MISCELLANEOUS CLAIMS. 195 
suffice to say that the “pouvoir sanctionnateur” is in 
the treaty of arbitration, which nations are quite as 
likely to observe as they are to observe any other 
treaty. It is that question of good faith among na- 
tions upon which the peace of the world stands. 
Undoubtedly, cases occur in which the internation- 
al discord or debate turns on questions where 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 Russell, as we have already seen, with 
reference to the imputed want of due diligence of the 
British Government in the matter of the Alabama 
and the /lorida. 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 ARBITRATION. 
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- 
