 1, p. 274.
Woolsey, Introduction to the Study of International Law, English edition reprinted from the fourth
American edition, (1875), p. 67, quotes Vattell (iii. 8, s. 130) - "the grant of passage includes that of
every particular thing connected with the passage of troops, and of things without which it would
not be practicable - such as the liberty of carrying whatever may be necessary to an army; that of
exercising military discipline on the officers and soldiers; and that of buying at a reasonable rate
anything an army may want, unless a fear of scarcity renders an exception necessary, when the army
must carry with them their provisions." The learned author continues - "If we are not deceived,
crimes committed along the line of march, away from the body of the army, as pilfering and
marauding, authorise arrest by the magistrates of the country, and a demand at least that the
commanding officers shall bring such crimes to a speedy trial. When the transit of troops is allowed,
it is apt to be specially guarded by treaties." Here again the words "If we are not deceived" show an
absence of certainty in the statement of the rule. See also Travers Twiss, The Law of Nations, 2nd
ed. (1884), Rights and Duties in Time of Peace, p. 271, where the following statement is made: - "if
an Independent Power permit the armed forces of another Nation to pass through its territory, this
permission implies a waiver on its part of all jurisdiction over the troops during their passage
through its territory, and a licence to the commander to maintain that discipline, and to inflict those
punishments, which the government of his troops may require." It will be observed that the extent of
the licence does not correspond with the extent of the waiver. Such a rule would either make no
provision, or at least would leave doubtful what authority could act, in the case of wrongful
interference by a member of the armed forces with civilian inhabitants. There might be interference
with civilian inhabitants which was wrongful according to local law, but which would not affect the
discipline or government of the troops as troops. Accordingly, the licence to the commander to
which reference is made would not authorize action by the commander in such a case, and yet it is
said that there is a waiver of all jurisdiction by the civil power over the troops. (at p463)

16. In Tucker v. Alexandroff [1902] USSC 20; (1901) 183 US 424 (46 Law Ed 264) the court had to
consider a case arising from the dispatch to the United States of America of a number of Russian
naval personnel intended to provide a crew for a ship then under construction. The question which
arose was whether a deserter could be apprehended and held for the purpose of being returned to the
commander of the ship, which had by that time been launched. In the reasons for judgment of the
majority of the court reference was made to the case of foreign troops being permitted to enter or
cross a territory and to the contention that such troops were still subject to the control of their
officers and exempt from local jurisdiction. It was said [1902] USSC 20; (1901) 183 US 424, at p
433 (46 Law Ed 264, at p 269) that The Exchange Case [1812] USSC 15; (1812) 11 US 116 (3 Law
Ed 287) was not authority for the proposition that if the "members of such military force, actually
desert and scatter themselves through the country, their officers are, in the absence of treaty
stipulation, authorized to call upon the local authorities for their reclamation." (In the present case
the group of Chinese who attacked Pondranei had not deserted, but they were three miles away from
their camp and at a native village. If local law did not apply to them it would appear to follow that
the local police could not lawfully have arrested them even if they were found in the act of
committing an assault.) The minority of the court, consisting of four justices, limited the rule of
immunity by saying that it applied only "to an armed force, segregated from the general population
of the country, and lawfully passing through or stopping in the country for some definite purpose
connected with military operations" [1902] USSC 20; (1901) 183 US 424, at p 459 (46 Law Ed 264,
at p 278) . (at p464)

17. In Australia legislation passed during the recent war provided that the authorities of visiting
forces should have jurisdiction over their members in respect of matters of discipline and internal
administration, but nevertheless preserved the jurisdiction of local civil (as distinct from military)
courts: see National Security (Allied Forces) Regulations, regs. 3 and 4. This latter provision (reg.
4) cannot in my opinion properly be construed as preserving such jurisdiction subject to an
exemption of members of visiting forces from that jurisdiction in all criminal cases. So to construe
reg. 4 would imply an exemption wider than that expressly granted by reg. 3. Regulation 6
contained a special provision that, under certain conditions, members of the United States Forces
should "cease to be subject to the jurisdiction of the Criminal Courts in Australia" - a provision
which assumes that such jurisdiction would exist apart from this special law. In Great Britain the
Allied Forces Act 1940, s. 1, similarly permitted the exercise of powers to secure discipline and
internal administration of foreign forces, but s. 2 preserved the jurisdiction of civil courts. In 1942
the United States of America (Visiting Forces) Act, 5 & 6 Geo. VI., c. 31, gave exclusive criminal
jurisdiction to United States authorities over members of their forces in the United Kingdom. The
schedule to the Act shows that the Government of Great Britain did not recognize any general
immunity from local jurisdiction in the case of members of visiting forces: see par. 3 of Note of
27th July 1942 set out in schedule. In Canada it has been held by the Supreme Court that there is no
rule of international law in force as part of the law of Canada which deprives the Canadian courts of
jurisdiction in respect of offences against the laws of Canada committed on land in Canada by the
members of visiting armed forces - Re Reference as to Exemption of U.S. Forces from Canadian
Criminal Law (1943) SCR (Can) 483; (1943) 4 DLR 11 . In this case opinions were expressed that
no such rule had been recognized in Great Britain. But a minority was of a contrary opinion. (at
p465)

18. The result is that it has not been satisfactorily demonstrated that a general exemption from the
application of local criminal law is implied in the permitted presence of foreign armed forces within
Australia, though there is an implied exemption from such provisions of our law as are inconsistent
with the existence of the force as an armed organized force: e.g., as Jordan C.J. said in Wright v.
Cantrell (1943) 44 SR (NSW) 45 , if a foreign force is admitted to the country there must be an
implication that any restrictions which would otherwise be applicable under immigration laws are
waived, and that the members of the forces will not be subject to prosecution for carrying arms in
breach of local law. So much may be implied from the mere fact that the force is present with
consent. In a particular case the circumstances may warrant further implications varying with the
circumstances, for example, taking part in a ceremonial procession is a very different thing from
actual fighting. There is general agreement that in matters of discipline and internal administration
the foreign force is exempt from the jurisdiction of local courts. There is no general agreement that
the exemption extends any further, and the weight of authority in Australia, Great Britain and
Canada is that no wider principle has been clearly established as part of the municipal law to be
recognized and enforced by the courts. In my opinion it is not the law that members of visiting
forces in a country with the consent of the sovereign are exempt from local jurisdiction in respect of
offences committed against the inhabitants of the country, and more especially this is not the case if
those offences have no relation to the military activities of the armed forces. Accordingly, in my
opinion, the principle which is relied upon for the purpose of excluding the jurisdiction of the
Supreme Court of Papua-New Guinea has not been shown to exist as part of the municipal law of
the Territory. Upon this ground, therefore, the appeals should in my opinion be dismissed in so far
as they depend upon an objection to jurisdiction. (at p466)

19. There is a further ground upon which, in my opinion, the appeals should be held to fail. All
statements of the principle with respect to visiting forces which is relied upon are limited to visiting
armed forces. The only persons in respect of whom an exemption from local jurisdiction can be
claimed must be members of the armed forces of a friendly power. No such claim has been made on
behalf of the Republic of China, but I can see no reason why the objection should not be taken by
accused persons themselves. If, however, the accused are not members of any armed force no
question of the application or of the extent of any principle of international law arises. (at p466)

