The Hague Convention,
Hague Convention I (29 July 1899)
Convention for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes
Articles 1 - 61
Entry into Force: 4 September 1900
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His Majesty the Emperor of Germany, King of Prussia; [etc.]:
Animated by a strong desire to concert for the maintenance of the general
peace;
Resolved to second by their best efforts the friendly settlement of international
disputes;
Recognizing the solidarity which unites the members of the society of civilized
nations;
Desirous of extending the empire of law, and of strengthening the appreciation
of international justice;
Convinced that the permanent institution of a Court of Arbitration, accessible
to all, in the midst of the independent Powers, will contribute effectively
to this result;
Having regard to the advantages attending the general and regular organization
of arbitral procedure;
Sharing the opinion of the august Initiator of the International Peace Conference
that it is expedient to record in an international Agreement the principles
of equity and right on which are based the security of States and the welfare
of peoples;
Being desirous of concluding a Convention to this effect, have appointed
as their plenipotentiaries, to wit:
[Here follow the names of plenipotentiaries.]
Who, after communication of their full powers, found in good and due form
, have agreed on the following provisions:
TITLE I. ON THE MAINTENANCE OF THE GENERAL PEACE
Article 1
With a view to obviating, as far as possible, recourse to force in the relations
between States, the Signatory Powers agree to use their best efforts to
insure the pacific settlement of international differences.
TITLE II. ON GOOD OFFICES AND MEDIATION
Article 2
In case of serious disagreement or conflict, before an appeal to arms, the
Signatory Powers agree to have recourse, as far as circumstances allow,
to the good offices or mediation of one or more friendly Powers.
Article 3
Independently of this recourse, the Signatory Powers recommend that one or
more Powers, strangers to the dispute, should, on their own initiative,
and as far as circumstances may allow, offer their good offices or mediation
to the States at variance.
Powers, strangers to the dispute, have the right to offer good offices or
mediation, even during the course of hostilities.
The exercise of this right can never be regarded by one or the other of the
parties in conflict as an unfriendly act.
Article 4
The part of the mediator consists in reconciling the opposing claims and
appeasing the feelings of resentment which may have arisen between the States
at variance.
Article 5
The functions of the mediator are at an end when once it is declared, either
by one of the parties to the dispute, or by the mediator himself, that the
means of reconciliation proposed by him are not accepted.
Article 6
Good offices and mediation, either at the request of the parties at variance
, or on the initiative of Powers strangers to the dispute, have exclusively
the character of advice and never have binding force.
Article 7
The acceptance of mediation can not, unless there be an agreement to the
contrary, have the effect of interrupting, delaying, or hindering mobilization
or other measures of preparation for war.
If mediation, occurs after the commencement of hostilities it causes no interruption
to the military operations in progress, unless there be an agreement to
the contrary.
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 the peace, the States at variance
choose respectively a Power, to whom 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, unless otherwise stipulated
, cannot exceed thirty days, the States in conflict cease from all direct
communication on the subject of the dispute, which is regarded as referred
exclusively to the mediating Powers, who must use their best efforts to
settle it.
In case of a definite rupture of pacific relations, these Powers are charged
with the joint task of taking advantage of any opportunity to restore peace
.
TITLE III. ON INTERNATIONAL COMMISSIONS OF INQUIRY
Article 9
In differences of an international nature involving neither honor nor vital
interests, and arising from a difference of opinion on points of fact, the
Signatory Powers recommend that the parties, who have not been able to come
to an agreement by means of diplomacy, should as far as circumstances allow
, institute an International Commission of Inquiry, to facilitate a solution
of these differences by elucidating the facts by means of an impartial and
conscientious investigation.
Article 10
The International Commissions of Inquiry are constituted by special agreement
between the parties in conflict.
The Convention for an inquiry defines the facts to be examined and the extent
of the Commissioners' powers.
It settles the procedure.
On the inquiry both sides must be heard.
The form and the periods to be observed, if not stated in the inquiry Convention
, are decided by the Commission itself.
Article 11
The International Commissions of Inquiry are formed, unless otherwise stipulated
, in the manner fixed by Article 32 of the present convention.
