0031-0330 irl.qxd
2.3.2009
14:20
Page 207
PROTECTION OF CIVILIAN PERSONS
207
The conditions for the sending of individual parcels and
collective shipments shall, if necessary, be the subject of special
agreements between the Powers concerned, which may in no case
delay the receipt by the internees of relief supplies. Parcels of
clothing and foodstuffs may not include books. Medical relief
supplies shall, as a rule, be sent in collective parcels.
ART. 109. — In the absence of special agreements between Parties
to the conflict regarding the conditions for the receipt and
distribution of collective relief shipments, the regulations
concerning collective relief which are annexed to the present
Convention shall be applied.
The special agreements provided for above shall in no case
restrict the right of Internee Committees to take possession of
collective relief shipments intended for internees, to undertake their
distribution and to dispose of them in the interests of the recipients.
Nor shall such agreements restrict the right of representatives of
the Protecting Powers, the International Committee of the Red
Cross, or any other organization giving assistance to internees and
responsible for the forwarding of collective shipments, to supervise
their distribution to the recipients.
II.
Collective
relief
ART. 110. — All relief shipments for internees shall be exempt
from import, customs and other dues.
All matter sent by mail, including relief parcels sent by parcel post
and remittances of money, addressed from other countries to
internees or despatched by them through the post office, either
direct or through the Information Bureaux provided for in
Article 136 and the Central Information Agency provided for in
Article 140, shall be exempt from all postal dues both in the
countries of origin and destination and in intermediate countries.
To this end, in particular, the exemption provided by the Universal
Postal Convention of 1947 and by the agreements of the Universal
Postal Union in favour of civilians of enemy nationality detained in
camps or civilian prisons, shall be extended to the other interned
persons protected by the present Convention. The countries not
signatory to the above-mentioned agreements shall be bound to
grant freedom from charges in the same circumstances.
The cost of transporting relief shipments which are intended for
internees and which, by reason of their weight or any other cause,
cannot be sent through the post office, shall be borne by the
Detaining Power in all the territories under its control. Other
Powers which are Parties to the present Convention shall bear the
cost of transport in their respective territories.
III.
Exemption
from postal
and
transport
charges