20. Any persons who rely upon the principle must show that they are in fact members of an armed
force. The Executive Government of the Commonwealth cannot, by undertaking to treat as part of
the military forces of a foreign country a body of men who are not in fact members of such forces,
exclude the jurisdiction of Australian courts in relation either to foreigners or to members of the
community of Australia. The Executive Government has, in my opinion, no authority to determine
conclusively that certain persons are members of a foreign army and by such a determination to
deprive the Australian people of resort to their own tribunals for the purpose of enforcing their
claims or protecting their rights. If persons are members of such forces and if they are in Australia
by governmental consent, then some principle of immunity applies, but the question of whether they
are part of the military forces of another State is a question of fact which must be determined by the
court before the question of jurisdiction arises. This, in my opinion, is not a question in relation to
which a court will be bound by any statement of the Executive Government of the Commonwealth,
even, indeed, if such a statement is admissible as evidence. It is obvious that an Australian court
cannot take judicial notice of the laws of a foreign country with respect to the establishment and the
consitution of its armed forces. No authority has been cited to show that upon such a question a
court is bound to accept a statement made by the Executive Government of the country in which the
question arises. There are certain matters in respect of which a statement by a Minister is accepted
by a court as conclusive, e.g., the question as to whether a person is a foreign sovereign, or whether
a foreign State exists, or whether territory belongs to a foreign State, or whether a person has been
recognized as a foreign ambassador or as a member of a diplomatic staff, or whether a ship is a
warship or a public vessel of a State. There is authority that the answer of the appropriate minister
will be accepted by a court as conclusive on these matters, but, as already stated, there is no
authority that such a statement is to be accepted by a court when the question is whether a particular
individual belongs to a foreign navy or army or air force. Whether he so belongs or not is a matter
of law and fact which does not depend upon any recognition of his position by the Government of
any other country. (at p467)

21. I proceed to consider whether the accused were members of the armed forces of the Republic of
China. (at p467)

22. The evidence shows that the United States of America, on 30th August 1946, made an
agreement with the Government of the Republic of China for the transfer to China of surplus United
States property in the Western Pacific area stated to be of an estimated procurement cost of
approximately $584,000,000.00. The agreement applied (article 1) to property in Manus, and
provided that China should be responsible for the guard, custody, protection and maintenance of the
property. It was also provided that China should take the necessary steps to ensure that its personnel
engaged in the custody or handling of the property should comply with all orders &c. of the owning
agency of the United States having jurisdiction of the territory. Such an agreement between the
United States and China could not have any effect upon the jurisdiction of Australian courts.
Reference is made in the agreement to the Board of Supplies as being the Chinese authority which
would deal with the operations of packing, outloading property, shipping to China &c. Other
provisions of the agreement showed that it was contemplated that the property might be resold,
because there was a provision that United States distributors established in China should have equal
opportunity to bid for and obtain the property. (at p467)

23. In pursuance of the agreement China sent some 300 men to collect and despatch goods from
Manus. These men were controlled by persons who had military rank. Evidence was given that they
were "recruited" in Shanghai, that they signed some unspecified papers, that they had military
uniform and some discipline, and a Chinese officer gave evidence that they were subject to military
law. One witness said that the Chinese in Manus were "of the same status as military personnel." (at
p468)

24. The force, however, was not an armed force. It was argued that this fact was immaterial because
every army had units, such as medical and nursing services, which were not armed, and yet they
must be and were in fact recognized as part of the force to which they were attached. In the present
case, however, the Chinese in Manus were not attached to any army. An army doubtless includes
auxiliary units, but the body of men in Manus was not auxiliary to any army. They were referred to
in the evidence as "workmen" and "labourers." They were employed by and under the Board of
Supplies. There was no evidence that the Board was a branch of the military services of China. The
men were kept in order and controlled by persons holding military rank. But, as one of the witnesses
said, they were not actually soldiers. In my opinion the evidence shows that the Chinese in Manus
were simply a body of labourers, necessarily subject to some discipline which was exercised by
officers, who in fact had military rank, but the men themselves were not part of any military force.
Accordingly, in my opinion, the objections to the jurisdiction of the court should be held not to have
been sustained. (at p468)

25. There are, however, also appeals against the sentences on the ground that they were too severe. I
see no reason for reviewing the exercise of discretion by the Supreme Court with respect to the
length of sentences. The judge of the Supreme Court was in a much better position than this Court
to determine what sentences were appropriate. The maltreatment of the native Pondranei continued
over a considerable period: there was an unjustifiable assault as well as a grave interference with his
personal liberty. (at p468)

26. In my opinion the appeals should be dismissed. (at p468)

STARKE J. The appellants are Chinese nationals and were charged before the Supreme Court of the
Territory of Papua-New Guinea on two counts: one that on or about 25th January 1948 in the
Territory of New Guinea that they unlawfully assaulted one Pondranei - a native - and thereby did
him bodily harm; the other that they on or about 25th January 1948 unlawfully detained Pondranei
in a hut against his will. Both were convicted and sentenced to three months' imprisonment upon the
first count and to twenty-four months' imprisonment on the second count with hard labour, the
sentences to run concurrently. (at p468)

2. The unlawful acts were committed on Manus Island in the Admiralty Group. Manus Island was a
German possession, but by the Treaty of Peace signed at Versailles in 1919 Germany renounced all
her rights and titles over the island and other possessions in the Pacific in favour of the Allied and
Associated Powers. Those powers conferred in effect a Mandate upon the Government of the
Commonwealth of Australia to administer the territory mentioned in the Mandate (which included
Manus Island) in accordance with the terms of the Mandate. The Mandate was accepted by
Australia. It declared that the mandatory should have free power of administration and legislation
over the territory subject to the Mandate as an integral portion of the Territory of the
Commonwealth of Australia. A copy of the Mandate may be found in vol. 1, Laws of the Territory
of New Guinea, p. 1, and its terms are referred to in Jolley v. Mainka [1933] HCA 43; (1933) 49
CLR 242 . (at p469)

3. Pursuant to the Mandate the Commonwealth passed the New Guinea Act 1920-1935 for the civil
government of the territory comprised in the Mandate. An ordinance, Laws Repeal and Adopting
Ordinance, Laws of New Guinea, vol. 8, p. 359, passed pursuant to this Act brought The Criminal
Code (Q.), including ss. 339, 355, under which the charges were laid into force in the territory
comprised in the Mandate. British New Guinea was not a German, but a British, possession. It was
not administered under the Mandate. In 1902 the British Government placed the possession under
the authority of the Commonwealth and the Commonwealth accepted it as a Territory under the
authority of the Commonwealth by the name of the Territory of Papua: see Papua Act 1905-1940.
The civil government of this territory by the Commonwealth was authorized by s. 122 of the
Constitution. (at p469)

