Detailed Table of Contents

Home , Gijsbert van Tienhoven, Nicolaas Pierson, Tobias Asser, Venice Conference

1 PART I ‘Of Inconspicuous, if Honest Lineage’ THE ASSER FAMILY

CHAPTER 1 THE ANCESTRY Through the Mists of Time 1.1 17TH CENTURY AMSTERDAM JEWRY 1.1.1 The Historical Backdrop 1.1.2 Dutch Opportunism 1.1.3 The First Pockets of the Sephardim 1.1.4 Toleration and Trade 1.1.5 Internal Friction 1.1.6 The Ashkenazi Immigration Gulf 1.1.7 Social Bifurcation 1.2 THE ARRIVAL OF THE ASSERS 1.2.1 The Surname 1.2.2 Kalman and Margalioth 1.2.3 The Asser-Shochets 1.2.4 Salomon Asser-Shochet (1731-1796) 1.2.5 Plantations along Essequibo River

CHAPTER 2 MOSES SALOMON ASSER (1754-1826) A Rebel with A Cause 2.1 THE FOUNDING FATHER 2.1.1 Character 2.1.2 Upbringing 2.1.3 Marriage and Early Career 2.1.4 Hermanus Leonard Bromet (1724-1812) 2.2 ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CRISIS 2.2.1 The Amsterdam Ashkenazim 2.2.2 The Amsterdam Sephardim 2.2.3 Jewish Identity Crisis 2.2.4 Enlightenment and Patriot Movement 2.2.5 The Batavian Republic (1795-1806) 2.3 THE RISE OF MOSES SALOMON 2.3.1 Business Man and Lawyer 2.3.2 Felix Libertate (1795) 2.3.3 Adat Yeshurun (1796) 2.4 LAW REFORM AND CODIFICATION 2.4.1 The Code of Commerce (1806) 2.4.2 French Administrative Reform 2.4.3 Due Recognition 2.5 LAST YEARS AND DEMISE CHAPTER 3 THE NEXT GENERATION Consolidating Success 3.1 CAREL ASSER (1780-1836) 3.1.1 Character and Upbringing 3.1.2 Marriage 3.1.3 Propagation of the Jewish Cause 3.1.4 Carel Asser and Jonas Daniel Meijer 3.1.5 The Kemper Codification Committee 3.1.6 Later Years 3.2 TOBIAS ASSER (1783-1847) 3.2.1 Youth and Family Life 3.2.2 Jewish Identity 3.2.3 Entertainment at Singel 548 2 CHAPTER 4 THE GRANDCHILDREN ‘The Little Darlings’ 4.1 LOUIS ASSER (1802-1850) 4.1.1 Professional Career 4.1.2 Poetry 4.1.3 Louis and Netje 4.2 ANNA GRATIE MARIANNE ASSER (1807-1893) 4.2.1 Willful Womanhood 4.2.2 Writing Talents 4.2.3 Intellectual Training 4.2.4 Passion for the Theatre 4.2.5 ‘Le Théatre du Singel’ 4.2.6 A Pre-Arranged Match 4.2.7 The Years of Marriage 4.3 EDUARD ISAAC ASSER (1809-1894) 4.3.1 Personality 4.3.2 Artistic Outpouring 4.3.3 Doctorate and German Tour 4.3.4 Poetry 4.3.5 ‘Life is No Eden’ 4.3.6 Wedding and Early years of Marriage 4.3.7 A Regrettable Incident 4.3.8 Photography 4.3.9 Last Decades 4.4 CAREL DANIEL ASSER (1813-1890) 4.4.1 Character and Early Years 4.4.2 Marriage 4.4.3 Law Firm and Local Politics 4.4.4 The Judge 4.4.5 The Battle for Jewish Emancipation 4.4.6 Final Years 4.5 EPILOGUE

PART II ‘Le Monde marche!’ TOBIAS ASSER: THE EARLY YEARS (1838-1860)

THE SOCIAL AND POLITICAL CONTEXT 1. NINETEENTH CENTURY CONFLICTING IDEOLOGIES 2. SOCIAL DILEMMAS 3. DUTCH LIBERAL THOUGHT 4. THE DISENCHANTMENT

CHAPTER 5 YOUTH (1838-1855) A Precocious Youngster 5.1 EARLY CHILDHOOD 5.1.1 Birth 5.1.2 Home Addresses: Herengracht 5.1.3 Chicken Pocks 5.1.4 The Born Actor 5.1.5 The Smart Aleck 5.2 TOBIE’S NOTEBOOK (1848-1849) 5.2.1 Tobias’s Personality 5.2.2 Foreign Languages 5.2.3 The Playwright 5.2.4 Arithmetics 5.2.5 Drawings 3 5.3 THE AWAKENING GENIUS 5.3.1 Birthday Offerings (1850) 5.3.2 Cousin Jeanne’s diary (1850) 5.3.3 The Seven Years’ War (1852) 5.3.4 The statue of Rembrandt (1852) 5.3.5 The Lex Cassia Agraria (1853) 5.3.6 Intellectual Training (1853-1855) 5.3.7 Richelieu and the Thirty Years’ War (1856) 5.3.8 A View from the Beach 5.4 NETJE AND HER FAMILY 5.4.1 Netje asser and Rosette Godefroi 5.4.2 The Hague Branch of the Asser Family 5.4.3 Lange Houtstraat 16 5.4.4 Jeanne’s Sister Rosa 5.4.5 A Discourse on Spinoza 5.4.6 On Pietism 5.4.7 Carel Asser (1843-1898) 5.5 TOBIAS AND JEANNE, THE FIRST DECADE (1850-1860) 5.5.1 Jeanne’s Talents and Likings 5.5.2 Tobias and Jeanne, the Early Correspondence Annex Pedro CHAPTER 6 TOBIAS’S STUDENT YEARS (1855-1860) ‘Aciunt Musae Ingenium’ 6.1 THE PROGRAMME OF STUDIES IN AMSTERDAM 6.1.1 Preliminary Studies 6.1.2 Law Studies 6.2 THE PROGRAMME OF STUDIES AT LEIDEN UNIVERSITY 6.2.1 The Reason for the Move 6.2.2 The Province of Studies 6.2.3 Final Examinations with Vissering in Leiden 6.2.4 Roman Law Studies 6.3 AMSTERDAM STUDENT SOCIETY 6.3.1 Societies, Senate and Almanac 6.3.2 Tobias’s Involvement 6.3.2 Literary Work in the Student Almanac 6.3.4 A.M.I.C.A. 6.3.5 ‘The Role of France in European Political History’; A Blueprint of Views 6.3.5.1 CONTENTS 63.5.2 OVERAL OUTLOOK 6.3.6 Fond Memories 6.4 HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE DUTCH REPUBLIC (1581-1795) 6.4.1 The Troubled Origins 6.4.2 Amsterdam’s Aspirations 6.5 THE AMSTERDAM ATHENAEUM ILLUSTRE 6.5.1 The Mercator Sapiens 6.5.2 Disillusion 6.5.3 Structural Reform 6.5.4 The Resurge 6.6 THE AMSTERDAM LAW FACULTY 6.6.1 A False Start 6.6.2 Hendrik Cras 6.6.3 Den Tex and Van Hall 6.6.4 De Bosch Kemper and Amorie van der Hoeven 6.6.5 A Juvenile Sin

CHAPTER 7 ECONOMIC INTERESTS AND LIBERAL OUTLOOK ‘The Liberalism of Optimism’

4 INTRODUCTORY NOTE 1. The History of Economics 2. The Pertinence of the Treatise under Consideration 7.1 THE LEIDEN PRIZE COMPETITION 7.2 THE CATALYSING EFFECT 7.3 THE BACKGROUND FOR TOBIAS ASSER’S OUTLOOK 7.3.1 The Political Outlook 7.3.2 The Family Perspective 7.3.3 Asser the Innovator 7.4 THE ORIGINS OF MODERN ECONOMICS 7.4.1 The Early Stages 7.4.2 The Physiocrats 7.5 THE CLASSICAL ECONOMISTS (1775-1875) 7.5.1 Adam Smith 7.5.2 The French School 7.5.3 The British School 7.5.4 The German School 7.6 THE INTERNATIONAL DEBATE 7.7 FRÉDÉRIC BASTIAT 7.8 THE DUTCH TRADITION 7.8.1 The 17th century: Practice vs. Theory 7.8.2 The 19th century: A New Beginning 7.8.3 De Bruyn Kops 7.9 SIMON VISSERING 7.9.1 Role and Record 7.9.2 Inaugural Address (1850) 7.9.3 Textbook (1860, 1865) 7.9.4 Alternative Views CHAPTER 8 THE TREATISE ON THE ECONOMIC CONCEPT OF VALUE (1858) ‘The Blind and the Lame Writ Large’ 8.1 THE LEIDEN SCHOOL 8.1.1 Hugo Grotius (1625) 8.1.2 De Bruyn Kops (1850) 8.1.3 Vissering (1860) 8.2 ASSER’S TREATISE: THE INTRODUCTORY NOTE 8.2.1 Antiquity 8.2.2 Middle Ages and Early Modernity 8.3 THE FIRST PART OF THE TREATISE 8.3.1 Structure 8.3.2 The Physiocrats 8.3.3 From Smith to Malthus 8.3.4 Bastiat 8.3.5 The German and British Traditions 8.4 THE SECOND PART OF THE TREATISE 8.4.1 Structure 8.4.2 Chapter I: Economic Value 8.4.2.1 THE CONCEPT OF VALUE 8.4.2.2 VALUE IN USE AND VALUE IN EXCHANGE 8.4.2.3 THE BASIS OF EXCHANGE VALUE 8.4.3 Chapter II: Exchange Value, Its Constituent Elements 8.4.4 Chapter III: Exchange Value, Its Relation to Wealth and Price 8.4.5 Chapter IV: Exchange Value; The Futile Quest for a Yardstick 8.5 CONCLUSIONS 8.6 SAMUEL VAN HOUTEN 8.6.1 The Concept of Value 8.6.2 Asser and Van Houten 8.6.3 Louis Asser’s Response (1890-1891) 8.6.4 A Critique of the Discipline 5 8.7 NICOLAAS PIERSON 8.7.1 Personality and Standing 8.7.2 The Concept of Value 8.7.3 The Essence and Objective of the Discipline 8.7.4 Pierson and Asser 8.7.5 The Afterglowth of Dissent

