42 International Agricultural Institute. 



protect it from this possible danger, and at the risk of 

 appearing somewhat timid and modest, we do not hesitate 

 to advise the authorities of the Institute to read the Regula- 

 tions from within rather than from without. The implicit 

 observance of Conventions with circumspection, discretion, 

 and prudence is always the fundamental and essential con- 

 dition of the existence of official international Institutes. 



Nor must it be forgotten that the General Assembly and 

 the Permanent Committee have, in a certain measure, 

 retained the diplomatic nature of the Conference. Conse- 

 quently, they must not be in a position to trouble Govern- 

 ments with proposals which might lead to serious economic 

 complications. From the project everything has, therefore, 

 been carefully omitted which might in any way affect 

 questions of legislation relating to tariffs, public health, &c, 

 so as to avoid any possible interference with existing treaties 

 or with international trade. 



The Institute has authority to investigate matters relating 

 to economic and social institutions, and to wages of rural 

 labour, but it is forbidden to touch so delicate a subject as 

 emigration. It is impossible to confer on the Institute the 

 right, or even the means, of direct intervention in the 

 organisation of economic and social institutions, because 

 such a right would be equivalent to intervention in the 

 internal affairs of a country. 



Under these circumstances, it may be thought that the 

 Institute is incapable of doing any useful work; that, in its 

 creation, the improvement of agriculture by the Governments 

 was not kept in view; and that to found an International 

 Institute, without giving it a direct and an authoritative right 

 of intervention in international life, is to prevent any possi- 

 bility of organisation. It may even be said that, above all, 

 to found an International Institute on an official basis with 

 the direct assistance of the Governments is surely to court 

 failure and to impede progress. 



It would be easy to retort that the foundation and existence 

 of the Institute, apart from any positive result, and the fact 

 that the Governments of the whole world have been success- 

 fully convinced of the advantage of consulting together regard- 

 ing their general agricultural interests, constitute a success 



