Evening star., 1899-07-08
TO PRESERVE PEACE
Tent Of Mediation and Arbitration
0onvantioa Submitted at The Hague.
OFFER OF aoQD OFFICES FRIENDLY
Functions Of the Proposed Court
and It's Workings
OMMITTEE DJOURNS

/ ~ ~ nl @n i i L ID u IA ~ u " " n IN y
I The third committee was in session at
/ The Hague yesterday and discussed the
| scheme for the mediation and arbitration
drafting committee.
| Many of the delegates saw the proposals
| for the first time Thursday, and had not
had time to consult their governments.
Consequently, 1t was decided that when
| the days session was ended the commit
tee would adjourn until Monday. July II,
| in order to allow the delegates time to
consult their governments and receive their
final Instructions.
| The scheme was headed The Draft of
Convention for the Pacific Settlement of
International Conflict" The first part
dealt with the maintenance of general
peace; the second part with arbitration.
The Proposed Convention.
| The proposed convention as it came be-
| fore the committee was as follows:
Article with the object of preventing.
as far as possible recourse to force in in
ternational relations, the signatory powers
agree to use all endeavors to effect by
| pacific means a settlement of the differ
ences which may arise among them.
| Article 1.-The signatory powers decide
| that in cases of serious difference or con-
fict they will, before appealing TO arms
have recourse, SO far as circumstances per-
NIT, to the good offices mediation of one
| or several friendly powers.
Article IIL-Independently of this the
signatory powers deem it useful that sew
eral of the powers not committed to the
| arbitration scheme shall, on their own
initiative, offer, as far as circumstances
permit, their good offices for mediation to
I thn i'm Sfar
ing their good offices belongs to powers
not connected with the conflict, even dur
ing the course of hostilities which act can
never be regarded as an unfriendiy act.
Article IV-The part of mediator consists
in reconciling conflicting claims and ap-
peasing resentment which may have arisen
between contending states.
Article V-rhe functions of meGiators
cease from the moment it may be stated
by one of the contending parties or by the
mediator himself that the compromise or
basis of an amicable understanding pro-
posed by him has not been accepted.
Mediators Act Only as Counsel.
Article VI-Good offices and mediation
have the exclusive character of counsel and
are devoid of obligatory force.
Article VII-The acceptance of mediation.
unless otherwise stipulated, may have the
effect of interrupting the obligation of pre-
pairing for war. If the acceptance super
venes after the opening of hostiHueS 1t
shall not interrupt. unless by convention
of a contrary tenor, military operations
that may be proceeding.
Article NIII-The signatory powers agree
in recommending the application of special
mediation in the event. OF threatened inter
ruption of peace between members. Con-
tending states may each choose a power to
which they will intrust the mission of en-
tering into negotiation with a power
chosen by the other side, with the object
of preventing a rupture of pacific relations,
or in the event of hostiities, of restoring
peace.
Articles TX to XIV provide for the in
stitution of an international commission of
inquiry for the verification OF facts in cases
of minor disputes not affecting the vital
interest or honor of states, but impossible
of settlement by ordinary diplomacy. The
report of inquiry commission will not
force an arbitral judgment. leaving the con-
tending parties full liberty to either con-
cude an amicable arrangement on the basis
of the report have recourse ulterioriy to
mediation or arbitration.
The Court of Arbitration.
Articles " to XIX set forth the general
objects and benefits which it is hoped to de-
rive from the arbitration court, and declare
signing the convention implies an undertake
ing to submit in good faith to arbitral
Judgment.
Article XX-With the object of faciH-
tating an immediate recourse to arbitra-
ton for International differences not regu-
lated by diplomatic means, the signatory
powers Undertake to organize in the fol-
lowing manner a. permanent court of arbi
tration accessible at all times and eXercis-
ing its functions, unless otherwise stipu-
lated. between the contending parties in
conformity with the rules of procedure in
serted In the present convention.
Article XXl-This court is to have COM
potency in all arbitration cases. unless the
contending parties come to an understand
ing for the establishment of special arbitra-
ton Jurisdiction.
Article XXII-An international bureau es-
tablshed at The Hague and placed under
the direction of permanent secretary gen
eral will serve as the Office of the court.
1t shall be the intermediary for communica-
tions concerning meetings. The court rs to
have the custody of archives and the man.
agement of all administrative affairs.
Appointment OF Arhitrators.
Article XX1I-Each of the signatory
powers shall appoint, within three months
of the ratification of the present article, not
more than four persons of recognized COM
retence in questions of International law,
enjoying the highest moral consideration
and prepared to accept the functions of ar
bitrator. The persons thus nominated will
be entered as members Of the court on list
which will be communicated by the bureau
to all the signatory powers. Any modifca-
tion of the list will be brought by the
bureau to the knowledge of the signatory
powers TWO or more powers may agree
together regarding the nomination of one
or more members, and the same person may
be chosen by the different powers. Mem
bers of the court are to be appointed for
the term of six years. The appointments
are renewable. In case of the death res
ignation of a member of the court the va
cancy is to be filed in accordance with the
regulations made for the original nomina-
ton.
Article XXIV-The signatory powers who
desire to apply to the court for settlement
OF differences shall select from the general
list number of arbitrators, to be fixed by
agreen ent They will notify the bureau Of
their intention of applying to the court and
give the names of the arbitrators they may
have selected. In the absence of a conyen-
ton to the contrary an arbitraI tribunal Is
to be constituted in accordance with the
rules of Article XXI. Arbitrators thus