034- Interhandel (Switzerland vs USA)
On October 2nd, 1957, Switzerland filed an application instituting proceedings against the United States before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). It contended that the US had vested the assets of General Aniline and Film Corporation (registered in the United States), which was owned by Interhandel, a company registered in Switzerland. The United States, for its part, argued that these shares actually belonged to a company incorporated in Germany.
Switzerland accompanied its application with a request for the indication of provisional measures requiring the United States to return the assets sequestered. The Court ruled on these issues in an order of October 24th, 1957 and refused to impose such measures, considering that the circumstances of the case did not justify it.
The United States has pleaded preliminary objections to the Jurisdiction of the Court. The ICJ ruled on these points in its judgment of March 21st, 1959 and declared that Switzerland’s application was inadmissible because Interhandel had not exhausted its domestic remedies before the United States courts.
This summary is provided for informational purposes only, does not involve the responsibility of Dome and should in no way be used as a substitute for a careful reading of the judgment and order of the case.
