may be seriously and maturely considered by each Government intending to take part.

The wisdom of these provisions is so apparent that any justification of them seems unnecessary. The last clause, however, can not be passed in silence, as its importance is fundamental; for, in simple terms, it means that the Conference is not to be organized or the method of procedure determined by any single Power. In other words, the Conference, it would seem, is to be given over to itself. The committee of the Powers is charged with the duty of proposing a mode of organization and procedure for the Conference, and it can not be doubted that the committee, consisting of leading and representative Powers, will propose a mode of organization and procedure which will permit the Conference to organize itself and conduct its proceedings without requiring the guidance and direction of any particular Power. Its officers may be elected by the Conference, rather than appointed, and if so elected or selected by the Conference it is safe to assume that they will be not only in harmony with its purposes, but in full sympathy with the spirit of the Conference. In any case the recommendation is of the greatest importance, because it shows a unanimous desire on the part of the Powers present for the calling of a Third Conference, and it indicates in no uncertain terms that the Conference in becoming in the largest sense international is not to be under the control or predominance of any one nation.

Such is, in brief, the work of the Second International Peace Conference. It is believed that the various measures adopted by it and recommended to the favorable consideration of the Powers will meet with general approval. It is hoped that the reasons set forth, briefly, in the present report may justify the delegates in signing the various measures and that their action as a whole may meet with the approval of the Secretary of State. We have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servants,

JOSEPH H. CHOATE, Chairman.
CHANDLER HALE, Secretary.

PROTOCOL

The Powers which have ratified the Convention for the peaceful settlement of international disputes, signed at The Hague, on July 29, 1899, desiring to enable the States that were not represented at the First Peace Conference and were invited to the Second to adhere to the aforesaid Convention, the undersigned delegates or diplomatic representatives of the above mentioned Powers, viz:

Germany, Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Denmark, Spain, the United States of America, the United Mexican States, France, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Norway, the Netherlands, Persia, Portugal, Roumania, Russia, Servia, Siam, Sweden, Switzerland, and Turkey, duly authorized to that effect, have agreed that there shall be opened by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, a procès-verbal of adhesion that shall serve to receive and record the said adhesions, which shall immediately go into effect. In witness whereof the present protocol was drawn up, in a single copy, which shall remain in deposit in the archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands and of which an authenticated copy shall be transmitted to each one of the Signatory Powers.

Done at The Hague, June 14th, 1907.

PROCÈS-VERBAL OF ADHESION

There was signed in this city on the 14th of June, 1907, a protocol establishing, in respect to the Powers unrepresented at the First Peace Conference which have been invited to the the Second, the mode of adhesion to the Convention for the peaceful settlement of International Disputes, signed at The Hague, July 29, 1899.

Pursuant to the said protocol, the undersigned, Minister of Foreign Affairs for Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands, on this day opened the present procès-verbal intended to receive and furthermore to record, as they may be presented, the adhesions of the aforesaid Convention.

Done at The Hague, on the 25th of June, 1907, in a single copy, which shall remain in deposit in the archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands and of which a duly certified copy shall be transmitted to each one of the Signatory Powers.