4. But by the Papua-New Guinea Provisional Administration Act 1945, No. 20, provision was made
for the provisional administration of the Territory of Papua and that portion of the Territory of New
Guinea no longer in enemy occupation. The Act was to continue in operation until a date to be fixed
by proclamation, but in any event not longer than six months after His Majesty ceases to be engaged
in war. No proclamation has been issued and though hostilities have ceased His Majesty has not
ceased to be engaged in war, for peace has not yet been declared with Germany or Japan. (at p469)

5. By the Act the Governor-General of the Commonwealth was authorized to make Ordinances for
the peace, order and good government of the Territory of Papua-New Guinea, and also to appoint an
Administrator of the Territory who was charged with the duty of administering the government of
the Territory on behalf of the Commonwealth. The operation of laws enacted under the earlier
legislation is not affected but power is taken to amend or repeal them. Under the Act a Supreme
Court of the Territory of Papua-New Guinea is established with jurisdiction both civil and criminal.
This jurisdiction empowered this Court to hear and determine the matter charged against the
appellants. And by this Act it is also provided that the High Court shall have jurisdiction with such
exceptions and subject to such conditions as are prescribed by ordinance to hear and determine
appeals from all judgments, decrees, orders and sentences of the Supreme Court of the Territory of
Papua-New Guinea and the decision of the High Court on any such appeal is final and conclusive.
(at p470)
6. "Ordinance" means ordinances made under the Act. No exceptions or conditions, we are
informed, have been made by any ordinance under the Act, and therefore the appeal is of right and
does not require the leave or special leave of this Court. (at p470)

7. The constitutional position of this Act rests upon the Constitution, s. 122, the Mandate and the
various Acts whereby it was granted and accepted, the Order in Council of 1902 placing British
New Guinea under the authority of the Commonwealth and the Papua Act. I should add that we
have been informed that the Scheme of Trusteeship in the Charter of Nations in respect of Manus
Island has not yet become effective. See R. v. Bernasconi (1915) 19 CLR 629 ; Porter v. The King;
Ex parte Yee [1926] HCA 9; (1926) 37 CLR 432 ; Jolley v. Mainka [1933] HCA 43; (1933) 49 CLR
242 ; Ffrost v. Stevenson [1937] HCA 41; (1937) 58 CLR 528 . (at p470)

8. International and municipal law recognize that "a state possesses jurisdiction . . . in virtue of its
territorial sovereignty over the person and property of foreigners found upon its land and waters".
See Hall, International Law, 7th ed. (1917), par. 47, p. 176; Oppenheim, International Law, 6th ed.
(1947), vol. 1 (Peace), par. 144, pp. 293, 294. But to this broad statement there exist some special
limitations or exceptions. (at p470)

9. The appellants in this case claim that the personnel of armed and military forces of a foreign state
in amity with the territorial sovereign possess immunities from local jurisdiction in respect of their
persons when in the territory of the territorial sovereign with its permission. And it was said that
these immunities attach to these forces when passing through the territory or stationed in it for
garrison duty or using the territory as a base for operations or other purposes. "It must always be
remembered," observed the Judicial Committee in Chung Chi Cheung v. The King (1939) AC 160,
at pp 167, 168 , "that, so far, at any rate, as the Courts of this country are concerned, international
law has no validity save in so far as its principles are accepted and adopted by our own domestic
law. There is no external power that imposes its rules upon our own code of substantive law or
procedure. The Courts acknowledge the existence of a body of rules which nations accept amongst
themselves. On any judicial issue they seek to ascertain what the relevant rule is, and, having found
it, they will treat it as incorporated into the domestic law, so far as it is not inconsistent with rules
enacted by statues or finally declared by their tribunals." What then are the immunities of armed and
military forces of other nations accepted by our courts? It is by no means easy to answer that
question, for in modern times those immunities are settled by conventions between the nations: cf.
Visiting Forces (British Commonwealth) Act 1933, 23 & 24 Geo. V. c. 6; Allied Forces Act 1940, 3
& 4 Geo. VI, c. 51; United States of America (Visiting Forces) Act, 5 & 6 Geo. VI. c. 31;
Commonwealth National Security (Allied Forces) Regulations. (at p471)

10. But admittedly the provisions of the last-mentioned Acts and regulations do not resolve this case
and the appellants rely upon the substantive law of Australia unaffected by any statutory provisions.
The principal authorities referred to in support of the appellants' claim were Chung Chi Cheung v.
The King (1939) AC 160 ; The Schooner Exchange v. M'Faddon [1812] USSC 15; (1812) 11 US
116 (3 Law Ed 287) ; Tucker v. Alexandroff [1902] USSC 20; (1901) 183 US 424 (46 Law Ed 264)
; Re Reference as to Exemption of U.S. forces from Canadian Criminal Law (1943) SCR (Can) 483;
(1943) 4 DLR 11) ; Wright v. Cantrell (1943) 44 SR (NSW) 45 , and numerous text books upon
international law. (at p471)

11. The immunities allowed to ships of war and to other public vessels of foreign States in amity
with the territorial sovereign were referred to but rather for the purpose of establishing that, from
the nature of the case the immunities allowed to armed and military forces necessarily differed from
those allowed to visiting ships of war and other public vessels, their crews and personnel. The
immunities allowed to ships of war and public vessels have indeed been carried a long way in
English courts: The Parlement Belge (1880) LR 5 PD 197 ; The Porto Alexandre (1920) P 30 ; The
Broadmayne (1916) P 64 ; British Year Book of International Law (1921-1922), pp. 68 et seq.,
Essay on the Judicial Recognition of States and Governments, and the Immunity of Public Ships.
And even now the precise limits of those immunities as regards the crew and personnel are by no
means settled: Hall, International Law, 7th ed. (1917), par. 55, p. 204; Chung Chi Cheung v. The
King (1939) AC, at pp 175, 176 . (at p472)

12. I do not propose to pursue the topic further and return to the question of the immunities of
armed and military forces of foreign States within Australia. (at p472)

13. In my opinion it is generally recognized, both in the authorities already cited, and in the text
books, that the armed and military forces of foreign States in amity with the government of
Australia possess certain immunities from local jurisdiction when in Australia with the permission
of the Commonwealth Government, express or implied. But these immunities "must be traced up to
the consent" of the Commonwealth. The immunities flow from a waiver by the Commonwealth
Government of its full territorial jurisdiction and can themselves be waived: Chung Chi Cheung v.
The King (1939) AC, at p 176 . Apparently in the case of armed troops the waiver must be express
and will not be implied (1939) AC, at p 169 . (at p472)

14. It rather surprises one that the Executive Government of countries, having responsible
government, may without Parliamentary sanction waive territorial jurisdiction which belongs to the
State, but in my opinion the law is so according to the authorities. Apparently Duff C.J. and Hudson
J. in the Canadian Reference Case (1943) SCR (Can) 483; (1943) 4 DLR 11 do not so regard the
authorities. And cf. Allied Forces Act, 3 & 4 Geo. VI. c. 51, s. 2. (at p472)

15. The extent of these immunities is by no means settled. According to Oppenheim, International
Law, 6th ed. (1947), vol. 1 (Peace), par. 445, pp. 759, 760, immunity does not exist in the case of
soldiers belonging to a foreign garrison of a fortress leaving the rayon of the fortress, not on duty
but for recreation and pleasure and then and there committing a crime. The local authorities are in
that case in Oppenheim's opinion competent to punish them. (at p472)

