however, to observe that this proposition is intended to meet the present almost universal demand for a permanent court for the settlement of controversies. that may arise between the governments of Great Britain and the United States, while it is at the same time sufficiently flexible to be adapted to the necessities of other nations as they may learn its utility. It appears to us that a court designed to perform such an important office between two great nations ought not to contain a less number than nine members, as, in case of a dispute, two of the members would be interested as parties litigant, thus leaving the decision in reality to be made by the remaining seven members of the court. To set the machinery of such a court in motion requires a treaty only between the two Anglo-Saxon nations Great Britain and the United States. By the terms of this treaty the two nations interested in the creation of the court would need but to invite the other Powers named in our seventh recommendation, as an act of comity between friendly nations, to select seven members of the court in conformity with the foregoing propositions. will be unnecessary for any other nation to join in such a treaty, as, by the act of the two English-speak-ing Powers, and by virtue of the treaty stipulations. between them, a permanent "International Court of Arbitration" would become an established fact. It is believed that, if such a court be once recognized and accepted by two such Powers, its utility will force recognition and adoption by other nations seeking honorable adjustment of vexatious international questions. It We also submit to you a form of memorial to be addressed to the President of the United States, in. which are outlined the recommendations herein presented, and we recommend that this memorial be presented to the President without delay and that other associations and organizations be invited to join therein as contemplated in the foregoing recommendations. All of which is respectfully submitted by your subcommittee, at the State Capitol in the city of Albany, N. Y., April 16, 1896. W. MARTIN JONES, Report of Committee on Interna tional Arbitration. To the New York State Bar Association: The foregoing report of the Sub-Committee of the Committee on International Arbitration, appointed by the State Bar Association was duly submitted to the full Committee in session at the State Capitol in the city of Albany on the 16th day of April, 1896; and, on motion duly made, said report was endorsed and adopted as the report of the full committee to the State Bar Association. It is therefore herewith respectfully submitted as the report of your Committee. State Capitol, ALBANY, N. Y., April 16, 1896. WILLIAM D. VEEDER, Chairman, Brooklyn. W. MARTIN JONES, Rochester. CHARLES A. DESHON, New York. WILLIAM H. ROBERTSON, Katonah. ? EDWARD G. WHITAKER, New York. CHARLES M. DAVISON, Secretary, Saratoga. CHAUNCEY M. DEPEW, New York. JOHN B. MOORE, Columbia College. 19 Committee. Advisory Members. Petition to the President of the United States. To the President: The petition of the New York State Bar Association respectfully shows: That, impelled by a sense of duty to the state and nation and a purpose to serve the cause of humanity everywhere, your Petitioner, at its annual session held in the city of Albany on the 22d day of January, 1896, appointed a committee to consider the subject of International Arbitration and to devise and submit to it a plan for the orgainzation of a tribunal to which may hereafter be submitted controverted international questions between the governments of Great Britain and the United States. That said committee entered upon the performance of its duty at once, and after long and careful deliberation, reached the conclusion that it is impracticable, if not impossible, to form a satisfactory Anglo-American Tribunal, for the adjustment of grave international controverises, that shall be composed only of representatives of the two governments of Great Britain and the United States. That, in order that the subject might receive more mature and careful consideration, the matter was referred to a sub-committee, by whom an extended report was made to the full committee. This report was adopted as the report of the full committee, and, at a Special Meeting of the State Bar Association called to consider the matter, and held at the State Capitol in the city of Albany on the 16th day of April, 1896, the action of the committee was affirmed and the plan submitted fully endorsed. As the report referred to contains the argument in brief, both in support of the contention that it is impracticable to organize a court composed only of representatives of the governments of Great Britain and the United States, and in support of the plan outlined in it, a copy of the report is given above and your Petitioner asks that it be made and considered a part of this Petition. That your Petitioner cordially endorses the principle of arbitration for the settlement of all controversies between civilized nations, and it believes that it is quite within the possibility of the educated intellects of the leading Powers of the world to agree upon a plan for a great central World's Court that, by the common consent of nations, shall eventually have jurisdiction of all disputes arising between Independent Powers that cannot be adjusted by friendly diplomatic negotiations. Holding tenaciously to this opinion and, conscious that there must be a first step in every good work, else there will never be a second, your Petitioner respectfully but earnestly urges your early consideration of the subject that ultimately — at least during the early years of the coming century the honest purpose of good men of every nation may be realized in devising means for the peaceful solution of menacing disputes between civilized nations. Your Petitioner therefore submits to you the following recommendations: First: The establishment of a permanent International Tribunal, to be known as "The International Court of Arbitration." |