PART III ‘The Thread of Ariadne’ A CAREER AND A LIFE IN THE MAKING

CHAPTER 9 CONSTITUTIONAL LAW AND THE POLICY OF FOREIGN RELATIONS Jura Majestatica Exterim 9.1 THE LEIDEN DISSERTATION 9.1.1 The Choice of Director of Studies 9.1.2 Acknowledgements 9.1.3 Two Preliminary Notes 9.2 THE FULL PUBLICATION 9.2.1 The Full Publication as Compared to the Dissertation 9.2.2 Structure 9.3 THE INTRODUCTORY NOTE 9.3.1 ‘Le Monde Marche!’ 9.3.2 Political Reform 9.3.3 The Historical Approach 9.4 PART I: ISSUES OF WAR, PEACE AND TREATIES 9.4.1 A Family Expertise 9.4.2 The Period Prior to the Republic 9.4.3 The Union of the Seven Provinces (1581-1795) 9.4.4 The Years of Revolution (1795-1813) 9.4.5 The Constitutions of 1814, 1815 and 1840 9.4.6 The Constitution of 1848 9.5 ARTICLE 55: THE KING’S SUPREMACY IN MATTERS OF FOREIGN RELATIONS 9.5.1 The Right of Interpellation 9.5.2 The Foreign Ministry and the Diplomatic and Consular Services 9.6 ARTICLE 56: THE KING’S PREROGATIVE ON THE DECLARATION OF WAR 9.7 ARTICLE 57: THE CONCLUSION OF TREATIES 9.8 PART III: VARIOUS ISSUES 9.8.1 Limburg and the German League 9.8.2 The Dutch Colonies 9.8.3 Ministerial Responsibility 9.8.4 The Proclamation of Treaties 9.8.5 The Judiciary 9.8.6 Reprisals 9.8.7 Consular Competence 9.9 PART IV: THE CONSTITUTIONAL LAWS OF OTHER COUNTRIES 9.9.1 The United States of America 9.9.2 The Swiss Confederacy 9.9.3 The German League 9.9.4 France, Belgium, Sardinia 9.9.5 Scandinavia 9.9.6 Great Britain and Ireland 9.10 CONCLUDING REMARKS ON THE INTERACTION OF CROWN AND PARLIAMENT 9.10.1 The Special Condition of Foreign Affairs 9.10.2 The Mission of Political Economy 9.10.3 Affairs of War and Peace 9.10.4 Treaties 9.11 THE RECEPTION BY COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS 6 CHAPTER 10 A CAREER IN THE MAKING (1860-1865) ‘Le Progrès par la Science et la Liberté’ 10.1 THE LEGAL PRACTITIONER 10.2 THE YOUNG DIPLOMAT: THE RHINE COMMISSION (1860) 10.2.1 An Honourable Invitation 10.2.2 The Eventful History of Rhine Transport 10.2.3 Towards a River Regime 10.2.4 The Coblence Conference (1860) 10.2.5 Asser’s Reports 10.2.6 The Aftermath 10.3 THE INTERNATIONAL LAWYER: COUVREUR’S ASSOCIATION (1862-1867) 10.3.1 L’Association internationale pour le progrès des sciences sociales (1862-1865) 10.3.2 John Westlake 10.3.3 Gustave Rolin-Jaequemyns 10.3.4 The Brussels Congress (1862) 10.3.5 The Ghent Congress (1863) 10.3.6 The Amsterdam Congress (1864) 10.3.6.1 THE VENUE 10.3.6.2 THE SOCIAL PROGRAMME 10.3.6.3 ASSER’S POSITION ON THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF FOREIGNERS 10.3.7 The Berne Congress 10.3.7.1 THE DIARY OF MARIE ROSE 10.3.7.2 THE JOURNEY 10.3.7.3 THE ATMOSPHERE AT THE CONGRESS 10.3.8 The Eclipse of Couvreur’s Association CHAPTER 11 MARRIAGE AND FAMILY LIFE: THE FIRST DECADE ‘I Embrace You and Are Your jeanne!’ 11.1 THE ENGAGEMENT (1863-1864) 11.1.1 House Hunting 11.1.2 ‘Oranje Boven!’ 11.1.3 The Choice of Furniture 11.1.4 ‘Dear Tô’ 11.2 WEDDING AND HONEYMOON (1864) 11.2.1 ‘Yes Mother…’ 11.2.2 Heiden 11.2.3 Italy 11.2.4 The Alps 11.3 THE HOMECOMING 11.4 MARRIAGES OF CONSANGUINITY 11.4.1 Tobias Asser’s Views 11.4.2 Literature 11.4.3 Dutch Legislation 11.4.4 Social Entourage 11.5 HOME ADDRESSES 11.5.1 The Assers at Herengracht 11.5.2 The Home Addresses of Tobias’s and Jeanne 11.5.3 Reguliersgracht 8 11.5.4 Herengracht 541 11.5.5 The Asser Law Firm 11.6 THE YEARS OF BLISS 11.6.1 Another Trip to the Alps 11.6.2 Housekeeping 11.6.3 A Wedding Present 11.7 THE ASSERS AND THE ROLINS: FAMILY TIES 11.7.1 Children 11.7.2 Parents 11.7.3 Ghent 11.7.4 The Hague Congress on Statistics 11.7.5 Illnesses 7 11.7.6 The year of Calamities (1870) 11.7.7 The Siege of Paris 11.7.8 Another Family Reunion CHAPTER 12 ASSER’S EARLY POLITICAL CAREER ‘A Perceptive but Wavering Politician’ 12.1 A LIBERAL SHOOTING STAR 12.1.1 Early Repute 12.1.2 Active Involvement 12.1.3 Political Crisis 12.2 MICHEL HENRY GODEFROI (1813-1882) 12.3 ELECTIONS FOR PARLIAMENT (1870) 12.3.1 Godefroi’s Reasons to Resign 12.3.2 Asser’s Reasons to Accept the Candidacy 12.3.3 Tobias Asser and Rudolf Thorbecke 12.4 A NASTY SURPRISE 12.4.1 Eduard Asser 12.4.2 Thorbecke’s Urging 12.4.3 Godefroi’s Advice 12.4.4 Godefroi’s Intervention 12.5 THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTIONS 12.5.1 Thorbecke’s Comments 12.5.2 Consolation from Gustave Rolin-Jaequemyns 12. 6 A CABINET POST? 12.6.1 An Honourable Invitation (1870) 12.6.2 Asser’s Candidacy 12.7 THE AFTERMATH

