Of such a step I have already written that it "would be calamitous should a practice be introduced of attempting to cure the imperfect expression of a treaty by tacking on to it an equally authoritative reasoned commentary.
Holland critiques the practice of adding commentary to treaties, arguing it could lead to confusion.
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To open and facilitate the settlement of trifling disputes between nations by judicial methods, war being unquestionably a method out of all proportion in such cases.
The only legitimate object which States should set before themselves during war is to weaken the military forces of the enemy.
Pacific reprisals should also, according to the tendency of modern opinion and practice, be so applied as not to interfere with the interests of third Powers and their subjects.
But I go further, and think the softening of manners can alone bring about this result, which cannot be attained by a codification of the law of war.
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