Writing in 1889, Hall, the famous English publicist, predicted that
the conduct of the next great war would be hard and unscrupulous, but
he added: “There can be very little doubt that if the next war is
unscrupulously waged it will also be followed by a reaction toward
increased stringency of law. I look forward with much misgiving to the
manner in which the next great war will be waged, but with no misgiving
at all to the character of the rules which will be acknowledged ten years
after its termination by comparison with the rules now considered to
exist.”
The prediction of the great publicist, made so many years ago, as to
the next great war, has come true. The intervening wars have been
trifling by comparison and marked by no material increase in severity,
but the present war has passed all the bounds of precedent and even of
imagination. Let us hope that the prophecy as to the modification of the
laws of war after the present conflict is ended will be as measurably
fulfilled.
The invention and application of death-dealing machinery and chemicals
may even give the prophecy a larger fulfillment by the abolition of war
altogether. For this we humbly hope and pray.
THE ADMINISTRATION FORCE OF THE SUPREME COURT OF INTERNATIONAL
JUSTICE