1903-4. ] INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION. 45 
It may be disappointing to reflect that in pagan Greece, Argos and 
Lacedemon could agree that if any differences should arise between them, 
they should have recourse to the arbitration of a neutral power, in accord- 
ance with the custom of their ancestors, and yet that at the end of the nine- 
teenth century of the Christian era, the two most advanced nations 
could not conclude a similar agreement to continue for five years. 
Yet notwithstanding it must be said that there has been an advance 
of the principles of international arbitration, a steady growth of public 
sentiment in favour of settling international disputes by the decision of 
an impartial Judicial Tribunal, instead of deciding them by the equity 
of the rifle and the justice of the sword. As evidence of this, reference 
may be made to the numerous instances of successful arbitration,—for 
example, the Behring Sea Arbitration. 
Probably the most important advance yet made in the development 
of the principle of arbitration is found in the action of ‘‘The Peace Con- 
ference,” at the Hague, in 1899. This conference was the outcome of an 
invitation contained in the rescript of the Emperor of all the Russias 
dated August 24th, 1898, stating that the maintenance of general peace 
and a possible reduction of the excessive armaments which weigh upon 
all nations, present themselves in the existing conditions of the whole 
world as the ideal towards which the endeavours of all Governments should 
be directed, and the Russian Government expressed the conviction that 
the time would be favourable for seeking, by means of international discus- 
sion, the most effectual means of insuring to all peoples the benefits of a 
real and durable peace. The object of the conference was stated to be, 
to converge in one powerful focus the efforts of all states which are sin- 
cerely seeking to make the great idea of universal peace triumph over 
the elements of trouble and discord, and to confirm their agreement by 
the solemn establishment of the principles of justice and right upon which 
repose the security of states and the welfare of peoples. This invitation 
was accepted by all the powers to whom it was addressed, 7.e., all the 
Governments having diplomatic representation at St. Petersburg, as well 
as Luxemburg, Montenegro and Siam. ‘The delegates of the powers so 
represented met at the Hague on the 18th of May, 1899. Great Britain 
was represented at the conference by Lord Pauncefote, Sir Henry Howard, 
Vice-Admiral Sir A. Fisher, Major-General John Ardagh, R.A., and Lieute- 
nant-Colonel Charles A. Court, R.A. The countries represented were 
Germany, the United States of America, Austria-Hungary, Belgium, 
China, Denmark, Spain, France, Great Britain and Ireland, Greece, Italy, 
’ Japan, Luxemburg, Mexico, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Persia, 
Portugal, Roumania, Russia, Servia, Siam, Sweden and Norway, Switzer- 
land, Turkey, and Bulgaria. 
