Volume XVI, Number 1 *** 16 Norui, 7546
(Oxford, UK) In a modest ceremony within the historic confines of the University of Oxford's Keble College this past Urui, The Rt. Hon. the Baron Hunnewell of Tuckborough, H.A.M. Secretary of State, and His Excellency, Beregond, chargé d'affaires of the Grand Council of the Forodrim, signed a Compact between H.A.M. two governments. The agreement essentially postpones determination of any rival claims of the Council-General and the Grand Council Until the King Return. In the interim, detailed provisions are made for such eventualities as persons holding dual citizenship and settlements of one jurisdiction being placed near those of the other. Immediate notice is to be given, of course, if either party should discover a claimant to the Throne. [See below for the full text.]
The Compact has received the approval of His Grace the Duke of Númenor, Regent of Gondor and Arnor, and is currently awaiting the advice and consent of the Most Honourable the Privy Council. Similar ratification procedures are understood to be underway among the Forodrim. In the mean time, the Foreign Office has announced the appointment of Herr Dietmar Bloech to be His Grace's Personal Representative to the Grand Council; Herr Bloech will become High Commissioner to the Forodrim when the Compact has been approved.
(The Royal Precincts) The Twentieth Council-General of the Kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor met in the familiar setting of Christ Church, Cambridge (somewhat less familiar than it once was, due to extensive recent renovation), on 5 Gwirith 7545. As usual, the ceremonies were preceded by a dinner--the several councillors who attended this year ate at Restaurant Changsho, an elegant Chinese establishment on a stretch of Massachusetts Avenue which seems a good deal more upscale than it did twenty years ago. They were able to felicitate Lord Starkhorn on the appearance, that day, of his first article in Omni magazine.
The Council itself opened with the usual procession, under the supervision of the M.N. the Duke of Anorien, Earl Marshal: the Rt. Hon. the Earl of Enedwaith, Lord Great Chamberlain, bore the Crown, and the Rt. Hon. the Viscount Mering, then Lord President of the Councils, the Mace. Lord Mering directed that the Council be formed: Sir Jonathan Reich, K.E., F.S., acting as Herald, read the Writ of Summons, and the Rt. Hon. and Wppfl. Sir William Mendelsohn, Bart., Mayor of the Shire, P.C., was presented to the Council as a new peer. Lord Starkhorn, as Keeper of the Great Seal, then took the chair, and called for the address of His Highness, the Duke of Ithilien, Lord Great Steward.
His Highness's brief remarks pointed out that the Council had been summoned in accordance with a resolution of the Eighteenth Council, and alluded both to economic difficulties and to the diplomatic crisis presented by the independence of Lithuania under a republican form of government.
These remarks led naturally to the address of His Grace the Regent, who spoke of his recent conversations with H.S.H. the Grand Duke of Lithuania (first reported in these Chronicles). His Grace also brought the Council up to date on the negotiations with the Forodrim, and obtained permission to proceed by compact. In view of the centenary of Prof. Tolkien's birth, His Grace introduced a series of courtesy resolutions sending official greetings to several organizations, including The Tolkien Society (UK), The Mythopoeic Society, The American Tolkien Society, The Mensa Tolkien Special Interest Group, and The American Hobbit Association. His Grace's comments on this process were twice interrupted. The first, more startling, break in the proceedings came with the appearance at the doors of the chamber of a black-robed and hooded figure whose sombre garb was decorated solely by the image of a lidless eye. Amazed councillors leapt to their feet, while His Grace, ever the parliamentarian, directed that the record show no diplomatic recognition had been or was being extended to the Dark Lord. After the initial shock passed, a few peers with good memories recalled that at the Elessar Award oratorical contest of 7527, held in conjunction with the Harvard Square Arts Festival, a similar figure had appeared to deliver an address the crowd on the virtues of the Lord of the Barad-dûr. The arrival of a wife and children tended to suggest that the strange visitor was not quite so disembodied a spirit as the Nazg-ûl, and Their Graces of Anorien and Númenor soon acknowledged that the guests were Richard, Judith, Martha and Michael Plotz. In addition to his oratorical efforts, Dr. Plotz had been the first father of Ennorian activities at Harvard, and founder of the Tolkien Society of America, since merged with the Mythopoeic Society. The Regent had not much more than cleared his throat for further remarks when the cry "I spy strangers" was repeated. This time, however, it was mistaken: for what at first seemed (through the passage of time and a radical change of hairstyle) to be a gentleman casually visiting the chambers turned out to be, when councillors heard his familiar voice, the Rt. Hon. the Baron Min-Rimmon, Osgiliath Herald and former Secretary of State. When Lord Min-Rimmon had been seated among the peers, business was finally resumed and the several resolutions passed.