PART IV ‘On Mercury’s Wings’ THE LAW OF COMMERCE

CHAPTER 13 THE CHAIR AT THE ATHENAEUM ILLUSTRE (1862-1877) ‘The Herald of Trust’ 13.1 THE INAUGURAL CEREMONY 13.1.1 With Hindsight 13.1.2 A Historic Entourage 13.1.3 A Surprise Appointment 13.2 THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS 13.2.1 A Glance Backwards 13.2.2 The Way Ahead 13.2.3 The Herald of Trust 13.2.4 Towards a Code of Commerce 13.2.5 Quick Wit and Prompt Action 13.2.6 ‘A Certain Legal Luminary’ 13.2.7 Commerce vs. the Law? 13.2.8 The Era of Material Interests 13.2.9 ‘The Guiding Nation’ 13.2.10 The Role of the Amsterdam Athenaeum Illustre 13.2.11 Acknowledgements 13.3 THE LAW FACULTY 13.3.1 A Rude Awakening 13.3.2 Theodore Buys 13.3.3 Compulsory Education 13.3.4 State Intervention 13.3.5 Ewoud Modderman 13.3.6 Cornelis Willeumier 13.3.7 Gijsbert van Tienhoven 13.3.8 Cornelis Pynacker Hordijk 8 13.4 ASSER’S POSITION IN THE FACULTY 13.4.1 Assignments and Terms of Teaching 13.4.2 Asser’s Status Aparte CHAPTER 14 COMMERCE AND THE LAW The Mercator Sapiens 14.1 AN UNEASY RELATIONSIP 14.1.1 A Peculiar Dichotomy 14.1.2 Disdain for Commerce 14.1.3 The Domain of the Legal Practitioner 14.1.4 The First Efforts at Codification 14.1.5 Once More: Moses Salomon Asser 14.1.6 The Kemper Committee 14.2 TOBIAS’SREPRINT (1866) OF THE DRAFT OF THE TRIUMVIRATE (1809) 14.2.1 A Matter of Family Pride 14.2.2 Jonas Daniel Meijer’s Appraisal (1815) 14.2.3 Asser’s Preface: 1809 vs. 1838 14.2.4 Notes of Warning 14.2.5 Revision or Suppression? 14.3 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY DIALOGUE 14.3.1 The Law of Commerce and the Civil Code 14.3.2 A Separate Jurisdiction? 14.3.3 The First Round of Debate: Van der Linden and his Opponents 14.3.4 Holtius’sThesis: The Role of Praxis 14.3.5 Diephuis’sOpposition: No Exclusivity 14.3.6 Kist: The Dogmatic Approach 14.3.7 Levy: A Separate Jurisdiction 14.3.8 Debate within the NJV 14.3.9 Hingst and Fruin: Exit Separation 14.3.10 Molengraaff 14.3.11 The Reintegration of Spheres 14.3.12 The Founding Father of Modernity 14.3.13 The Standing Committee for Revision of the Code of Commerce (1879-1887) CHAPTER 15 THE ‘SCHETS VAN HET NEDERLANDSCHE HANDELSREGT’ (1873) A Lasting Tribute 15.1 CHARACTER AND STRUCTURE 15.1.1 The Law of Commerce and Civil Law 15.1.2 Structure 15.1.3 Various Editions and Revisions 15.2 DIVISION I: COMMERCE IN GENERAL 15.2.1 Chapter I: The Clash of the French and Dutch Traditions 15.2.2 Chapter II: Jurisdiction and Courts 15.2.3 Chapter III: Acts of Commerce and Merchants 15.2.4 Chapter IV: Forms of Trade Companies 15.2.5 Chapter V: Purchase, Sale, and Banking 15.2.6 Chapter VI: Brokers and the Exchange 15.2.7 Chapter VII: The Bill of Exchange 15.3 DIVISION II: SHIPPING AND THE CARRIAGE OF GOODS BY LAND 15.3.1 A Note of Caution 15.3.2 Chapters I and II: Ships, Owners, Companies, Captains and Crew 15.3.3 Chapter III: Affreightment 15.3.4 Chapter IV: General Average 15.3.5 Chapter V: Collisions 15.4 DIVISION III: INSURANCE AND BOTTOMRY 15.4.1 Chapter I: Insurance in General 15.4.2 Chapter II: Marine Insurance 15.4.3 Chapter III: Special Insurances 15.4.4 Chapter IV: Bottomry 15.4.5 Annex CHAPTER 16 RELATED PAPERS ON THE LAW OF COMMERCE 9 Virtus Post Nummos? 16.1 THE NORTH SEA CANAL AND ART. 51 OF THE CODE OF COMMERCE (1865) 16.1.1 The Historical Backdrop 16.1.2 Asser’s Position 16.2 LIMITED COMPANIES (1862, 1871) 16.2.1 The Proposed Bill on Company Law 16.2.2 Asser’s Position 16.2.3 Registration of Capital 16.3 CONSIDERATIONS ON CIVIL IMPRISONMENT (1866, 1871) 16.3.1 The First Essay (1866) 16.3.1.1 ASSER’S CRUSADE 16.3.1.2 A HISTORICAL SURVEY 16.3.1.3 THE THREE GROUNDS FOR ABOLITION 16.3.1.3.1 Section II: The First Argument 16.3.1.3.2 Section III: The Second Argument 16.3.1.3.3 Section IV: The Thrid Argument 16.3.1.4 DEBTS FROM CRIMINAL CAUSES 16.3.2 The Second Essay (1871) 16.3.2.1 THE INCONSISTENCY OF THE DUTCH POLICY 16.3.2.2 THE NOTION OF HOSTAGE 16.3.2.3 THE FABRICATION OF STATISTICS 16.3.2.4 THE LAW OF EXCHANGE 16.3.2.5 A NOTE ON THE DUTCH NATIONAL CHARACTER 16.4 THE AMSTERDAM COLLISION CLAUSE ON HULL INSURANCE EXPLAINED (1868) 16.5 THE JUDGE OF RHINE NAVIGATION (1879) 16.5.1 The So-Called Exceptional Jurisdiction 16.5.2 The First Objection: ‘Exceptional Jurisdiction’ 16.5.3 The Second Objection: The Qualifications of the Commissioners 16.5.4 The Third Objection: Procedure 16.5.5 The Fourth Objection: Choice of Court 16.5.6 Conclusion 16.6 THE GERMAN LAW ON INLAND SHIPPING (1896) 16.6.1 The Genesis 16.6.2 Asser’s Appraisal 16.7 EVALUATION 16.7.1 Initial Pertinence 16.7.2 A Growing International Outlook 16.7.3 The Change of Perspective 16.7.4 The Law of Commerce next to Private International Law

PART V ‘A Scaffolding of Fictions’ THE ORGANIZATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

INTRODUCTORY NOTE 1. The Coming of Age of International Law 2. The Catalyst 3. Resignation vs. Rebellion 4. New Initiatives

CHAPTER 17 LA REVUE DE DROIT INTERNATIONAL ET DE LÉGISLATION COMPARÉE (1868) ‘La calme recherche de la vérité et de la justice’ 17.1 THE GENESIS OF AN IDEA 17.1.1 A Locus Amoenus 17.1.2 A Historic Stroll 17.2 THE IMPLEMENTATION 17.2.1 ‘Go ahead – and Do So at Once!’ 17.2.2 Pasquale Mancini 10 17.2.3 Editorial Board and Policy 17.3 DECLARATIONS ON PRINCIPLE 17.4 A SOBERING EXPERIENCE 17.5 ELECTIONS IN BELGIUM AND THE NETHERLANDS (1870) 17.6 A LABOUR OF LOVE 17.6.1 Arrears from the First 17.6.2 Rolin’s Concerns 17.6.3 An American in Peking 17.6.4 New Ideas by the Dozen CHAPTER 18 THE INSTITUT DE DROIT INTERNATIONAL (1873) ‘The Public Conscience of the Civilised World’ 18.1 THE GENESIS OF AN IDEA 18.1.1 Francis Lieber 18.1.2 Gustave Moynier 18.1.3 Caspar Bluntschli 18.1.4 Tobias Asser’s Involvement 18.2 THE OPENING CEREMONY 18.2.1 A Historic Setting 18.2.2 The Founding Fathers 18.2.3 Dutch Aloofness 18.3 MATTERS OF POLICY 18.4 THE GENEVA SESSION (1874) 18.4.1 Preparatory Work 18.4.2 A Three-Pronged Agenda 18.4.3 The Commission on Private International Law: Asser and Mancini 18.4.4 Mancini’s Reservations towards Asser 18.5 THE HAGUE SESSION (1875) 18.5.1 The Historic Setting 18.5.2 An Apology of the Discipline 18.5.3 Asser’s Report (First Part) 18.6 THE SESSIONS IN ZURICH AND PARIS (1877, 1878) 18.6.1 Postponement 18.6.2 Asser’s Report (Second Part) 18.7 THE ANNUAIRE / YEARBOOK 18.7.1 The Preliminaries 18.7.2 An Almanac of Gotha 18.7.3 The End of an Era CHAPTER 19 THE INTERNATIONAL LAW ASSOCIATION (1873) ‘To Promote Common Efforts to the Common Good’ 19.1 THE GENESIS 19.1.1 The Intellectual Backdrop 19.1.2 David Dudley Field 19.2 THE RELATIONSHIP OF IDI AND ILA 19.2.1 Two Blood Types 19.2.2 Field’s Statement on Principle in The Hague (1875) 19.2.3 Tobias Asser’s Reservations 19.2.4 Friction 19.2.5 Beelaerts’ Review of ILA’s Early Years (1873-1875) 19.2.5.1 MISCONCEPTIONS 19.2.5.2 ILA AND IDI 19.2.5.3 INFRASTRUCTURE 19.2.5.4 SUBSTANCE 19.3 THE DUTCH NATIONAL BRANCH OF ILA (1875-1880) 19.3.1 Genesis 19.3.2 Bachiene’s Report on the Bremen Conference (1876) 19.3.2.1 SUBSTANCE 19.3.2.2 ILA AND IDI 19.3.3 Bachiene’s Report on the Antwerp Conference (1877) 19.3.3.1 GENERAL AVERAGE 11 19.3.3.2 TOBIAS ASSER’S ABSENCE 19.3.3.3 ILA’S METAMORPHOSIS 19.3.3.4 THE EXECUTION OF FOREIGN JUDGEMENTS 19.3.3.5 THE BINDING FORCE OF TREATIES 19.3.3.6 THE LAW OF EXCHANGE AND OTHER ISSUES 19.3.3.7 THE RELATIONS WITH NON-CHRISTIAN NATIONS 19.3.4 Tentative Conclusions 19.3.5 The Eclipse of the Dutch Branch 19.3.6 Two Other Initiatives CHAPTER 20 THE ORGANISATION OF PACIFISM IN THE NETHERLANDS Enlightened Self-Interest 20.1 THE GENESIS OF THE INTERNATIONAL PEACE MOVEMENT (1815-1870) 20.1.1 The Components 20.1.2 The Relaunch 20.2 EARLY ASPIRATIONS IN THE NETHERLANDS (1820-1870) 20.2.1 Abortive Endeavours 20.2.2 National Defence and Pacifism 20.2.3 The Nature of Dutch Pacifism 20.2.4 The Pioneers 20.3 TOBIAS ASSER’S INVOLVEMENT (1870-1872) 20.3.1 From Burgerpligt to Vrede-Vereeniging 20.3.2 Towards Vredebond 20.3.3 Revision of the Constitution: Art. 56 20.3.4 Discord 20.3.5 Tobias Asser’s Resignation 20.3.6 Once Again: Art. 56 of the Constitution 20.3.7 The Concept of Arbitration 20.3.8 Decline 20.3.9 Asser’s Later Involvement

PART VI ‘The Brain’s Rack’ PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW

INTRODUCTORY NOTE 1. Asser’s Position in Dutch History 2. Asser’s Role in the History of the Discipline 3. Some Cursory Remarks

