1909

Auguste Beernaert

Paul Henri d'Estournelles de Constant

for their prominent position in the international movement for peace and arbitration

Auguste Beernaert (1829 - 1912)

Belgium

Prime Minister and Inter-Parliamentarian

Auguste Beernaert was one of Belgium's most skilful lawyers. In 1873 he became a member of the Government, and from 1884 to 1894 he was King Leopold II's Prime Minister. After resigning from the Government, however, he became opposed to the King because of the brutal policy pursued in the Congo, but he remained a member of parliament all his life. It was through his inter-parliamentary work and at the international peace conferences at the Hague in 1899 and 1907 that he became known as a friend of peace. At the Hague, among other assignments, he headed the commission dealing with the laws and customs of land warfare, and with regard to the question of neutrality he pleaded the cause of the small states. When the first case came up before the International Court at the Hague in 1902 (USA against Mexico), Beernaert acted for Mexico. Towards the end of his life, Beernaert endeavored to prevent aerial warfare. A few days before he died he submitted a proposal against such warfare.

Paul Henri d'Estournelles de Constant (1852 - 1924)

France

Diplomat, Politician and Internationalist

Despite his aristocratic title, d'Estournelles was a radical republican. He believed that the cultured peoples of Europe should join together in the united states of Europe. Good organization of the international community was the best guarantee of peace. d'Estournelles began his career as a diplomat, but was elected to the Chamber of Deputies in 1895; for the last twenty years of his life he was a Senator. d'Estournelles supported binding arbitration between states, and on a visit to the USA he persuaded President Theodore Roosevelt to make use of the International Court at the Hague. He also urged Andrew Carnegie to donate money to the Peace Palace. Before World War I he worked for reconciliation between Germany and France. In 1918 he wanted a just peace with Germany, and was critical of the Versailles Treaty which in his view was too harsh. He pinned high hopes on the new League of Nations.