Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 3, 1907, (In two parts), Part II

[Untitled]

The Second International Peace Conference, proposed in the first instance by the President of the United States of America, having been convoked, on the invitation of His Majesty the Emperor of All the Russias, by Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands, assembled on the 15th June, 1907, at The Hague, in the Hall of the Knights, for the purpose of giving a fresh development to the humanitarian principles which served as a basis for the work of the First Conference of 1899.

The following Powers took part in the Conference, and appointed the Delegates named below:—

Germany:

• His Excellency Baron Marschall de Bieberstein, Minister of State, Imperial Ambassador at Constantinople, First Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• M. Kriege, Imperial Envoy on Extraordinary Mission at the present Conference, Privy Councillor of Legation and Legal Adviser to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Second Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• Rear-Admiral Siegel, Naval Attaché to the Imperial Embassy at Paris, Naval Delegate;
• Major-General de Gündell, Quarter-Master General of the General Staff of the Royal Prussian Army, Military Delegate;
• M. Zorn, Professor to the Faculty of Law at the University of Bonn, Judicial Privy Councillor, Member of the Prussian Upper Chamber, and Crown Syndic, Scientific Delegate;
• M. Göppert, Councillor of Legation and Councillor attached to the Department for Foreign Affairs, Assistant Delegate;
• M. Retzmann, Lieutenant-Commander on the Naval General Staff, Assistant Naval Delegate.

The United States of America:

• His Excellency Mr. Joseph H. Choate, ex-Ambassador at London, Ambassador Extraordinary, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• His Excellency Mr. Horace Porter, ex-Ambassador at Paris, Ambassador Extraordinary, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• His Excellency Mr. Uriah M. Rose, Ambassador Extraordinary, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• His Excellency Mr. David Jayne Hill, ex-Assistant Secretary of State, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at The Hague, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• Rear-Admiral Charles S. Sperry, ex-President of the Naval War College, Minister Plenipotentiary, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• Brigadier-General George B. Davis, Judge Advocate-General of the United States’ Army, Minister Plenipotentiary, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• Mr. William I. Buchanan, ex-Minister at Buenos Ayres, ex-Minister at Panama, Minister Plenipotentiary, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• Mr. James Brown Scott, Solicitor for the Department of State, Technical Delegate;
• Mr. Charles Henry Butler, Reporter of the Supreme Court, Technical Delegate.

The Argentine Republic:

• His Excellency M. Roque Saenz Peña, ex-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Rome, Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Delegate Plenipotentiary.
• His Excellency M. Luis M. Drago, ex-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy, Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• His Excellency M. Carlos Rodríguez Larreta, ex-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• General Francisco Reynolds, Military Attaché at Berlin, Technical Delegate;
• Captain Juan A. Martin, ex-Minister of Marine, Naval Attaché at London, Technical Delegate.

Austria-Hungary:

• His Excellency M. Gaëtan Mérey de Kapos-Mere, Privy Councillor of His Imperial and Royal Apostolic Majesty, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, First Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• His Excellency Baron Charles de Macchio, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Athens, Second Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• M. Henri Lammasch, Professor at the University of Vienna, Aulic Councillor, Member of the Austrian Upper Chamber of the Reichsrath, Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Scientific Delegate;
• M. Antoine Haus, Rear-Admiral, Naval Delegate;
• Baron Wladimir Giesl de Gieslingen, Major-General, Military Plenipotentiary at the Imperial and Royal Embassy at Constantinople and at the Imperial and Royal Legation at Athens, Military Delegate;
• The Chevalier Othon de Weil, Aulic and Ministerial Councillor at the Ministry of the Imperial and Royal Household and of Foreign Affairs, Delegate;
• M. Jules Szilassy de Szilas et Pilis, Councillor of Legation, Delegate;
• M. Emile Konek de Norwall, Naval Lieutenant of the First Class, Delegate Attached.