16. And some text books take the view, not unreasonably, that the immunity exists only in respect of
acts done by members of the forces in the course of duty or within their own lines. (at p472)

17. Again, the Supreme Court of New South Wales, Wright v. Cantrell (1943) 44 SR (NSW) 45 ,
held that the immunity does not extend to members of the forces in respect of debts contracted to
local civilians or in respect of civil wrongs. But I suppose that all jurisdiction might expressly be
waived: cf. The Schooner Exchange v. M'Faddon [1812] USSC 15; (1812) 11 US 116, at p 140 (3
Law Ed 287, at p 295) . (at p472)

18. It is not, I think, necessary, or even advisable, in this case to express any opinion upon these
debatable matters, for in my opinion the appellants did not belong to any force entitled to any
immunity whatever from local territorial jurisdiction. The Government of China has not claimed
any immunity for the appellants from local jurisdiction, but I take it that the appellants can claim
immunity from local jurisdiction if the necessary facts be established. (at p473)

19. It appears that the United States of America had in the Western Pacific at the conclusion of
hostilities with Japan a quantity of property surplus to the needs of the United States. It sold to
China all that property (with certain exceptions) owned by the United States in the Western Pacific,
including Manus Island, upon terms set out in an agreement in writing dated 30th August 1946. (at
p473)

20. China agreed that all storage, crating, conditioning, handling, loading and transportation of the
property sold should be arranged and paid for by it and that all such property should be removed
within a certain period. (at p473)

21. China had a war-time body called the Board of Supplies. It was under what was called the
"Executive Yuan," a branch of the Executive Government of China. And the head "Executive Yuan"
was directly responsible to the Chinese President. It also appears that the Board of Supplies
recruited the appellants and others as employees. About 300 of them, including the appellants, were
sent to Manus Island to collect the supplies purchased by China from the United States. They bore
no arms and were employed solely in or in connection with the collection and removal of the
purchased supplies. The appellants, it is said in evidence, were employees of the Chinese army but
were not soldiers: they were workmen: one did carpentering work and the other shoemaking for the
Board of Supplies. But it is stated in evidence that the appellants had military training before they
left China, that they had the same status as Chinese military personnel and were subject to military
discipline on Manus Island. (at p473)

22. It may be assumed, I think, that the remaining 300 workmen on Manus Island were in a similar
position. But they were not an armed force nor an organized military force in any sense. They
belonged to an organized body of workmen employed and used for the purpose of removing
purchased supplies and for nothing else. They were no doubt subject to military discipline, but they
were not attached to an army or a military force as labourers connected with military operations or
duties in any way whatever. (at p473)

23. In my opinion the members of such a body are not entitled to any immunity from local
territorial jurisdiction. (at p474)

24. Moreover there is no evidence that the Commonwealth of Australia expressly waived its
territorial jurisdiction in respect of this body of labourers on Manus Island, but it was argued that a
waiver should be inferred because those labourers were present on the Island without any protest or
objection on the part of the Commonwealth Government. It is possible that the Executive
Government of the Commonwealth had no knowledge of their presence on the Island at any time
material to this case, for it was an allied base of operations against Japan, established in the main by
the United States and at the time being dismantled by it or the naval and military establishment
reduced. (at p474)

25. On the scanty evidence adduced in this case I should not be prepared to infer that the
Government of the Commonwealth waived its territorial jurisdiction in respect of the appellants or
any of the other Chinese subjects on Manus Island. And though not by any means conclusive, it is
somewhat against the appellants that the responsible officers of the Commonwealth in launching
this prosecution did not consider that the Commonwealth had waived its jurisdiction in respect of
the appellant or any of the other Chinese subjects on Manus Island. (at p474)

26. Finally it was suggested that the sentences upon the Chinese were excessive. (at p474)
27. Upon the evidence adduced I am unable to accede to the argument and in any case the sentences
were plainly within the discretion of the trial judge. (at p474)

28. These appeals should be dismissed. (at p474)

DIXON J. The appellants were convicted upon two charges before the Supreme Court of the
Territory of Papua-New Guinea. The Court is established by s. 16 of the Papua-New Guinea
Provisional Administration Act 1945. The convictions were for assaulting a native and for detaining
him in a hut against his will. Upon the first charge the appellants were each sentenced to three
months' imprisonment and upon the second to six months' imprisonment. They now appeal to this
Court against both the convictions and the sentences. They claim that they were not subject to the
jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the Territory and they complain that the sentences are
excessive and ill founded. Section 16 (9) of the Act purports to give this Court jurisdiction with
such exceptions and subject to such conditions as are prescribed by ordinance to hear and determine
appeals from all judgments, decrees, orders and sentences of the Supreme Court of the Territory.
This provision is framed by analogy to s. 73 (ii) of the Constitution and upon the assumption that
the Supreme Court of the Territory is not a Federal Court. A reference to Jolley v. Mainka [1933]
HCA 43; (1933) 49 CLR 242, at pp 249, 250, 256, 270-289 and Ffrost v. Stevenson [1937] HCA
41[1937] HCA 41; ; (1937) 58 CLR 528, at pp 554-556, 566, 578-596 will show that on any view
our jurisdiction to entertain the appeals cannot now be denied. Unless an ordinance has been made
imposing a condition that leave shall first be obtained the appellants are entitled to appeal as of
right. An attempt was made to show that s. 16 (8) operated to make applicable to appeals from the
new Supreme Court of the Territory of Papua-New Guinea the respective ordinances governing
appeals from the old Supreme Courts of the two Territories. But it is not aptly expressed to carry
over references to appeals to this Court and in any case nothing but an ordinance under the new Act
(see definition in s. 4) would suffice to make an exception or condition under s. 16 (9). I do not
think that Ordinance No. 4 of 1945 satisfies the requirements. We are therefore bound to entertain
the appeals. The distinction between an appeal by leave and an appeal as of right might be important
with reference to the sentences, a matter upon which the Court would probably not readily grant
leave. (at p475)

2. The objection to the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the Territory is based upon a claim by
the appellants that they are members of a Chinese military force detachment or party which was
present in the Territory with the permission of the Crown. (at p475)

