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The Sovereignty of Liechtenstein

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 March 2017

Walter S. G. Kohn
Walter S. G. Kohn*
Affiliation:
Illinois State University
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Extract

There seems to be a tendency to disregard the sovereignty of the little Principality of Liechtenstein. In a chart published by one of America’s leading news magazines on the United Nations, there is this strange reference: “Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco and San Marino are not eligible (for membership in the United Nations) being principalities rather than sovereign (sic) states.” A book on the government of Switzerland devotes the last three paragraphs to Liechtenstein and then concludes that it looked as though Liechtenstein had “actually become a Swiss canton in all respects except, perhaps, for the right of the principality to issue its own postage stamps.”

Type
Research Article
Information
American Journal of International Law , Volume 61 , Issue 2 , April 1967 , pp. 547 - 557
Copyright
Copyright © American Society of International Law 1967

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References

1 A Time Guide to the United Nations, 1965, Time, Inc.

2 George Arthur Codding, Jr., The Federal Government of Switzerland 166 (Houghton Mifflin Co., 1961).

3 U.N. Security Council, Fourth Year, Official Records, No. 35, 432nd Meeting, July 27, 1949, p. 3.

4 Ibid. 5-6.

5 Ibid. 6.

6 U.N. General Assembly, 4th Sess., Sixth Committee, 174th Meeting, Oct. 26, 1949, p. 215.

7 Ibid. 214.

8 1946 United Nations Yearbook 195 (London, Hutchinson & Co. Ltd., 1946).

9 James I \ Byrnes, Speaking Frankly 41 (Harper & Brothers, 1947).

10 See John N. Hazard, The Soviet System of Government, esp. 92-93 (3rd ed., Chicago University Press, 1964).

11 This writer's translation of Art. 2 of the Constitution of Oct. 5, 1921. Note that in the translation made at the request of the Government of Liechtenstein by Dr. Pierre Eaton, United Nations Legal Officer, the phrase “die Staatsgewalt ist im Fuersten und im Volke verankert” was rendered as “the power of the State is inherent in and issues from the Prince and the People.” Whether Staatsgewalt is best translated as “power of the State” which seems much more limited than the all-inclusive “sovereignty” which this writer prefers, thus becomes a matter of conjecture.

12 According to the official figures issued in May, 1966, by the Amt fur Statistik des Füirstentums Liechtenstein.

13 Details from Otto Seger, Überblick fiber die Lichtensteinische Geschichte 10-11 (Vaduz, no date given).

14 Gregor Steger, Füirst und Landtag nach liechtensteinischem Eecht 23 (Vaduz, 1950).

15 Friedrich Biilau, Geschichte Deutschlands von 1806-1839, p. 604 (Hamburg, 1842). Translated by this -writer.

16 Pierre Raton, Les Institutions de la Principauté de Liechtenstein 28 (Paris, 1949).

17 Fürst und Landtag naeh liechtensteinischem Recht, op. tit. 27.

18 Traité de Paix, Pt. I, Art. 27 (I), p. 199 (see also p. 27 for the French text).

19 Alexander Friek in “Unser Zollanscluss mit der Sehweizerischen Eidgenossenschaft,” St. Galler Tagblatt, No. 512 (Oct. 31, 1950), quoted in Emil Schadler, Fürstentum Liechtenstein, die letzte Monarchic im Eerzen der Alpen 19 (Vaduz, 1953). Translation by this writer.

20 League of Nations, Records of the First Assembly, 1920, Plenary Meetings, p. 667. For the actual vote, see p. 652.

21 Hackworth, Digest of International Law 49 (Washington, 1940).

22 183 League of Nations Treaty Series 181-196, No. 4235.

23 Treaties in Force: A List of Treaties and Other International Agreements of the United States in Force on January 1, 1966, p. 122 (Department of State Publication 8042).

24 1962 United Nations Yearbook 368.

25 From the official report issued by the Government of Liechtenstein to its Parliament: Rechenschaftsbericht der fürstliehen Regierung an den hohen Landtag für das Jahr 1964, p. 59.

28 New York Times, Feb. 12, 1964.

27 Frederick L. Schuman, International Politics 110 (6th ed., 1958).

28 Hudson, Manley O., The Permanent Court of International Justice, 1920–1942, pp. 386–388 (New York, 1943).Google Scholar

29 34 A.J.I.L. 12-13 (1940).

30 so 36 ibid. 1 (1942).

31 Interestingly enough, Yugoslavia spoke out in favor of Liechtenstein's admission

32 U.N. Security Council, Official Records of 432nd meeting, op. tit., pp. 4-5.

33 Manley O. Hudson, “The Thirty-Fourth Tear of the World Court,” 50 A.J.I.L. 1 (1956).

34 Direct quotations from the Nottebohm Case (Liechtenstein v. Guatemala), Judgment of April 6, 1955, 49 ibid. 397-398 (1955).

35 All area figures are from Dictionary of Politics by Florence Elliott and Michael Summerskill (Penguin Books, 3rd ed., 1961).

36 Report of the Government of Liechtenstein of Nov. 16, 1965, translated by this writer.

37 Protokoll fiber die öffentliche Landtagssitzung, the official minutes of the parliamentary session, Dec. 10, 1965, p. 382, translated by this writer.