Article 12
The powers in dispute engage to supply the International Commission of Inquiry
, as fully as they may think possible, with all means and facilities necessary
to enable it to be completely acquainted with and to accurately understand
the facts in question.
Article 13
The International Commission of Inquiry communicates its Report to the conflicting
Powers, signed by all the members of the Commission.
Article 14
The report of the International Commission of Inquiry is limited to a statement
of facts, and has in no way the character of an Arbitral Award. It leaves
the conflicting Powers entire freedom as to the effect to be given to this
statement.
TITLE IV. ON INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION
CHAPTER I. On the System of Arbitration
Article 15
International arbitration has for its object the settlement of differences
between States by judges of their own choice, and on the basis of respect
for law.
Article 16
In questions of a legal nature, and especially in the interpretation or application
of International Conventions, arbitration is recognized by the Signatory
Powers as the most effective, and at the same time the most equitable, means
of settling disputes which diplomacy has failed to settle.
Article 17
The Arbitration Convention is concluded for questions already existing or
for questions which may arise eventually.
It may embrace any dispute or only disputes of a certain category.
Article 18
The Arbitration Convention implies the engagement to submit loyally to the
Award.
Article 19
Independently of general or private Treaties expressly stipulating recourse
to arbitration as obligatory on the Signatory Powers, these Powers reserve
to themselves the right of concluding, either before the ratification of
the present Act or later, new Agreements, general or private, with a view
to extending obligatory arbitration to all cases which they may consider
it possible to submit to it.
CHAPTER II. On the Permanent Court of Arbitration
Article 20
With the object of facilitating an immediate recourse to arbitration for
international differences, which it has not been possible to settle by diplomacy
, the Signatory Powers undertake to organize a permanent Court of Arbitration
, accessible at all times and operating, unless otherwise stipulated by the
parties, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure inserted in the present
Convention.
Article 21
The Permanent Court shall be competent for all arbitration cases, unless
the parties agree to institute a special Tribunal.
Article 22
An International Bureau, established at The Hague, serves as record office
for the Court.
This Bureau is the channel for communications relative to the meetings of
the Court.
It has the custody of the archives and conducts all the administrative business
.
The Signatory Powers undertake to communicate to the International Bureau
at The Hague a duly certified copy of any conditions of arbitration arrived
at between them, and of any award concerning them delivered by special Tribunals
.
They undertake also to communicate to the Bureau the Laws, Regulations, and
documents eventually showing the execution of the awards given by the Court
.
Article 23
Within the three months following its ratification of the present Act, each
Signatory Power shall select four persons at the most, of known competency
in questions of international law, of the highest moral reputation, and
disposed to accept the duties of Arbitrators. The persons thus selected shall
be inscribed, as members of the Court, in a list which shall be notified
by the Bureau to all the Signatory Powers.
Any alteration in the list of Arbitrators is brought by the Bureau to the
knowledge of the Signatory Powers.
Two or more Powers may agree on the selection in common of one or more Members
.
The same person can be selected by different Powers.
The Members of the Court are appointed for a term of six years. Their appointments
can be renewed.
In case of the death or retirement of a member of the Court, his place shall
be filled in accordance with the method of his appointment.
Article 24
When the Signatory Powers desire to have recourse to the Permanent Court
for the settlement of a difference that has arisen between them, the Arbitrators
called upon to form the competent Tribunal to decide this difference, must
be chosen from the general list of members of the Court.
Failing the direct agreement of the parties on the composition of the Arbitration
Tribunal, the following course shall be pursued:
Each party appoints two Arbitrators, and these together choose an Umpire.
If the votes are equal, the choice of the Umpire is intrusted to a third
Power, selected by the parties by common accord.
If an agreement is not arrived at on this subject, each party selects a different
Power, and the choice of the Umpire is made in concert by the Powers thus
selected.
The Tribunal being thus composed, the parties notify to the Bureau their
determination to have recourse to the Court and the names of the Arbitrators
.
The Tribunal of Arbitration assembles on the date fixed by the parties.
The Members of the Court, in the discharge of their duties and out of their
own country, enjoy diplomatic privileges and immunities.
