the Emperor of Germany, King of Prussia; of the King of Denmark; of the Emperor of Russia, and of the King of Sweden in whatever concerns their continental or insular possessions" within the Baltic regions. The maintenance of the status quo is thus the object of this solemn agreement, and if the territorial status be threatened the Signatory Powers agree to confer as to the measures to be taken in order to maintain the existing status. The treaty is to be taken in connection with a memorandum signed the same day, which on account of its brevity is quoted in full: At the moment of signing the declaration of this day's date, the undersigned, by order of their respective Governments, consider it necessary to state that the principle of the maintenance of the status quo as laid down by the said declaration applies solely to the territorial integrity of all the existing possessions of the High Contracting Parties in the region bordering upon the Baltic Sea, and that consequently the declaration can in no case be invoked where the free exercise of the sovereign rights of the High Contracting Parties over their above-mentioned possessions is in question. But the date of April 23, 1908, is likely to be memorable for another declaration; for on the same day representatives of Germany, Denmark, France, Great Britain, the Netherlands, and Sweden, moved by a neighborly spirit and a desire to contribute to the general peace of the world, declared their firm resolution to "preserve intact, and mutually to respect, the sovereign rights which their countries at present enjoy over their respective territories" in or bordering upon the North Sea. In the memorandum signed the same day by the representatives of the five contracting powers the North Sea is considered "to extend eastward as far as its junction with the waters of the Baltic." An examination of these two documents shows that Sweden and Denmark enjoy a double guaranty of their integrity, for they are parties to each agreement. It further appears that Germany, as a contracting party to both, pledges its faith to the maintenance of the status quo within the North Sea as well as within the Baltic. The absorption of Denmark, begun in recent years by the annexation of Schleswig-Holstein, seems to be arrested by mutual agreement, and the little country of Holland, the home of Grotius, seems unlikely to be absorbed by its strong neighbors on the south and east. A further examination of these two remarkable declarations shows that Norway, whose independence was guaranteed by the treaty of November 2, 1907, is considered as neutralized, for it is treated on an equality with Belgium, a neutralized state. Neither is a party to the recent declarations. In a word, if man thought as much of his immortal soul as he does of his stomach, and if nations thought as much of right and justice as they do of their possessions, the world would be at peace; and when we consider how simply and quietly these agreements were reached, that they have not created even a ripple of excitement, that their very existence is only known to the few, we see how easy it would be for neighboring nations to guarantee their territorial possessions and thus by a stroke of the pen to make war an outcast. Every lover of his kind must hail with delight these declarations of peace on earth, good will to men. CHRONICLE OF INTERNATIONAL EVENTS WITH BEFERENCES Abbreviations: Ann. sc. pol., Annales des sciences politiques, Paris; Arch. dipl., Archives diplomatiques, Paris; B., boletín, bulletin, bollettino; B. A. R., Monthly bulletin of the International Bureau of American Republics, Washington; Doc. dipl., France: Documents diplomatiques; Dr., droit, diritto, derecho; For. rel., Foreign Relations of the United States; Ga., gazette, gaceta, gazzetta; Cd., Great Britain: Parliamentary Papers; Int., international, internacional, internazionale; J., journal; J. O., Journal Officiel, Paris; Mém. dipl., Mémorial diplomatique, Paris; Monit., Moniteur belge, Brussels; N. R. G., Nouveau recueil général de traités, Leipzig; Q. dipl., Questions diplomatiques et coloniales; R., review, revista, revue, rivista; Reichs-G., Reichs-Gesetzblatt, Berlin; Staatsb., Staatsblad, Gröningen; State Papers, British and Foreign State Papers, London; Stat. at L., United States Statutes at Large; Times, the Times (London); Treaty ser., Great Britain: Treaty Series. November, 1907. 1 NETHERLANDS. Law approving convention signed at Berne Sep- Staatsb., 1907, No. 280. See November 2, 1907. 5 BOLIVIA PERU. Protocol signed at La Paz establishing manner of effecting renewal of diplomatic relations between Bolivia and the Holy See, through the mediation of Peru. B. del ministerio de rel. ext. (Lima), 6:18. 