Lord Enedwaith then addressed the Council on relations with the Commonwealth of Esgaroth. The Commonwealth, he reported, will take part in organizing the Mythopoeic Society's convention for 1994, and he asked that the Kingdoms look for ways to support and take part in this activity. Lord Enedwaith holds membership number 1 in the convention, which is to be held in late Urui (early August). The Guest of Honor is to be novelist Madeleine L'Engle. Further details are available from Mr. Irv Koch, Mythcon Treasurer, 5465 N. Morgan St., Apt. 106, Alexandria, VA 22312.
The Councillors followed these remarks with their customary recess, during which a considerable amount of scribbling of cheques took place as contributions to the Starkhorn Bequest were collected. Including corporate matching funds from the Digital Equipment Corporation, gifts in kind from Houghton Mifflin publishers, and monies mailed in by absent peers, the Bequest sent somewhat more than US $650 to this year's charity, the Phillips Brooks House Association at Harvard University.
When the Council reformed, consideration turned to the Regent's proposed Legislative Sessions Act of 7545, which would have made Councils-General quinquennial affairs, and allowed the Regent and Steward to legislate by decree if the Privy Council failed to meet regularly in the interim. The draft Act was amended to make Councils-General biennial, and in view of that change, His Grace retracted the proposal that he and His Highness be entrusted with extraordinary legislative authority. The Act as amended was then passed.
With no further legislative business before them, the Councillors proceeded to elections: the Mayor reported that no claimant to the Throne had appeared, and that the M. N., the Duke of Númenor, was to continue in the office of Regent. Nominations were then opened for the office of Lord President: Sir William Mendelsohn having declined a nomination, Lord Starkhorn was elected without opposition, moving from his fourth term in the Keepership to resume an office he first held in 7537. In a surprise move, Lord Enedwaith was then nominated to be Lord Chancellor, and elected by acclamation. Between them, the two new ministers have served five terms as President and six as Chancellor or Keeper. Though the outgoing administration had even more experience--eight terms as President and four as Chancellor--this is the first time that each of the elected ministers has previously served in each of the offices.
The new ministers having been duly sworn, the Councillors discussed the location for the Council-General of 7547. The new Lord Chancellor suggested that the Council be summoned to meet in Esgaroth during the Mythopoeic Society Convention, mentioned above, rather than at the new year. So radical a proposal was too much for the mostly conservative legislators to digest, and they left the question open. The meeting concluded with the traditional singing of the Patriotic Air, "Until the King Return," led by His Highness the Steward, and with the distribution of the very generous assortment of books which had been sent by Messrs. Houghton Mifflin. A brief meeting of the Worshippfull Companie of Freemen of the Shire followed the session.
R D'Arcy Jonathan Dacre Boulton, Ph.D., D. Phil. (Oxon.), to be Baron Anfalas. By His Grace the Regent, as Palatine Duke, 8 Gwaeron 7544.
R The Right Honourable the Baron Anfalas, to be Anor King of Arms and Principal King of Arms of the Realms of Middle-earth, in succession to His Grace the Regent, 9 Gwaeron 7544.
