iation by
International Councils of Conciliation.

For a satisfactory proposal concerning International Councils of
Conciliation two starting points offer themselves. One starting point is
the special form of mediation recommended by Article 8 of the Hague
Convention concerning the pacific settlement of international disputes.
The following is the text of this Article 8:

'The Signatory Powers are agreed in recommending the application,
when circumstances allow, of special mediation in the following
form:--

'In case of a serious difference endangering peace, the contending
States choose respectively a Power, to which they intrust the
mission of entering into direct communication with the Power chosen
on the other side, with the object of preventing the rupture of
pacific relations.

'For the period of this mandate, the term of which, in default of
agreement to the contrary, cannot exceed thirty days, the States at
variance cease from all direct communication on the subject of the
dispute, which is regarded as referred exclusively to the mediating
Powers. These Powers shall use their best efforts to settle the
dispute.

'In case of a definite rupture of pacific relations, these Powers
remain jointly charged with the task of taking advantage of any
opportunity to restore peace.'

The second starting point is supplied by the Permanent International
Commissions of the so-called Bryan Peace Treaties concluded in 1913-14
by the United States of America with a number of other States. These
peace treaties are not in every point identical, but of interest to us
here are the clauses according to which Permanent International
Commissions are set up to serve as Councils of Conciliation. The
following is the text of the three articles concerned of the treaty
between the United States and Great Britain of September 15, 1914:

Art. I. 'The High Contracting Parties agree that all disputes
between them, of every nature whatsoever, other than disputes the
settlement of which is provided for and in fact achieved under
existing agreements between the High Contracting Parties, shall,
when diplomatic methods of adjustment have failed, be referred for
investigation and report to a permanent International Commission, to
be constituted in the manner prescribed in the next succeeding
article; and they agree not to declare war or begin ho