3. A principle of immunity from local jurisdiction is asserted in favour of the members of a foreign
naval or military force. This principle is said to apply when the sovereign permits a disciplined body
of foreign troops under a commander to come into or remain in his territory. They bring with them
their own military law and are under the jurisdiction and control of their own commanders who are
responsible not only for their behaviour to one another but to the people of the country through
which they pass or in which they are stationed. This principle is said to form part of the law of
nations. No doubt it has long been recognized in international law that when one country invites or
admits into its territory the armed forces of another friendly power the sovereign of the former
country must concede to the latter full disciplinary authority over the forces exercisable by the
officers in command and that this necessarily implies some corresponding exclusion of the
jurisdiction of the municipal courts. This however is less a recognition of the rights and obligations
arising out of a situation between two nations than of the almost necessary incidents of a description
of international transaction of a consensual character. For clearly enough the peaceful entry into one
country of the armed forces of another friendly country must have a consensual basis. (at p476)
4. It would be a violation of the first country's sovereignty if the armed forces of the second entered
or remained without the express or implied permission of the first. Just as a ship of war is
considered as the manifestation of the sovereign power of a nation, so with an organized military
force under command. Further, from the nature of the case the ship of war and the armed force must
bring with them their own naval and military discipline and that involves as a consequence not only
the administration of their own naval and military law but also some freedom from interference by
the courts and other authorities administering the municipal law of the territory that is visited or
entered. Internationally it is sufficiently apparent that the limits of this immunity may, and usually
will, be settled by agreement. It is therefore not surprising that when internationally it is left to
implication, no more than a bare permission for the entry of troops being given, the rules of public
international law remain uncertain or unclear as to the precise implication to be made. In the case of
ships of war and perhaps of public ships generally it is otherwise. The visit of a ship of war of a
friendly foreign power is so commonplace and ordinary an event that there has come into existence
a clearer understanding of the limits within which the commander exercises exclusive jurisdiction
over his officers and ratings. In respect of all matters occurring aboard, the jurisdiction and law of
the flag prevails and is exclusive. Nevertheless as to offences committed by officers or men while
ashore there is a doubt. It is agreed that, unless surrendered by the civil power, they should be
considered amenable to the local jurisdiction in respect of offences committed while ashore on leave
or for any purpose that is not official. But writers do not agree as to whether the jurisdiction of their
commander over them which is conceded even in respect of offences committed ashore ought not to
be treated as exclusive if the officer or rating concerned was ashore upon official duty. See
Oppenheim, International Law, 5th ed. (1937), vol. 1, par. 451, p. 668. Be this as it may, the visit of
a foreign ship of war or other public ship is such an ordinary transaction of international life that it
is assumed to be permitted upon necessary or proper occasions and is subject to customary rules and
procedures which for the most part are well ascertained and at all events cause little or no difficulty
in practice. (at p477)

5. The presence of a military force of a friendly foreign power is an exceptional thing. Apart from
the visits of small bodies of troops by way of courtesy or to take part in ceremonies, celebrations or
the like, it is unlikely to occur except in circumstances in which a full antecedent discussion
between the two governments might be expected. Even if no more is involved than the movement in
times of profound peace by one country of its troops through another country by a more convenient
route to an outlying part of its own territory, it is not likely to be done except under an express
arrangement. What therefore the principles of international law may be expected to deal with is the
necessity of the permission, the terms on which it may be legitimately sought, the terms that are
implied if the permission is granted and the obligations of neutrality, if a belligerent desires the
passage of his troops through a neutral country. (at p477)

6. It is obvious that the whole question involves in the case of the British Commonwealth the
authority of the Crown in the conduct of foreign relations. It is a mistake to treat the question of the
extent of the immunity as one depending upon the recognition by Great Britain of a rule of
international law. In the first place the theory of Blackstone (Commentaries, (1809), vol. 4, p. 67)
that "the law of nations (whenever any question arises which is properly the object of its
jurisdiction) is here adopted in its full extent by the common law, and is held to be a part of the law
of the land" is now regarded as without foundation. The true view, it is held, is "that international
law is not a part, but is one of the sources, of English law" (Article by Prof. J. L. Brierly on
International Law in England, (1935), 51 Law Quarterly Review, p. 31.). "In each case in which the
question arises the court must consider whether the particular rule of international law has been
received into, and so become a source of, English law" (Sir William Holdsworth, Relation of
English Law to International Law: Essays in Law and History, p. 267.). In the second place, in as
much as the immunity claimed arises from the permission given by the Crown to another power to
send troops into territory under the jurisdiction of the Crown, the question whether that immunity
exists must depend upon two matters governing the legal effect of the Crown's act. The first is the
authority of the Crown under our form of government to bind the nation in the conduct of affairs
with other nations. The second is the extent to which the common law recognizes and gives effect to
the immunity or privilege from local jurisdictions and laws which under that head the Crown
accords to the sovereigns of friendly foreign nations and those who come under their authority
representing either the civil power of the state diplomatically or its armed strength in the form of
bodies of troops or of ships of war. "With regard to foreign concerns," wrote Blackstone
(Commentaries, (1809) vol. 1, p. 252), "the king is the delegate or representative of his people. It is
impossible that the individuals of a state, in their collective capacity, can transact the affairs of that
state with another community equally numerous as themselves. Unanimity must be wanting to their
measures, and strength to the execution of their counsels. In the king therefore, as in a centre, all the
rays of his people are united, and form by that union a consistency, splendour, and power, that make
him feared and respected by foreign potentates; who would scruple to enter any engagement, that
must afterwards be revised and ratified by a popular assembly. What is done by the royal authority,
with regard to foreign powers, is the act of the whole nation: what is done without the king's
concurrence is the act only of private men." (at p478)

7. It has remained true that what is done by the royal authority with regard to foreign powers is the
act of the whole nation. But the consequences which an exercise by the Crown of this authority
produces upon the rights duties and immunities of persons under the common law vary according to
the nature of the thing done. A declaration of peace or war produces definite consequences because
the rules of the common law govern the conduct of the king's subjects with reference to a state of
war. But a treaty, at all events one which does not terminate a state of war, has no legal effect upon
the rights and duties of the subjects of the Crown and speaking generally no power resides in the
Crown to compel them to obey the provisions of a treaty: Walker v. Baird (1892) AC 491, at p 497 .
On the other hand the recognition by the Crown of the sovereignty of a foreign State or government
does produce under the common law immediate effects municipally. If the Crown receives a foreign
sovereign the law immediately attaches to him an immunity and he is not amenable to the local
jurisdiction. It may be assumed that, without the statute 7 Anne c. 12, English law would have
attached to ambassadors and ministers plenipotentiary received by the sovereign a full, or at all
events a wide, immunity from local jurisdiction. We have seen that at common law foreign public
ships enjoy an immunity when with express or tacit consent they visit British ports. These are the
results of the establishment of domestic rules of law calculated to give effect to the action of the
Crown with regard to foreign nations. Thus the question here is not so much the existence and
extent of a binding rule of the law of nations but rather whether a rule of the common law exists
which will give effect to the act of the Crown in permitting the entry of foreign troops under
command, the permission being accompanied by an express or implied concession to the foreign
sovereign of exclusive disciplinary powers and jurisdiction over the members of the force while in
the territory to which they are admitted. (at p479)

8. A third reason why it is a mistake to treat the existence or otherwise of a definite rule of the law
of nations as determinative of the claim to immunity is that the immunity is to be traced to the grant
of the sovereign in the country admitting the troops. No obligation is placed by international law
upon that country to permit the entry of troops. If a consent is given it rests with the country
consenting to define the conditions it attaches to the permission. The function in such a case of
international law is rather to interpret the permission in the light of experience and by reference to
the necessities of the case. Its rules show what the two nations are entitled to expect in the absence
of express stipulation. (at p479)

