MISCELLANEOUS CLAIMS. 105 



suffice to say that tlie "pouvoir sanctionnateur" is in 

 tlie treaty of arbiiratiou, -vvliieli nations are quite as 

 likely to observe as they are to observe any other 

 treaty. It is that question of good faitli among na- 

 tions upon wliicli the peace of tlie world stands. 



Undoubtedly, cases occur in which the internation- 

 al discord or debate turns on questions ^vhere the na- 

 tional honor or dignity is directly in play, and where 

 the controversy becomes a matter of personal senti- 

 ment; and in such cases it may not be easy to ob- 

 tain an agreement to arbitrate. Such, indeed, was the 

 view of Earl Ilussell, as we have already seen, with 

 reference to the imputed want of due diligence of the 

 British Government in the matter of the Alahania 

 and the Florida. But the influence of time, which 

 softens sensibilities and resentments, and the preva- 

 lence at length of the mutual desire of peace, may 

 overcome even the most serious apparent obstacles 

 to friendly arbitration, as the conduct of Great Brit- 

 ain in expressing her regret for the incidents of which 

 the United States complained, and in referring the 

 whole subject to the Tribunal at Geneva, seems to 

 demonstrate. 



OTHER FORMS OF ARniTRATION. 



Many instances have occurred in the present centu- 

 ry of another form of arbitration, differing materially 

 from mixed commissions, namely, submission to a sin- 

 gle arbiter or tribunal, with complete authority to 

 decide the subject of controversy. 



Thus, in 1851, France and Spain referred to the ar- 



