The New York herald., 1877-03-19
The Approaching Meeting in the
City Of Antwerp:


principle OF arbitration the settlement intcrna-
tionai controversies For tho purpose OF ascertainng
tho condition and prospects OF international reform
and arbitration tho writer called upon Mr.. A. p.
Sprague. Secretary OF tho Internatonal Code Com.
miilce, and IRON extended conversation with that
gentleman the following interesting facts were ascer.
taincd:-
rHB INTERNATIONAL CODE COMMITTEE
For the purpose OF facilitating intercourse with tho
different nations in the world rendering thoir reia.
tons more friendly, removing OF difference and
providing peaceful means OF settling dis.
putes meeting was held in tho city Of New York on
tho 18th OF May, 1873, to arrange Tor conference to
be held in Europe At which tho leading pubicsts and
jursts OF different nations should be present The call
for tho conference was signed by our most dist,n.
gushed citizens, incuding among Others exPrcsdcnt
woosey, OF Yale College; ex-Prcsidcnt Hopkins OF Will
Jams College Charles Sumner William Beach Lawrence,
David Dudicy Field, Kcvordy johnson, John G. Whit.
tier, William Cullen Bryant and Eihu Burrilt. The
call was responded TO by the publicsls and jurlss
Europe, and IN October 1873 the assembled
ut Br russes under the most favorable auspices Tho
result the Geneva aroi,raton had been SO nilucn.
tial IN awakening public attention both sides OF the
Atlantic to the Importance and value OF arbitration IN
tho settlement oil international controversies that
great impetus was given 10 tho movement In that
Tno Brussels Conference was attended by rcprescu
OF the principal nations OF Europe ana OF the
United States and resulted the formation Two great
international organizations called respectively 'rhe
|
| o! Nations and ''rhe Institute OF international
Law" Among tho members Of these two associations
Chief Justice OF the Court OF Common pleas
OF England; Barons Pollock ana Amphieti, or
tho English Court OF Exchequcr; Sir Traycrs
Taviss; Montague Bernard Henry Richard PRO.
fessor sheldon Amos These two societies have local
organizations IN almost every civilized country In the
word. Aside from the members in Great Britain ul-
ready mentioned, IN France these societies have
supporters NJ taOGnlays' M NJ choy.Iier NJ Graua, NJ
Frederick sclopis (Presldent Of tho Geneva Tribu
nal Commander Mar!cin. Minister OF Justice
| NJ Rome, and Professor Pere Antoni; In
Holland, Connlck Liestlng, Of the Supreme
Court, and E. Cr,mers late Minister Of Foreign Al
fairs; in Germany, Baron Won Coltzondorf aud DR..
| Bunisch; III Russia, Professor Bcsovrazxon, OF tho
Academy OF ST. Petersburg; in Austria, DIR. New
mann; IN Span, emilio CASTELAR,. rrondergast
and Arturo Marcoartur IN tho United States, Chief
Justice Waite aud several Of tho associate Justices OF
tho Supreme Court; Charles Francis Adams. ChanceI.
or Pruyn, President bernard, Of Columbia College
Judge Peabody, and others already mentioned as
signers OF tue original CALI
COMMENCING GREAT UNDERTAKING..
These are only few OF the prominent persons who
have identified themselves with tho movemen, toward
the codinca0n OF International law the establish.
ment OF system OF international arbitration IL will
bc seen that tho organization thus constituted tho
most powerful and influential assembled In any age Tor
| eficcting great international purpose.
