-^ Recent History 



of its judicial officers rests upon an entirely different basis. In all 

 highly organised modern State systems such officers are placed in 

 positions of greater or less independence so as to protect them, 

 except in case of high misdemeanours, from all responsibility to the 

 other departments of power. International law supposes that the 

 tribunals are open for impartial administration of justice between 

 natives and foreigners, and only when there has been palpable denial 

 of it, after the foreigner has made adequate appeal to such tribunals, 

 does the occasion arise for diplomatic intervention." It is not neces- 



lOI. LIBERIAN STAMPS — TSSUKU I'KIOK TO I906 



sary to affirm that a government is not responsible in any case to 

 a foreign government for an alleged erroneous judicial decision 

 rendered to the prejudice of a subject of said foreign government. 

 But it may be safely asserted that this responsibility can only arise 

 in a proceeding when the foreigner, being duly notified, shall have 

 made a full and bona fide, though unavailing defence, and, if neces- 

 sary, shall have carried his case to the tribunal of last resort. If 

 after having made such defence and prosecuted such appeal he shall 

 have been unable to obtain justice, then, and then only, can a demesne} 



325 