9. How far then has English law gone in giving effect to an immunity which the Crown has either
expressly agreed to or which it should be understood as conceding in admitting to the territory of the
Crown a body of foreign troops under command? Upon this there is but little authority. In the
United States however Marshall C.J. referred to the matter in the course of a celebrated judgment
dealing with the immunity of a foreign ship of war which having encountered great stress of
weather upon the high seas was compelled to enter the port of Philadelphia for refreshment and
repairs: The Schooner Exchange v. M'Faddon [1812] USSC 15[1812] USSC 15; ; (1812) 11 US
116, at p 137 (3 Law Ed 287, at p 294) . In giving instances of "a class of cases in which every
sovereign is understood to waive the exercise of a part of that complete exclusive territorial
jurisdiction, which has been stated to be the attribute of every nation", the Chief Justice examines
the effect of a permission for the entry of foreign troops. He does so in a passage which should be
read in full (1812) 11 US, at pp 139-141 (3 Law Ed, at pp 294, 295) . He says that a third case in
which a sovereign is understood to cede a portion of his territorial jurisdiction is where he allows
troops of a foreign prince to pass through his dominions. The doctrine which he enunciates is that
the grant of free passage implies a waiver of all jurisdiction over the troops during their passage and
permits the foreign general to use that discipline and to inflict those punishments which the
government of his army may require. This broad principle has formed the foundation of the
American view. Thus Field J. in Coleman v. Tennessee [1878] USSC 40; (1878) 97 US 509 (24 Law
Ed 1118, 1122) said that it is well settled that a foreign army permitted to march through a friendly
country or to be stationed in it by permission of its government or sovereign is exempt from the
civil and criminal jurisdiction of the place: see further Dow v. Johnson [1879] USSC 40[1879]
USSC 40; ; (1879) 100 US 158 (25 Law Ed 632, 635) and Tucker v. Alexandroff [1902] USSC 20;
(1901) 183 US 424 (46 Law Ed 264) . (at p480)

10. Great weight has been given to the judgment of Marshall C.J. by English writers upon the law of
nations and more than once it has been cited judicially. For example it was used by Lord Esher in
the judgment he delivered for the Court of Appeal in The Parlement Belge (1880) LB 5 PD 197, at
pp 208, 209 . His Lordship's compendious statement of the reasoning of the Chief Justice includes
among the instances of the personal jurisdiction which nations have abjured "all jurisdiction over a
foreign army passing through the territory." (at p480)

11. But of great importance is the reliance placed upon the judgment of Marshall C.J. by Lord Atkin
speaking for the Privy Council in Chung Chi Cheung v. The King (1939) AC 160 . Their Lordships
were dealing with the jurisdiction of a British court in respect of a charge of murder committed
within British territorial waters aboard a foreign armed public ship by a member of the ship's
company. It was decided that for a crime so committed there was a conditional immunity from the
jurisdiction of the territorial courts, not because such a ship was considered as a floating part of the
territory of her flag, but because our municipal law accorded a conditional immunity from the
jurisdiction of our courts in conformity with the doctrine of the law of nations. The condition is that
the foreign country to which the public ship belongs does not waive the immunity and consent to the
exercise of the local jurisdiction. The immunity flows from a waiver by the territorial sovereign of
jurisdiction in favour of the foreign sovereign to whom the ship belongs and accordingly may be
exercised if the foreign sovereign waives the immunity. In the particular case their Lordships were
of opinion that the immunity had been waived. In his reasons Lord Atkin (1939) AC, at p 168
propounded the question "What, then, are the immunities of public ships of other nations accepted
by our Courts, and on what principle are they based?" By way of answer his Lordship proceeded:
"The principle was expounded by that great jurist Chief Justice Marshall in Schooner Exchange v.
M'Faddon [1812] USSC 15[1812] USSC 15; ; (1812) 11 US 116 (3 Law Ed 287) a judgment which
has illumined the jurisprudence of the world." Lord Atkin quoted freely from the passages in which
Marshall C.J. showed how the existence of nations with independent sovereignties and the
intercourse among such nations gave rise to situations in which the exclusive territorial jurisdiction
of one must be understood as waived in favour of an agency of another. In the course of
enumerating the instances given by the Chief Justice his Lordship gives the example with which we
are presently concerned. Lord Atkin says (1939) AC, at p 169 : "The judgment then proceeds to the
third case 'in which a sovereign is understood to cede a portion of his territorial jurisdiction,'
namely, 'where he allows the troops of a foreign prince to pass through his dominions.' The Chief
Justice lays down that 'The grant of a free passage therefore implies a waiver of all jurisdiction over
the troops during their passage, and permits the foreign general to use that discipline, and to inflict
those punishments which the government of his army may require.' He points out that, differing
from the case of armed troops, where an express licence to enter foreign territory would not be
presumed, the private and public vessels of a friendly power have an implied permission to enter the
ports of their neighbours unless and until permission is expressly withdrawn." (at p481)

12. The treatment by Lord Atkin of the subject appears to me to show that their Lordships accepted
the doctrine of the implied waiver of jurisdiction not only in relation to foreign public ships but to
bodies of troops under command, and held it to be part of our municipal law. (at p481)

13. The existence of the immunity ought in my opinion to be no longer denied. All that should
remain in question is the limits of the field it covers and the description of the bodies to whom it
applies. (at p481)

14. The reasoning pursued by Duff C.J. and Hudson J. in Re Reference as to Exemption of U.S.
forces from Canadian Criminal Law (1943) SCR (Can) 483; (1943) 4 DLR 11 does not appear to
me to be sound. A very different view was expressed by Jordan C.J. in Wright v. Cantrell (1943) 44
SR (NSW) 45, at p 48 . No doubt that reasoning represents what might be described as an
instinctive British view springing both from the prevalence of the rule of law and from the
preference for legislative authority to the exclusion of executive authority as the basis of any special
immunity. But I do not think it gives due effect to the traditional place of the Crown in the conduct
of foreign affairs and to the principles of the common law which recognize immunities accorded by
the Crown to foreign public ships, foreign sovereigns and, as it seems, to ambassadors received by
the Crown. The rationale of these principles gives them a scope wide enough to cover the
permission of the Crown for the entry of foreign troops. (at p482)

15. The realities of modern war make it almost necessary that the authority of the Crown should
suffice, without invoking the processes of legislation, to arrange effectively with foreign countries
the conditions upon which their troops shall pass through or be stationed in places under the
jurisdiction of the Crown. It is not a claim that the Crown may exclude the jurisdiction of the courts
over foreigners if it thinks fit. It is merely that by admitting a very special description of men, viz.
an organized body of the armed forces of a foreign nation and by imposing no condition subjecting
the force to local law either altogether or in any particular respect, the Crown impliedly undertakes
that the force shall be governed by its own discipline and military tribunals to the exclusion of the
local jurisdiction and that the common law gives effect to the implication. (at p482)