Belgium:

• His Excellency M. A. Beernaert, Minister of State, Member of the Chamber of Representatives, Member of the Institute of France and of the Royal Academies of Belgium and Roumania, Honorary Member of the Institute of International Law, Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• His Excellency M. J. van den Heuvel, Minister of State, ex-Minister of Justice, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• His Excellency Baron Guillaume, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at The Hague, Member of the Royal Academy of Roumania, Delegate Plenipotentiary.

Bolivia:

• His Excellency M. Claudio Pinilla, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• His Excellency M. Fernando E. Guachalla, Minister Plenipotentiary at London, Delegate Plenipotentiary.

Brazil:

• His Excellency M. Ruy Barbosa, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Vice-President of the Senate, Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• His Excellency M. Eduardo F. S. dos Santos Lisboa, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at The Hague, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• Colonel Roberto Trompowsky Leitâo de Almeida, Military Attaché at The Hague, Technical Delegate;
• Commander Tancredo Burlamaqui de Moura, Technical Delegate.

Bulgaria:

• Major-General on the Staff Vrban Vinaroff, General à la suite,
• First Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• M. Ivan Karandjouloff, Procureur-Général of the Court of Cassation, Second Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• Commander S. Dimitrieff, Chief of the Staff of the Bulgarian Flotilla, Delegate.

Chile:

• His Excellency M. Domingo Gana, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at London, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• His Excellency M. Augusto Matte, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Berlin, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• His Excellency M. Carlos Concha, ex-Minister of War, ex-President of the Chamber of Deputies, ex-Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Buenos Ayres, Delegate Plenipotentiary.

China:

• His Excellency Mr. Lu Tsâng-Tsiang, Ambassador Extraordinary, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• His Excellency the Honourable John W. Foster, ex-Secretary of State of the United States’ Department for Foreign Affairs, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• His Excellency Mr. Tsien-Sun, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at The Hague, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• Colonel W. S. Y. Tinge, Judge Advocate-General at the War Office, Military Delegate;
• Mr. Chang Ching Tong, Secretary of Legation, Assistant Delegate;
• Mr. Chao-Hi-Chiu, ex-Secretary of the Imperial Chinese Mission and Legation at Paris and Rome, Assistant Delegate.

Colombia:

• General Jorge Holguin, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• M. Santiago Perez Triana, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• His Excellency General M. Vargas, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Paris, Delegate Plenipotentiary.

The Republic of Cuba:

• M. Antonio Sanchez de Bustamante, Professor of International Law at the University of Havana, Senator of the Republic, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• His Excellency M. Gonzalo de Quesada y Arostégui, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Washington, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• M. Manuel Sanguily, ex-Director of the Institute of Secondary Education at Havana, Senator of the Republic, Delegate Plenipotentiary.

Denmark:

• His Excellency M. C. Brun, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Washington, First Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• Rear-Admiral C. F. Scheller, Second Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• M. A. Vedel, Chamberlain, Head of Department at the Royal Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Third Delegate Plenipotentiary.

The Dominican Republic:

• M. Francisco Henriquez i Carvajal, ex-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• M. Apolinar Tejera, Rector of the Professional Institute of Santo Domingo, Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Delegate Plenipotentiary.

The Republic of the Ecuador:

• His Excellency M. Victor Rendón, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Paris and Madrid, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• M. Enrique Dorn y cle Alsua, Chargé d’Affaires, Delegate Plenipotentiary.

Spain:

• His Excellency M. W. R. De Villa-Urrutia, Senator, ex-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary at London, First Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• His Excellency M. José de la Rica y Calvo, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at The Hague, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• M. Gabriel Maura y Gamazo, Count de la Mortera, Deputy to the Cortes, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• M. J. Jofre Montojo, Colonel on the Staff, Aide-de-camp to the Minister of War, Assistant Military Delegate; Captain Francisco Chacon, Assistant Naval Delegate.

