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Chilean Copper Nationalization Cases before German Courts
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 March 2017
Abstract
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References
1 Excerpts in 19 Auβenwtrtschaftsdienst des Betriebs-Beraters (AWD), 163 (1973) and 37 Rabels Zeitschbift 579 ff. (1973). An English translation appears in 12 ILM 251 (1973). For the notion and the problems of a “split company,” see text at notes 100 ff. infra.
2 20 AWD 410 (1974), English translation in 13 ILM 1115 (1974). The Court dealt merely with some aspects of the problems raised in the first judgment. In that respect, the court followed the relevant parts of an expert opinion by the author submitted by the plaintiff.
3 12 ILM 270 (1973) and 13 ILM 1115 (1974).
4 Behrens, Rechtsfragen im chilenischen Kupferstrett, 37 Rabels Zeitschbift, 394–435 (1973)Google Scholar; Fickel, Enteignungsrecht und intemationales Privatrecht, 20 AWD, 69–75 (1974)Google Scholar; Meessen, Die Verstaatlichung des Kupferbergbaus in Chile vor deutschen Gerichten, 19 AWD, 177–83 Google Scholar, Petersmann, E. Die Nationalisierung der chilenischen Kupferindustrie ah Problem des intemationalen Wirtschaftsrechts, 3 Wirtschaftsbecht, 274–307 (1973)Google Scholar; Wehser, Völkerrechtswidrige Verstaatlichung der Kupferminen in Chile? 29 Jubistenzettung, 117–23 (1974)Google Scholar; Wuppermann, Internationale Enteignung im Brennpunkt nationaler richterlicher Nachprüfung, 19 AWD, 505-09 (1973)Google Scholar.
5 Loc. cit. 428.
6 Loc. cit. 409. Wehser, loc. cit. 123 too finds this solution less satisfactory. He would have decided the case by accepting the excess profit deduction as valid under international law.
7 Meessen, loc. cit. 180. Wuppermann, loc. cit. 505.
8 Loc. cit. 408–13.
9 Loc. cit. 74.
10 Loc. cit. 121–22.
11 Wehser, loc. cit. 121, Behrens loc. cit. 405.
12 12 ILM 985 (1973).
13 2 ILM 233 (1963). See also Seidl-Hohenveldern, International Organizations and the protection of Private Property, 90 Clunet 626 ff. (1963)Google Scholar. Like all subsequent resolutions on this topic, Res. 3171 (XXVIII) of December 17, 1973, 68 AJIL 381 (1974) refers to Res. 1803 (XVII). It thus establishes a link to the international obligations figuring in Res. 1803 (XVII), although paragraph 3 of the operational part of Res. 3171 (XXVIII) insists on the right of the state concerned to determine the amount of possible compensation.
14 The author does not intend to suggest that all UN resolutions are evidence of “instant international law.” Cf. Seidl-Hohenveldebn, Das Recht der Intehnationalen Organisationen Einschliesslich Der Supranationalen Gemeinschaften 194 (2nd ed. 1971)Google Scholar.
15 Contra Chile Copper Tribunal infra text at notes 49 ff.
16 Loc. cit. 122 note 78.
17 Loc. cit. 414.
18 11 ILM 126 ff. (1972).
19 Wehser, loc. cit. 122 note 78.
20 Berthélemy, Traité élémentaire de Droit Admdjistratif, 779–81 (9th ed. 1920), De Laubadére, 2 Traité Théorique et Pratique des Contrats administrates, 29, No. 442 (1956).
21 Wehser, loc. cit. 122. Behrens loc. cit. 400, E. Petersmann, loc. cit. 288 note 25.
22 Kennecott Copper Corporation, Expropriation of El Teniente 50–51 (1971), Lellich (Ed.) 2 Valuation of Nationalized Property in International Law 109 (1973).
23 Loc. cit. 122.
24 Loc. cit. 414.
25 Loc. cit. 123.
26 Wehser, loc. cit. 122. Fickel, loc. cit. 74.
27 Wehser, loc. cit. 122.
28 Behrens, loc. cit. 414 contra E. Petersmann, foe. cit. 291.
29 Thus Fickel, loc. ctt. 74.
30 Neue Zurcher Zeitung Femausgabe March 28, 1973, at 14 as quoted by E. Petersmann, loc. cit. 286 note 20.
31 The Uses of “General Principles” in the Development of International Law, 57 AJIL 298 (1963).
32 E. Petersmann, loc. cit. 284, 292. Wehser, loc. cit. 120. Wuppermann, loc. cit. 506.
33 12 ILM 276 (1973).
