12 THE ROYAL CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



tries. There is evidence of much progress of this kind in Germany, 

 and although the knowledge of it is withheld as much as posible from 

 the rest of the world, it has been furnished in many ways. We may 

 instance the wonderful advance in the construction of submarines up 

 to the point of the so-called super submarine capable of prolonged 

 voyages never dreamt of for such craft prior to the war. The same 

 thing may be said of air craft of all kinds. 



England and France we know have also made immense advances 

 in the construction of their submarines and air craft, so much so indeed 

 as to outclass the Germans, and in addition have produced scientific 

 means and machines which have practically defeated and stopped 

 Germany's submarine warfare against the Allies, and in the air have 

 more than met every device of the enemy. 



Further instances in this direction some of those present will no 

 doubt take the opportunity to tell us about. 



We have so far spoken of the effect of the war upon the people of the 

 British Empire. Let us for a moment ask ourselves what the effect is 

 now upon the nations of the civilized world what it may be after peace 

 is declared. 



Before the war there had been for a century growing stronger among 

 the nations, outwardly at least, a strong sympathy for humanity; the 

 standard of national honour was high, and no insult to a country could 

 exceed that of doubting the good faith of its government or its observ- 

 ance of its treaty obligations. 



These conditions were shown by the growth of influential peace 

 parties in the chief nations of Europe and America, who spread their 

 propaganda for the settlement of all international disputes without 

 war by means of convention or by arbitration till within recent years 

 the Tribunal of the Hague was erected for the trial and determination 

 of what may be designated international law suits to be brought before 

 it. The relations between the nations had developed what might be 

 said to amount to a code of international law which was added to by 

 agreements entered into by the Powers at the Hague, and later by the 

 Treaty of London so far as that Convention was adopted. 



All this structure was built upon the good faith of the nations. The 

 world thought good faith a safe security for the fulfilment of the obliga- 

 tions of Treaties and international law. 



What was to be done with a Power which did not abide by its obliga- 

 tions in these respects was not provided for. In the nature of things 

 it could not be provided for and was not discussed till the circumstances 

 attending the war brought a suggestion for the formation of a con- 



