What is the law of nations, and what do sovereign nations owe one another?

Translation: quotations from Emer de Vattel are quoted in the anonymous 1760 English translation (revised 1797; Chitty edition, 1852), not his original words.

OCR: 10 cited passage(s) are machine-read (OCR) text of old printings; quotations reproduce the stored OCR text, misreadings included.

1. WHAT HE SAID (the record)

Record ledger

• BELIEF (undated; OCR of an old printing; quoted in the anonymous 1760 English translation (revised 1797; Chitty edition, 1852)): Emer de Vattel believed that sovereign nations are free and equal in their rights, and that other nations must acquiesce in a nation's conduct unless it affects the proper and perfect rights of others. He argued that nations cannot judge the intrinsic justice of another nation's actions, and that all nations should be considered as possessing equal rights in human society. [1]
• BELIEF (undated; OCR of an old printing; quoted in the anonymous 1760 English translation (revised 1797; Chitty edition, 1852)): Emer de Vattel believed that the laws of natural society are essential for the safety and preservation of all states, and that no nation can expect to preserve its existence or enjoy tranquility if these laws are trampled upon. He grounded this belief on the idea that all men and all states have a perfect right to what is necessary for their preservation, as this right corresponds to an indispensable obligation. [2]
• BELIEF (undated; OCR of an old printing; quoted in the anonymous 1760 English translation (revised 1797; Chitty edition, 1852)): Emer de Vattel believed that sovereign nations must treat all other nations equally in granting rights of innocent advantage, unless there is a particular and lawful reason for exclusion. He argued that refusing such rights without cause constitutes an injury and an injurious distinction, but exceptions may be made for punishment or specific reasons. (key quote above) [3]
• BELIEF (undated; OCR of an old printing; quoted in the anonymous 1760 English translation (revised 1797; Chitty edition, 1852)): Emer de Vattel believed that sovereign nations owe one another whatever they owe to themselves, provided the other nation is in real need and the assisting nation can provide help without neglecting its own duties. This is based on the principle that nations, like individuals, are bound by the law of nature to assist others when possible. [4]
• BELIEF (undated; OCR of an old printing; quoted in the anonymous 1760 English translation (revised 1797; Chitty edition, 1852)): Emer de Vattel defines the law of nations as a set of principles governing the relations between sovereign nations, emphasizing that it is immutable and that nations cannot change it or dispense with the obligations arising from it. He also states that the law of nations consists of necessary and voluntary components, and that sovereign nations are subject to laws that impose general obligations on them. (key quote above) [5]
• BELIEF (undated; OCR of an old printing; quoted in the anonymous 1760 English translation (revised 1797; Chitty edition, 1852)): Emer de Vattel believed that treaties of peace are binding on the whole nation and successors of the sovereign, and that they must be observed religiously by sovereigns and people because they concern and bind whole nations and are of the highest importance. He also believed that the breach of such treaties rekindles war and that no dispensation can be claimed by alleging the treaty was extorted by fear or force. [6]
• BELIEF (undated; OCR of an old printing; quoted in the anonymous 1760 English translation (revised 1797; Chitty edition, 1852)): Emer de Vattel believed that the law of nations consists in the application of the law of nature to states, and that it is immutable. He argued that sovereign nations cannot change it by their conventions, nor can they dispense with it in their own conduct or release each other from its obligations. Sovereign nations are bound to acquiesce in the conduct of one of them, even if it is illegal and condemnable by the laws of conscience. [7]
• BELIEF (undated; OCR of an old printing; quoted in the anonymous 1760 English translation (revised 1797; Chitty edition, 1852)): Emer de Vattel believed that treaties are sacred and must be inviolably observed by sovereign nations, as they are essential for the safety and repose of nations. He argued that violating treaties is a violation of the law of nations, which declares the faith of treaties sacred. [8]
• BELIEF (undated; OCR of an old printing; quoted in the anonymous 1760 English translation (revised 1797; Chitty edition, 1852)): Emer de Vattel believed that sovereign nations have a duty to assist one another when a neighboring nation is unjustly attacked, provided that such assistance does not expose the assisting nation to great danger. He argued that this duty is grounded in the principle of mutual aid and the common interest of preventing the rise of ambitious monarchs. (key quote above) [9]
• BELIEF (undated; OCR of an old printing; quoted in the anonymous 1760 English translation (revised 1797; Chitty edition, 1852)): Emer de Vattel believed that the law of nations is a system of right and justice that should prevail between nations or sovereign states. He also believed that sovereign nations owe one another certain obligations, particularly in matters of public faith and treaties, as demonstrated by the Roman fecial law and the modern understanding of the law of nations. "The moderns are generally agreed in restricting the appellation of 'the law of nations' to that system of right and justice which ought to prevail between nations or sovereign states." [10]

What cuts against it

• The contrary-evidence entries are already in the record ledger above: [1], [2], [3].

2. HOW IT APPLIES (reasoning; inference is marked)

1. Emer de Vattel defined the law of nations as a system of principles governing the relations between sovereign nations, emphasizing its immutability and the inability of nations to change or dispense with its obligations. [5]

2. He believed that sovereign nations owe one another whatever they owe to themselves, provided the other nation is in real need and the assisting nation can provide help without neglecting its own duties. [4]

3. The law of nations consists in the application of the law of nature to states, and it is immutable. Sovereign nations cannot change it by their conventions, nor can they dispense with it in their own conduct or release each other from its obligations. [7]

4. Emer de Vattel argued that treaties are sacred and must be inviolably observed by sovereign nations, as they are essential for the safety and repose of nations. Violating treaties is a violation of the law of nations, which declares the faith of treaties sacred. [8]

5. He believed that sovereign nations have a duty to assist one another when a neighboring nation is unjustly attacked, provided that such assistance does not expose the assisting nation to great danger. This duty is grounded in the principle of mutual aid and the common interest of preventing the rise of ambitious monarchs. [9]

3. HIS TAKE

Record coverage: DIRECT

Emer de Vattel directly addressed the question of the law of nations and the obligations of sovereign nations. He defined the law of nations as a system of principles governing the relations between sovereign nations, emphasizing its immutability and the inability of nations to change or dispense with its obligations. He believed that sovereign nations owe one another whatever they owe to themselves, provided the other nation is in real need and the assisting nation can provide help without neglecting its own duties.

Extrapolation: Emer de Vattel believed that sovereign nations are bound by the law of nature to assist each other when possible, and that treaties are sacred and must be inviolably observed. He argued that the law of nations is immutable and that sovereign nations cannot change it by their conventions.

Competing readings: There is no competing reading in the record that directly contradicts Emer de Vattel's stated position on the law of nations and the obligations of sovereign nations.

Confidence: High, as the record directly addresses the question and provides clear statements on the law of nations and the obligations of sovereign nations.

KEY QUOTES: [4] [7] [8]