The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-10-05
An Imperial Geogrspher and Judge.


The Institute of International Law. which
met at Hamburg In September. devoted
considerable time to o discussion OF the
rules of procedure which should govern
arbitrations in international disputes.
This association is composed Of members
who have rendered services to international
law In the domain of theory or Of practice.
and Of associates whose knowledge may be
useful to the institute. There are one hun
dred and twenty members and associates
In all. representing the various countries Of
the world. but the representatives Of one
country cannot exceed one-sixth OF the
total number. The members are mostly
distinguished Continental iurists. and ut
the Hamburg meeting, which was held
under the Presidency Of Prof. Won BAR Of
Goettingen. no American appears to have
been present. and the only Englishmen
were Lord REAY. DR.. THOMAS BARCLAY.
and Mr.. Justice Scorr. who is now en-
gagged In Egypt in reforming the judicial
system OF that country.
The case which was referred to as Illus
trating the necessity OF definite rules for
the government Of international arbitra-
lions was the recent controversy between
the French republic and the Government Of
tho Netherlands In reference to the boun-
Diary between the possessions Of those two
nations In South America. French Guiana,
OF which Cayenne is the capital, lies directly
east OF Dutch Guiana. Of which Paramaribo
Is tho capital. between the second and fourth
parallels OF north latitude. It Is agreed
that tho river Maronl or Marowyne con-
stitutes. along the lower part OF its
course. tho boundary between the two
colonies. A question arose. however.
as to which Of tho two streams formed
the upper course OF the Maroni. Upon the
territory lying between these two streams
gold fields were recently discovered. and
the French Government granted to the dis
coverers the right to mine in this region.
Thereupon the Dutch authorities protested.
claiming the disputed district, and nm
agreement was made to submit the contro-
versy to the Emperor Of Russia for deter
mination. The form Of this agreement.
however. was suoh as to compel the En-
peror to decide upon one stream or the
other as the legal boundary; 1t did not per-
NIT him to fx upon an intermediate frontier
II he should come to the conclusion upon
the evidence that such was the true boun-
Diary. Under these circumstances the Gar
declined to act at all. and he only consented
to do 80 when both parties to the contro-
versy changed the terms Of the submission
80 that he might declare the true boundary
II he should come TO the conclusion that 1t
was not along the line Of either river. A
popularity about the procedure was that
the written argument of each party Iiti-
CANT was submitted without being COM
municated to the other: 80 that neither
Government knew what views were to be
put forward In behalf Of Its adversary.
The Czar decided In favor OF the Dutch
claim. holding that stream known as the
Lava was the true upper course Of the
Maroni. This decision gives the gold fields
to the Government Of the Netherlands. but
the imperial arbitrator also provided in his
decision that French settlers who had In
good faith acquired possessions In the dis
puted land should retain them.
After reviewing tho circumstances In this
interesting case. Prof. AssER Of Amsterdam.
one OF the most prominent members Of the
Institute OF international Law, insisted upon
the importance Of general regulations which