GENERAL PROVISIONS. 13 



Article XL. 



Independently of general or private Treaties expressly stipulating 

 recourse to arbitration as obligatory on the Contracting Powers, the 

 said Powers reserve to themselves the right of concluding new Agree- 

 ments, general or particular, with a view to extending compulsory 

 arbitration to all cases which they may consider it possible to submit 

 to it. 



Chapter II. — The Permanent Court of Arbitration. 



Article XLI. 



With the object of facilitating an immediate recourse to arbitra- 

 tion for international differences, which it has not been possible to 

 settle by diplomacy, the Contracting Powers undertake to maintain 

 the Permanent Court of Arbitration, as established by the First 

 Peace Conference, accessible at all times, and operating, unless other- 

 wise stipulated by the parties, in accordance with the rules of pro- 

 cedure inserted in the present Convention. 



Article XLIT. 



The Permanent Court is competent for all arbitration cases, unless 

 the parties agree to institute a special Tribunal. 



Article XLIII. 



The Permanent Court sits at The Hague. 



An International Bureau serves as registry for the Court. It is 

 the channel for communications relative to the meetings of the Court; 

 it has charge of the archives and conducts all the administrative 

 business. 



The Contracting Powers undertake to communicate to the Bureau, 

 as soon as possible, a certified copy of any conditions of arbitration 

 arrived at between them and of any Award concerning them delivered 

 by a special Tribunal. 



They likewise undertake to communicate to the Bureau the laws, 

 regulations, and documents eventually showing the execution of the 

 Awards given by the Court. 



Article XLIV. 



Each Contracting Power selects four persons at the most, of known 

 competency in questions of international law, of the highest moral 

 reputation, and disposed to accept the duties of Arbitrator. 



The persons thus selected are inscribed, as members of the Court, 

 in a list which shall be notified to all the Contracting Powers by the 

 Bureau. 



Any alteration in the li-t of Arbitrators is brought by the Bureau 

 to the knowledge of the Contracting Powers. 



