London Protocol, Article 22

[Oldgamer48]

I noticed in my briefing (using SH3 Commander), prior to my first war patrol, a mention of the London Protocol, Article 22. I was intrigued by this, and decided to see what it said. From http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/instree/1909b.htm , I quote the following:

CONTRABAND OF WAR
Art. 22. The following articles may, without notice (*), be treated as contraband of war, under the name of absolute contraband:
(1) Arms of all kinds, including arms for sporting purposes, and their distinctive component parts. (2) Projectiles, charges, and cartridges of all kinds, and their distinctive component parts. (3) Powder and explosives specially prepared for use in war.
(4) Gun-mountings, limber boxes, limbers, military waggons, field forges, and their distinctive component parts.
(5) Clothing and equipment of a distinctively military character.
(6) All kinds of harness of a distinctively military character.
(7) Saddle, draught, and pack animals suitable for use in war.
(8) Articles of camp equipment, and their distinctive component parts.
(9) Armour plates.
(10)Warships, including boats, and their distinctive component parts of such a nature that they can only be used on a vessel of war.
(11)Implements and apparatus designed exclusively for the manufacture of munitions of war, for the manufacture or repair of arms, or war material for use on land or sea.

I don't know if any of this has the slightest effect on gameplay. I'm not even sure that you can "stop" a merchant ... especially a neutral ... and see if it has any contraband on it (thereby allowing you to sink the ship). Quite frankly, I haven't played far enough into the game to see what happens. However, I thought the above was interesting, from a historical standpoint. It was signed in 1909.