Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/321

 1899.] Bussia. — The Peace Conference. [313

8. The signatory Powers agree to recommend the applica- tion, in circumstances which permit of it, of a special mediation in the following form : —

In the case of a grave disagreement endangering peace, the disputing States should each choose one Power to which they may entrust the mission of entering into direct communication with the Power chosen by the other side, for the purpose of preventing the rupture of pacific relations.

During the continuance of their mandate — the duration of which, unless the contrary is stipulated, cannot exceed thirty days — the question in dispute is considered as referred exclusively to these Powers. They must apply all their efforts to arranging the difference.

In case of the actual rupture of pacific relations, these Powers remain charged with the common mission of profiting by every opportunity of re-establishing peace.

9. In cases in which differences of opinion should arise between the signatory Powers with regard to questions of fact which have given rise to a disagreement of an international character which could not be settled by the ordinary diplomatic methods and in which neither the honour nor the vital interests of these Powers are at stake, the interested parties agree to have recourse, so far as the circumstances permit it, to the institution of international commissions of inquiry, in order to establish the circumstances which have given rise to dispute and to clear up, by an impartial and conscientious inquiry on the spot, all questions of fact.

13. The report of the international commission of inquiry has in no wise the character of an • arbitral decision. It leaves the disputing powers entire freedom, either to conclude a friendly arrangement on the basis of this report, or to have recourse ultimately to mediation or to arbitration.

15. In questions of right, and especially in questions of the interpretation or application of international conventions, arbi- tration is recognised by the signatory Powers as the most effective, and at the same time the most equitable, means of settling disputes not arranged by diplomatic methods.

16. The agreement to arbitrate may be concluded for disputes already in existence, or for disputes about to arise (contestations eventuelles). It can deal with every sort of dispute or only with disputes of a specified category.

17. The arbitral convention involves an engagement to sub- mit in good faith to the arbitral decision.

18. Independently of general or special treaties, which may already bind the signatory Powers to have recourse to arbitration, these Powers reserve to themselves the liberty to conclude, either before the ratification of the present article, or afterwards, new agreements, general or particular, with the object of ex- tending compulsory arbitration to all cases which they judge capable of being submitted to it.