34 Behrens, loc. cit. 408. Wehser, loc. cit. 119, 120. E. Petersmann, loc. cit. 284, 292.
35 Wehser, loc. cit. 120 quoting Kewenig, deh Grundsatz der Nichtdiskriminierung im Völkerrecht der Internationalen Handelsbeziehungen, 89 (1972) Contra Ammann, der Schutz Auslandischer Privatinvestrnonen in Entwicklungsländern, 41 (1967)Google Scholar.
36 Art. 1 of the Law concerning the Copper Industry No. 16624 of April 20, 1967, Diario Oficial No. 26741 of May 15, 1967, Behrens, loc. cit. 398.
37 Orrego-Vicuña, Some International Law Problems posed by the Nationalization of the Copper Industry by Chile, 67 AJIL 719 (1973)Google Scholar
38 Diabio Oficial No. 26697 of March 20, 1967.
39 Wehser, loc. cit. 118 note 14 quotes Peters, Political and Social Forces in Chilean Development, 238 (1968) who states that Braden did receive such a guarantee.
40 E. Petersmann, loc. cit. 290, 293–94.
41 The Austrian Supreme Court has interpreted this motion very strictly in its decision of November 30, 1971, 27 Österr. Jur. Zettung 267 No. 142 (1972).
42 12 ILM 277 (1973).
43 Anaconda Company et al. v. Corporacion del Cobre, United States District Court Southern District of New York, 55 F.R.D. 16, at 19 (1972).
44 Behrens, loc. cit. 414, Orrego-Vicuña, .loc. cit., 725, E. Petersmann, loc. cit. 291. For these reasons the Federal Constitutional Court of the Federal Republic of Germany by Decision of March 10, 1971 BVerfGE 30, 272 at 285–87 has held unconstitutional the Additional Protocol of 1957 to the Swiss-German Double Taxation Agreement.
45 Oehler, Internationales Strafrecht 2 (1973)Google Scholar; cf. Art. 103, para. 2 of the Basic Law and the reservation made by the Federal Republic of Germany in respect of Art. 7, para. 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights of November 4, 1950, German BGBI. 686, 953 (1952 II ).
46 Wehser, loc. cit. 122 note 72 and 123, E. Petersmann, loc. cit. 292.
47 Wehser, id. 123, E. Petersmann, id. 293.
48 E. Petersmann, id. 293.
49 Explicitly Wehser, loc. cit. 121 note 66.
50 This argument is based on the fourth introductory paragraph in provision No. 17 of the law, appearing immediately before subparagraph (a) of the provision, in conjunction with subparagraph (b) of the same provision. 10 ILM 1067 at 1068–69 (1971).
51 Consideration No. 33 of the Judgment of the Special Copper Tribunal of August 11, 1972, 11 ILM 1013 at 1051 (1972).
52 Law No. 17450 of July 15, 1971, 10 ILM 1067 (1971).
53 Wehser, loc. cit. 122 note 79.
54 Ibid.
55 Wehser, loc. cit. 123.
56 100 Clunet 238 commenting on a parallel case decided by the Paris Tribunal de Grande Instance on November 29, 1972, 12 ILM 187 (1973).
57 Loc. cit. 417.
58 E. Petersmann, loc. cit. 281, Seidl,-Hohenveldern, Völkebbecht, 260 (2nd ed. 1969).
59 Thus Behrens, loc. cit. 414.
60 E. Petersmann, loc. cit. 292. Wuppermann, loc. cit. 508.
61 Thus Decision of January 22, 1973, 12 ILM 278 (1973).
62 Loc. cit. 70 note 26 and Behrens, loc. cit. 430, the latter omitting any reference to this “precedent.”
63 Federal Constitutional Court April 23, 1969, BVerfGE 25, 352, at 359–61.
64 Art. 19, para. 4 of the Basic Law, 2 Peaslee, Constttutions of Nations 33 (2nd ed. 1956).
65 Wuppermann, loc. cit. 508, Behrens, loc. cit. 428, 432, Meessen, loc. cit. 181.
66 Loc. cit. 72.
67 Id.
68 Id. 71–72 contra Wuppermann, be. cit. 509.
69 Loc. cit. 122.
70 Loc. cit. 74–75.
71 Loc. cit. 180.
72 See note 96 infra.
73 Decisions of Netherlands Courts mentioned by Hecke, van Principes et méthodes de solution des conflits de his, 126 Hague Recueil 490 (1968 I)Google Scholar.
