International Agricultural Institute. 43 



which is, perhaps, without analogy in diplomatic and economic 

 history. The International Tribunal of Arbitration at The 

 Hague is the only existing analogy of similar importance. 



Moreover, independently of the reason which would itself 

 justify the existence of an official Institute and in order to 

 refute the arguments in question, the complexity of inter- 

 national conditions - should be carefully considered. The 

 Governments have not impeded the current of international 

 good feeling, and they have not desired to do so. On the 

 contrary, they have endeavoured to organise it in such a 

 manner as to ensure its permanence. With that intention 

 they have tried to prevent a possibly unsuccessful under- 

 taking from being quoted as an object lesson to discourage 

 similar attempts in future. They have indeed aimed at the 

 highest form of centralisation and international fellowship, 

 but on condition that the spirit of liberty should ever prevail. 

 The Institute must not take any active part in international 

 affairs, i.e., in the organisation of mutual relations it must 

 not be led or misled by party spirit; it must not be used as 

 a force to overcome opponents, but rather as a fixed light 

 burning steadily above the troubled sea, to guide the ships 

 that pass in the night. To those who seek the way, it must 

 indicate the paths which others have taken and the heights 

 which they have reached ; to those who fail through lack of 

 knowledge the Institute will give light and leading. 



A task so exalted and so noble may yet appear too humble 

 and too modest to those inclined to cavil at rudimentary 

 official internationalism as too timid, in any case, to lead 

 towards absolute internationalism. Examining the subject 

 closely, one is forced to admit that the undertaking is really 

 immense and overpowering. It is an endeavour, without 

 precedent, towards the synthesis and generalisation of inter- 

 national economic interests. 



The various Governments are henceforth invited, in a 

 fraternal and cordial spirit, to seek together the true facts 

 which are so difficult to find, to elucidate, and to express. 

 The persistent co-operation of ail the Governments will be 

 necessary to accomplish the task. Indeed, whether it be 

 agricultural statistics, or plant diseases, or technical, 