France:

• His Excellency M. Léon Bourgeois, Ambassador Extraordinary, Senator, ex-President of the Council, ex-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Delegate, First Plenipotentiary;
• Baron d’Estournelles de Constant, Senator, Minister Plenipotentiary of the First Class, Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Delegate, Second Plenipotentiary;
• M. Louis Renault, Professor at the Faculty of Law at Paris, Honorary Minister Plenipotentiary, Legal Adviser to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Member of the Institute, Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Delegate, Third Plenipotentiary;
• His Excellency M. Marcellin Pellet, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at The Hague, Delegate, Fourth Plenipotentiary;
• General of Division Amourel, Military Delegate;
• Rear-Admiral Arago, Naval Delegate;
• M. Fromageot, Advocate at the Court of Appeal at Paris, Technical Delegate;
• Captain Lacaze, Second Naval Delegate;
• Lieutenant-Colonel Siben, Military Attaché at Brussels and The Hague, Second Military Delegate.

Great Britain:

• His Excellency the Right Honourable Sir Edward Fry, G. C. B., Member of the Privy Council, Ambassador Extraordinary, Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• His Excellency the Right Honorable Sir Ernest Mason Satow, G.C.M.G., Member of the Privy Council, Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• His Excellency the Right Honorable Lord Reay, G.C.S.I., G.C.I.E., Member of the Privy Council, ex-President of the Institute of International Law, Delegate Plenipotentiary.
• His Excellency Sir Henry Howard, K.C.M.G., C.B., Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at The Hague, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• Lieutenant-General Sir Edmond R. Elles, G.C.I.E., K.C.B., Military Delegate;
• Captain C. L. Ottley, M.V.O., R.N., A.D.C., Naval Delegate;
• Mr. Eyre Crowe, Councillor of Embassy, Technical Delegate, First Secretary to the delegation;
• Mr. Cecil Hurst, Councillor of Embassy, Technical Delegate, Legal Adviser to the delegation;
• Lieutenant-Colonel the Honourable Henry Yarde-Buller, D.S.O., Military Attaché at The Hague, Technical Delegate;
• Commander J. R. Segrave, R.N., Technical Delegate;
• Major George K. Cockerill, General Staff, Technical Delegate.

Greece:

• His Excellency M. Cléon Rizo Rangabé, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Berlin, First Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• M. Georges Streit, Professor of International Law at the University of Athens, Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Second Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• Colonel of Artillery C. Sapountzakis, Chief of the General Staff, Technical Delegate.

Guatemala:

• M. José Tible Machado, Chargé d’Affaires at The Hague and London, Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• M. Enrique Gomez Carrillo, Chargé d’Affaires at Berlin, Delegate Plenipotentiary.

The Republic of Haїti:

• His Excellency M. Jean Joseph Dalbémar, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Paris, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• His Excellency M. J. N. Léger, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Washington Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• Mr. Pierre Hudicourt, ex-Professor of International Public Law, Advocate at the Bar of Port-au-Prince, Delegate Plenipotentiary.

Italy:

• His Excellency Count Joseph Tornielli Brusati di Vergano, Senator of the Kingdom, Ambassador of His Majesty the King at Paris, Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, President of the Italian delegation, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• His Excellency M. Guido Pompilj, Parliamentary Deputy, Under-Secretary of State at the Royal Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• M. Guido Fusinato, Councillor of State, Parliamentary Deputy, ex-Minister of Education, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• M. Marius Nicolis cle Robilant, General of Brigade, Technical Delegate;
• M. Francois Castiglia, Captain in the Navy, Technical Delegate.

Japan:

• His Excellency Mr. Keiroku Tsudzuki, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, First Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• His Excellency Mr. Aimaro Sato, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at The Hague, Second Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• Mr. Henry Willard Denison, Legal Adviser to the Imperial Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Technical Delegate;
• Major-General Yoshifuru Akiyama, Inspector of Cavalry, Technical Delegate;
• Rear-Admiral Hayao Shimamura, President of the Naval College at Etajima, Technical Delegate.