74 Loc. cit. 432.
75 Thus, Fickel, loc. cit. 73.
76 Thus, however, Mann, Völkerrechtswidrige Enteignungen vor deutschen Gerichten, Neue Jumstische Wochenschrut 710 (1961)Google Scholar, Meessen, loc. cit. 179 supports the views expressed in the text, as well as Behrens, loc. cit. 418.
77 Loc. cit. 429.
78 Loc. cit. 179.
79 Note to the Decision of the Tribunal de Rome of September 13, 1954, 47 Revue Chit. Dr. Int. Privé, 541 (1958).
80 Seidl-Hohenveldem, Title to Confiscated Foreign Property and International Law, 56 AJIL 509 (1962)Google Scholar; id., Völkerrechtswidrige Akte frender Staaten vor innerstaat lichen Gerichten, in Cam, Heymann’s Veblag, Festschrift 611; id., Expropriaciones de Estados Extranjeros y Tribunates Intemos, 147–48, Revista de Estudios Politicos 126 ff. (1968).
81 Vogel, Der Räumliche Anwendungsbereich Der Verwaltungsrechtsnorm, 414–15 (1965)Google Scholar.
82 Art. 10, 2 Peaslee, op. cit. 483.
83 Art. 25, 2 Peaslee, ibid. 34.
84 Thus, also E. Petersmann, loc. cit. 302 and 303 note 62.
85 Loc. cit. 302.
86 Federal Constitutional Court, May 4, 1971, BVerfGE 31, 58 (36) Rabels Z. 145 (1972) commented by numerous authors, ibid. 1 ff.
87 Thus, also E. Petersmann, loc. cit. 304.
88 Behrens, loc. cit. 428; against this dominant view Wuppermann, loc. cit. 509.
89 Bremen Superior Court, April 13, 1959, 5 AWD 105 (1959), Bremen Court of Appeals, August 21, 1959, 9 Archtv des Völkerrechts, 318 (1961–62), ILR 28, 26, see Seidl-Hohenveldem, 56 AJIL 507 (1962).
90 12 ILM 280 (1973).
91 12 ILM 280 (1973).
92 Meessen, loc. cit. 180. Behrens, loc. cit. 432. Wuppermann, loc. cit. 509.
93 Seidl-Hohenveldem (loc. cit. supra note 80) 611, 126.
94 Austrian Supreme Court, April 22, 1960, 15 Östebb. Jur Zettung 391 No. 218 (1960) and Austrian Supreme Court, April 1, 1960, ibid. 350 No. 201; Netherlands Court of Cassation, October 17, 1969, 16 AWD 33, at 34 (1970); Zurich District Court, March 12, 1958, 4 AWD 80, at 82 (1958).
95 Loc. cit. 299, 304.
96 Court of Appeals Singapore, April 13, 1956, HV de Bataafsche Petroleum Maatschappij v. War Damages Commission, ILR 23, 810. Moulin c. Volatron, Trib. Comm. Marseille, May 25, 1937, 64 Clunet 535, at 541 (1937). Potassas Ibericas c. Bloch, Cour d’Appel Nimes, May 19, 1941, Nouvelle Revue de Droit International Privé 389 (1942). Quebec Superior Court, June 26, 1968, Juelle v. Tradeau, 7 Dominion Law Reports (3d), 82 and obiter-German Federal Court, March 8, 1963, NJW 1541, at 1542 (1963).
97 Decree of October 9, 1972, 12 ILM 99 (1973).
98 Cf. Banco Nacional de Cuba v. First National City Bank, 478 F.2d, 191 (1973), 68 AJIL 131 (1974). A state cannot legalize titles acquired in violation of international law by simply transferring this title to one of its state enterprises. Cf. Vienna Court of Appeals, March 10, 1958; Seidl-Hohenveldem, The Impact of Public International Law on Conflict of Law Rules on Corporations, 123 Hague Recueil 26 note 38 (1968 I)Google Scholar.
99 Loc. cit. 181.
100 Seidl-Hohenveldern (loc. cit. supra note 98), 71 ff.; id., The Austrian-German Arbitral Tribunal 15, 77 (1972).
101 13 ILM 1115 (1974).
102 Loc. cit. 180.
103 Consideration IV, 4, 13 ILM 1123 (1974). To the same effect German Federal Court, February 20, 1961, 7 AWD 103 (1961), ILR 32, 30 and German Federal Court, October 21, 1971, Wertpapiermitteilungen 1502, at 1506 (1971).
104 Consideration IV, 3, 13 ILM 1122 (1974).
105 Loc. cit. 181.
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