Article 25
The Tribunal of Arbitration has its ordinary seat at The Hague.
Except in cases of necessity, the place of session can only be altered by
the Tribunal with the assent of the parties.
Article 26
The International Bureau at The Hague is authorized to place its premises
and its staff at the disposal of the Signatory Powers for the operations
of any special Board of Arbitration.
The jurisdiction of the Permanent Court, may, within the conditions laid
down in the Regulations, be extended to disputes between non- Signatory Powers
, or between Signatory Powers and non-Signatory Powers, if the parties are
agreed on recourse to this Tribunal.
Article 27
The Signatory Powers consider it their duty, if a serious dispute threatens
to break out between two or more of them, to remind these latter that the
Permanent Court is open to them.
Consequently, they declare that the fact of reminding the conflicting parties
of the provisions of the present Convention, and the advice given to them
, in the highest interests of peace, to have recourse to the Permanent Court
, can only be regarded as friendly actions.
Article 28
A Permanent Administrative Council, composed of the Diplomatic Representatives
of the Signatory Powers accredited to The Hague and of the Netherland Minister
for Foreign Affairs, who will act as President, shall be instituted in this
town as soon as possible after the ratification of the present Act by at
least nine Powers.
This Council will be charged with the establishment and organization of the
International Bureau, which will be under its direction and control.
It will notify to the Powers the constitution of the Court and will provide
for its installation.
It will settle its Rules of Procedure and all other necessary Regulations
.
It will decide all questions of administration which may arise with regard
to the operations of the Court.
It will have entire control over the appointment, suspension or dismissal
of the officials and employ閟 of the Bureau.
It will fix the payments and salaries, and control the general expenditure
.
At meetings duly summoned the presence of five members is sufficient to render
valid the discussions of the Council. The decisions are taken by a majority
of votes.
The Council communicates to the Signatory Powers without delay the Regulations
adopted by it. It furnishes them with an annual Report on the labours of
the Court, the working of the administration, and the expenses.
Article 29
The expenses of the Bureau shall be borne by the Signatory Powers in the
proportion fixed for the International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union
.
CHAPTER III. On Arbitral Procedure
Article 30
With a view to encourage the development of arbitration, the Signatory Powers
have agreed on the following Rules which shall be applicable to arbitral
procedure, unless other rules have been agreed on by the parties.
Article 31
The Powers who have recourse to arbitration sign a special Act (compromis
), in which the subject of the difference is clearly defined, as well as
the extent of the Arbitrators' powers. This Act implies the undertaking of
the parties to submit loyally to the award.
Article 32
The duties of Arbitrator may be conferred on one Arbitrator alone or on several
Arbitrators selected by the parties as they please, or chosen by them from
the members of the permanent Court of Arbitration established by the present
Act.
Failing the constitution of the Tribunal by direct agreement between the
parties, the following course shall be pursued:
Each party appoints two arbitrators, and these latter together choose an
Umpire.
In case of equal voting, the choice of the Umpire is instructed to a third
Power, selected by the parties by common accord.
If no agreement is arrived at on this subject, each party selects a different
Power, and the choice of the Umpire is made in concert by the Powers thus
selected.
Article 33
When a Sovereign or the Chief of a State is chosen as Arbitrator, the arbitral
procedure is settled by him.
Article 34
The Umpire is by right President of the Tribunal.
When the Tribunal does not include an Umpire it appoints its own President
.
Article 35
In case of the death, retirement, or disability from any cause of one of
the Arbitrators, his place shall be filled in accordance with the method
of his appointment.
Article 36
The Tribunal's place of session is selected by the parties. Failing this
selection the Tribunal sits at The Hague.
The place thus fixed cannot, except in case of necessity, be changed by the
Tribunal without the assent of the parties.
Article 37
The parties have the right to appoint delegates or special agents to attend
the Tribunal, for the purpose of serving as intermediaries between them
and the Tribunal.
They are further authorized to retain, for the defense of their rights and
interests before the Tribunal, counsel or advocates appointed by them for
this purpose.
Article 38
The Tribunal decides on the choice of languages to be used by itself, and
to be authorized for use before it.
