securing labor under the disadvantages of conflicting racial Chapter V and religious interests among their population. That the idea should nevertheless have been adopted unanimously with all the rest of the Convention, constitutes one of the most surprising and encouraging advances made by the Conference, the credit for which is due not only to the intrinsic merits of the proposition, but also to the extreme diplomatic skill with which the negotiations and deliberations preceding its adoption were conducted. Nothing would have been easier than to have frightened all, or Difficulty of nearly all, of the minor Powers represented, into an adoption. attitude of uncompromising hostility, by merely emphasizing the fact, which could not be denied, but which without special emphasis was made less objectionable, namely: that the institution of commissions. of inquiry is quite likely to be of far greater practical importance, at least in the near future, than any other result of the Conference. The efforts of the friends of the proposition in this direction were almost neutralized by the well-intended but ill-advised proceedings of some private "friends of peace on the outside of the Conference. In an extremely able account of the Conference,' the following language is used: "It was the fashion at the Conference to belittle the significance of the international Commissions d' Enquête. It was expressly set forth that these commissions shall have nothing of an arbitral character, but one chief object, which will be sedulously set By Mr. William T. Stead in the London Review of Reviews, Aug. 15, 1899. Chapter V The object of the title. Speech of M. de Martens. before the people, will be to counsel the importance of the international Commissions d'Enquête and to give them as much as possible of an arbitral character." It must surely now be understood, both by the writer and by the many excellent people whom he undoubtedly represented, that by no other method than by refraining from unduly emphasizing the significance of the commissions of inquiry could the idea ever have been adopted, and while it is perfectly proper for private individuals and associations to influence the public opinion of the world in such a manner as to invest them with as much dignity, arbitral character, or any other desirable attribute, as possible, it was quite another matter to propose having this done by the representatives of the Powers establishing the institution. Whatever may be said of the friends of the proposition in the Conference, they are certainly not open to the reproach of not having been fully aware all the time of the tremendous possibilities for good involved; nor should they be criticised severely for the insertion of the words, affecting neither honor nor vital interests." 66 The object of the title, and its bearing upon the general work of the Conference was set forth by its author, M. de Martens of Russia, in a speech of great clearness and eloquence, in the course of which he said: "The object of commissions of inquiry is the same as that of arbitration, good offices, and mediation, namely to point out all the means of appeasing conflicts arising among nations, and to prevent war. This is the only object, and there is no other. The commissions provide the means for this by an impar- Chapter V tial examination of the circumstances and of the facts. It is not necessary to cite cases in which these commissions of inquiry can render great service to the peace of the world, but let us take one case. Suppose the authorities on a frontier arrest somebody on foreign territory. A most serious conflict can arise from this the more obscure the circumstances are, the more objections are raised. Newspaper articles, interpellations in Parliament, may force the hands of the Governments and involve them in conduct even opposed to their intentions. One can compare the commissions of inquiry to a safety valve given to the Governments. They are allowed to say to the very excited and ill-informed public opinion, Wait, we will organize a commission which shall go to the spot, which shall furnish all the necessary information - in a word, it shall shed light. In that way time is gained, and in the life of peoples a day gained may save the future of a nation. The object of the commissions of inquiry is therefore clear. They are an instrument of pacification. A misunderstanding seems to exist in regard to their operation, but one should not forget that the litigating Powers are always free to accept them or refuse their services. 6 "Gentlemen, I fully share the opinion that the floor of a diplomatic conference is not a tribune from which one can afford to make great speeches. Our Conference has been called an International Parliament, yet whatever be the name given to the Chapter V Conference, all the delegates know that this High Speech of M. Assembly is not concerned with the politics of the day, nor with the international treaties which regulate the actual relations among States. de Martens. "We have in common the object of giving a more solid basis to peace, to concord, and to friendship among nations. Such is, gentlemen, the object indicated by my August Sovereign, and accepted by you all. It is certain that, especially at the beginning of our work in this Conference, the diversity of opinions and ideas was great among us, but as we entered into our common labors we have come to know one another better, to understand one another, and to have greater mutual esteem, and the growing conviction that we are working not for a political, -but for a humanitarian purpose, not for the past nor for the present, but for the future. This is why the relations among us members of this Conference have become day by day more hearty, the handshakes more warm; the feeling of following a common path together has filled all of us with the desire to succeed in presenting to our Governments a good, great, and noble work, from which all questions of sovereignty and politics should be formally excluded. "Gentlemen, if in private life that man is happy who takes the bright view of things, in international life that man is great who takes the brightest view. We must elevate our ideas to broaden our horizon. We must do all we can to understand one another, for with mutual understanding comes mutual esteem. Consider for a moment the example of Holland. offered us by this small and charming country in Chapter V which we are abiding. Why has little Holland The example played such a great part in history? Why have her commerce and her ships spread over all the oceans? It is because the Dutch have not remained behind their dunes; they have stood upon them and breathed in the air of the sea. They saw before them a vast horizon, and they followed the paths spread before them and which have put them into direct communication with all the nations of the universe. It is the expansion of that cosmopolitan spirit which at all times has distinguished the statesmen, the artists, and the writers of this little country. But, gentlemen, Holland has done far more in her fight against the invasion of the sea; she has constructed locks by means of which her land waters and those of the sea mingle and unite, just as the ideas, institutions, and customs of the Dutch nation, thanks to its international relations, have been developed, made clear and, so to speak, have crystallized. "Could it not be said, to continue the simile, that in view of the common horizon of humanity national ideas broaden and become harmonized. To reach the results attained by Holland, let us follow that country's example: rise above our dunes and look upon a broader horizon. The barriers of prejudice must fall, and then shall we see all questions enlightened by a spirit of understanding and of mutual confidence.1 1 M. de Martens' reference to Holland, and his exhortation to follow the example of that country was, at the moment, misunderstood by the very able and energetic Delegate from Roumania, P |