After Chernobyl, the perception of a common interest in internationally organised nuclear safety measures has been evident among all governments of countries with nuclear power plants, as well as those likely to be involved in or affected by a nuclear accident. Dr. Peter D. Cameron examines the two principal developments in international lawwhich reflect this consensus: the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident and the Convention on Assistance in the Event of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency. While representing a considerable achievement, the Conventions underline the determination of states parties not to lose control over nuclear matters at the national level.

In his article on mergers and antitrust regulation in the United States, Professor Cohn describes the intricate relationship between the two concepts. Antitrust law is analyzed along the lines of the Sherman Act, the Clayton Act and the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act. Furthermore, Professor Cohn frequently refers to relevant jurisprudence in his efforts to clarify the present-day legal situation in the United States with respect to horizontal and vertical mergers. He concludes that merger law in the United States is an amalgam of state and federal law which does not account for a ‘unified set of rules governing mergers’.

Consideration is given of the ‘classical’ view on state responsibility for internationally wrongful acts and the reasons why, at least according to the International Law Commission of the United Nations, this view no longer corresponds to the realities of international legal life. The author then focuses on the novel concept of international crimes of states. Both the constituent elements and the legal consequences of international crimes, as conceived of by the International Law Commission, are discussed. According to the author, without the simultaneous acceptance of compulsory means of pacific settlement, the potentially fruitful concept of international crimes of states might prove disastrous for the international community.

On June 2, 1988, the Convention on the Regulation of Antarctic Mineral Activities was concluded after several years of negotiations. Starting with a review of the 1959 Antarctic Treaty, the author discusses the new Convention and the organs it has created. Special attention is paid to the possible impact of mineral activities to the unique environment of Antarctica, and the safeguards which are offered by the Convention in this respect. According to the author, it can be doubted whether the regime's institutions will adequately account for the environmental consequences of mineral activities.

After an extensive discussion of the treatment of cultural property through the ages, the author focuses on the position of art treasures under current international law. Are states under an obligation to return cultural property to its country of origin? In order to answer this question, the author introduces a ‘gliding scale’, based on the circumstances of the removal of the works of art.

On 7 September 1988 the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar, received the degree of Doctor Honoris Causa from the University of Leiden. This degree was granted as a tribute to his contribution to international peace, justice and international law. Following an introduction by Professor H.G. Schermers (Leiden University), Professor P.H. Kooijmans (Leiden University) delivered the laudatio in honour of Mr. Perez de Cuellar. Mr. Kooijmans praised the efforts of the Secretary General in seeking settlement of international disputes, and he stated that Mr. Perez de Cuellar had at crucial moments used his personal prestige in order to achieve a breakthrough in the peaceful settlement of international disputes. In particular Mr. Kooijmans referred to the Iran\Iraq, Namibia, Afghanistan, and Western Sahara disputes. In particular Mr. Kooijmans referred to the Iran/Iraq, Namibia, Afghanistan, and Western Sahara disputes. The United Nations is now regaining its relevance as an international peacekeeping force after the various crises of the 1970s and 1980s. Professor Kooijmans contended that the leadership of the Secretary General has to a great extent been the source of this rejuvenation.

In order to protect European industries against dumped imports from countries which are not members of the EEC, the Community authorities may impose anti-dumping duties. The relevant rules are laid down in Council Regulation 2176/84 and are based on the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the GATT Anti-Dumping Code. The European Commission is responsible for investigating cases; it is empowered to impose provisional anti-dumping duties or to accept so-called “price undertakings” offered by the exporters to raise their prices. These price undertakings purport to eliminate the dumping, i.e., generally speaking, the difference between domestic and export price, or its injurious effects. They are advantageous for the exporters since the price increase goes to them rather than to the custom authorities in the form of a duty.

Chernobyl and Sandoz-Bâle are certainly among the most remarkable current events in the field of transboundary pollution. The Chernobyl incident has sensitised at least a part of European public opinion to such an extent that the IAEA had to consider it a great success that the Final Document of the Special Session of the General Conference after Chernobyl could still proclaim that the General Conference “recognizes that nuclear power will continue to be an important source of energy for social and economic development”.

On February 1988, the M.S. Cape, a 2,000 ton coaster sailing under the Honduran flag, passed the K14 FA 1 production platform belonging to the Nederlandsche Aardolie Maatschappij (NAM) at a distance of 25 meters. The ship had been drifting because of an engine failure but did not communicate this fact until it had reached an adjacent production platform, by which time it had successfully solved its engine problem. As a result of this incident, the production of gas was halted for some time and the operator of the platform suffered considerable losses. On 28 February 1988, the Swedish ferry M.S. “Vinca Gorthon” entered a field with severe weather conditions, ran into trouble, sent a MAY-DAY call, listed and sunk right on top of a Unocal pipeline, which was damaged. Oil transport through this pipeline had to be stopped immediately. The daily loss suffered by the operator was approximately Dfl.1,5 million.