CHAPTER 21 THE DUTCH TRADITION ‘Les Hollandais ont frayé la route’ 21.1 THE DUTCH ‘ELEGANT’ SCHOOL 21.1.1 An Arguable Boast 21.1.2 The First Phase 21.1.3 The Heyday 21.1.3.1 PAULUS VOET AND JOHANNES VOET 21.1.3.2 ULRICUS HUBER 21.1.3.3 CORNELIS VAN BIJNKERSHOEK 21.2 THE REBIRTH OF INTEREST 21.3 TOBIAS ASSER’S INCENTIVES 21.4 REVUE AND INSTITUT (1869-1878) 21.4.1 The Contribution to the Revue (1869) 21.4.2 The Project of the Institut (1873-1878) 21.5 THE DUTCH INITIATIVE OF 1874 21.6 GROWING OPPOSITION 21.6.1 The Sessions of the Institut 21.6.2 A Repetition of Moves (1888) 21.6.3 The Discourse within the Nederlandsche Juristen-Vereeniging (1888) 12 CHAPTER 22 THE CHAIR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF AMSTERDAM (1877-1893) ‘The Jewel in the Imperial Crown’ 22.1 A NEW COURSE SET 22.2 AMSTERDAM’S ECONOMIC RESURGE 22.3 ASSER’S STATUS AT UNIVERSITY 22.3.1 An Institute Under Siege 22.3.2 Critics 22.4 THE APPRAISAL BY STUDENTS 22.4.1 The Almanacs 22.4.2 Asser’s programme 22.4.3 Private International Law 22.4.4 Moot Courts 22.4.5 Complaints 22.4.6 Asser’s Repute 22.4.7 The Balance of Courses and Dissertations 22.5 ASSER’S SILVER JUBILEE (1887) 22.5.1 The Ceremony 22.5.2 The Serenade 22.5.3 Through a Daughter’s Eyes 22.5.4 The University Jubilee (1887) 22.5.5 Studiën op het Gebied van Recht en Staat (1858-1888), 1889 22.6 ‘DROIT INTERNATIONAL PRIVÉ ET DROIT UNIFORME’ (1880) 22.6.1 A Review of Two Decades 22.6.2 The Road Ahead 22.6.3 Priorities 22.7 THE ‘SCHETS VAN HET INTERNATIONAAL PRIVAATREGT’ (1880) 22.7.1 Objective 22.7.2 Structure 22.7.3 Translations and Reviews 22.8 ASSER AND HAMAKER 22.8.1 Hamaker’s Philosophy 22.8.2 Hamaker’s Review of Asser’s ‘Schets’ 22.9 ASSER’S FAREWELL ADDRESS (1893) 22.9.1 Unrest and Friction 22.9.2 The Years of Optimism 22.9.3 The University Extension 22.9.4 Then and Now: The Pros and Cons 22.9.5 Liberalism and State Interference 22.9.6 Civil Law and the Law of Commerce 22.9.7 Private International Law 22.9.8 The Farewell 22.9.9 Ulterior Motives CHAPTER 23 THE CONTEXT OF THE HAGUE CONFERENCES All Anchors Adrift

23.1 A DEEP INDENT 23.1.1 Early Involvement in Politics 23.1.2 Candidacy for the Ministry of justice (1879) 23.2 THE NATIONAL DISCOURSE ON SUFFRAGE 23.2.1 Calls for Reform 23.2.2 The Government Committee on Constitutional Reform (1883-1885) 23.3 ASSER’S VIEWS ON SUFFRAGE 23.3.1 The Separate Advice (1884) 23.3.2 The Address in Burgerplicht (1884) 23.4 ASSER’S TRACT ON CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM (1887) 23.5 POLITICAL TURBULENCE 23.6 ‘TOBI OR NOT TOBI’: THE ELECTIONS OF 1891 23.6.1 An Honourable Invitation 23.6.2 The Joint Liberal Candidate 23.6.3 Opposition in ‘Burgerplicht’ 13 23.6.4 The Aftermath 23.6.5 The Public Appraisal 23.7 A HISTORIC STROLL 23.7.1 A Quid Pro Quo? 23.7.2 Gysbert Van Tienhoven 23.7.3 Villa Erica 23.7.4 Asser’s Bold Initiative 23.8 THE COUNCIL OF STATE 23.9 A CRITICAL FAMILY MOMENT 23.9.1 The Amsterdam Family Branch 23.9.2 The Hague Family Branch 23.9.3 Relatives in The Hague 23.10 THE MOVE TO THE HAGUE 23.10.1 From Herengracht to Bezuidenhout 23.10.2 On the Old Nest

PART VII Vers L’Union Judiciaire THE FOUR HAGUE CONFERENCES ON PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW (1893-1904)

INTRODUCTORY NOTE: TWO WAYS TO LOOK AT THE CONFÉRENCES DE LA HAYE 1. The First Approach 2. The Second Approach

THE VENUE: THE HAGUE AROUND 1900 1. Humble Origins 2. The Whispering Gallery of Europe’ 3. The Revival in the Late Nineteenth Century

CHAPTER 24 THE FIRST CONFERENCE (12 – 25 SEPTEMBER 1893) ‘Un travail de longue haleine’ 24.1 THE PRELIMINARY WORK OF THE INSTITUT (1873-1893) 24.1.1 The Context 24.1.1.1 RESOLUTIONS ISSUING FROM ASSER’S REPORTS 24.1.1.2 CIVIL PROCEDURE 24.1.1.3 CIVIL LAW 24.1.1.4 LAW OF COMMERCE 24.2 ASSER’S MEMORANDUM OF AUGUST 1893 24.3 THE OPENING OF THE CONFERENCE 24.3.1 The Assembly 24.3.2 The Formal Opening 24.3.2.1 VAN TIENHOVEN 24.3.2.2 D’ANETHAN 24.3.2.3 SMIDT 24.3.3 Asser’s Opening Address 24.3.4 Louis Renault’s Response 24.3.5 An Alternative View 24.4 THE WORK IN THE FOUR COMMISSIONS 24.4.1 The First Commission: Marriage Law 24.4.1.1 THE POSITION OF SWITZERLAND 24.4.1.2 TOBIAS ASSER’S TROUVAILLE: THE SYSTEM OF RENVOI 24.4.1.3 THE POSITION OF RUSSIA 24.4.1.4 THE COMMISSION’S POLICY 24.4.2 The Second Commission: Forms of Acts 24.4.3 The Third Commission: Law of Succession 24.4.4 The Fourth Commission: Civil Procedure 24.5 THE CLOSING SESSION 24.5.1 Asser’s Closing Address 14 24.5.2 Concluding Addresses 24.6 THE RESULTS OF THE CONFERENCE 24.6.1 Asser’s Appraisal 24.6.2 The Aftermath CHAPTER 25 THREE MORE CONFERENCES (1894-1904) Mettre fin à l’incertitude 25.1 THE SECOND CONFERENCE (JUNE 25 - JULY 13, 1894) 25.1.1 Shocking News 25.1.2 The Opening Ceremony 25.1.3 Asser’s Address 25.2 PROCEEDINGS 25.2.1 Agenda 25.2.2 The Closing Ceremony 25.2.3 The First Convention 25.3 THE STATE COMMISSION ON PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW (1897-1913) 25.3.1 The Initiative 25.3.2 The Inaugural Session 25.3.3 The Role and Record of the Committee 25.4 THE THIRD CONFERENCE (MAY 29 - JUNE 18, 1900) 25.4.1 Caught Between hope and Fear 25.4.2 The Prelims 25.4.3 The Opening Session 25.4.4 The Position of Switzerland and Russia 25.4.5 The Results of the Conference 25.5 THE FOURTH CONFERENCE (MAY 16 - JUNE 7, 1904) 25.5.1 A Changing Climate 25.5.2 The Opening Ceremony 25.5.3 Asser’s Welcoming Speech 25.5.4 Asser’s Review 25.5.5 The Prospects 25.5.6 Results 25.5.7 Revisions of and Adherences to the Conventions 25.5.8 Asser’s Files on the Conferences CHAPTER 26 THE PHOENIX OF THE HAGUE CONFERENCE ‘Again This Mysterious Single Body’ 26.1 CONTEMPORARY REVIEWS AND CRITICS AT HOME 26.2 HAMAKER 26.3 JOSEPHUS JITTA 26.3.1 Two Amsterdam Families 26.3.2 Global Law 26.3.3 Worlds Apart: Asser and Jitta 26.3.4 Towards Mutual Understanding 26.4 THE SHIFTING PARADIGMS OF DOCTRINE 26.5 KOSTERS’ INAUGURAL ADDRESS (1908) 26.6 CAREL DANIEL’S INAUGURAL ADDRESS (1905) 26.6.1 The Chair in Leiden 26.6.2 A Historical Review 26.6.3 Uniformity of Legislation 26.6.4 General Over-Arching Rules 26.6.5 The Dawn of a New Era 26.7 THE RELAUNCH OF THE CONFERENCES 26.7.1 ‘La Flamme Sacrée’ 26.7.2 Like a Phoenix 26.8 TAKING STOCK AFTER 125 YEARS PART VIII ‘The Learned Guide of the Nation’ 15 THE COUNSELLOR

CHAPTER 27 THE OVERALL CLIMATE ‘A Nation with a Mission’

