It wasn't theirs to begin with. When they plundered all of Central/South America, what gives them the right to claim sunken ships?
2007-10-19 16:13:41 · 3 answers · asked by magpie 6 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
If the Treasure is in ships owned by Spain that only means the Spanish were bringing it to them, doesn't mnean they "own" it. And obviously they weren't encumbered by the cost of finding the ship and bringing up the material from the ocean floor.. How ironic when right now "Elizabeth, the golden years" is in movie theaters.
2007-10-21 01:22:31 · update #1
I saw the movie and I don't care what the critics think, it was great.
2007-10-23 14:24:45 · update #2
They don't have any right to claim sunken treasure if it is recovered. Maybe some knowledgeable people/lawyers on this site can help with the maritime law. I thought Mel Fisher and others worked this out, and it was a matter of negotiation between the finders and the government of the territorial waters where the treasure is recovered.
Hmmm. Good question though. The Titanic is in International waters, and I don't think it is allowable to just take whatever you can recover there (with considerable effort considering the depth of the wreck).
I hope there are some maritime lawyers out there checking this one.
I suspect you have seen something about Spain wanting some of this money. Boy, they sure would be on shaky moral ground. But does moral ground count for much in law?
It must certainly. At least, I hope so. I may be naive.
Added note - It is indeed interesting that the new "Elizabeth" movie is out now. Sir Francis Drake and the Queen made a business of stealing treasure from the Spanish that Spain had stolen from the Aztecs and Incas.
Seems like in the open ocean (international waters) today
it is a matter of finders / keepers for treasure salvaged from
old Spanish galleons. It's different legal matter if treasure is found in territorial waters.
2007-10-19 16:25:33 · answer #1 · answered by Spreedog 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the vessel was Spanish or was removed from that country’s waters, any treasure would belong to Spain.
2007-10-19 23:24:08 · answer #2 · answered by juju 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just like the American Indians losing their land to the settlers.
2007-10-19 23:24:15 · answer #3 · answered by JT 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