Luxemburg:

• His Excellency M. Eyschen, Minister of State, President of the Grand-Ducal Government, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• Count de Villiers, Chargé d’Affaires at Berlin, Delegate Plenipotentiary.

Mexico:

• His Excellency M. Gonzalo A. Esteva, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Rome, First Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• His Excellency M. Sebastian B. de Mier, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Paris, Second Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• His Excellency M. Francisco L. de la Barra, Envoy Entraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Brussels and at The Hague, Third Delegate Plenipotentiary.

Montenegro:

• His Excellency M. Nélidow, Privy Councillor, Eussian Ambassador at Paris, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• His Excellency M. de Martens, Privy Councillor, Permanent Member of the Council of the Imperial Russian Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• His Excellency M. Tcharykow, Councillor of State, Chamberlain, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of Russia at The Hague, Delegate Plenipotentiary.

Nicaragua:

• His Excellency M. Crisanto Medina, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Paris, Delegate Plenipotentiary.

Norway:

• His Excellency M. Francis Hagerup, ex-President of the Council, ex-Professor of Law, Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at The Hague and Copenhagen, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• M. Joachim Grieg, Shipowner and Deputy, Technical Delegate.
• M. Christian Lous Lange, Secretary to the Nobel Committee of the Norwegian Storthing, Technical Delegate.

Panamá:

• M. Belisario Porras, Delegate Plenipotentiary.

Paraguay:

• His Excellency M. Eusebio Machain, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Paris, Delegate Plenipotentiary.

The Netherlands:

• M. W. H. de Beaufort, ex-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Member of the Second Chamber of the States-General, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• His Excellency M. T. M. C. Asser, Minister of State, Member of the Council of State, Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• His Excellency Jonkheer J. C. C. Den Beer Poortugael, Lieu-tenant-General on the retired list, ex-Minister of War, Member of the Council of State, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• His Excellency Jonkheer J. A. Röell, Aid-de-camp to Her Majesty the Queen in Extraordinary Service, Vice-Admiral on the retired list, ex-Minister of Marine, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• M. J. A. Loeff, ex-Minister of Justice, Member of the Second Chamber of the States-General, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• M. H. L. van Oordt, Lieutenant-Colonel on the Staff, Professor at the Higher Military College, Technical Delegate;
• M. Jonkheer W. J. M. van Eysinga, Head of the Political Section at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Assistant Delegate;
• M. Jonkheer H. A. van Karnebeek, Gentleman of the Chamber, Assistant Head of Department at the Colonial Office, Assistant Delegate;
• M. H. G. Surie, Naval Lieutenant of the First Class, Technical Delegate.

Peru:

• His Excellency M. Carlos G. Candamo, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Paris and London, Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Delegate plenipotentiary;
• M. Gustavo de la Fuente, First Secretary of Legation at Paris, Assistant Delegate.

Persia:

• His Excellency Samad Khan Momtas-es-Saltaneh, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Paris, Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Delegate, First Plenipotentiary;
• His Excellency Mirza Ahmed Khan Sadig-ul-Mulkh, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at The Hague, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• M. Hennebicq, Legal Adviser to the Minister for Foreign Affairs at Teheran, Technical Delegate.

Portugal:

• His Excellency the Marquis de Soveral, Councillor of State, Peer of the Realm, ex-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at London, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• His Excellency Count de Sélir, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at The Hague, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• His Excellency M. Alberto d’Oliveira, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Berne, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• Lieutenant-Colonel Thomaz Antonio Garcia Bosado, General Staff, Technical Delegate;
• M. Guilherme Ivens Ferraz, Lieutenant-Commander in the Navy, Technical Delegate.

Roumania:

• His Excellency M. Alexandre Beldiman, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Berlin, First Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• His Excellency M. Edgard Mavrocordato, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at The Hague, Second Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• Captain Alexander Sturdza, General Staff, Technical Delegate.

