A History of Europe in the twentieth century
Chapter I: A Spectre is Haunting Europe (spectre=Gespenst)
May 1899: The first European peace conference was held at the Hague. 20 European and 6 Non-European Nations attended it, their aim was to secure a lasting peace among the Nations
The most important goals of the peace movement were arbitration (Schlichtung) and disarmament.
The countries appeared however to have differing ideas/aims. Germany sent Baron von Stengel, an advocate of war, America proponents of sea power while Austria sent Berta von Suttner, anti-war activist and basically only present woman. She didn´t want to have warfare civilized but that the Hague would become known as the first permanent court of international justice.
ETHNIC DIVERSITY AND THE RISE OF THE GREAT NATION STATES
For centuries have different tribes, with various ethnic backgrounds, languages, religions, customs up to physical appearance populated the European continent.
Conflicts upon the restricted surface for and between power centers, political systems and economic basis have dominated the European history. Within the last three millennia were only 230 years of peace in Europe identified.
The concept “ex factis jus oritur” (by taking or possessing land does one automatically obtain a right on it) prevailed especially in the 16th, 17th and 18th century, which meant the stronger was always the one backed by rights. Many groups such as the Irish were suppressed that way, others like Poland were taken over by stronger neighbors and some former powers like Spain were reduced to secondary or tertiary powers.
By 1815 Britain, France, Prussia, Austria and Russia had become the main powers in Europe.
War was however not restricted or impossible for this fact, maybe even likelier (see Napoleon Bonaparte´s rule in France)
Switzerland (followed by Beligium 1839 and Luxembourg 1867) achieved neutrality, which was set by internationally law and needed