FINSKA ANGFARTYGS AKTIEBOLAGET AND OTHERS v. BARING BROS. & CO., LTD.

(1937) 59 L1.L.Rep. 88

CHANCERY DIVISION.

Before Mr. Justice Luxmoore.

Contract - Assignment - Requisition of Finnish vessels by Russian Government in 1916 and 1917-Vessels placed at disposal of British Government-Russian Government paid by British Government-Finnish shipowners not paid-Claim by Finnish shipowners against English bank who held funds deposited with them by Russian Government before Bolshevik Revolution-Part of funds standing to credit of separate account at bank entitled the Compte Spécial - Plaintiffs' allegation that they were legal assignees of specific parts of the Compte Spécial equal in amount to the sums due in respect of the vessels-Circumstances in which Compte Spécial came into existence-Procedure followed with regard to payments out of the Compte Spécial-Evidence of directions given by Russian Government Department concerning payments to be made to plaintiffs-Original documents or authenticated copies unobtainable-Admissibility of uncertified copies of acts of foreign State-Validity of assignment-Transaction between Russian subjects - Lex domicilii-Whether documents effected an assignment-Evidence Act, 1851, Sect. 7. Evidence Act, 1851-Acts of foreign State-Original documents or authenticated copies unobtainable-Admissibility of secondary evidence-Sect. 7.