Mr. Newel to Mr. Hay.
The Hague, December 13, 1900.
Sir: Referring to my dispatch No. 347,1 dated November 30, 1900, relating to the court of arbitration:
I have the honor to report that the following members of the administrative council of the court, viz: The chiefs of mission of the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Spain, the United States, Japan, Portugal, and Russia, and the chargés d’affaires of Austria-Hungary, France, Great Britain, and Italy—twelve representatives in all—met at 2 o’clock p.m. on Saturday, the 8th instant, at the Treves Salle in the Binnenhof, pursuant to due notice given, to consider:
- First. The budget of the international bureau.
- Second. Further consideration of the by-laws or rules of the bureau.
- Third. The nomination of a second secretary in place of Jonkheer W. Roell, who had declined his election to that position.
The budget, which is for this year only, 1900, was presented by the secretary-general, with the approval of the financial committee, and was adopted unanimously, amounting to 49,500 florins. The premises No. 71 Prinsegracht, secured for the permanent location of the bureau, one of the fine old mansions of The Hague, will be very suitable for that purpose, with the proper changes and furnishing, for which the principal items in the budget of 10,000 florins for repairs and improvements and 30,000 florins for furnishings, etc., are intended to provide.
There was no criticism of the amount of these items, except a suggestion that perhaps in putting the house in order a desire to economize might have induced a too meager expenditure for those purposes to insure comfort. I thoroughly sympathize with that suggestion, and shall join with my colleagues in any effort to have the house thoroughly warmed and properly furnished, as in this climate any of our arbitrators who may be engaged in a lengthy case will certainly suffer in health if that is not properly attended to.
It is proposed to have a chair for each member of the administrative council upholstered with the arms of his country on the back, and each member was requested to ask his government to send a design, so that there may be no mistake made in executing it here.
I make that request.
Some further changes were made in the by-laws,2 which when printed I will forward.
The nomination of a second secretary was adjourned till such time as the business of the bureau shall make such an officer necessary.
Perhaps it is not necessary to add that the Netherlands Government will thankfully receive from each of the signatory powers its share of the amount of the budget at an early date.
[Page 794]I inclose herewith a copy of the budget as presented to the council on the 8th instant, together with a translation of the same.
An official list has been issued by the Netherlands Government showing that all but four of the signatory powers have designated their delegates to the court of arbitration. The Government informs me, however, that there are to be some slight changes made as yet, but that at an early date a complete list may be expected. As promptly as possible I propose forwarding this list to the Department.
I have, etc.,