27.1 FOREIGN POLICY 27.1.1 The Netherlands between the Nations 27.1.2 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs 27.1.3 Asser’s Contacts with the Ministry 27.2 A SYNOPSIS OF ACTIVITIES 27.2.1 The Years 1875-1880 27.2.2 The Years 1881-1885 27.2.3 The Years 1886-1890 27.2.4 The Years 1891-1894 27.2.5 The Years 1895-1898 27.2.6 The Years 1899-1903 27.2.7 The Years 1903-1907 27.2.8 The Years 1907-1914 27.2.9 Some preliminary Remarks CHAPTER 28 IN THE SERVICE OF THE FOREIGN MINISTRY (1875-1913) Four Decades of Advice 28.1 INTERNATIONAL RIVERS (1876-1892) 28.1.1 The ‘Phoenix’ (1876) 28.1.2 The ‘Peep of Day’ (1882) 28.1.3 The ‘ Mouette’ (1888) 28.1.4 Sea Gates, Ports and Inland Waterways: The Interdepartmental Committee (1892) 28.2 DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR LAW: VENEZUELA (1876) 28.3 ISSUES OF BLOCKADE (1877-1891): ADVICE ON THE ACEH WAR (1873-1914) 28.4 ISSUES OF NEUTRALITY (1877-1889) 28.4.1 The Turco-Russian War (1877-1878) 28.4.2 The ‘Karl Thorade’ (1877) 28.4.3 The ‘Kestrel’ (1879) 28.4.4 Instructions to Fleet Commanders (1880) 28.4.4.1 THE PARTICULARITIES OF WAR 28.4.4.2 THE LIMITS OF TERRITORIAL WATERS 28.4.4.3 THE PROVISIONING OF FOREIGN VESSELS 28.4.5 The ‘Chandernagore’ (1881) 28.4.6 The Passage of Foreign Military through Dutch Territory (1889) 28.5 ISSUES OF ARBITRATION (1877-1897) 28.5.1 Luxembourg (1877-1879) 28.5.2 The ‘Havana Packet ‘ (1878) 28.5.3 The Guyana Dispute (1891) 28.5.4 The ‘Costa Rica Packet’ (1897) 28.5.5 Concluding Remarks 28.6 BOUNDARY ISSUES (1889-1892) 28.7 THE BOMBARDMENT OF UNDEFENDED TOWNSHIPS (1889) 28.8 THE BRUSSELS ACT ON THE SLAVE TRADE (1890) 28.9 THE VENEZUELA CRISIS (1907-1908) 28.10 THE RIVER EMS DISPUTE (1912) 28.10.1 A Historical Overview 28.10.2 The German ‘Denkschrift’ (1912) 28.10.3 Asser Preliminary Remarks 28.10.3.1 The First Issue 28.10.3.2 The Second Issue 28.10.4 The Committee of Three 28.10.5 Asser’s preliminary Observations 28.10.6 Jitta’s Observations 28.10.7 The Aftermath CHAPTER 29 IN HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE 16 A German Plot 29.1 THE NORTH SEA DECLARATION (1907-1908) 29.1.1 The German Initiative 29.1.2 The Position of the Dutch Government 29.2 ASSER’S ADVICE TO QUEEN WILHELMINA 29.2.1 A Negative Verdict 29.2.2 Great Britain 29.3 THE DUTCH REPLY 29.3.1 The Position of France 29.3.2 The Plot Thickens 29.3.3 The Extension of the Propositions 29.4 ASSER’S SECOND COUNSEL 29.5 THE DRAFT DECLARATION 29.6 ASSER’S THIRD ADVICE 29.7 THE NEW CABINET 29.8 VAN HEECKEREN VAN KELL CHAPTER 30 DIPLOMATIC EXAMS (1878-1913) A Great Embarrassment 30.1 THE BACKDROP 30.2 ASSER’S INVOLVEMENT 30.3 THE DISENCHANTEMENT (1909) 30.4 THE FINAL YEARS CHAPTER 31 MEMBERSHIP OF THE COUNCIL OF STATE (1893-1913) Some Thorny Queries 31.1 INTRODUCTORY NOTE 31.1.1 The Council of State 31.1.2 Asser’s Entrance 31.1.3 Asser’s Position 31.2 THE CANAL OF TERNEUZEN (1895) 31.3 THE COURENTYNE BOUNDARY DISPUTE WITH BRITAIN (1902) 31.3.1 The Historical Survey 31.3.2 The Recommended Policy 31.3.3 The Foreign Minister’s Appraisal 31.4 THE NETHERLANDS - SOUTH AFRICAN RAILWAY COMPANY (1903) 31.4.1 The Backdrop 31.4.2 Asser’s Memorandum 31.5 BILATERAL ARBITRATION TREATIES (1903) 31.5.1 A Divided Advice 31.5.2 Asser’s Renewed Involvement 31.5.3 The Draft Treaty 31.6 NEUTRALITY IN THE RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR (1904) 31.6.1 Coal Provisioning at Issue 31.6.2 The Legal Position of the Netherlands 31.6.3 Political Crisis 31.6.4 The Advice 31.7 THE SUPPRESSION OF TELEGRAPH SERVICES IN THE DUTCH INDIES (1904)

PART IX ‘Surtout pas de zèle!’ THE INTERNATIONAL DELEGATE

INTRODUCTORY NOTE 1. The Trump Card of Elasticity 2. An Informative Drill

17 CHAPTER 32 THE TECHNICAL CONFERENCES OF THE 1880s The Law in the Service of Progress 32.1 THE POLICING OF NORTH SEA FISHERIES (1882) 32.1.1 Quite a Tradition 32.1.2 The Discourse 32.1.3 Asser’s Involvement 32.2 THE PROTECTION OF SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH CABLES (1884) 32.2.1 Antecedents 32.2.2 Asser’s Role in Paris 32.2.3 The Aftermath 32.3 THE TRANSPORT OF GOODS BY RAIL 32.3.1 The Background 32.3.2 Tobias Asser’s Involvement in Railways 32.3.3 The Berne Conferences 32.3.4 Carel Daniel Asser’s Dissertation (1887) 32.3.5 His Appraisal of the Berne Convention (1893) CHAPTER 33 THE BERLIN CONFERENCE (1884-1885) The Dice-Play for West Africa 33.1 IMPERIALISM AND COLONIALISM 33.1.1 Initiation Rites 33.1.2 A Jigsaw Puzzle 33.1.3 The Champion of Free Trade 33.2 COLONIAL STRATEGIES 33.3 LIVINGSTONE AND STANLEY 33.4 KING LEOPOLD II OF BELGIUM 33.5 THE STATUS OF THE CONGO ASSOCIATION 33.5.1 The Academic Debate 33.5.2 The Political Game 33.6 THE CONGO CONFERENCE 33.6.1 The White Man’s Burden 33.6.2 The Conference Agenda 33.7 ASSER IN BERLIN 33.7.1 His Personal Appraisal 33.7.2 The Impression Asser Made 33.8 THE DUTCH PERSPECTIVE 33.9 THE CONGO ACT 33.9.1 Asser’s Personal Review 33.9.2 Freedom of Trade 33.9.3 Humanitarian Issues 33.9.4 Issues of Neutrality 33.9.5 Freedom of Navigation 33.9.6 The International Commission 33.9.7 Terra Nullius and the Regime on Native Tribes 33.9.8 Asser’s Conclusions 33.10 EPILOGUE CHAPTER 34 THE SUEZ CANAL CONFERENCE (1885) ‘L’Europe Pacifique et Prévoyante’ 34.1 A TIME-HONOURED DREAM 34.2 THE PRINCIPLES OF NEUTRALITY AND FREE NAVIGATION 34.3 THE PARIS CONFERENCE (MARCH 30 – JUNE 13, 1885) 34.3.1 The Overall Ambience 34.3.2 Asser’s Records 34.3.3 The Opening Ceremony 34.3.4 Tactical Manoeuvres 34.3.5 The Predicaments of the Dutch Delegation 34.4 THE CONFLICTING BRITISH AND FRENCH PROPOSITIONS 34.5 THE POSITION OF THE NETHERLANDS 34.6 JANSEN’S DÉMARCHE 18 34.7 THE MEETINGS OF THE SUB-COMMISSION 34.8 ASSER’S ROLE IN THE PLENARY SESSIONS 34.8.1 The Second Plenary (4 June) 34.8.2 Asser’s Review in 1888 34.8.3 A Thickening Plot 34.8.4 The Third Plenary (8 June) 34.8.5 Article 10: A Puzzling Debate 34.8.6 A Perplexing Incident 34.9 EMBROILMENT WITH BRITAIN 34.10 RUYSSENAERS’ CONUNDRUM 34.11 A PAINFUL DRESSING DOWN 34.11.1 Ruyssenaers and Asser 34.11.2 A Bitter Tang? 34.12 THE CONVENTION OF CONSTANTINOPLE AND ITS AFTERMATH CHAPTER 35 INTERNATIONAL MARITIME LAW AND THE COMITÉ MARITIME INTERNATIONAL ‘The Seas but Join the Nations they Divide’ 35.1 THE ANTWERP AND BRUSSELS CONFERENCES (1885. 1888) 35.1.1 The Historical and Personal Contexts 35.1.2 Reservations in the Netherlands 35.1.3 A Bilateral Treaty 35.2 THE COMITÉ MARITIME INTERNATIONAL: THE OPENING YEARS 35.2.1 The Aspirations 35.2.2 The Initiative 35.2.3 The Opening Conference: Brussels (1897) 35.2.4 The Antwerp Conference (1898) 35.2.5 The Conferences in London, Paris and Hamburg (1899-1902) 35.3 THE AMSTERDAM CONFERENCE (1904) 35.4 THE FIRST DIPLOMATIC CONFERENCE ON INTERNATIONAL MARITIME LAW IN BRUSSELS (1905) 35.5 THE SUBSEQUENT DECADE 35.5.1 The Liverpool Conference (1905) 35.5.2 The Venice Conference (1907) 35.5.3 The Bremen Conference (1909) 35.6 THE SECOND DIPLOMATIC CONFERENCE ON INTERNATIONAL MARITIME LAW IN BRUSSELS (1908-1910) 35.6.1 The Paris Conference (1911) 35.6.2 The Copenhagen Conference (1913) 35.7 THE END OF AN ERA PART X ‘The Hundred Chosen’ THE FIRST HAGUE PEACE CONFERENCE (1899)