R The Most Honourable Sir John Elder, K.E., F.S., styled Viscount Starkhorn, to be Lord President of the King's Councils, and The Right Honourable Sir Eugene Theodore Pappas, Earl of Enedwaith, Viscount Calenhad, Baron Calenhad, Baronet, K.F.A., K.C.E., K.B.L., F.S., P.C., Lord Great Chamberlain, Governor-General, to be Lord High Chancellor. By the XX Council-General, 5 Gwirith 7545.
R Richard Douglas Plotz, Judith Anker Plotz, Martha Ann Plotz and Michael David Plotz, to be Freemen of the Shire. By the Crown Trustees, Mayor, and Freemen of the Worshippfull Companie, 5 Gwirith 7545.
R The Right Honourable and Worshippfull Sir Jonathan Reich, K.E., F.S., to be Mayor of the Shire, and member of the Privy and Accession Councils, in succession to The Right Honourable Sir William Roller Mendelsohn, Baronet, K.E., F.S., upon the latter's graduation from Harvard University, Norui, 7545.
R His Grace the Regent and The Right Honourable Sir Sumner Gary Hunnewell, Baron Hunnewell-of-Tuckborough, K.E., Secretary of State, to be Knight and Member of the Most Illustrious Order of the Evenstar, respectively. By His Highness, the Prince Arathorn of the Forodrim, Grand Master of the Order, 6 Ivanneth 7545.
R Her Highness, the Princess Nicolette, Chancellor for Foreign Affairs of the Forodrim, to be Dame of the Most Noble Order of the Flame of Anor. By His Grace the Regent as Founder of the Order, 30 Ivanneth 7545.
R The Right Honourable the Secretary of State and His Excellency Beregond, Kt., C.Ev., Chargé d' Affaires, to be Knight Grand Cross and Knight, respectively, of the Most Excellent Order of Elbereth. By His Grace the Regent as Founder of the Order, 30 Ivanneth 7545.
R Richard Douglas Plotz, M.D., F.S., to be Doctor of Hobbit Letters, honoris causa, by the Board of Directors of the American Tolkien Society, 30 Ivanneth 7545.
R Christopher Shelby Pruett, to be Knight of the Most Excellent Order of Elbereth, by His Grace the Regent as Founder of the Order, 11 Narwain 7545.
R The Right Honourable the Anor King of Arms, to be Serving Brother of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in the British Realm, by H.R.H. Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, Grand Prior.
R The Rt. Hon. the Earl and Countess of Enedwaith are parents of a son, Daniel Alan Pappas, who will bear the courtesy title Viscount Calenhad, born 8 Hithui 7544, at 8 pounds, 12 ounces, and 22 inches.
R Christopher and Shelly Miles are parents of a daughter, Katherine Marie Miles, born 29 Urui 7545, at 9 pounds, 1 ounce.
R The Rt. Hon. the Baron Glanduin, Baronet, K.B.L., F.S., Captain of Ships, and The Rt. Hon. and Learned Roberta Morris, Lady Chief Justice, are parents of a daughter, The Hon. Caroline Beatrice Bucksbaum, born 22 Girithron 7545, at 8 pounds, 2 ounces.
R The Rt. Hon. and Wppfl. the Mayor of the Shire and The Hon. Sir William Mendelsohn, Bart., represented the Kingdoms at the wedding of Sir Eric Hadley-Ives, K.E., on the evening of 24 Narbeleth, 7545. Sir Eric and Lady Hadley-Ives are making their home in Caras Anduinad.
R Their Highnesses the Duke of Ithilien, G.C.F.A., K.B.L., F.S., Q.O.C.R., Lord Great Steward, and the Duchess of Ithilien, G.C.F.A., are the parents of a fourth child and third son, who (following the unique custom of his house) will bear the courtesy title of Baron Eilenach, born 14 Gwirith 7546.
