Thanks for this reference. I am ashamed to admit that I was completely unaware of this case where Vattel was cited. It will take me a while to make my own judgement about its application to the NBC question, but on the surface it does seem as if it might be very relevant.
ML/NJ
Glad to be of service. We need to have this issue exposed, and adjudicated by a competent court of law, especially since there has never been a direct ruling on the matter in the nation’s history.