1903-4. | ; INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION, 49 
jurisdiction of the permanent court may be extended under conditions 
prescribed by this rule to controversies existing between non-signatory 
powers, or between signatory powers and non-signatory powers, if the par- 
ties agree to submit to this jurisdiction.. The signatory powers declare 
that they consider it their duty, in case a serious dispute threatens to break 
out between two or more of them, to remind these latter that the Permanent 
Court of Arbitration is open to them; that consequently they declare that 
the effect of reminding the parties in controversy of the provisions of this 
convention, and the advice given to them, in the higher interests of 
peace, to have recourse to the Permanent Court, can only be considered as 
an exercise of good offices. 
Article XXVIII provides for a permanent Administrative Council, com- 
posed of the diplomatic representatives of the signatory powers accredited 
to the Hague, and of the Netherlands Minister of Foreign Affairs, who shall 
act as president. This Council is charged with the establishment and or- 
ganization of the International Bureau, which remains under its direction 
and control. It is empowered to make its own by-laws, and all other ne- 
cessary regulations, and to decide all questions of administration which 
may arise, with regard to the operations of the court. It has control over 
the officials and employees of the Bureau. All decisions are made by a 
majority of the votes. The expense of the Bureau is borne by the signatory 
powers, in the proportions established for the International Bureau of the 
International Postal Union. 
Chapter 3 of this Title provides for a code of arbitral procedure, which 
is to be applicable unless the parties have agreed upon different regulations. 
Article XX XI of this code provides that the powers who resort to 
arbitration shall sign a special act, which we should call a submission, in 
which the subject of the difference shall be precisely defined, as well as the 
extent of the powers of the arbitrators; and this is declared to imply an 
agreement by each party to submit in good faith to the award. 
The only other portion of this code of arbitration procedure to which 
time will permit a reference, is Article XLVIII, providing that the Tribunal 
is authorized to determine its own jurisdiction by interpreting the agree- 
ment of arbitration or other treaties which may be quoted in point, and by 
the application of the principles of international law. 
Russia did not invite the South American Republics to the Hague 
Conference, the United States and Mexico being the only American powers 
represented, unless Great Britain and the other European countries having 
possessions on this continent, can properly by virtue thereof be classed as 
American powers. 
Subsequently however, there was held in Mexico what is known 
