PROTOCOLS. 71 



eminent of the United States of America, the signed copy of the 

 award of the Tribunal intended for the Government of the United 

 States. 



Mr. Imbert then handed to the Honorable Charles II. Tapper, agent 

 of Her Britannic Majesty, the signed copy of the award of the Tri- 

 bunal intended for the Government of Her Britannic Majesty. 



The two copies of the declarations of the arbitrators, signed by them 

 aud intended for the Governments of tbe United States of America and 

 of Great Britain, were handed in the same form to the agents of the 

 two Governments. 



Tiie president then sijoke as follows: 



Gentlemen: Now we liave como to the end of our task. We have done our best 

 to accomplish it, without concealiug from ourselves the diHiculties which compli- 

 cated it, nor the heavy respousihilities which it has imposed upon us. Selected 

 from various nationalities, we have not considered ourselves the representatives of 

 any one in particular, nor of any government or any humau power, but, solely guided 

 by our conscience and our reason, we have wished only to act as one of those coun- 

 cils of wise men, whose duties weie so carefully defined by tlie old capitularies of 

 France. 



To assist us, we have had at our disposition a library of documents, compiled 

 with extreme care, and in order that we might not lose our way among so many 

 sources of information, men holding a high rank among the most learned jurists 

 and eloquent orators of which the Old or New Worlds could boast have been will- 

 ing so liberally to bestow upon us their advice. 



During weeks and months our labors have been prolonged, and it constantly 

 appeared that some new matter had risen before us aud that some new problem 

 pressed upon our attention. 



To-day, on this great holiday, we are assembled to inform you of the result of our 

 abors, hoping with all our hearts that they uuiy be profitable to man, and conform- 

 able to the designs of Him who rules his destiny. 



We know that our work is not perfect; we feel its defects, which must be inherent 

 in all huuuin efforts, and are conscious of its weakness, at least in certain points 

 as to which we had to base our action on circumstances necessarily liable to change. 



The declarations which we offer to-day to the two agents, and which we hope will 

 be taken into consideration by their Governments, indicate some of the causes of 

 the necessary imperfection which we have mentioned. 



We have felt obliged to nuiintain intact the fundamental principles of that august 

 law of nations, which extends itself like the vault of heaven above all countrit^s, 

 and which borrows the laws of nature herself to protect the peoples of the earth, 

 one against another, by inculcating in them the dictates of mutual good will. 



In the regulations which we were charged to draw up we have had to decide 

 Ijetween conflicting rights and interests which it was difficult to reconcile. The 

 Governments of the United States of America and Great ]5ritain have promised to 

 accept and execute our decisions. Our desire is that this voluntary engagement 

 may not cause regret to either of them, though we have required of both sacrilices 

 which they may, perliaps, regard as serious. This part of our work inaugurates 

 great innovation. 



Hitherto, the nations were agreed to leave out of special legislation the vast 

 domain of the seas, as in times of old, according to the poets, the earth itself was 

 common to all men, who gathered its fruits at their will, without limitation or con- 

 trol. You know that even to-day, dreamers believe it possible to bring back huniau- 

 ity to that golden age. The sea, however, like the earth, has become suuill for men, 

 who, like the hero, Alexander, and no less ardent for labor than he was for glory, 