16. I do not think that the legislative history of the manner in which during the late war the question
of jurisdiction over troops of other countries present in Britain and Australia was dealt with should
lead to any other conclusion as to the position at common law. That history will be seen from the
Allied Forces Act 1940, the Allied Powers (Maritime Courts) Act 1941 and the United States of
America (Visiting Forces) Act 1942 and the National Security (Allied Forces) Regulations. Cf.
Defence (Visiting Forces) Act 1939 and the Allied Forces Order No. 5. It is easy to understand why
in all the uncertainties that existed it was thought better to have legislation, particularly as so great a
degree of immunity was desired. No doubt some of the views expressed at the time about the place
and operation of that legislation should shake one's confidence in the correctness of the foregoing
conclusions; but as against that consideration are to be set the judicial pronouncements to which I
have referred. (at p482)

17. This case cannot in my opinion be decided upon the absence of a rule of jurisdictional immunity
in favour of visiting friendly foreign troops; for I think that such a rule of immunity does form part
of our law. The case depends upon the area covered by the immunity and upon the descriptions of
bodies to which the immunity applies. (at p482)

18. The charges in the present case were based on the conduct of the two accused while off duty and
some distance away from the place where the alleged force was camped or stationed. Does the
immunity extend to such an occurrence? Again, the two accused are said to be no part of the
Chinese army but to be employed by the army, though subject to military discipline. To what
personnel does the immunity attach? (at p483)

19. The first of these questions involves a difficulty the solution of which depends upon competing
considerations. (at p483)

20. Writers upon international law adopt different opinions about the scope of the rule as between
nations. Oppenheim takes the view that the immunity is confined to crimes committed either within
the place where the force is stationed or while the offender was on duty though elsewhere
(Oppenheim, International Law, 5th ed. (1937), vol. 1, pp. 662, 663, par. 445). The language of
Marshall C.J. however is universal "a waiver of all jurisdiction over the troops during their passage"
and it is thus quoted by Lord Atkin (1939) AC, at p 169 . It is reflected in the statements of the rule
by Wheaton (International Law, 6th ed. (1929), p. 234), by T. A. Walker (Manual of International
Law, p. 83) and by Lawrence (International Law, 3rd ed., p. 223). Sir Arnold Duncan McNair in his
Legal Effects of War, 2nd ed. (1944), p. 356, after speaking of the allowance of the jurisdiction of
the flag over the crews of foreign public ships says "and a similar jurisdiction is allowed over the
members of foreign armed forces, at any rate in respect of offences committed while on duty or
within their own lines. In both cases the exercise of this jurisdiction is implied from the permission
given by the local sovereign for the entry of the foreign public ships or the armed forces."
Presumably the learned author regards the exclusion of local jurisdiction as co-extensive with the
grant of liberty to exercise foreign naval or military jurisdiction. See further An Introduction to
International Law by J. G. Starke (1947), pp. 150, 151. Conflicting considerations of expediency
may be urged in favour of one or other of the rival solutions of this problem. On the one hand it
may be said that the citizen's right to invoke the courts of his own country to redress wrongs done to
him within their territorial jurisdiction while moving about as a civilian ought not to be abrogated;
that he has this right against members of the armed forces of his own country; and that he might not
be able to obtain or even seek redress from the foreign command. It may be remarked that the
analogy of the situation of servicemen of the citizen's own country is misleading. For there the
question is only between the civil and military power of the same nation. (at p483)

21. On the other side it may be urged that it would be intolerable if the members of the armed forces
of an ally stationed in time of war within the confines of our civil jurisdiction were liable to be
harassed by the criminal process of the local civil power. It would at all events be intolerable to him.
The ally might well complain, in the language of Chief Justice Marshall, that by attempting to
exercise such a local jurisdiction the country was violating its faith, that is by acting in a manner
contrary to the implications of the invitation to send troops into the territory. Possibly it is a
question which must depend upon the circumstances. It may perhaps be the case that if by clear
words or necessary implication the Crown had invited or admitted foreign troops here on conditions
which included complete freedom from local jurisdiction the common law would support the
granted immunity. Consistently with that view it is possible that so extensive an immunity should
not always be implied in the mere permission to enter. To take an extreme case on one side. Such an
immunity might not be regarded as reasonably incidental to an invitation to send a small detechment
of troops to some ceremonial occasion. On the other hand an invitation to send troops to a combat
area in time of war might be considered to carry the wider implication. (at p484)

22. I do not find it necessary to express any final opinion upon this question, because I think that the
case must be decided independently of it. But I am inclined to the view that a complete immunity
from arrest and imprisonment for offences committed against civilians by a member of the visiting
forces while off duty and mixing with the ordinary inhabitants of the country is not to be implied
from a bare permission to enter for their own purposes given by the Crown to the forces of a
friendly foreign power in time of peace. But the question need not be decided because in the end I
think that the objection to the jurisdiction in the present case fails on another ground. The ground is
that the two accused do not fall within a description of persons entitled to the immunity. (at p484)

23. A definition of the description of a body entitled under the rule to the immunity is to be found in
the dissenting opinion in Tucker v. Alexandroff [1902] USSC 20; (1901) 183 US 424, at p 459 (46
Law Ed 264, at p 278) . It is an opinion entitled to great weight because it was written by Gray J. for
himself, Fuller C.J. and Harlan and White JJ. "That rule," his Honour said, "waiving the jurisdiction
of the United States over a body of men, and allowing them to be governed, disciplined, and
punished by their own officers, applies only to an armed force, segregated from the general
population of the country, and lawfully passing through or stopping in the country for some definite
purpose connected with military operations." The requirement that the purpose of remaining in the
country must be for military operations is probably an added condition that cannot be justified. The
necessity of "segregation" too cannot be pressed far under modern conditions, and the word "armed"
must receive rather a notional application. But it does seem to be necessary that the force shall come
as part of what may be called the fighting forces representing the armed power of the sovereign state
and that they shall be organized in a body under command and subject to military law and
discipline. (at p485)

24. The "force" with which the present case is concerned and of which the accused say they are
members was despatched by the Chinese government to Manus Island pursuant to an arrangement
with the American army made in the middle of 1946. The arrangement which was embodied in an
agreement made between the government of the Republic of China and the government of the
United States was for the sale to China by the United States of the property owned by the United
States in certain islands and localities where during the war there had been American bases or
establishments. All the property at those places so owned was sold subject to enumerated
exceptions. Manus Island is one of the places mentioned in the agreement. A condition of the
agreement placed upon China the responsibility for the care, custody and protection of the property
sold and for arranging and paying for the storage, handling, loading and transporting of the
property. The agreement refers to personnel of China engaged in the custody and handling of the
property outside Chinese territory. It further appears that an established American firm acting under
the direction of the Chinese Board of Supplies was to be employed to co-ordinate the overall
operation of packing, outloading and so on in conjunction with Chinese personnel. The property
was not of course confined to things of military use only and the agreement lays down conditions
affecting its commercial resale and distribution. There appears to have been an agreement or
understanding between the United States authorities and the Chinese authorities that the Chinese
Board of Supply should send army personnel for the work of guarding the purchased supplies and
labourers for the purpose of the necessary manual work, that the labourers should be placed under
military discipline and that, except for military police, arms should not be carried by Chinese
personnel. (at p485)

