GREAT JURIST HONOURED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 68, 17 February 1939, Page 7

GREAT JURIST HONOURED

TRIBUTES TO WORK. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Feb. 15. A tablet to the memory of Hugo Grotius, the Dutch jurist, was unveiled to-day by the Earl of Atlilone in the Dutch Church at Austin l'riars. Speeches on the work of the great international jurist and its meaning to the modern world were delivered by Dr. Patijn (The Netherlands I'oreign Minister) and Lord Halifax (British Foreign Minister). Dr. Patijn said that the abandonment of the principle that the printed words of Governments were sacred would mean the end of civilisation, and he deplored the revival in our of heavy military strength as .being the only factor that counted in international affairs. . Lord Halifax, after paying a tribute to Grotius, added: “I should be happy to think that this celebration to-day in honour of one of the world s noblest citizens should have the effect of turning men’s minds to the work he accomplished for humanity, moving them by the force of his great example to do likewise.”

Hugo Grotius is now chiefly remembered for his remarkable attempt to place the relations governing the conduct of soverign States towards each other in matters ol war on some semblance of order ami humanity. He was born in Holland in 15b6. Leaving Leyden, where ho was educated, he enter the diplomatic service, and for a time was with the embassy in England. His participation in religious controversies earned him the hatred of Prince Maurice, and hi. was arrested and sentenced to imprisonment for life, but, aided by his wife, he escaped and took refuge.in Yana. Loms XIII granted him a pension. He devoted niuch of bis time to the study of law and in 1625 published lus celebrated work on international law, “De Jure Belli et Pacts He afterward became the ambassadoi ot Sweden at the French court. He died in 1645 Besides his writings on international law he also wrote much on theology, litciaturc, and history, and ho was also something of a poet.