More Tolkien Books
Our last number noted the issuance of a number of Tolkien related books in connection with the Centenary of the late Professor's birth. Since that time, we have received from Houghton Mifflin review copies of several further items. One of these is a second edition of Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien, a large format collection first published in 1979; the new edition makes a few small changes from the earlier one, mostly in the notes by Christopher Tolkien--in one or two places, colour plates which might logically have been rearranged have been left as they were, presumably to avoid a considerable increase in expenses. Those who do not have a copy of the first edition will probably enjoy having the second. Houghton Mifflin have also issued two essentially blank books decorated with Tolkien motifs, The Hobbit Birthday Book (an aid to keeping track of the days on which one can expect to receive mathoms) and The Tolkien Diary. Both of these are pretty enough, but (as several reviewers more prompt than we have noted) they seem to have been hastily done; the Diary, for example, starts off on the wrong foot by calling Tolkien's mother "Mary" rather than "Mabel" in the second sentence of its preface. Finally, Christopher Tolkien has published the ninth volume in The History of Middle-earth, entitled Sauron Defeated. As our readers will know, the series is in fact the history of Prof. Tolkien's work of preparing modern novels from the various surviving elements of the Red Book of Westmarch; those who have been following this interesting process will undoubtedly wish to have the latest volume in the set.
The Grail of Hearts
The Rt. Hon. Dame Susan Shwartz, Countess of Harlindon, is author of a new novel, Grail of Hearts (New York: Tor Books, 1992, US $ 4.99). Lady Harlindon's principal theme is that of Wagner's Parsifal, but she tells her story from the point of view of Kundry, the sorceress who has been condemned to roam the earth because she laughed at the crucifixion. Kundry is the unwilling agent of the far more powerful mage Klingsor, who plots the destruction of Montsalvache, the realm of the keepers of the Grail. In accordance with the established plot, the novel opens as Kundry seduces Amfortas, the Grail-king, enabling Klingsor to steal the Holy Lance. In Lady Harlindon's story, Klingsor then attempts to punish Kundry for resisting his further schemes: thinking himself clever, he sends her consciousness back to the time of Jesus, to relive the horror of her condemnation. Kundry, however, finding herself back in the first century of the common era with the full knowledge that she has accumulated by her medieval present, sets herself to prevent the death of R. Joshua ben Joseph. Her efforts to do so eventually provide a resolution to the medieval crisis which she helped to precipitate.
Lady Harlindon, a trained medievalist (like so many of the higher nobility, she was educated at Harvard University, taking a Ph.D. in English), provides a readable and learned Author's Note in which she discusses her Arthurian sources, including medieval texts, modern occult speculations, and novels like Marion Zimmer Bradley's Mists of Avalon. She details, as well, the Gnostic materials she incorporates into the first-century section of the novel, and of course fully explains the relation of her story to Wagner's.
Some years ago, it was remarked that the peerage of the Kingdoms seemed to be about equally divided between high-church Anglicans and devout Jews: This novel of a Jewish woman involved in the central incidents of Christian story and myth can appeal to both those groups, as well as to any reader of medieval and Arthurian fantasy.
Basic Quenya
Dame Nancy Martsch, K.E., has published a second edition of her introduction to the High Elven tongue. The seventy-two page velo-bound text has twenty-two lessons in the language and the use of the Tengwar; an earlier version appeared in Dame Nancy's consistently interesting (and consistently published!) newsletter, Beyond Bree. It is easy to slip into thinking of Quenya as limited to the few words and phrases Prof. Tolkien incorporated into his historical novels, whereas the information in the Westmarch corpus allows us to reconstruct much of the working of that language, and to write both prose and verse in the Elven-latin. Dame Nancy is an excellent guide through the perils that beset anyone beginning to learn a language. In brief: learned, useful, and highly recommended. US $10, plus postage in the US $2.50 (1st Class) or $1.05 (book rate). P. O. Box 55372, Sherman Oaks, CA, 91413.
