1444 NORTH ATLANTIC COAST FISHERIES ARBITRATION. 



If the counsel of the respective parties desire to submit to the 

 Tribunal, either orally or in writing, any view or suggestions in 

 regard to the subject-matter of article 4 of the Special Agreement, 

 they will be heard or received at the convenience of counsel. 



THE PRESIDENT: Now, Mr. Elder, may I ask you to address the 

 Court? 



ARGUMENT OF THE HONORABLE SAMUEL J. ELDER ON BEHALF 

 OF THE UNITED STATES. 



Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Tribunal : 



At the opening of the Argument for Great Britain, Sir Robert 

 Finlay took occasion to express his personal satisfaction in the fact 

 that the Tribunal would, at the end, have the advantage of hearing 

 the Attorney-General of Great Britain. In heartily concurring, on 

 behalf of my associates and myself, in that sentiment, I cannot refrain 

 from expressing my own deep gratification, as well as that of my 

 associates (and, I am confident, that of the Tribunal), in the knowl- 

 edge that the Tribunal will also have the advantage, at the close, of 

 hearing, on behalf of the United States, the distinguished Senator 

 from New York, and former Secretary of State of the United States, 

 who had so large a share in the diplomatic debate of many questions 

 now before the Tribunal, and who has been so largely instrumental in 

 bringing about, not only this arbitration, but in advancing the cause 

 of determination by arbitration of international disputes throughout 

 the world. 



It is oftentimes interesting and instructive to see how it comes 

 about that parties are in court litigating their grievances; how it 

 happens that they, or their friends for them, could not reach an 

 agreement outside of the arbitrament of the law. 



It is oftentimes most seriously to be studied how nations came to 

 fail to compose their differences, and had resort in the old times solely 

 to war, but in the new time and, as we believe, the better time that 

 is coming to such an arbitration as this. 



Therefore we inquire with regard to this arbitration, How did it 

 happen that Great Britain and the United States could not adjust by 

 diplomacy the controversy that had in part existed for many years 

 and in part for a very short length of time ? 



Was there irritated feeling between the two countries ? Were they 

 on the verge of war ? Were both sides excited and belligerent ? Not 

 in the slightest degree. 



There never had been a time when the two great Anglo-Saxon 

 peoples had been more in accord and more in the spirit of friendship. 

 It was " the piping times of peace " between the two countries, and, 

 quoting Richard, we can say that neither side shared Richard's feel- 