CHAPTER 36 THE GENESIS OF THE HAGUE TRADITION ‘La Paix par la Justice’ 36.1 ASSER’S SEMINAL ROLE IN THE PROCESS 36.2 AN ACCOUNT OF THE IDEA 36.2.1 A Durable Concept 36.2.2 A Sound Rationale 36.2.3 Blatant Misconceptions 36.3 THE PHILOSOPHY OF CHANGE 36.3.1 Its Social and Political Components 36.3.2 A New Concept of Law 36.3.3 The Interparliamentary Union CHAPTER 37 A PERSONAL HIGHLIGHT ‘L’un des plus beaux souvenirs de ma vie!’ 19 37.1 THE SILVER JUBILEE SESSION OF THE INSTITUT IN THE HAGUE (1898) 37.1.1 A Special Honour 37.1.2 Lentement, mais sûrement 37.1.3 Asser’s Jubilee Address 37.1.3.1 THE SPIRIT OF OPTIMISM 37.1.3.2 THE PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL LAW TRADITION 37.1.3.3 ARBITRATION 37.1.3.4 A MEMORABLE MOMENT INDEED! 37.1.4 The Revision of the Statutes 37.1.5 The Social Programme 37.2 THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE HISTORY OF DIPLOMACY (1898) CHAPTER 38 THE ORIGINS OF THE PEACE CONFERENCE Grapes of Thorns and Figs of Thistles? 38.1 THE CZAR’S RESCRIPT 38.1.1 The Rationale 38.1.2 Official Reactions 38.1.3 Response in the Netherlands 38.2 THE SECOND CIRCULAR LETTER 38.2.1 The Change of Perspective 38.2.2 Feodor Martens’ Interference 38.2.3 The Concept of Civilised Nations and the Martens Clause 38.3 THE CHOICE OF VENUE 38.3.1 As Chance Had It 38.3.2 Martens and Asser 38.4 THE INVITATION POLICY 38.5 THE HOLY SEE 38.5.1 The International Context 38.5.2 De Beaufort’s Dilemma 38.5.3 The Negotiations prior to the Conference 38.6 THE BOER REPUBLICS 38.7 THE SUBLIME PORTE CHAPTER 39 ASSER’S ROLE AND ACHIEVEMENTS ‘The Soul of the Conference’ 39.1 THE OPENING OF THE CONFERENCE 39.2 TOBIAS ASSER’S ROLE AND RECORD 39.3 THE GROTIUS COMMEMORATION 39.4 THE SECOND COMMISSION 39.4.1 Sober Pragmatism 39.4.2 The Revision of the Geneva Convention (1864, 1868) 39.4.3 The Hague Convention 39.5 THE THIRD COMMISSION 39.5.1 The Pride of the Conference 39.5.2 The Concept of Arbitration 39.5.3 The Comité d’examen 39.5.4 Obligatory Arbitration 39.5.5 Matters of Procedure 39.5.6 The Concept of Revision 39.5.7 The Court Project 39.5.8 Commissions of Inquiry 39.5.9 The Convention 39.6 ONCE MORE: THE HOLY SEE 39.6.1 An Open or Closed Convention 39.6.2 The Policy of the Dutch Cabinet CHAPTER 40 THE RESULT OF THE CONFERENCE AND ITS AFTERMATH ‘Threshing Out Russian Straw?’ 40.1 THE OUTLOOK OF THE CONFERENCE 40.1.1 The Overall Character of the Discourse 40.1.2 Its Handicaps 20 40.2 THE RESULTS WITHIN THE COMMISSIONS 40.2.1 The Overall Appraisal 40.2.2 The Protection of Private property at Sea 40.3 THE LEGACY OF 1899 40.4 THE POSITION OF THE BOER REPUBLICS 40.4.1 Dutch Policy on the Issue 40.4.2 Asser’s Position 40.4.3 Asser’s Involvement in the Boer War 40.4.4 Special Mediation 40.4.5 Asser’s Creative Approach 40.5 THE HAGUE CONFERENCE ON HOSPITAL SHIPS (1904) PART XI ‘The Beacons of a New Era’ THE YEARS UP TO 1907

CHAPTER 41 THE EARLY YEARS OF THE PERMANENT COURT OF ARBITRATION ‘The First Cog in the Wheel of Internationalism’ 41.1 HESITANT BEGINNINGS 41.1.1 The Administrative Council and the International Bureau 41.1.2 The Child of Compromise 41.1.3 The General List 41.1.4 Circumspection 41.2 THE ORGANIZATION OF THE COURT 41.2.1 The Choice of Premises 41.2.2 The Atmosphere of Nostalgia 41.2.3 The First Secretary-General: Baron Melvil van Lynden 41.3 THE POSITION OF THE GREAT POWERS 41.3.1 Optimism Belied 41.3.2 The Second Boer War (1899-1902) 41.3.3 The Samoa Dispute (1901) 41.4 THE WHALING AND SEALING CLAIMS CASE (1901-1902) 41.4.1 The Antecedents 41.4.2 The Rationale 41.4.3 The Award 41.4.4 The Appraisal 41.4.5 The Evidence of Asser’s Files 41.5 The ACTIVATING OF THE MECHANISM OF THE COURT 41.5.1 The Latin American Tradition of Arbitration 41.5.2 U.S. Policy and Pan-Americanism 41.5.3 A Remarkable Initiative 41.6 THE PIOUS FUNDS CASE (1902) 41.6.1 The Substance 41.6.2 The Award 41.6.3 The Tribunal’s Observations 41.7 THE PREFERENTIAL CLAIMS CASE (1903-1904) 41.71 The Backdrop 41.7.2 The Award 41.7.3 The Repercussions 41.8 THE JAPANESE HOUSE CASE AND THE MUSCAT DHOWS CASE 41.8.1 The Japanese House Case 41.8.2 The Muscat Dhows Case 41.8.3 De Savornin Lohman 41.8.4 The Net Result 41.9 (OBLIGATORY) ARBITRATION TREATIES 41.9.1 Bilateral Treaties of Obligatory Arbitration 41.9.2 The Dutch-Belgian Draft Agreement (1904) CHAPTER 42 A PROPER HOUSING FOR THE COURT 21 Carnegie’s Gift 42.1 THE CROESUS OF HIS TIMES 42.2 THE GENESIS OF AN IDEA 42.2.1 William Stead and Feodor Martens 42.2.2 Andrew White and Frederick Holls 42.3 A FATEFUL ODYSSEY 42.4 THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE 42.4.1 The Quest for a Site 42.4.2 Tobias Asser and the Peace Palace Library 42.4.3 The Committee’s Propositions 42.4.4 Adding Insult to Injury 42.4.5 The Legal Status of the Carnegie Foundation 42.4.6 Martens’ Last Minute Interference CHAPTER 43 TOWARDS THE SECOND PEACE CONFERENCE (1904-1907) The Prestige of Peace 43.1 YET ANOTHER AMERICAN INITIATIVE 43.1.1 The Interparliamentary Union [1904] 43.1.2 The Russo-Japanese War (February 1904 - September 1905) 43.1.3 A Particularly Untimely Invitation 43.1.4 The Substance of the Circular Letter 43.1.5 Roosevelt’s Policy 43.1.6 The Response 43.2 RUSSIA’S COUNTERMOVE 43.3 PREPARATORY PROBLEMS OF PROCEDURE 43.3.1 The Invitation Policy 43.3.2 The Presidency 43.3.3 The Communicationof the Programme 43.4 PREPARATORY PROBLEMS OF SUBSTANCE 43.4.1 The Holy See 43.4.1.1 ITALY VS. THE HOLY SEE 43.4.1.2 THE HOLY SEE VS. ARBITRATION 43.4.1.3 ARBITRATION AT JEOPARDY 43.4.2 Non-Adhering Powers 43.4.3 The Revision of the Red Cross Convention CHAPTER 44 THE CONFERENCE PROGRAMME (1906) ‘Lighted by the Bright Star of Universal peace and Justice’ 44.1 THE RUSSIAN DRAFTS 44.1.1 Programme and Résumé 44.1.2 Conflicting Propositions 44.2 ASSER’S COMMENTS 44.2.1 The Résumé: 44.2.1.1 THE POSITION OF NEUTRALS 44.2.1.2 THE ROLE OF THE PCA 44.2.1.3 THE REVISION OF THE RED CROSS CONVENTION (1864, 1868) 44.2.1.4 THE POSITION OF THE NON-ADHERING PARTIES 44.3 DE BEAUFORT’S COMMENTS 44.3.1 The Disarmament Paragraph 44.3.2 The PCA and Arbitration Issues 44.3.3 War on Land and at Sea 44.3.4 The ‘Projet de note’ 44.3.5 Revision of the Red Cross Convention 44.4 VIEWS VOICED BY CABINET MINISTERS 44.4.1 The Minister of War 44.4.2 The Naval Minister 44.4.3 The Minister of the Colonies 44.5 THE POSITION OF THE DUTCH CABINET 44.5.1 Preliminary Issues 44.5.2 Arbitration and the Permanent Court of Arbitration 44.5.2.1 THE ORGANISATION OF THE PCA 22 44.5.2.2 THE PROCEDURE OF THE PCA 44.5.2.3 OBLIGATORY ARBITRATION 44.5.2.4 THE ADHESION OF NON-CONTRACTING PARTIES 44.5.3 The Rights and Duties of Neutral Powers 44.5.4 War on Land and War at Sea 44.5.5 The Revision of the Red Cross Convention (1864) 44.5.6 The Position of the Holy See 44.6 THE RESPONSE FROM RUSSIA 44.6.1 The Holy See vs. Arbitration 44.6.2 The Red Cross Conference 44.7 THE DEFINITE CONFERENCE PROGRAMME. 44.7.1 The Submissions 44.7.2 Reaction in The Hague 44.7.3 The Conference Postponed 44.7.4 Reactions Abroad CHAPTER 45 GEO-POLITICS ON THE EVE OF THE CONFERENCE A World in Turmoil 45.1 REALIGNMENTS 45.2 SOCIAL REVOLT 45.3 WILLIAM STEAD’S PEACE CRUSADE 45.4 THE DISARMAMENT ISSUE 45.4.1 London in Turmoil 45.4.2 Dramatic Consequences 45.5 MARTENS’S SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY 45.5.1 At Berlin 45.5.2 In London 45.5.3 In The Hague 45.5.3.1 ASSER’S COMMENTS 45.5.3.2 DE BEAUFORT’S COMMENTS 45.5.4 The Outcome 45.6 THE NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE 45.6.1 The Neutralisation of the Netherlands 45.6.2 Socialist Uproar 45.7 THE DUTCH DELEGATION 45.7.1 The Position of Van Karnebeek 45.7.2 The Composition of the Delegation 45.8 THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE DUTCH DELEGATION 45.9 THE PERSONAL VIEWS OF DELEGATES 45.9.1 The PCA and Arbitration 45.9.2 The Opening of Hostilities 45.9.3 Private Property of Neutrals Engaged in War 45.9.4 The Three Declarations of 1899 45.9.5 Inviolability of Private Property at Sea 45.9.6 Naval Mines and the Territorial Sea 45.9.7 Auxiliary Cruisers 45.9.8 The Delivery of Coal 45.9.9 Prizes and Prize Courts 45.9.10 Contraband

