International law in general — Sources — Hierarchy of sources of international law — Article 38(1) of the Statute of the International Court of Justice, 1945 — Whether treaty law or general principles of law to be applied first — The law of the Netherlands

Treaties — Interpretation of — Principles and rules of interpretation — Convention for the Protection of Submarine Cables, 1884 — Use of submarine telephone cables not contemplated when Convention concluded — Whether reasonable interpretation of Convention allows for the protection of such cables — The law of the Netherlands

Jurisdiction — High seas — Submarine cables — Damage to cables caused by ship's anchor — Liability in tort — Applicable law — Whether municipal or international law applicable — Whether written or unwritten rules of international law to be applied first — Hierarchy of sources of international law — Statute of the International Court of Justice, 1945, Article 38(1) — Convention for the Protection of Submarine Cables, 1884 — Interpretation — Whether covering telephone cables — The law of the Netherlands