LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
OBJECTIONS TO A PERMANENT INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL ANSWERED.
[To TH1 EDITOR. Of TEl Bricoraros."] Sin,—In a "News of the Week" paragraph, appearing in the Speetvtor of April llth, you referred to the fact that the
American, Irish, and English Cardinals "have joined in an
appeal on behalf of a permanent tribunal of arbitration to decide disputes among the English-speaking races without
war." You express a doubt, however, " whether an absolute engagement to abide by the judgment of any fixed tribunal would answer that purpose." You ask, for instance, whether the English people could entertain a proposal to refer to such a tribunal a quarrel with Ireland, when a rebellion had led to civil war.
It is, perhaps, not a fair objection to the creation of a new institution to suggest a case wherein it would fail, if its creators had never contemplated a case of the kind, but others of a quite different sort. The pro- posed Court of Arbitration has for its general object the settlement of definite points of difference arising between two States, previous to the outbreak of war, and with a view of preventing it. In the case you suggest war would already have commenced, and inter
arms silent leges. The same reply is applicable to the similar case which you put,—the conflict between the Northern
and Southern States. Moreover, as you admit, both these are
instances of civil war, which is not the kind of conflict which an International Court is intended to prevent. In the next
place, you "do not think it possible that one and the same tribunal could always answer the purpose " in view. My best reply will be to describe some provisions of the actual project now before the Governments of the world, as submitted by the "Inter-Parliamentary Union "after long preliminary con- sideration and discussion. That remarkable body, comprising fifteen hundred Members of fourteen Parliaments, held its sixth annual conference last year, and adopted a, scheme for a permanent Court of International Arbitration.
I select from its Articles the following provisions. Any number of States may enter into an agreement to create such
a Court, and each of them shall appoint two members, who will sit for five years. In the event of a dispute arising between two or more of the contracting or adhering States they will decide whether they will refer it to the Court. In the case of only one litigant applying for its decision, and in the case of neither doing so, the President of the Court will nominate certain of its members to constitute a tribunal which shall pronounce a preliminary decision. Throughout this and other projects a special tribunal is, in each case, appointed by the larger body or High Court.
May I express the hope that the difficulties which you have frequently stated in reply to those who advocate this great reform may be removed by the project now under considera-
tion ? I am sure that very many readers of the Spectator would find deep satisfaction if such were the case.—I am, Sir, dcc.,
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