Article 39
As a general rule the arbitral procedure comprises two distinct phases: preliminary
examination and discussion.
Preliminary examination consists in the communication by the respective agents
to the members of the Tribunal and to the opposite party of all printed
or written Acts and of all documents containing the arguments invoked in
the case. This communication shall be made in the form and within the periods
fixed by the Tribunal in accordance with Article 49.
Discussion consists in the oral development before the Tribunal of the arguments
of the parties.
Article 40
Every document produced by one party must be communicated to the other party
.
Article 41
The discussions are under the direction of the President.
They are only public if it be so decided by the Tribunal, with the assent
of the parties.
They are recorded in the proc鑣-verbaux drawn up by the Secretaries appointed
by the President. These proc鑣-verbaux alone have an authentic character
.
Article 42
When the preliminary examination is concluded, the Tribunal has the right
to refuse discussion of all fresh Acts or documents which one party may
desire to submit to it without the consent of the other party.
Article 43
The Tribunal is free to take into consideration fresh Acts or documents to
which its attention may be drawn by the agents or counsel of the parties
.
In this case, the Tribunal has the right to require the production of these
Acts or documents, but is obliged to make them known to the opposite party
.
Article 44
The Tribunal can, besides, require from the agents of the parties the production
of all Acts, and can demand all necessary explanations. In case of refusal
, the Tribunal takes note of it.
Article 45
The agents and counsel of the parties are authorized to present orally to
the Tribunal all the arguments they may think expedient in defence of their
case.
Article 46
They have the right to raise objections and points. The decisions of the
Tribunal on those points are final, and can not form the subject of any subsequent
discussion.
Article 47
The members of the Tribunal have the right to put questions to the agents
and counsel of the parties, and to demand explanations from them on doubtful
points.
Neither the questions put nor the remarks made by members of the Tribunal
during the discussions can be regarded as an expression of opinion by the
Tribunal in general, or by its members in particular.
Article 48
The Tribunal is authorized to declare its competence in interpreting the
compromis as well as the other Treaties which may be invoked in the case,
and in applying the principles of international law.
Article 49
The Tribunal has the right to issue Rules of Procedure for the conduct of
the case, to decide the forms and periods within which each party must conclude
its arguments, and to arrange all the formalities required for dealing with
the evidence.
Article 50
When the agents and counsel of the parties have submitted all explanations
and evidence in support of their case, the President pronounces the discussion
closed.
Article 51
The deliberations of the Tribunal take place in private. Every decision is
taken by a majority of members of the Tribunal.
The refusal of a member to vote must be recorded in the proc鑣- verbal.
Article 52
The award, given by a majority of votes, is accompanied by a statement of
reasons. It is drawn up in writing and signed by each member of the Tribunal
.
Those members who are in the minority may record their dissent when signing
.
Article 53
The award is read out at a public meeting of the Tribunal, the agents and
counsel of the parties being present, or duly summoned to attend.
Article 54
The award, duly pronounced and notified to the agents of the parties at variance
, puts an end to the dispute definitively and without appeal.
Article 55
The parties can reserve in the compromis the right to demand the revision
of the award.
In this case, and unless there be an agreement to the contrary, the demand
must be addressed to the Tribunal which pronounced the award. It can only
be made on the ground of the discovery of some new fact calculated to exercise
a decisive influence on the award, and which, at the time the discussion
was closed, was unknown to the Tribunal and to the party demanding the revision
.
Proceedings for revision can only be instituted by a decision of the Tribunal
expressly recording the existence of the new fact, recognizing in it the
character described in the foregoing paragraph, and declaring the demand
admissible on this ground.
The compromis fixes the period within which the demand for revision must
be made.
Article 56
The award is only binding on the parties who concluded the compromis.
When there is a question of interpreting a Convention to which Powers other
than those concerned in the dispute are parties, the latter notify to the
former the compromis they have concluded. Each of these Powers has the right
to intervene in the case. If one or more of them avail themselves of this
right, the interpretation contained in the award is equally binding on them
.
Article 57
Each party pays its own expenses and an equal share of those of the Tribunal
.
