XXX tNTfeODUCTION. 



system of International Arbitration, for the peaceful and honourable 

 settlement of all national disputes, and the last chapter, under the 

 title of an " International Tribunal for Europe " is devoted to the 

 consideration of this important subject. 



At the same time it must not be supposed that all the advocates 

 of International Arbitration believe that it will settle every difficulty 

 between nations, and that, therefore, there will be no more war. 

 Would that it might be so ! But this is expecting too much. The 

 utmost we can hope for, under the present circumstances and 

 relations of the Great European Powers, is, that it may show govern- 

 ments a better way ; and that, by the power of a strong public 

 opinion, may compel responsible statesmen to have recourse to this 

 system, and in a majority of cases, no doubt, it will be adopted. 



Some years ago (in 1872), I was conversing with an eminent 

 statesman, at that time a member of Her Majesty's Government, 

 on this subject, and, in effect, these were his words : — 



"There are cases in which Arbitration will fail; such, for instance, as the 

 difficulty between France and Germany. Though the immediate cause of that 

 war was the question of the election of a German Prince to the throne of Spain, 

 yet it was the excuse, not the reason. The real causes were deeper seated. 

 They were underlying causes, such as jealousies, rivalries, hatreds of long 

 standing, that nothing could quench but blood ; and in such a case Arbitration 

 will and did fail. But in an international dispute jthreatening war, where the 

 causes in dispute are real and clearly defined, where there are no underlying 

 causes, no jealousies, or rivalries, or hatreds to quench, then, Arbitration will be 

 practicable and successful ; such, for instance, as the differences between Great 

 Britain and the United States of America, arising out of the Alabama contro- 

 versy, and then we foilnd Arbitration was possible, and the result satisfactory." 



Again, I am reminded of a conversation with another eminent 

 English statesman on this subject (in 1872), and I would desire to 

 take this opportunity of placing his views on public record — 



" There are many cases of international difference which may be fairly and 

 successfully referred to Arbitration ; but, on the other hand, there are periods in 

 a nation's history when Arbitration will fail. 



" For instance, where you have a nation like Italy, prior to i860, longing for 

 freedom and independence, bound down by oppression and tyranny ; or, again, 

 beyond the Atlantic a great nation, the United States of America, intent upon 

 maintaining the Union, and on wiping out that foul blot of slavery. 



" And lastly, such as we have recently witnessed in Europe, between France 

 and Germany; a ruler like Napoleon III., feeling his throne tottering, and 

 believing that the only means of saving the Empire was to divert the attention of 

 the people from internal reforms, to a great struggle vidth Germany." 



