Mineichirō Adachi
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese legal expert and President of the Permanent Court of International Justice
at the Hague
in 1931-1934.
, Japan. In 1892, he graduated from the law school of Tokyo University, and began his legal and diplomatic career.
of the Japanese Legation in Rome, and served in that position until 1896. in 1899-1902, served as Chargé d'affaires of the Japanese Legation in Paris. in 1903-1904, he was served as Counsellor to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and also taught international law and diplomatic history at Tokyo University. In 1904-1905, sat as judge at the Sasebo and Yokosuka Prize Court
s.
In 1905, was a member of the Japanese delegation that negotiated in Portsmouth the peace treaty ending the Russo-Japanese War
. In 1907-1910, served again as Chargé d'affaires at the Japanese Legation in Paris, and in 1912-1915 served as Japanese Minister Plenipotentiary to Mexico. In 1915-1916, he took part in a Japanese Red Cross mission in Russia, then suffering from revages of the First World War. In 1917, was appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to Belgium, and in that capacity participated in the Japanese delegation to the Paris Peace Conference
in 1919. During that conference, he also served as member of the Commission of Responsibilities
, which recommended prosecuting German leaders accused of war crimes.
In 1920-1927, served as Ambassador to Belgium, and in 1927-1930 Ambassador to France.
On September 25, 1930, he was elected to serve as judge at the Permanent Court of International Justice. On January 16, 1931, he was elected President of the same court, a position he held until January 1, 1934, shortly prior to his death. He was elected a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
in 1932.
During his tenure as President of the court, most of Adachi's rulings were in line with the majority opinions of the court, except for his ruling in September 1931 regarding the proposed Customs Union between Germany and Austria. As the majority opinion viewed that step as contravening the obligations of the German and Austrian governments not to compromise their own independence, Adachi claimed in his separate opinion that:
His argument was that the proposed economic union did not compromise Austria's independence, just as membership in the League of Nations did not constitute a violation of that independence despite the practical restrictions it imposed on each one of its member states.
Permanent Court of International Justice
The Permanent Court of International Justice, often called the World Court, was an international court attached to the League of Nations. Created in 1922 , the Court was initially met with a good reaction from states and academics alike, with many cases submitted to it for its first decade of...
at the Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
in 1931-1934.
Early life
Adachi was born in Yamagata PrefectureYamagata Prefecture
-Fruit:Yamagata Prefecture is the largest producer of cherries and pears in Japan. A large quantity of other kinds of fruits such as grapes, apples, peaches, melons, persimmons and watermelons are also produced.- Demographics :...
, Japan. In 1892, he graduated from the law school of Tokyo University, and began his legal and diplomatic career.
Legal and diplomatic work
In 1892-1893, he lectured on law at Tokyo University. in 1893, he was appointed Chargé d'affairesChargé d'affaires
In diplomacy, chargé d’affaires , often shortened to simply chargé, is the title of two classes of diplomatic agents who head a diplomatic mission, either on a temporary basis or when no more senior diplomat has been accredited.-Chargés d’affaires:Chargés d’affaires , who were...
of the Japanese Legation in Rome, and served in that position until 1896. in 1899-1902, served as Chargé d'affaires of the Japanese Legation in Paris. in 1903-1904, he was served as Counsellor to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and also taught international law and diplomatic history at Tokyo University. In 1904-1905, sat as judge at the Sasebo and Yokosuka Prize Court
Prize court
A prize court is a court authorized to consider whether or not a ship has been lawfully captured or seized in time of war or under the terms of the seizing ship's letters of marque and reprisal...
s.
In 1905, was a member of the Japanese delegation that negotiated in Portsmouth the peace treaty ending the Russo-Japanese War
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...
. In 1907-1910, served again as Chargé d'affaires at the Japanese Legation in Paris, and in 1912-1915 served as Japanese Minister Plenipotentiary to Mexico. In 1915-1916, he took part in a Japanese Red Cross mission in Russia, then suffering from revages of the First World War. In 1917, was appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to Belgium, and in that capacity participated in the Japanese delegation to the Paris Peace Conference
Paris Peace Conference, 1919
The Paris Peace Conference was the meeting of the Allied victors following the end of World War I to set the peace terms for the defeated Central Powers following the armistices of 1918. It took place in Paris in 1919 and involved diplomats from more than 32 countries and nationalities...
in 1919. During that conference, he also served as member of the Commission of Responsibilities
Commission of Responsibilities
A commission of experts at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919 that dealt with the issue of prosecution for war crimes committed during the First World War.-Background:...
, which recommended prosecuting German leaders accused of war crimes.
In 1920-1927, served as Ambassador to Belgium, and in 1927-1930 Ambassador to France.
On September 25, 1930, he was elected to serve as judge at the Permanent Court of International Justice. On January 16, 1931, he was elected President of the same court, a position he held until January 1, 1934, shortly prior to his death. He was elected a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
in 1932.
During his tenure as President of the court, most of Adachi's rulings were in line with the majority opinions of the court, except for his ruling in September 1931 regarding the proposed Customs Union between Germany and Austria. As the majority opinion viewed that step as contravening the obligations of the German and Austrian governments not to compromise their own independence, Adachi claimed in his separate opinion that:
- "Restrictions on its liberty of action which a State may agree to do not affect its independence, provided that the State does not thereby deprive itself of its organic powers".
His argument was that the proposed economic union did not compromise Austria's independence, just as membership in the League of Nations did not constitute a violation of that independence despite the practical restrictions it imposed on each one of its member states.