Foreign Enlistment Act.

Foreign Enlistment Act. In the law of England there was a statutory prohibition of enlistment in the service of a foreign prince from the times of James I.; but the statute commonly known as the Foreign Enlistment Act is that of 1870. It provides that if any British subject shall agree to enter the service of any foreign state at war with any friendly state, either as a soldier or a sailor, without the license of Her Majesty, or an order in council or royal proclamation, or if any person within the British dominions induces any other person to enlist in the service of a foreign state, such person shall be guilty of a misdemeanour. The officers of the customs, on information on oath, may detain any vessel having persons on board destined for unlicensed foreign service. Masters of vessels knowingly having such persons on board are punishable by fine or imprisonment or both. Persons building any vessel for foreign service without license are guilty of a high misdemeanour, and the ship and stores are forfeited. Even to assist a foreign state at war with a friendly state by supplying warlike stores without license is a misdemeanour punishable by fine and imprisonment. These penalties are irrespective of any consequences that may follow to the individual for having committed a breach of international law. See MERCENARIES.