shall agree to observe these rules." This addition will impose upon other powers the same self-denying ordinance as Great Britain is desired to accept, and will furnish an additional security for the neutrality of the canal, which it will be the duty of the United States to maintain. As matters of minor importance, I suggest the renewal of one of the stipulations of Article VIII of the Clayton-Bulwer convention by adding to rule 1 the words "such conditions and charges shall be just and equitable," and the adoption of "treaty" in lieu of "convention" to designate the international agreement which the high contracting parties may conclude. Mr. Hay's draft, with the proposed amendments shown in italics, is annexed.* LANSDOWNE. AUGUST 3, 1901. PONTIFICAL BRIEF ON INTERNATIONAL PEACE, TO OUR VENERABLE BROTHER, DIOMEDES, TITULAR ARCHBISHOP OF LARISSA, APOSTOLIC DELEGATE TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. WASHINGTON. PIUS X. Venerable Brother, Health and Apostolic Benediction. We are happy to learn from you that in the United States of America under the leadership of men enjoying the highest authority with the people the more judicious members of the community are fervently desirous of maintaining the advantages of international peace. To compose differences, to restrain the outbreak of hostilities, to prevent the dangers of war, to remove even the anxieties of so-called armed peace, is, indeed, most praiseworthy and any effort in this cause even although it may not immediately or wholly accomplish its purpose, manifests, nevertheless, a zeal which can not but redound to the credit of its authors and be of benefit to the state. This is especially true at the 1 Omitted. present day when vast armies, instrumentalities most destructive to human life, and the advanced state of military science portend wars which must be a source of fear even to the most powerful rulers. Wherefore, We most heartily commend the work already begun which should be approved by all good men and especially by us holding, as We do, the Supreme Pontificate of the Church, and representing Him who is both the God and the Prince of Peace; and We most gladly lend the weight of Our authority to those who are striving to realize this most beneficent purpose. For We do not doubt that the same distinguished men who possess so much ability and such wisdom in affairs of state will construct in behalf of a struggling age a royal road for the nations leading to peace and conciliation in accordance with the laws of justice and charity, which should be sacredly observed by all. For, inasmuch as peace consists in order who will vainly think that it can be established unless he strives wth all the force within him that due respect be everywhere given to those virtues which are the principles of order and its firmest foundation. As for the remaining aspects of the matter, We recall to mind the example of so many of Our illustrious Predecessors who, when the condition of the times permitted, rendered, in this very matter also, the most signal service to the cause of humanity and to the stability of Governments; but since the present age allows Us to aid in this cause only by pious prayers to God, We, therefore, most earnestly pray God who knows the hearts of men and inclines them as He wills, that He may be gracious to those who are furthering peace amongst the peoples and may grant to the nations which with united purpose are laboring to this end that the destruction of war and its disasters being averted, they may at length find repose in the beauty of peace. As a pledge of divine favor and a proof of Our benevolence, We most lovingly grant you, Venerable Brother, the Apostolic Benediction. Given at Rome at St. Peter's the eleventh day of June 1911 and the eighth year of Our pontificate. VENERABILI FRATRI DIOMEDI ARCHIEPISCOPO TIT. LARISSENSIUM, DELEGÁTO APOSTOLICO IN FOEDERATIS AMERICAE CIVITATIBUS, WASHINGTONIAM. PIUS PP. X. Venerabilis Frater Salutem et Apostolicam Benedictionem. Libenter abs te accepimus, auspice virorum coetu quorum summa est ad populam auctoritas, fervere in Foederatis Americae Civitatibus prudentiorum studia ad pacis commoda gentibus tuenda. Videlicet animos coniungere, hostiles continere impetus, prohibere belli pericula et ipsas amovere pacis uti aiunt armatae sollicitudines, coeptum est nobilissimum: et quid quid in hanc causam confertur operae, et si non eo proxime vel plene contingat quo consilia spectant, conatum tamen praestat qui neque auctoribus vacat laude, neque publicae rei utilitatibus. Idque hoc maxime tempore, quum et magnae copiae, et instrumenta ad internecionem aptissima, et tam longe provecta rei militaris scientia bella portendunt quae vel ipsis sunt principibus potentissimis vehementer pertimescenda. Quare gratulamur ex animo coeptum cum optimo cuique tum Nobis, prae ceteris, probandum qui, adepti summum Ecclesiae Pontificatum vices gerimus Illius qui PACIS et PRINCEPS et DEUS EST et ad illud, saluberrimo consilio, contendentibus Nostrae suffragio auctoritatis adiungimur libentissime. Neque enim dubium est Nobis quin iidem praestantes viri in quibus tanta est ingenii vis prudentiaeque civilis, velint ad pacem laboranti saeculo conciliandam regiam gentibus sternere viam in iustitiae et caritatis legibus sancte ab omnibus servandis. Pacem enim, hoc ipso quod ordine continetur, frustra quis sibi confidit stabiliendam, nisi pro viribus contendat ut iis suus