International Agricultural Institute. 



19 



Report by M. Louis Dop, Delegate of France and Vice- 

 President of the Institute. 



Published in November, 1909. 



The most characteristic testimony of the universal zeal 

 which prevails at present is the ever-increasing desire to 

 discuss questions which affect the political or economic in- 

 terests of nations. It even includes subjects which, by their 

 complexity, appear to be beyond the limits of this general 

 inclination towards unity. People from different parts of 

 the world meet together, they agree, and they co-operate 

 mutually for concerted action as regards certain special 

 interests. Even Governments, willingly or unwillingly, are 

 obliged to take the direction which points to international 

 agreement and towards objects which are, apparently, beyond 

 hope of attainment. As in the political world, isolation tends 

 more and more to disappear in the economy of nations. 



This statement can be easily proved. Consider the various 

 international peace societies and, more especially, the Inter- 

 national Arbitration Tribunal at The Hague. What are 

 they, if not a concrete and eloquent manifestation of the 

 desire of nations and of Governments to remove every cause 

 of conflict, every menace of war ? 



It would be easy to refer to unofficial international agree- 

 ments made at various Congresses, &c, in connection with 

 economic, industrial, or commercial matters. Governments 

 also, during the last few years, have come to mutual under- 

 standings as regards certain questions which affect the 

 economic conditions of life. Treaties of commerce, the 

 international bureaux or offices which have been established 

 at Berne and Brussels, in London, Berlin, and in Paris- — 

 all are due to a wish, an anxiety, common to nations and 

 Governments, to harmonise the factors which affect the 

 economic welfare of the people. 



Hitherto, as regards agriculture, private initiative has, 

 apparently, taken the only part in this great international 

 movement. The International Agricultural Commission, the 

 International Dairy Federation, international mutual and 

 co-operative federations, and numerous similar institutions^ 



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