PART XII ‘Le Parlement de l’Humanité’ THE SECOND HAGUE PEACE CONFERENCE (1907)

CHAPTER 46 AMBIENCE AND ATMOSPHERE ‘Obligatory Dinners and Permanent Salmon’ 46.1 MATTERS OF LOGISTICS 46.2 THE OPENING 46.3 POLICY TOWARDS THE MEDIA 23 46.4 STEAD AND ASSER 46.5 THE DISTRIBUTION OF TASKS

CHAPTER 47 THE REVISION OF THE CONVENTION AND COURT OF ARBITRATION ‘There Are Judges in The Hague’ 47.1 THE FIRST COMMISSION: THE PERTINENCE OF ITS DISCOURSE 47.2 THE REVISION OF THE CONVENTION OF 1899 47.3 THE FACT-FINDING COMMISSIONS OF INQUIRY 47.4 TOWARDS A GENERAL ARBITRATION TREATY 47.4.1 Bilateral Arbitration Treaties 47.4.2 Tobias Asser’s Intervention 47.5 AN EMBARRASSING INTERLUDE 47.5.1 The Minister’s Displeasure 47.5.2 Tobias Asser’s Stand 47.5.3 Crisis Allayed 47.6 OBLIGATORY ARBITRATION 47.7 THE GERMAN DECEIT 47.8 MARTENS’ UNWISE INTERVENTION 47.8.1 An Effort at Conciliation 47.8.2 Martens’ Predicament 47.8.3 The Austrian Proposition 47.9 THE PERMANENT COURT OF ARBITRATION 47.9.1 The Choice of Arbitrators 47.9.2 Matters of Procedure 47.9.3 The Revision of the Award 47.10 THE LIMITATION OF THE EMPLOYMENT OF FORCE FOR THE RECOVERY OF CONTRACT DEBTS (CONVENTION II)

CHAPTER 48 TOWARDS AN INTERNATIONAL JUDICIARY ‘An Areopagus of Jurists’ 48.1 A QUANTUM LEAP 48.1.1 A Puzzling Dichotomy 48.1.2 The Discourse in 1907 48.1.3 Bourgeois and Choate: A Brand New Concept 48.1.4 Feodor Martens: An Alternative Option 48.1.5 Beernaert and Fry 48.1.6 The Name of the New Court 48.2 THE PERMANENT COURT OF ARBITRAL JUSTICE (PCAJ) 48.2.1 The Comité d’Examen 48.2.2 Max Huber 48.2.3 The Rivalry of the Low Countries 48.2.4 The Relationship opf PCA and PCAJ 48.2.5 Jurisdiction and Procedure 48.2.6 The Deadlock on the Selection of Judges 48.2.7 Appraisal 48.3 THE AFTERMATH 48.3.1 The Central American Court of Justice 48.3.2 The Permanent Court of Arbitration (1908-1914) 48.4 THE INTERNATIONAL PRIZE COURT (CONVENTION XII) 48.4.1 A Proud Dutch Tradition 48.4.2 The German and British Propositions 48.4.3 The Draft Convention 48.4.4 The Impasse on Representation CHAPTER 49 THE LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF WAR ON LAND Redeunt Saturnia Regna... 49.1 THE WORK OF THE SECOND COMMISSION 49.1.1 The Rationale 49.1.2 Distribution of Work 49.2 THE DISARMAMENT PARAGRAPH 24 49.2.1 Swords into Ploughshares 49.2.2 ‘Tout comme chez nous...’ 49.2.3 A Sweet Revenge 49.2.4 ‘Four Dreadnoughts a Year!’ 49.3 THE WORK OF BEERNAERT’S FIRST SUB-COMMISSION 49.3.1 The Laws and Customs of War on Land (Convention IV) 49.3.2 The Three Declarations of 1899 49.4 THE WORK OF ASSER’S SECOND SUB-COMMISSION 49.4.1 A Dutch Cause 49.4.2 The Opening of Hostilities (Convention III) 49.4.3 The Rights and Duties of Neutral Powers and Persons in War on Land (Convention IV) 49.4.3.1 THE HISTORICAL BACKDROP 49.4.3.2 NEUTRAL TERRITORY 49.4.3.3 NEUTRAL POWERS 49.4.3.4 NEUTRAL PERSONS CHAPTER 50 THE LAW OF MARITIME WARFARE Une Mer à Boire 50.1 THE WORK OF THE THIRD COMMISSION 50.1.1 ‘A Bunch of Legal Atavisms’ 50.1.2 A Political and Ideological Contest 50.1.3 The Eclipse of Tradition 50.1.4 The Distribution of Work 50.2 THE BRITISH PROPOSITIONS 50.2.1 Asser’s Confidential Note 50.2.2 Perfidious Albion? 50.2.3 Additional Instructions 50.2.4 Asser and De Beaufort 50.2.5 A Diplomat Unburdens His Heart 50.2.6 The Distribution of Subject Matter 50.3 THE LAYING OF AUTOMATIC SUBMARINE CONTACT MINES (CONVENTION VIII)

50.3.1 The Demons of the Deep 50.3.2 The Position of the Netherlands 50.3.3 ‘At the Will of Wind and Wave’ 50.3.4 The Compromise 50.4 THE BOMBARDMENT OF UNDEFENDED PORTS, TOWNS, VILLAGES, DWELLINGS, OR BUILDINGS (CONVENTION IX) 50.4.1 Another American Initiative 50.4.2 The Debate 50.5 THE ADAPTATION TO MARITIME WAR OF THE PRINCIPLES OF THE GENEVA CONVENTION (CONVENTION X) 50.5.1 The Long Overdue Redress 50.5.2 Abuse and Deceit 50.6 THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF NEUTRAL POWERS IN MARITIME WARFARE (CONVENTION XIII) 50.6.1 A Debate Long Overdue 50.6.2 The Discourse on the Law of Prize 50.6.3 Length of Stay 50.6.4 Neutral Territory, Innocent Passage, Straits 50.6.5 The Use of Neutral Harbours: A Dutch Predicament 50.6.5.1 THE VIEWS OF QUEEN WILHELMINA 50.6.5.2 ASSER’S REACTION 50.6.5.3 VAN TETS’ REPLY 50.6.6 A Game of Chess CHAPTER 51 MERCHANT SHIPS, CONTRABAND AND THE RIGHT OF CAPTURE An Invaluable Failure INTRODUCTORY NOTE: MARTENS AND THE FOURTH COMMISSION 51.1 THE STATUS OF ENEMY MERCHANT-SHIPS AT THE OUTBREAK OF HOSTILITIES (CONVENTION VI) 25 51.1.1 Days of Grace 51.1.2 An Inconclusive Debate 51.2 THE CONVERSION OF MERCHANT SHIPS INTO WAR SHIPS (CONVENTION VII) 51.2.1 The Backdrop 51.2.2 Conflicting Political Interests 51.3 RESTRICTIONS ON THE RIGHT OF CAPTURE IN MARITIME WAR (CONVENTION XI) 51.3.1 The American Concern: Private Property 51.3.2 Growing Pessimism 51.3.3 The British Concern: Contraband 51.3.4 Mail Boats, Coastal Fishing Boats, and Relief Vessels 51.4 EVALUATION 51.5 THE LONDON NAVAL CONFERENCE (1908-1909) CHAPTER 52 TOWARDS A HAGUE SYSTEM? ‘Leg over Leg the Dog Went to Dover 52.1 THE STONE-LAYING CEREMONY 52.1.1 Embarrassment All Around 52.1.2 The Ceremony 52.2 THE OVERALL ATTITUDE AT HOME 52.2.1 ‘Sero Sapiunt Phryges’ 52.2.2 The Queen’s Reservations 52.2.3 Belgium’s Keen Interest 52.3 THE FRENCH CONNECTION 52.3.1 Louis Renault 52.3.2 Léon Bourgeois 52.3.3 Baron D’Estournelles de Constant 52.4 APPRAISAL 52.4.1 The Closure of the Conference 52.4.2 ‘Leg over Leg the Dog went to Dover’ 52.4.3 The Political Stalemate 52.5 THE BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE

PART XIII Public Honours and Private Grief THE FAMILY MAN

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

CHAPTER 53 JEANNE’S PROGRESSIVE ILLNESS Drama and Acquiescence 53.1 ‘YOUR OLD AND FAITHFUL JEANNE’ 53.1.1 Early Tokens of Discomfort 53.1.2 The Villa in Scheveningen 53.1.3 House Parties 53.2 JEANNE’S FIRST AWARENESS OF TROUBLE 53.2.1 Stomach Problems 53.2.2 ‘I Am Swaying All the Time’ 53.2.3 The Nervus Vagus 53.3 THE INTERLUDE IN DAVOS 53.3.1 Louis’s Precarious Condition 53.3.2 Jeanne’s Report 53.3.3 Jeanne’s Condition 53.4 JEANNE’S RESILIENCE 53.4.1 Wit and Sensibility 53.4.2 A Burnout? 53.4.3 ‘T.M.C.’s Table Laws’ 53.5 ‘A CONTINUING TORTURE’ 26 53.5.1 Accusations 53.5.2 Ykeline Pilger 53.6 BANKAPLEIN 3 53.6.1 The Rationale of the Move 53.6.2 The Location CHAPTER 54 CAREL DANIEL JR. (1866-1939) In His Father’s Footsteps

