Modus vivendi, Ratification, Adhesion, and Accession; a chapter[1] on 'Mediation'.[2]
6. (a) Frederick the Great, L'Histoire de mon Temps.
The interest of the State, said Frederick, ought to serve as the rule to sovereigns in their regard for treaties and alliances. Alliances may be broken: (1) when the ally fails to fulfil his engagements; (2) when the ally is thinking of deceiving you, and there remains to you no resource except to anticipate him; (3) when une force majeure overwhelms you, and constrains you to break your treaties; and (4) when there is a lack of adequate means to continue war.
'Par je ne sais quelle fatalité ces malheureuses richesses influent sur tout. Les Princes sont des esclaves de leurs moyens; l'intérêt de l'État leur sert de loi, & cette loi est inviolable. Si le Prince est dans l'obligation de sacrifier sa personne même au salut de ses sujets, à plus forte raison doit-il leur sacrifier des liaisons dont la continuation leur devien-droit préjudiciable. Les exemples de pareils traités rompus se rencontrent communément. Notre intention n'est pas de les justifier tous. J'ose pourtant avancer qu'il en est de tels, que la nécessité, ou la sagesse, la prudence, ou le bien des peuples obligeoit de transgresser, ne restant aux Souverains que ce moyen-là d'éviter leur ruine.'
The word of a private person (un particulier), Frederick says, may involve only one man in misfortune, whereas that of Sovereigns may bring calamities to whole nations. 'The question, therefore, is reduced to this, whether it is better
- ↑ ii, ch. xxxiii, pp. 307–57.
- ↑ 'Good offices' (see ii, pp. 289–306) are 'often confused with "mediation", and sometimes assume that form, while a mediation may now and then involve an arbitration. In fact, arbitration may be regarded essentially as an agreement to confer on a mediator, in place of a commission to negotiate terms of settlement, the more extended power of pronouncing a judgment on the matters at issue between the parties,' ii. 358.