At tho first meeting OF the society At Brussels IN
1873, little was done except to perfect tho orgauza
and declare the general principle that an inter-
national code OF law was both desirable and practca
bic and that system oil arbitration ought to be and
could constituted which might rendered effect ua
In settling largo number oi controversies that
now settled ny war. In the following year
neva, where 1t was received by tho
government the and every sort OF courtesy
extended to II Tho sessions hold In the hail
rendered. historical by the TACT that Genova Tr
bunal had held It's sitttngs there The debates were
very Interesting character, and tho views put
by the representatives o! tho different nal,ons
tractod tho attention OF the press aud OF the
principal governments Of Europe ana America
The third annual conference OF this new society was
held ut The Hague, IN September, 1875, and was tho
most Important convocaton OF tho irends OF inter.
| W. her thr.
teen delegates from the International Code Com
mittes OF America and representation pro-
ganizatIons The receptions and entertain.
mcnts given to tho members were Of tho cordial
and elegant character The Queen Of the Netherlands
gave reception 70 tho members at tho Royal Palace.
Tho Minister oi Justice also eavo tho members roccp
bly, with her presence, who the Crown Prince and
members OF the Corps DIpiomaquo joined in the les.
tvities.
A BRILLIANT TASK BEFORE THE SOCIETY.
At this conference The real practical work of tho
were appointed on International criminal law. on OK.
tradition, collisions at sea, reduction OF armamcnts
bills Of exchange, foreign judgments, patent
International coinage aud miut regulations. the
limits to arbitration in the settlement Of
capture. The different committees appointed consisted
OF men we'll known in their respective countries Tor
their abilities and learning and for their broad
OF international policy and relations They
| are now ut work upon the subjects assigned
svo ' conferences Of tho association II su'ssi viii
| thus be that this organization contemplatcs
settlement Of the principles Of international law in a
clear manner aud upon a firm basis Heretofore this
| subject has been OF vague and unsettled character
Each nation has put It's own Interpretation upon
the called common law oil nations and
there has been authority to which they
could refer for proper construction. Al present all
the settled law OF nations which have Is that which
consists IN special treaties between Two
nations, IN tho decisions OF national tribunals In
| bulk of International law remains yct IN
state OF uncertainty, only relieved by tho isolated
opnons 0i lew writer's protesting to express the
| tcrnational sentiment upon tho subject Tho
qucncc that nations quite at loss understand
ncir exact relations and obgations to each other aud
| frequent dlcrcnces arise which have TO be settled
either by long series of negotiations, or,
That ia,Ing, by resor. to war The advan.
and the establishment of system OF arbitration are
apparent from the iact that were those accomplished the
causes of difference among peoples would DC removed
and The frequency and iiaDiity Of going war would
be greatly diminished When the ASSOCIATION has per.
fected It's system OF aud OF arbitration u INTENDS
20 call tho attention OF the different governments OF
tho world to the scheme % which !. proposes and TO
greatest reform OF modern times.
| rnK CONFERENCE This YEAR
In the meanwhile the conferences which tho society
| holds, II rs believed, have been very beneficial IN
their results upon the public sentiment OF this
civilized world, IN detsrring tho nations from
other II is believed the existing questions arising
out OF tho approaching settlement OF the Eastern
work of the ASSOCIATION here spoken or Although
there has not bccn great outward manifestation OF
The influences OF tho society," yet IL known by It's
members personally TO have had great influence upon
| the individuals composing II aud others who are tho
leaders of public opinion In Europe
| THE OPINIONS or DISTINGUISHED MEN,
Speaking OF the Importance Of this groat movements
Chief Justice Waite says--lt Is tho great work OF an
advancing civilization" Judge Strong OF tho United
States supreme Court, rcnarks:--ssrhc reform s in
judgment, asubJect OF great mportanc worthy
of tho thoughtful OF the advanced minds c
the age" Charles Francis Adams suggcsis:--Its OBJ
| jocts cannot fail to command the good wisaes
OF all thinking pcoplc.r Ex-Attorney Gen.
| craI TAFT says:-"Thc OBJECT OF the ASSOCIATION Is
| very important, and hope II may lead 10 great aud
much needed Improvement IN tho legal relations be-
| tween nations William Cullen Bryant writes :--"My
| sympahes are with The NOBLE purpose you have IN
vicw." Chancellor Runyon records wishes IN these
| Words.-'t would IN M q n N