General provisions
Article 58
The present Convention shall be ratified as speedily as possible.
The ratifications shall be deposited at The Hague.
A proc鑣-verbal shall be drawn up recording the receipt of each ratification
, and a copy duly certified shall be sent, through the diplomatic channel
, to all the Powers who were represented at the International Peace Conference
at The Hague.
Article 59
The non-Signatory Powers who were represented at the International Peace
Conference can adhere to the present Convention. For this purpose they must
make known their adhesion to the Contracting Powers by a written notification
addressed to the Netherlands Government, and communicated by it to all the
other Contracting Powers.
Article 60
The conditions on which the Powers who were not represented at the International
Peace Conference can adhere to the present Convention shall form the subject
of a subsequent Agreement among the Contracting Powers.
Article 61
In the event of one of the High Contracting Parties denouncing the present
Convention, this denunciation would not take effect until a year after its
notification made in writing to the Netherlands Government, and by it communicated
at once to all the other Contracting Powers.
This denunciation shall only affect the notifying Power.
In faith of which the Plenipotentiaries have signed the present Convention
and affixed their seals to it.
Done at The Hague, the 29th July, 1899, in a single copy, which shall remain
in the archives of the Netherlands Government, and copies of it, duly certified
, be sent through the diplomatic channel to the Contracting Powers.
[Here follow signatures.]
Reservations
Roumania
Under the reservations formulated with respect to Articles 16, 17 and 19
of the present Convention (15, 16 and 18 of the project presented by the
committee on examination) and recorded in the proc鑣-verbal of the sitting
of the Third Commission of July 20, 1899.
Extract from the proc鑣-verbal:
The Royal Government of Roumania, being completely in favor of the principle
of facultative arbitration, of which it appreciates the great importance
in international relations, nevertheless does not intend to undertake, by
Article 15, an engagement to accept arbitration in every case there provided
for, and it believes it ought to form express reservations in that respect
.
It can not therefore vote for this article, except under that reservation
.
The Royal Government of Roumania declares that it can not adhere to Article
16 except with the express reservation, entered in the proc鑣-verbal, that
it has decided not to accept, in any case, an international arbitration
for disagreements or disputes previous to the conclusion of the present Convention
.
The Royal Government of Roumania declares that in adhering to Article 18
of the Convention, it makes no engagement in regard to obligatory arbitration
.
Servia
Under the reservation recorded in the proc鑣-verbal of the Third Commission
of July 20, 1899.
Extract from the proc鑣-verbal:
In the name of the Royal Government of Servia, we have the honor to declare
that our adoption of the principle of good offices and mediation does not
imply a recognition of the right of third States to use these means except
with the extreme reserve which proceedings of this delicate nature require
.
We do not admit good offices and mediation except on condition that their
character of purely friendly counsel is maintained fully and completely,
and we never could accept them in forms and circumstances such as to impress
upon them the character of intervention.
Turkey
Under reservation of the declaration made in the plenary sitting of the Conference
of July 25, 1899.
Extract from the proc鑣-verbal:
The Turkish delegation, considering that the work of this Conference has
been a work of high loyalty and humanity, destined solely to assure general
peace by safeguarding the interests and the rights of each one, declares
, in the name of its Government, that it adheres to the project just adopted
, on the following conditions:
1. It is formally understood that recourse to good offices and mediation,
to commissions of inquiry and arbitration is purely facultative and could
not in any case assume an obligatory character or degenerate into intervention
;
2. The Imperial Government itself will be the judge of the cases where its
interests would permit it to admit these methods without its abstention
or refusal to have recourse to them being considered by the signatory States
as an unfriendly act. It goes without saying that in no case could the means
in question be applied to questions concerning interior regulation.
United States
Under reservation of the declaration made at the plenary sitting of the Conference
on the 25th of July, 1899.
extract from the proc鑣-verbal:
Nothing contained in this convention shall be so construed as to require
the United States of America to depart from its traditional policy of not
intruding upon, interfering with, or entangling itself in the political
questions of policy or internal administration of any foreign state; nor
shall anything contained in the said convention be construed to imply a relinquishment
by the United States of America of its traditional attitude toward purely
American questions.
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