ubique sit honos virtutibus quae ordinis sunt principia ac fundamentum omnium maximum? Ceterum, memoria repetentes exempla tot illustrium Decessorum Nostrorum qui, quando per tempora licuit, hoc etiam ex capite, de gentium humanitate, de firmitate imperiorum tam egregie meruerunt, quandoquidem aliud nihil hac in re praestare aetas sinat quam pias ad Deum preces, Deum, qui corda noscit hominum et ea quocumque vult inclinat, instantissime adprecamur ut iis propitius adsit qui pacem populis conciliare student: gentibus vero quae pacem concordi voto expetunt, tribuere benigus velit. ut, amotis belli ac descidii calamitatibus, in pulcritudine pacis tandem aliquando conquiescant Auspicem divinorum munerum Nostraeque testem benevolentiae Apostolicam Benedictionem tibi, Venerabilis Frater, peramanter in Domino impertimus. Datum Romae apud Sanctum Petrum die XI Junii MCMXI Pontificatus Nostri anno octavol. PIUS PP. X. CONVENTION OF OBLIGATORY ARBITRATION BETWEEN RUSSIA AND SPAIN. Signed at St. Petersburg August 2/15, 1910; ratifications exchanged November 9/22, 1910. His Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias and His Majesty the King of Spain, desiring to adjust so far as possible by means of arbitration such differences as might arise between their countries, have decided to conclude a convention for this purpose, and have named as their plenipotentiaries, to wit: His Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias: Mr. Serge Sazonow, of the rank of Master of the Imperial Court, His Actual State Councillor, and Director of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and His Majesty the King of Spain: His Excellency Don Cipriano Munoz y Manzano, Count de la Vinaza, His Chamberlain and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary near the Imperial Court of Russia, Who, having communicated to each other their full powers, found to be in good and due form, have agreed upon the following articles: ARTICLE I. The high contracting parties engage to submit to the Permanent Court of Arbitration, established at The Hague by the Convention of July 17/29, 1899, such differences as may arise between them in the cases enumerated in Article III, in so far as they do not affect the independence, the honor, the vital interests or the exercise of the sovereignty of the contracting countries, and in case it has not been possible to arrive at a friendly solution by means of direct diplomatic negotiations or by any other means of conciliation. ARTICLE II. It rests with each of the high contracting parties to determine whether the difference which has occurred involves its vital interests, its honor, its independence or the exercise of its sovereignty, and is therefore of a character to be included among those cases which, in accordance with the preceding article, are exempted from obligatory arbitration. ARTICLE III. Arbitration between the high contracting parties will be obligatory: I. In case of disputes concerning the application or interpretation of any convention concluded or to be concluded between the high contracting parties and relating to: 1) Matters of private international law; 2) The status of companies; 3) Matters of procedure, whether civil or criminal, and extradition. II. In case of disputes concerning pecuniary claims for damages, when the principle of the indemnity is recognized by the parties. Such differences as may hereafter arise concerning the interpretation or application of a convention concluded or to be concluded between the high contracting parties, to which other Powers may have been parties or may have adhered, will be excluded from this solution by arbitration. ARTICLE IV. The present convention would be applied even though the disputes arising should have had their origin in facts prior to its conclusion. ARTICLE V. Whenever there shall be occasion for an arbitration between them, the high contracting parties will, in the absence of clauses to the contrary in the compromis, conform in all that concerns the designation of arbiters, and the arbitral procedure, to the arrangements established by Article 52 of the Convention, signed at The Hague October 5/18, 1907, for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes, save in so far as regards the points hereinafter indicated. ARTICLE VI. None of the arbiters may be a subject of one of the states signing the present convention, nor be domiciled in its territories, nor be interested in the questions which are the subject of the arbitration. ARTICLE VII. The arbitral decision will contain an indication of the period within which it must be executed. ARTICLE VIII. The present convention is concluded for a period of ten years. It will come into force one month after the exchange of ratifications. In case neither of the high contracting parties shall have given notice, six months before the end of the period mentioned, of its intention to terminate its validity, the convention will remain binding until the expiration of one year from the day on which one or the other of the high contracting parties shall have denounced it. ARTICLE IX. The present convention will be ratified as soon as possible, and the ratifications will be exchanged at St. Petersburg. In faith of which the plenipotentiaries have signed the present Convention and affixed their seals thereto. Done in duplicate at St. Petersburg, August 2/15, 1910. (Signed) SAZONOW (L. 8.) (Signed) COUNT DE LA VINAZA (L. S.) |