Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 7, 1903

Mr. Garrett to Mr. Hay.

Legation of the United States,
The Hague, November 24, 1903.

No. 679.]

Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith copy of a “deed to create a ‘Stichting’ for the purpose of erecting and maintaining at The Hague a court-house and library for the permanent court of arbitration,” signed by Mr. Andrew Carnegie and Baron Gevers, at Skibo, on October 7, 1903.

It will be seen that Mr. Carnegie, in furnishing a sum of $1,500,000 for the above purpose, which sum was placed at the disposal of the Netherlands Government on May 11, 1903, stipulated that if at any time the purpose for which the “Stichting” was founded should fail, the assets of the “Stichting” should be employed for promoting the cause of international peace and concord in such a manner as should be determined jointly by the President of the United States and the sovereign of the Netherlands, to which Baron Gevers, on his Government’s behalf, agreed.

The Netherlands Government further agreed to see to the appointment of a board of directors under proper control and draw up the rules according to which the “Stichting” shall be governed, so as to insure in perpetuity its maintenance and efficiency. The words “maintaining” and “maintenance” are not to be construed as relieving the signatory powers to the treaty of July 29, 1899, from the financial obligations incurred and so far discharged in connection with the permanent court of arbitration.

* * * * * * *

I have, etc.,

John W. Garrett.

[Inclosure.]

A deed to create a “Stichting” (foundation or trust under the Netherland law) for the purpose of erecting and maintaining at The Hague (Kingdom of the Netherlands) a courthouse and library for the permanent court of arbitration, established by the treaty of the 29th of July, 1899.

Believing that the establishment of a permanent court of arbitration by the treaty of the 29th of July, 1899, is the most important step forward of a worldwide humanitarian character which has ever been taken by the joint powers, as it must ultimately banish war, and further, being of opinion that the cause of the peace conference will greatly benefit by the erection of a court-house and library for the permanent court of arbitration,

I, Andrew Carnegie, of the city of New York, am willing to furnish a sum of one and one-half million dollars for the said purpose, which sum has been placed at the disposal of the Netherland Government.

Understanding that it would be desirable to give a permanent character to my intention, and that it will be necessary, for that purpose, to create with the said sum a “Stichting” (foundation or trust under the Netherland law),

I, Andrew Carnegie, have declared and declare hereby: To create with the sum of one and one-half million dollars mentioned above and named by me in my letter to Baron Gevers, dated 22d of April, 1903, a “Stichting” (foundation or trust under the Netherland law) for the purpose of building, establishing, and maintaining in perpetuity at The Hague a court-house and library (temple of peace) for the permanent court of arbitration established by the treaty of July 29, 1899.

The seat of the “Stichting” is at The Hague.

In accordance herewith I renounce irrevocably, for ever, for myself and my heirs, the sum aforesaid, destined for the erection, establishment, and maintenance of the court-house and library for the permanent court of arbitration.

The Netherland Government, according to agreement, will see to the appointment of a board of directors under proper control, and draw up the rules according to which the “Stichting” shall be governed, so as to ensure in perpetuity its maintenance and efficiency. The words maintaining, maintenance, in this agreement are not to be construed as relieving the signatory powers to the treaty of July 29, 1899, from the financial obligations incurred and so far discharged in connection with the permanent court of arbitration.

If at any time the purpose for which the “Stichting” was founded should fail, the assets of the “Stichting” shall be employed for promoting the cause of international peace and concord in such a manner as shall be determined jointly by the sovereign of the Netherlands and the President of the United States.

(Signed)

Andrew Carnegie.

Signed in Skibo the 7th of October, 1903, in presence of His Excellency W. A. F. Baron Gevers, Envoy Extraordinary of H. M. the Queen of the Netherlands to the United States.

W. A. F. Baron Gevers.