The Fourth Year of the Permanent Court of International Justice

Abstract

The year 1925 has been the busiest year in the history of the Permanent Court of International Justice to date. During some part of every month of the year, with the exception of September and December, the court has been in session. Its sixth (extraordinary) session began on January 12 and ended on March 26; its seventh (extraordinary) session began on April 14 and ended on May 16; its eighth (ordinary) session began on June 15 and ended on August 25; and its ninth (extraordinary) session began on October 22 and ended on November 21. During 210 days of the year, the judges were at work at The Hague, and without counting the days required for travelling for which indemnities are paid, they exceeded by ten the 200 days during which indemnities are paid to them to supplement their salaries. The result of the work of these four sessions was three judgments and three advisory opinions, each of which has contributed to the settlement of some difficult problem. In four years, the court has handed down six judgments and twelve advisory opinions. Taken together these judgments and opinions constitute a significant addition to our international jurisprudence, and if they cannot be said to have dealt with problems which might have led to war, they have nevertheless served useful ends in contributing to the removal of possible sources of friction.