Russia:

• His Excellency M. Nélidow, Privy Councillor, Russian Ambassador at Paris, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• His Excellency M. de Martens, Privy Councillor, Permanent Member of the Council of the Imperial Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• His Excellency M. Tcharykow, Councillor of State, Chamberlain, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at The Hague, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• M. Prozor, Councillor of State, Chamberlain, Russian Minister at Bio de Janeiro, Technical Delegate;
• Major-General Yermolow, Military Attaché at London, Technical Delegate;
• Colonel Michelson, Military Attaché at Berlin, Technical Delegate;
• Captain Behr, Naval Attaché at London, Technical Delegate;
• Colonel Ovtchinnikow, of the Admiralty, Professor of International Law at the Naval Academy, Technical Delegate.

Salvador:

• M. Pedro J. Matheu, Chargé d’Affaires at Paris, Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• M. Santiago Perez Triana, Chargé d’Affaires at London, Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Delegate Plenipotentiary.

Servia:

• His Excellency General Sava Grouїtch, President of the Council of State, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• His Excellency M. Milovan Militchévitch, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Rome, Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• His Excellency M. Michel Militchévitch, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at London and The Hague, Delegate Plenipotentiary.

Siam:

• Major-General Mom Chatidej Udom, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• M. Corragioni d’Orelli, Councillor of Legation at Paris, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• Captain Luang Bhuvanarth Narübal, Delegate Plenipotentiary.

Sweden:

• His Excellency M. Knut Hjalmar Leonard de Hammarskjold, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Copenhagen, ex-Minister of Justice, Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, First Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• M. Johannes Hellner, ex-Minister without Portfolio, ex-Member of the Supreme Court of Sweden, Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Second Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• Colonel David Hedengren, Commanding a Regiment of Artillery, Technical Delegate;
• Commander Gustaf de Klint, Head of a Section on the Staff of the Royal Navy, Technical Delegate.

Switzerland:

• His Excellency M. Gaston Carlin, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at London and The Hague, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• M. Eugene Borel, Colonel on the General Staff, Professor at the University of Geneva, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• M. Max Huber, Professor of Law at the University of Zurich, Delegate Plenipotentiary.

Turkey:

• His Excellency Turkhan Pasha, Ambassador Extraordinary, Minister of the Evkaf, First Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• His Excellency Bechid Bey, Turkish Ambassador at Rome, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• His Excellency Vice-Admiral Mehemmed Pasha, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• Raїf Bey, Legal Adviser on the Civil List, Assistant Delegate;
• Colonel on the Staff Mehemmed Saїd Bey, Assistant Delegate.

Uruguay:

• M. José Batlle y Ordonez, ex-President of the Republic, Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, First Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• His Excellency M. Juan P. Castro, ex-President of the Senate, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Paris, Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Delegate Plenipotentiary;
• Colonel Sebastian Buquet, Commanding a Regiment of Field Artillery, Technical Delegate.

The United States of Venezuela:

• M. José Gil Fortoul, Chargé d’Affaires at Berlin, Delegate Plenipotentiary.

At a series of meetings, held from the 15th June to the 18th October, 1907, in which the above Delegates were throughout animated by the desire to realize, in the fullest possible measure, the generous views of the august initiator of the Conference and the intentions of their Governments, the Conference drew up for submission for signature by the Plenipotentiaries, the text of the Conventions and of the Declaration enumerated below and annexed to the present Act:—