6 BRAZIL VENEZUELA. Brazilian Decree No. 1768 sanctioning two protocols signed at Caracas November 9, 1905. The first ratifies the demarcation in 1880 of boundary from Cucuy rock to Mt. Cupí; the second determines that a mixed commission shall verify the work of the 1882-4 Brazilian commission from Mt. Cupí to that point of the Roraima range where Brazil, British Guiana and Venezuela meet. It shall give preference to watersheds and November, 1907. conform to paragraphs 2 and 3 of article 2 of the treaty signed at Caracas, May 5, 1859 (State Papers, 50:1164) Mensagem.... pelo presidente, Rio de Janeiro, 1908; Mem dipl., May 31, 1908. December, 1907. 14 GERMANY-NETHERLANDS. Proclamation by Netherlands of treaty signed at Berlin August 27, 1907, respecting accident insurance. Approved by Netherlands November 29, 1907; ratifications exchanged at Berlin November 30, 1907. Staatsb., 1907, Nos. 310, 332; Reichs-G., 1907, No. 50. 18 CHILE-PERU. Convention signed at Lima. Liberal professions. B. del ministerio de rel. ext. (Lima), 6:77. 18 MEXICO NETHERLANDS. Treaty of extradition signed. 18 24 CHILE-PERU. Protocol signed at Lima declaring in force the consular convention signed at Lima February 21, 1870 (Aranda: Tratados del Peru, 5:95), and amending the same. B. del ministerio de rel. ext. (Lima), 6:75. Executive approval by Peru December 18, 1907. CHILE-PERU. Convention signed at Lima. Exchange of publications. B. del ministerio de rel. ext. (Lima), 6:79. Approved by Peru January 2, 1908. January, 1908. 1 BULGARIA-ROUMANIA. Treaty of commerce and navigation signed at Bucharest November 20, 1907, takes effect. Text, Mém. dipl., March 22. Term, three years and until one year from denouncement. Contains most favored nation clause, which does not apply, however, to any customs union entered into by either state. 1 FRANCE. Decree of April 29, 1907, takes effect. Reorganization of the Department of Foreign Affairs. The main divisions of business are geographical instead of by subjects. For M. Pichon's report, see R. dipl., March 1, 1908. 3 BELGIUM-SERVIA. Ratifications exchanged at Belgrade of treaty of commerce signed at Belgrade April 24, 1907. B. Usuel, January 3; Monit., January 16. This treaty was put into force by Servia October 9, 1907. Monit., October 10. See April 24, 1907. 6 BULGARIA-FRANCE. Ratifications exchanged at Sofia of convention signed at Sofia January 5, 1907, for reciprocal protection of January, 1908. trademarks. J. O., January 23, 1908. J. du dr. int. privé, 35:626. French decree promulgating, January 21, 1908. 9 BRAZIL COLOMBIA. Brazilian Decree No. 1866 sanctioning and promulgating modus vivendi respecting the Ica and Putumayo rivers signed at Bogotá April 24, 1907. Approved by Brazilian congress December 31, 1907. Mensagem......presidente, Rio de Janeiro, 1908. See December 29, 1907. 10 COSTA RICA-NICARAGUA. Agreement signed for improvement of the bay of San Juan del Norte. Mensaje del presidente, 1908, San José. 12 COLOMBIA-PERU. Conflict at Union. Arose from boundary dispute. See July 6, 1906, and April 24, 1907. 13 NETHERLANDS. Ratification of international convention signed at Rome June 7, 1905, for establishment of a permanent international institute of agriculture. Staatsb., 1908, No. 12. August 16, 1906, and January 27, 1908. 16 NETHERLANDS PERU. Protocol signed at Lima respecting consular convention signed at Lima September 25, 1907. B. del ministerio rel. ext., 6:246. 17 ARGENTINE REPUBLIC-BOLIVIA. Exchange of ratifications at Buenos Aires of the convention signed at Buenos Aires May 18, 1907, relative to extension of the Central Northern Railroad into Bolivian territory and construction of railroad between Potosi and Tupiza. B. del ministerio de rel. ext. (Buenos Aires), 18:24. See May 18, 1907. For account of work completed, see B. A. R., March. 18 Death at Greifswald of Professor Dr. FELIX STOERK. He succeeded Jules Hopf, who died July 12, 1886, as continuator of the Nouveau recueil général de traités. 18 FRANCE ITALY. Agreement signed delimiting zones in which fishing rights are reserved exclusively for subjects of each State between islands of Corsica and Sardinia. Mém. dipl., February 2. 20 SPAIN. Royal decree promulgating accession to the declaration respecting maritime law signed at Paris April 16, 1856. Madrid, January 22; Treaty ser., 1908, No. 9; J. O., March 15; J. du dr. int. privé, 35:630. French decree approving acceptance of accession, January 21, 1908. For the declaration of Paris, see J. du dr. int. privé, Tables générales, 2:72, and for report to |