and has only varied in her action in view of the difference in Grounds of her policy. the circumstances presented. Modern States, and especially those which are the most constitutionally governed, are far too much subjected to the influence of passing waves of political opinion to be steady and uniform in their international action through more than half a century. Nevertheless, a reference to the grounds on which England has freely taken part in numerous important Conferences, and has, especially in the persons of Lord Castlereagh, Lord Russell, and Lord Derby, shown herself notably averse to sharing in others of most plausible pretensions, will assist the examination of the conditions on which the usefulness of Conferences depends.
There are two obvious cases in which a Conference must be Conditions essential to the usefulness of Conferences. wholly unprofitable, and therefore, probably, mischievous, and under one or other, or both, of these cases most of the objections alleged by the above-named English statesmen will be found to range themselves. One case is where influential States taking part in the Conference have not yet arrived at a determination of the general policy they intend to advocate, and do not wish or intend that policy to be determined by discussion outside, or by the casual events or mutual concessions to which the Conference may casually give occasion. The other case is where influential States are so far determined on their general policy, that no such events or concessions will ever induce them to change or modify it.
Excluding these two cases, of uncertainty and of absolute A distinct policy. fixity of policy, the only cases in which Conferences are likely to prove productive of useful results at once present themselves to view. There must be found, in all the influential States which take part in the Conference, Concession on points of detail. a firmly fixed resolution as to the general policy they intend to advocate, and also an exact apprehension of the limits of the variations in matters of detail