1. Convention for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes.

2. Convention respecting the Limitation of the Employment of Force for the Recovery of Contract Debts.

3. Convention relative to the Opening of Hostilities.

4. Convention respecting the Laws and Customs of War on Land.

5. Convention respecting the Eights and Duties of Neutral Powers and Persons in case of War on Land.

6. Convention relative to the Status of Enemy Merchant-ships at the Outbreak of Hostilities.

7. Convention relative to the Conversion of Merchant-ships into War-ships.

8. Convention relative to the laying of Automatic Submarine Contact Mines.

9. Convention respecting Bombardment by Naval Forces in Time of War.

10. Convention for the Adaptation to Naval War of the Principles of the Geneva Convention.

11. Convention relative to certain Restrictions with regard to the Exercise of the Right of Capture in Naval War.

12. Convention relative to the creation of an International Prize Court.

13. Convention concerning the Eights and Duties of Neutral Powers in Naval War.

14. Declaration prohibiting the discharge of Projectiles and Explosives from Balloons.

These Conventions and Declaration shall form so many separate Acts. These Acts shall be dated this day, and may be signed up to the 30th June, 1908, at The Hague, by the Plenipotentiaries of the Powers represented at the Second Peace Conference.

The Conference, actuated by the spirit of mutual agreement and concession characterizing its deliberations, has agreed upon the following Declaration, which, while reserving to each of the Powers represented full liberty of action as regards voting, enables them to affirm the principles which they regard as unanimously admitted:—

It is unanimous—

1. In admitting the principle of compulsory arbitration.

2. In declaring that certain disputes, in particular those relating to the interpretation and application of the provisions of International Agreements, may be submitted to compulsory arbitration without any restriction.

Finally, it is unanimous in proclaiming that, although it has not yet been found feasible to conclude a Convention in this sense, nevertheless the divergences of opinion which have come to light have not exceeded the bounds of judicial controversy, and that, by working together here during the past four months, the collected Powers not only have learnt to understand one another and to draw closer together, but have succeeded in the course of this long collaboration in evolving a very lofty conception of the common welfare of humanity.

The Conference has further unanimously adopted the following Resolution:—

The Second Peace Conference confirms the Resolution adopted by the Conference of 1899 in regard to the limitation of military expenditure; and inasmuch as military expenditure has considerably increased in almost every country since that time, the Conference declares that it is eminently desirable that the Governments should resume the serious examination of this question.

It has besides expressed the following opinions:—

1. The Conference calls the attention of the Signatory Powers to the advisability of adopting the annexed draft Convention for the creation of a Judicial Arbitration Court, and of bringing it into force as soon as an agreement has been reached respecting the selection of the Judges and the constitution of the Court.

2. The Conference expresses the opinion that, in case of war, the responsible authorities, civil as well as military, should make it their special duty to ensure and safeguard the maintenance of pacific relations, more especially of the commercial and industrial relations between the inhabitants of the belligerent States and neutral countries.

3. The Conference expresses the opinion that the Powers should regulate, by special Treaties, the position, as regards military charges, of foreigners residing within their territories.

4. The Conference expresses the opinion that the preparation of regulations relative to the laws and customs of naval war should figure in the programme of the next Conference, and that in any case the Powers may apply, as far as possible, to war by sea the principles of the Convention relative to the Laws and Customs of War on land.

Finally, the Conference recommends to the Powers the assembly of a Third Peace Conference, which might be held within a period corresponding to that which has elapsed since the preceding Conference, at a date to be fixed by common agreement between the Powers, and it calls their attention to the necessity of preparing the programme of this Third Conference a sufficient time in advance to ensure its deliberations being conducted with the necessary authority and expedition.

In order to attain this object the Conference considers that it would be very desirable that, some two years before the probable date of the meeting, a preparatory Committee should be charged by the Governments with the task of collecting the various proposals to be submitted to the Conference, of ascertaining what subjects are ripe for embodiment in an International Regulation, and of preparing a programme which the Governments should decide upon in sufficient time to enable it to be carefully examined by the countries interested. This Committee should further be intrusted with the task of proposing a system of organization and procedure for the Conference itself.

In faith whereof the Plenipotentiaries have signed the present Act and have affixed their seals thereto.

Done at The Hague, the 18th October, 1907, in a single copy, which shall remain deposited in the archives of the Netherland Government, and duly certified copies of which shall be sent to all the Powers represented at the Conference.