Legal Opinion & Testimonial

By L.W. Conway

To Whom It May Concern:

THE PRINCIPALITY OF SEALAND

We confirm that over a large number of years we have investigated the legal status of the Principality of Sealand and Prince Roy of Sealand its Sovereign Head and that in our view such Principality is absolutely legal according to both English and International Law.

The Principality has not so far as we are aware received de jure recognition from any country but it has certainly received de facto recognition by Great Britain, Germany, and Holland and very possibly a number o other European countries.

Some time ago an armed raid on the island was organized by some criminals who kidnapped Prince Roy's son and took him to a foreign country against his will.

As a result of this kidnapping Prince Roy held a number of foreign nationals on the island as prisoners. Some were Dutchmen and one was German.

In due course complaints were made to both the Dutch and German and the British Government and as a result of these complaints armed Dutch naval vessels and armed German naval vessels were sent to the area and ready to attempt to land personnel o the island and retake their nationals by force if necessary.

A senior representative of the West German Government in London informed our Mr. L.W. Conway that unless the German prisoner was forthwith released the German naval vessels would go in to the island and take him off forcibly.

On behalf of Sealand, Mr. L.W. Conway stated that the German prisoner was held lawfully by a Sovereign State and that it would be an act of war for the German Government to go in and retake their prisoner. After considerable negotiations between the German Government and Prince Roy of Sealand a senior representative of the German Ambassador in London was permitted to go to Sealand and talk to the German National prisoner and it was thereafter agreed by the German Government that it could not lawfully take the prisoner away and he was still detained on the island for some considerable time.

Although the negotiations with the Dutch Government were not as clear cut as they were with the German Government, Prince Roy did decide to release the Dutch Nationals without threats being made to him., as he felt that the Dutch Nationals had been misled whereas the German National knew what he was doing when he entered the island armed for combat and without permission.

Complaints were made to the British Government about the prisoners held on the island and again the British Government stated that is could not do anything to have these men released as the island was outside the jurisdiction of the English Courts and it was a matter between the foreign nationals and their Governments and Sealand but the British Government could not do anything to assist in releasing the prisoners.

Various offers have been made to Prince Roy on behalf of different persons to negotiate on his behalf to have his country recognized by certain of the small minor Governments throughout the world but Prince Roy has not sought official recognition as this venture is entirely a commercial venture and not a political one and he does not wish to be recognized formally as a State by any particular Government. To do so would create problems as it would necessitate him appointing an Ambassador with additional unnecessary expense and no financial gain at all.

In a document of this nature obviously the information given has to be somewhat limited but there is no secret about what has happened in connection with the island and if any further information is required from any person seriously interested, we shall be happy to give such further information either in writing or verbally.

DATED the 27th day of March 1981.

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