202 EMPLOYMENT OF THE PLEBISCITE [5OO 



for the most important decision a group may be forced to 

 make — that of choice of sovereignty. The exact proportion 

 decided upon in each case must depend on the various 

 motives prompting the demand for a change and whatever 

 other factors may justly enter into the consideration of all 

 the parties concerned. 



The essential part in territorial adjustments is not the 

 plebiscite but the agreement on that proportion of the vote 

 which will effect a solution productive of the lasting peace 

 of the population subject to the change proposed. 



The plebiscite can render effective service only when and 

 where such binding agreements, free from all force, have 

 been reached in advance by the parties involved to the effect 

 that a majority of a fixed and agreed proportion shall pre- 

 vail, and where the plebiscite is employed solely to establish 

 which side of the issue involved can muster this majority 

 and where the resulting minority is assured a fair degree of 

 local autonomy and the enjoyment of its own language and 

 religion. 



But when agreements of this nature become universally 

 possible in the case of territorial settlement and in the de- 

 termination of sovereignty, the necessity of liberating sup- 

 pressed minorities by way of plebiscites will no longer exist. 

 Conquest will no longer seem profitable and will actually 

 cease because the victor will in advance bind himcslf to re- 

 linquish his prey in case the result of a vote falls below the 

 majority agreed upon as essential to the annexation. 



However, a state ready to grant, without coercion of 

 whatever kind, such a degree of liberty to its dissatisfied 

 p>opulation would usually be capable of conducting its affairs 

 in such a manner as to overcome any existing disaffection 

 or to avoid its inception in the first place. Nor would 

 such a state be capable of fostering secessionist movements 

 within the confines of neighboring countries in the hope of 

 finally adding suppressed minorities, once they are liberated, 

 to its own citizen body. 



No state can, at the present time, from the point of view 



