The historical instances of recourse to good offices and mediation are numerous. A few of these may be mentioned as illustrations. Dur ing the war of 1812 between Great Britain and the United States, the Tsar of Russia offered to act as a mediator with a view to bringing about a termination of hostilities. The offer was accepted by the government of the United States and to avoid delays plenipotentiaries were at once appointed by the President to con clude a treaty of peace but the offer was re fused by the British government and nothing further came of the Russian proposal.
Early in 1861 several Latin American re publics tendered their good offices to avert the civil war then imminent; after the outbreak of hostilities the British and French governments through their ministers at Washington ex pressed a willingness "to undertake the kindly mediation° if the President should de sire it. President Lincoln expressed tion for "this generous and friendly demonstra tion" but stated "that we cannot solicit or ac cept mediation from any, even the most friendly quarter." On various occasions during wars in South and Central America the President of the United States tendered his good offices to bring about the adjustment of difficulties or to terminate hostilities already existing. One of the most remarkable of such examples of mediation on the part of the United States was that which was begun in 1866 and concluded in 1872 for the purpose of terminating the war be tween Spain on the one hand, and the allied republics of Peru, Chili, Bolivia and Ecuador on the other. During the Franco-German War of 1870-71 France requested the United States °to join other powers" in an effort to bring about peace. President Grant replied that E: anxiously desired to see the war ended and peace restored and that he would be glad to use his efforts in bringing about peace if Ger many also desired the employment of his good offices. At the same time the French govern ment was informed that it was the uniform policy of the United States not to act jointly with European powers in interference in European questions. During the Chino-Japan ese War of 1894 the government of the United States made known to both belligerents its will ingness "to contribute its kindly offices toward the restoration of peace" but when an inquiry was made asking whether the United States would be willing to join England, Germany. France and Russia in an intervention between China and Japan the President replied that the United States could not join the powers men tioned in such, an intervention. During the
Boer War of 1899-1902 the government of the United States alone of all the governments ap proached by the South African republics tendered its good offices but the offer was not acceptable to the government of Great Britain.
A remarkable recent example of the em ployment of good offices by the President of the United States to bring about the termination of war was the intervention of President Roose velt in 1905 which resulted in the conclusion of peace between Japan and Russia. On 8 June 1905 the President caused identical notes to be sent to the governments of both belligerents ex pressing his wish that "the terrible and lament able conflict now being waged° might be brought to an end and urging them °not only for their own sakes but in the interest of the whole civilized world to open direct negotiations with one another." He also expressed his entire willingness to do what he properly could if the two powers felt that his services would be of any aid in arranging the preliminaries as to the time and place of meeting of the plenipoten tiaries which they might appoint. The sugges tion of the President was promptly acted upon and plenipotentiaries were appointed to negotiate a treaty of peace. They met at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and a treaty of peace was signed on 23 Sept. 1905.
A still more recent example of successful mediation was that of 1914, which resulted in the temporary termination of an existing con flict between the United States and Mexico. On 25 April, the diplomatic representatives of Brazil, Argentina and Chile addressed a com munication to the Secretary of State tendering the good offices of their governments for "the peaceful and friendly settlement') of the con troversy. The offer was promptly accepted both by the President of the United States and General Huerta, President of Mexico, and both parties agreed to a mutual suspension of hostil ities at the request of the mediators.
At the suggestion of the mediators commis sioners representing both parties were appointed and they met at Niagara Falls, Ontario, in May 1914. The mediating plenipotentiaries in turn presided over the conferences. On 24 June a protocol embodying the terms of agreement was signed and it was duly ratified by both governments. See also ARBITRATION, INTER