And State Papers 669 



dispute it was suggested by the powers in interest 

 that it should be referred to me for decision, but I 

 was clearly of the opinion that a far wiser course 

 would be to submit the question to the Permanent 

 Court of Arbitration at The Hague. It seemed to 

 me to offer an admirable opportunity to advance the 

 practice of the peaceful settlement of disputes be- 

 tween nations and to secure for The Hague Tribunal 

 a memorable increase of its practical importance. 

 The nations interested in the controversy were so 

 numerous, and in many instances so powerful, as to 

 make it evident that beneficent results would follow 

 from their appearance at the same time before the 

 bar of that august tribunal of peace. 



Our hopes in that regard have been realized. 

 Russia and Austria are represented in the persons of 

 the learned and distinguished jurists who compose 

 the Tribunal, while Great Britain, Germany, France, 

 Spain, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, and 

 Norway, Mexico, the United States, and Venezuela 

 are represented by their respective agents and coun- 

 sel. Such an imposing concourse of nations present- 

 ing their arguments to and invoking the decision of 

 that high court of international justice and interna- 

 tional peace can hardly fail to secure a like submis- 

 sion of many future controversies. The nations now 

 appearing there will find it far easier to appear there 

 a second time, while no nation can imagine its just 

 pride will be lessened by following the example now 

 presented. This triumph of the principle of inter- 

 national arbitration is a subject of warm congratu- 



