existence and organized, ready to begin investigation at once. Either government could ask the commission to investigate, or it could act on its own initiative. The commission was to report its findings not later than one year after it began its investigation, and the nations were to bind themselves in the treaty not to declare war or begin hostilities before the report was submitted; the nations, however, reserved the right to act independently of the report after it had been submitted.

During the period between October 24, 1914, and October 28, 1916, treaties making these provisions had gone into effect between the United States and twenty nations-Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Great Britain, Guatemala, Honduras, Italy, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden and Uruguay. The Senate of the United States advised and consented to the ratification of similar treaties with eight other nations, but the ratifications of these treaties were never exchanged. These nations were the Argentine Republic, Greece, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, Persia, Salvador, Switzerland and Venezuela.

The Senate did not advise and consent to the ratification of similar treaties with two countries -the Dominican Republic and Panama.

Five nations did not accept the general principle of these treaties Colombia, Japan,

Mexico, Siam and Turkey. Five other nations accepted the principle, but did not negotiate any treaty carrying it out; these nations were Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Cuba, Haiti and Germany.

The twenty treaties that went into effect differ in some details, but are based on the same principle, the use of all possible methods for ascertaining the justice of a situation, by a permanent commission, on which each disputant is represented but which it does not control, with hostile action postponed during a year of investigation, "to advance the cause of general peace."

CHAPTER X

THE PERMANENT COURT

OF ARBITRATION

A great impetus to the negotiation of arbitration agreements was given by the establishment of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, by the First Hague Conference in 1899. At this conference it was agreed to establish a permanent panel of arbitrators, consisting of four persons named by each signatory power, from which list nations wishing to have a dispute arbitrated should each choose two members, and the four so appointed should choose an umpire. There was no provision for compulsory arbitration, of all or of any disputes. The convention further provided a system of procedure to be used in such cases as should be referred to the Court.

The forty-three nations that became members of the Hague Court, consisting of those represented at the Hague Conference which ratified this convention and which subsequently adhered to it, are as follows: Argentine Republic, Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Italy, Japan, Luxemburg, Mexico, Montenegro, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Paraguay, Persia, Peru, Portugal, Rumania, Russia, Salvador, Serbia, Siam, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United States of America.

Uruguay, and Venezuela. Rumania, Serbia, Turkey and the United States signed with reservations.

THE WORK OF THE HAGUE COURT

Since 1899, when the Court was established, fifteen cases have been referred to this Court. These cases are listed below, with the date of the award. (1) United States of America v. Mexico, concerning les Fonds pieux des Californies, on October 14, 1902 (a claim made by the Roman Catholic Church of California against Mexico for interest between 1848 and 1869 on certain funds for religious purposes).

(2) Germany, Great Britain and Italy v. Venezuela, concerning certain claims of their subjects, on February 22, 1904.

(3) Germany, France and Great Britain v. Japan, about the interpretation of certain provisions in treaties, on May 22, 1905.

(4) France v. Great Britain, concerning the Muscat Dhows, on August 8, 1905.

(5) Germany v. France, concerning the Casa Blanca incident, on May 22, 1909 (about jurisdiction over three German subjects enlisted in the French Foreign Legion in Morocco, who deserted and sought the protection of the local German consul).

(6) Norway v. Sweden, on the question of their maritime frontier, on October 23, 1909.

(7) The United States of America v. Great Britain,