54.1 LIFE AND CAREER 54.1.1 Youth and Student Years 54.1.2 Early Career and Marriage 54.2 A DEMANDING FATHER 54.2.1 A Demanding Father 54.3 TREASURY COUNSEL 54.3.1 Mr. Mouthaan 54.3.2 The Interview with Minister Kolkman 54.3.3 A Provisional Appointment 54.4 A LAW ASSOCIATE? 54.4.1 Asser’s Dilemma 54.4.2 From Personal Experience 54.4.3 An interesting Flashback 54.4.4 The Family Tradition 54.5 THE ‘TRUST MAATSCHAPPIJ’ 54.5.1 Asser’s Pioneering Role 54.5.2 His’ Concerns 54.5.3 Resignation 54.5.4 A Personal Note of Displeasure 54.6 OF BIRTHDAY GIFTS, HEALTH ISSUES AND JUBILEES 54.7 AN INTERNATIONAL CAREER 54.7.1 In Asser’s Footsteps 54.7.2 At the Institut de droit international 54.7.3 Loder, Van Vollenhoven, and Van Eysinga 54.7.4 The Rolin-Jaequemyns Family CHAPTER 55 HENDRIK LODEWIJK (1867-1901) ‘Like the Tree that Bears Fruit and Casts Shade’ 55.1 NATURAL TALENTS 55.2 THE DISSERTATION OF 1889 55.2.1 Substance 55.2.2 Contents 55.2.3 Part II: Rights of War and Peace 55.2.4 Part III: Treaties 55.3 REGISTRAR AND JOURNALIST 55.4 MARRIAGE AND EARLY CAREER 55.5 TUBERCULOSIS 55.6 CAREER MOVES 55.7 PARENTAL AUTHORITY AND GUARDIANSHIP 55.8 THE END 55.9 INTELLECTUAL LEGACY 55.10 FATHERS AND SONS 55.10.1 The Two Bloodliness 55.10.2 Asser’s House Regime 55.10.3 Artistic Leanings 55.10.4 Waning Trust and Respect 55.10.5 An Insincere World CHAPTER 56 ELISABETH AND JAN Yet Another Tragedy 56.1 ELISABETH MARIA ROSA (1868-1934) 27 56.1.1 Marriage 56.1.2 Bezuidenhout 43 56.1.3 Herman Furnée 56.2 JAN (1882-1945) 56.2.1 Early years 56.2.2 Health and Learning Problems 56.2.3 A Piece of Paternal Advice 56.2.4 Italian Studies and Romano Guarnieri 56.2.5 Giuseppe Mazzini and the Socialist Ideal 56.2.6 Hugenholtz and Liberal Protestantism 56.2.7 The Tragic Ending 56.2.8 Jan’s Inheritance CHAPTER 57 HONOURS AND AWARDS ‘Ever More Honours, Ever More Deserved!’’ 57.1 MEMBERSHIP OF LEARNED SOCIETIES, HONOURARY DOCTORATES, KNIGHTHOODS 57.1.1 Learned Societies 57.1.2 Honorary Doctorates 57.1.2.1 EDINBURGH (1884) 57.1.2.2 BOLOGNA (1888) 57.1.2.3 CAMBRIDGE (1895-1896) 57.1.2.4 BERLIN (1912) 57.1.3 Knighthoods 57.2 MINISTER OF STATE 57.3 THE ACADEMIC JUBILEES OF 1908 AND 1910 57.3.1 Asser’s 70th Birthday (1908) 57.3.2 The 50th Anniversary of his Dissertation (1910) 57.3.3 The Gift 57.3.4 International Response 57.3.5 National Acclaim 57.4 THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE LAUREATE (1911) 57.4.1 AlfredNobel and His Prizes 57.4.2 ThePeace Prize Nominations in 1911 57.4.3 The Source of Asser’s Nomination 57.4.4 The Background of Asser’s Award 57.4.5 The Substantiation of Asser’s Award 57.4.6 Asser’s Institutional Involvement in Nominating Candidates 57.4.7 Asser Personal Nomination of William Stead (1908) 57.4.8 A Posthumous Homage 57.4.9 Later Dutch Nominees and Nominations (1911-1966) PART XIV ‘The mark of His Master hand’ THE CONCLUDING CONFERENCES

INTRODUCTORY NOTE THE TROUBLED BACKDROP (1907-1910) CHAPTER 58 THE FIRST HAGUE CONFERENCE ON THE BILL OF EXCHANGE (1910) ‘La chose la plus cosmopolite qu’on puisse imaginer’ 58.1 THE BILL OF EXCHANGE 58.1.1 Asser’s Involvement 58.1.2 The History of the Instrument 58.1.3 Legal Theory 58.1.4 Calls for Harmonization 58.1.5 National Traditions 58.1.6 The Pluralism of Doctrine 58.2 THE 1910 CONFERENCE 58.2.1 ‘Le fil magique d’Ariane’ 28 58.2.1.1 VAN SWINDEREN’S WELCOMING SPEECH 58.2.1.2 ASSER’S OPENING ADDRESS 58.2.1.3 A NOVELTY: SECTIONS 58.2.2 The Substance of the Conference 58.2.2.1 ORGANIZATION 58.2.2.2 AGENDA 58.2.2.3 PROCEDURE AND RESULTS 58.3 ASSER’S CLOSING ADDRESS 58.4 ASSER’S ROLE AT THE CONFERENCE CHAPTER 59 THE SECOND HAGUE CONFERENCE ON THE BILL OF EXCHANGE (1912) ‘L’Enfant de Bohème’ 59.1 THE GEO-POLITICAL BACKDROP 59.1.1 Parallel Universes 59.1.2 Sparks of Hope 59.2 ASSER’S PHYSICAL DECLINE 59.3 THE OPENING SESSION 59.3.1 ‘Entre la poire et le fromage’ 59.3.2 The Agenda 59.4 THE SUBSTANCE OF THE CONFERENCE 59.4.1 Preliminary Issues 59.4.2 The Plenary Sessions 59.4.3 The Comité de Révision on the Bill of Exchange and the Billet à Ordre 59.4.4 The French Objections 59.4.4.1 UNIFORMITY 59.4.4.2 LENGTH 59.4.4.3 LANGUAGE 59.4.4.4 THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE PROJECTS 59.4.5 The Central Committee for Cheques 59.5 THE CLOSING SESSION 59.5.1 Asser’s Farewell Speech 59.5.2 Province and Reach 59.5.3 Asser’s Five Observations 59.6 THE AFTERMATH 59.6.1 The War Interlude 59.6.2 The Dutch Perspective 59.6.2.1 OPPENHEIM 59.6.2.2 SCHELTEMA 59.6.2.3 FRANSSEN 59.6.3 International Efforts in the League Era 59.6.4 Endeavours in the UN Era CHAPTER 60 THE THREE HAGUE OPIUM CONFERENCES (1911-1914) ‘Un Bienfait Transformé en Fléau’ 60. 1 THE BACKDROP 60.2 THE OPIUM TRADE 60.3 THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL OPIUM CONFERENCE (1911-1912) 60.3.1 Preliminary Issues 60.3.2 The Opening Session 60.3.3 The Conference Agenda 60.3.4 Asser’s Involvement 60.3.5 The Closing Session 60.4 THE SECOND INTERNATIONAL OPIUM CONFERENCE (1913) 60.4.1 The Prelims 60.4.2 The Opening Session 60.4.3 The Outcome 60.4.4 The Closing Session 60.5 THE THIRD INTERNATIONAL OPIUM CONFERENCE (1914) 60.5.1 The Opening Session 60.5.2 ‘Like the Wise Maidens’ 60.6 THE AFTERMATH 29 PART XV Young at Heart THE FINAL CHORD

CHAPTER 61 THE LAST PROJECTS ‘If Not for You, Mr. Asser’ 61.1 THE NETHERLANDS ASSOCIATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW 61.1.1 An Early initiative (1875-1879) 61.1.2 The Relaunch in 1910 61.1.3 Asser’s Involvement 61.1.4 The War Years (1914-1918) 61.1.5 A Hesitant New Beginning 61.2 ALBERIC ROLIN AND THE PEACE PALACE LIBRARY 61.2.1 Asser’s Interference 61.2.2 Albéric and Tobias 61.2.3 Doubts and Complications 61.2.4 The Appointment 61.3 THE HAGUE ACADEMY OF INTERNATIONAL LAW 61.3.1 The Pedigree of the Idea 61.3.2 A New Boost 61.2.3 Asser’s Last Dream 61.3.4 American Intervention 61.3.5 Postponement 61.4 TOWARDS A THIRD HAGUE PEACE CONFERENCE 61.4.1 The British Initiative 61.4.2 The American Proposition 61.4.3 A Committee 61.4.4 National PrepComs 61.4.5 Pontius Pilate Neutrality 61.4.6 Zorn, D’Estournelles de Constant and the ‘Conciliation Internationale’ 61.4.7 Serious Preparations CHAPTER 62 ILLNESS AND DEMISE ‘The Learned Guide of the Nation’ 62.1 FAREWELL TO OLD FRIENDSHIPS 62.2 A PROGRESSIVE ILLNESS 62.3 LEIDEN UNIVERSITY 62.4 DEMISE AND FUNERAL 62.5 OBITUARIES 62.6 THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE PEACE PALACE 62.7 A LASTING TRIBUTE CHAPTER 63 THE PATH RETRACED ‘We Shall Not Forget!’ A Summary of Contents CHAPTER 64 CONCLUDING REMARKS Versatility, creativity, and Tact 64.1 NEW FINDINGS 64.1.1 New Material 64.1.2 The Pertinence 64.2 NEW INSIGHTS 64.2.1 Character 64.2.2 The Legal Mind 64.2.3 Counsellorship 64.3 DESIDERATA 30 31