Beyond this, international law speaks at present with an uncertain voice, leaving to each Power to resort to such measures in detail as may be necessary to ensure the due performance of a duty which, as expressed in general terms, is universally recognised.
Holland emphasizes the ambiguity in international law regarding neutral duties during conflicts.
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The need for pressure of any kind is, of course, regrettable, the only question being whether such limited pressure be not more humane to the nation which experiences it, and less distasteful to the nation which exercises it, than is the…
There may be members of the Institut who do not give up the hope that some day, thanks to the progress of civilisation, humanity will succeed in substituting an organised international justice for the wars which now-a-days take place…
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.
Perpetual peace is a dream, and it is not even a beautiful dream.
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