25. The Board of Supplies is a war-time body established under the Executive Yuan. The Director
General of Supplies who presumably is the Board's Chief Executive is a general of the army and
under him there appears to be a chain of command going down to the army officers stationed at
Manus Island. All the Chinese there are under military law. But though the labourers are recruited
by the army, medically examined and given some form of training, it was made clear that they were
only employees of the army. They were subject to Chinese military law as civilian employees of the
army and not as soldiers. At the time of the offences there were 300 Chinese at Manus Island,
camped about three miles from the place where the offences were committed. The accused are
labourers, not soldiers. They are respectively a shoemaker and a carpenter. (at p486)

26. But evidence was called to show that if they committed offences they would be tried by Chinese
military law and for a serious crime they might be sent back to a court martial. (at p486)

27. The situation is unusual and it is no doubt open to question upon which side of the line these
men fall. It seems likely that the whole party, officers, soldiers and labourers, came by American
invitation and without any antecedent permission from the Crown in right of the Commonwealth.
Nevertheless the presence of the party must have been known to the Australian Administration and
the consent of the government to their remaining there is to be presumed. But the point is that there
has been no invitation to or acceptance of the body as a unit of the armed forces of China. The party
is there as and for whatever its components are and no objection is raised to its remaining. (at p486)

28. In the case of a large armed force coming for military purposes there might be within the
command personnel who were not soldiers but were under military discipline, and in such a case the
invitation to them might be taken to imply an immunity for the entire body. (at p486)

29. But in the present case a band of labourers employed by a supply authority established for the
purposes of the late war is permitted to be there in order to work at what is predominantly a civilian
task. Military officers and guards are in charge and except for military police there are no arms. I
think that the true view is that a party of Chinese workmen were sent in charge of a detachment of
officers and men of the Chinese army. The purpose of the army units was to guard the material and
maintain order and discipline in the labour force and to furnish military police. The position,
therefore, of the armed force was, so to speak, incidental to the purpose of the mission. The civilian
employees of the army were not incidental to the purpose of the dispatch of the military detachment.
(at p486)

30. In these circumstances I think that to the tacit permission to remain no implication should be
attached which would place the Chinese labourers outside the jurisdiction of the local courts and
exclusively within the jurisdiction of the military arm of China. For this reason I am of opinion that
the decision of Phillips J. upon the objection was right. (at p487)

31. The appeal against the sentences imposed depends upon three suggestions. One is that the
punishment for the detention cannot be reconciled with that for the assault if the facts constituting
the two offences are dissected and distinguished. Another is that undue credence or significance
must have been given to the evidence of a native witness named Nowan. A third is that a proper
distinction was not drawn between the gravity of the offences of the respective accused. (at p487)

32. Since the hearing of the appeal I have re-read the evidence with these points in mind but I can
find nothing which would justify an interference by this Court with the discretion exercised by the
learned judge in fixing the terms of imprisonment. (at p487)

33. I think that the appeals should be dismissed. As they are appeals from convictions for indictable
offences in my opinion there should be no order as to costs. (at p487)

McTIERNAN J. I agree that an appeal lies without leave of this Court. (at p487)

2. In my opinion the objection which is made on behalf of the appellants to the jurisdiction of the
Supreme Court of the Territory should fail. The objection is founded on the "third case" described
by Marshall C.J. in the case of The Schooner Exchange v. M'Faddon [1812] USSC 15; (1812) 11
US 116, at p 138 (3 Law Ed 287, at p 294) in which a sovereign is understood to waive the exercise
of territorial jurisdiction. I do not repeat the quotation of the passage. It is necessary to read the
judgment of Marshall C.J. with the judgment of the Judicial Committee in Chung Chi Cheung v.
The King (1939) AC 160 , to ascertain to what extent the principles enunciated in the former case
are recognized by the common law. In considering the authority of writings on international law it is
necessary to remember the warning given by the Judicial Committee in the last-mentioned case
(1939) AC 160, at p 167, 168 ; see also Halsbury's Laws of England, 2nd ed., vol. 6, p. 504 and
note(s). Marshall C.J. said that the sovereign is to be understood to waive territorial jurisdiction, in
the case to which allusion has been made, over "the troops of a foreign prince." The Chief Justice
also refers to such a body as "the army to which this right of passage has been granted" and "a
military force" (1812) 11 US, at pp 139, 140 (3 Law Ed, at pp 294, 295) . Lord Atkin used the term
"armed troops" (Chung Chi Cheung v. The King (1939) AC, at p 169 ) as an equivalent of the terms
"troops," "army" and "military force" which Marshall C.J. used. The nature of the body which the
Chief Justice had in mind can be inferred from the whole of his discussion of the "third case." I
think that what is meant is an organized body armed for war. It may be a little or large body. The
evidence in the present case shows that the body or party to which the appellants belonged was not
of this character. They were members of a party disciplined after a military pattern; but they were
essentially a party of labourers and tradesmen; they did not enter the Territory to pursue national
objects of the order which a friendly foreign power would send an army or a military force to
accomplish. These men wore uniform but they were not armed or engaged to do military duties;
they were not an adjunct to a military force stationed in the Territory. I am unable to agree that it
sufficiently appears from the materials before the Court that the appellants belonged to a detachment
of troops of the Republic of China. It is therefore unnecessary to express an opinion on the question
of the immunity at common law of visiting troops sent by a friendly power. The appellants were
aliens temporarily resident in the Territory but were subject to its laws unless exempt. There is no
statute exempting them. (at p488)

3. In the case of The Exchange [1812] USSC 15; (1812) 11 US 116 (3 Law Ed 287) Marshall C.J.
said: "Without doubt the sovereign of the place is capable of destroying this implication. He may
claim and exercise jurisdiction either by employing force, or by subjecting such vessels to the
ordinary tribunals." This statement is of interest in the present case. The Chief Justice was referring
to the implication of the waiving of territorial jurisdiction. In the case of The Exchange [1812]
USSC 15[1812] USSC 15; ; (1812) 11 US 116 (3 Law Ed 287) the proceedings were not taken by
the sovereign. In the present case the appellants are prosecuted in the name of the King. (at p488)

4. I agree that there is no legal ground which would warrant any reduction by this Court of the
sentences imposed upon the appellants. (at p488)

5. The appeals should be dismissed. (at p488)

WILLIAMS J. I agree that in the absence of an ordinance made under the Papua-New Guinea
Provisional Administration Act 1945, and there is no such ordinance, s. 16 (9) of that Act gives the
appellants an appeal as of right to this Court. I also agree that the evidence does not establish that
the appellants are Chinese soldiers. It establishes that they are Chinese civilians subject in many
respects to military law but not that they are members of the armed forces of China. In these
circumstances the question of the extent of the immunity of members of the armed forces of a
friendly power from the jurisdiction of the Australian courts to be implied from an invitation from
the executive government of the Commonwealth, express or implied, to enter territory which forms
part of Australia or is controlled by the Commonwealth does not arise. In the present state of the
authorities I prefer not to express an opinion upon a difficult question which would only be obiter
dictum. In my opinion Phillips J. had jurisdiction to try the accused and there was ample evidence to
support the conviction. I can see no reason why this Court should interfere with the sentences which
his Honour passed upon the accused. (at p489)

2. In my opinion the appeals should be dismissed. (at p489)

ORDER

Appeals dismissed.

</html</htm