e states in question, and not general; accordingly, the adoption,
rejection, amendment, and final shaping of these projects were also none
the less the result of chance. The second Peace Conference itself took
steps to prevent a repetition of this, calling the attention of the
powers in its Final Act to the necessity of preparing the programme of
the future third Conference a sufficient time in advance to ensure its
deliberations being conducted with the necessary authority and
expedition:

In order to attain this object the Conference considers that it
would be very desirable that, some two years before the
probable date of the meeting, a preparatory committee should be
charged by the Governments with the task of collecting the
various proposals to be submitted to the Conference, of
ascertaining what subjects are ripe for embodiment in an
international regulation, and of preparing a programme which
the Governments should decide upon in sufficient time to enable
it to be carefully examined by each country.

[Sidenote: The Declaration of London thoroughly prepared beforehand.]

42. In contrast to the rules of the Peace Conferences, a really notable
and exemplary preparation took place in connexion with the Declaration
of London, and the befitting result was a law excellent alike in matter
and in form. England, the state which summoned the Naval Conference of
London, made a collection of the topics which would arise, and
communicated it to the states attending the Conference with the request
that they would send in full statements on the subjects mentioned. After
the answers to this request had come in they were collated with regard
to each of the points on which discussion would arise, and _bases de
discussion_ were elaborated which made a thorough examination of each
point possible at the Conference. By this means it was at once made
clear when the different states were in accord and when not. The door to
compromise was opened. And apart from a few vexed questions an agreement
was in this way successfully reached with regard to a comprehensive law
resting at every point on exhaustive deliberation.

[Sidenote: The preparation of the Declaration a pattern for future
international legislation.]

43. This model method must be the method of the future. If, as indicated
in Sec.26 above, Art. 5, a permanent commission for the preparation of the
Peace Conferences be successf