Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/320

 312] FOEEIGN HISTORY.

informed that there were none in England. It was then attempted to manufacture some at Tubingen, but these bullets, which, it is true, produced the effect described by General den Beer Poortugael, were a very different projectile from the dum- dum and of an infinitely more murderous character. Ulti- mately a motion prohibiting the use of bullets that expand in the human body was accepted. The application of the Geneva Convention to the rules of naval warfare was also approved.

On the question of arbitration the most important proposal was that made by the British delegate, Sir Julian Pauncefote, for the establishment of a permanent committee of arbitration. This proposal, with some modifications, was ultimately accepted, and it was the most practical outcome of the whole work of the conference. Its last sitting was held on July 29, and its decisions were then embodied in a series of conventions, the first of which was entitled " A Convention for the Peaceful Regulation of International Conflicts." The following were its principal articles : —

2. The signatory Powers agree that in case of grave dis- agreement or conflict, before appealing to arms, they will have recourse, so far as circumstances allow it, to the good offices or mediation of one or more of the friendly Powers.

3. Independently of this recourse, the signatory Powers con- sider it useful that one or more Powers that are not concerned in the conflict should offer of their own initiative, so far as the circumstances lend themselves to it, their good offices or their mediation to the disputing States.

The Powers not concerned in the conflict have the right of offering their good offices or their mediation even during the course of hostilities.

The exercise of this right can never be considered by either of the disputing parties as an unfriendly act.

4. The part of the mediator consists in the reconciliation of contrary pretensions and in the allaying of the resentments which may be caused between the disputing States.

5. The duties of the mediator cease from the moment when it is announced, whether by one of the disputing parties or by the mediator himself, that the compromise or the basis of a friendly understanding proposed by him have not been accepted.

6. Good offices and mediation, whether recourse is had to them by one of the disputing parties or on the initiative of Powers not concerned in the conflict, have exclusively the character of counsel and are devoid of any obligatory force.

7. The acceptance of mediation cannot have the effect, unless it be agreed to the contrary, of interrupting, retarding or impeding mobilisation and other measures preparatory to war.

If it (mediation) intervenes before the opening of hostilities, it does not, unless the contrary be agreed upon, interrupt the current military operations.