nference [of 1899], Art. 3
of which is to the following effect:--

"Les Puissances signataires jugent utile qu'une ou plusieurs
Puissances etrangeres au conflit offrent de leur propre
initiative, en tant que les circonstances s'y pretent, leurs
bons offices ou leur mediation aux Etats en conflit.

"Le droit d'offrir les bons offices ou la mediation appartient
aux Puissances etrangeres au conflit, meme pendant le cours
des hostilites.

"L'exercice de ce droit ne peut jamais etre considere par
l'une ou l'autre des parties en litige comme un acte peu
amical."

Several remarks are suggested by the presentation of this petition:--

(1) One might suppose from the glib reference here and elsewhere made to
The Hague Convention, that this convention is already in force, whereas
it is [1899], in the case of most, if not all, of the Powers represented
at the conference, a mere unratified draft, under the consideration of
the respective Governments.

(2) The article, if it were in force, would impose no duty of offering
good offices, but amounts merely to the expression of opinion that an
offer of good offices is a useful and unobjectionable proceeding, in
suitable cases (_en tant que les circonstances s'y pretent_). It cannot
for a moment be supposed that the President would consider that an
opportunity of the kind contemplated was offered by the war in South
Africa.

(3) One would like to know at what date, if at all, the Prime Minister
of the British colony of the Cape was pleased, as is alleged, to follow
the lead of the Presidents of the two Boer Republics in bestowing his
grateful approval upon the petition in question.

Your obedient servant,
T. E. HOLLAND.
Oxford, October 28 (1899).

_Par._ 2 (1).--The Convention of 1899 was ratified by Great
Britain, on September 4, 1900; and between that year and 1907
practically all civilised Powers ratified or acceded to it. It
is now, for almost all Powers, superseded by The Hague
Convention, No. i. of 1907, which, reproduces Art. 3 of the
older Convention, inserting, however, after the word "utile,"
the words "et desirable."

_Ib._ (2).--On March 6, 1900, the two Boer Republics proposed
that peace should be made on terms which included the
recognition of their independence. Great Britain having, on
March 11, declared such recognition to be inadmissible, the
Eur