The Keble College Compact
In the Name of His August Majestie, by the Grace of the Valar, of the Forodrim
and of the Kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor THE KING, Chieftain of the Dunedain,
Lord of Andunië, Bearer of the Star of the North, Wielder of Anduril, Captain
of the Host of the West and Defender of the Five Peoples: On behalf of the Council-General
of the Kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor and The Commonwealth of Esgaroth upon the
Long Lake, and of the Regent of Gondor and Arnor, His Excellency, The Right
Honourable Sir Sumner Gary Hunnewell, Baron Hunnewell-of-Tuckborough, Knight
of the Most Excellent Order of Elbereth and Secretary of State of the Kingdoms
of Gondor and Arnor, and, On behalf of the Grand Council of the Forodrim, and
of its Chancellor for Foreign Affairs, His Excellency, Beregond, Sworn Knight
of the Forodrim, Commander of the Most Illustrious Order of the Evenstar, Chargé
d'Affaires,
Having satisfied each other of their respective full powers, have agreed upon
and concluded the following COMPACT:
Preamble
THE HIGH CONTRACTING PARTIES, being disposed to establish such a beneficial and satisfactory intercourse between their respective portions of His August Majestie's people, upon the basis of common allegiance, mutual convenience, and reciprocal advantages, as may promote and secure to both perpetual peace and harmony, accept and establish the following articles, pledging themselves and their successors to honour and uphold the same, according to the law of nations.
Article One: Sovereignty
THE HIGH CONTRACTING PARTIES, noting their conflicting claims to exercise the full might, authority, and jurisdiction of the Most Dread Sovereign their King during the time of His August Majestie's absence, finding themselves unable either to forego these claims or relinquish this authority, and yet recognizing their common loyalty to the Heir of Elendil, are satisfied to suspend the resolution of this conflict until it be determined by His August Majestie the King, in expectation of whose return they are firmly joined, and, Until the King Return, they treat with each other as competent agents of the same Most Dread Sovereign, and pledge each to uphold the sovereignty of the other in their dealings with other States. Whenever either High Contracting Party may propose to recognize a claimant to the Throne, it shall give immediate notice of the fact to the other.
Article Two: Friendship
LET THERE BE AND ENDURE from this time forward sincere, firm, and perpetual friendship concord and union between the High Contracting Parties and their successors and their respective portions of His August Majestie's loyal subjects, as well on sea and in air and space as on land and in all places whatsoever in the World.
Article Three: Mutual Aid
THE HIGH CONTRACTING PARTIES mutually vow that the enemies of one shall be the enemies of the other, the need of one the need of the other, and that whatsoever evil or threat or assault may come upon either of them, each will give aid to the other to the utmost end of its strength, provided, that this article shall not be construed either to permit or to require military intervention by one High Contracting Party in the affairs of the other.
Article Four: Representatives
EACH OF THE HIGH CONTRACTING PARTIES shall accredit to the other a representative having the title of High Commissioner and the rank, privileges, and immunities accorded Ambassadors Extraordinary and Ministers Plenipotentiary, along with such inferior diplomatic and consular officers as it may be found mutually satisfactory to appoint, all of whom shall enjoy the rank, privileges and immunities common to their positions.
Article Five: Territories
THE HIGH CONTRACTING PARTIES, each having considered the other's claims, agree
that there are now no territorial or boundary disputes between them; they further
stipulate that whereas the Grand Council has extended His August Majestie's
sovereignty over various contemporary territories, and has not been concerned
with the precise definition of the extent of His August Majestie's ancient dominions,
the Council-General has defended the legitimacy of the fullest extent of those
ancient dominions, and, with the exception of territory ceded to His August
Majestie by other Sovereigns, has not asserted in contemporary territories His
August Majestie's territorial sovereignty, but only an administrative jurisdiction
over His August Majestie's subjects.
In order to prevent any territorial disputes from arising in the future, the
Council-General pledges that, whenever a territory is held in the King's name
by the Grand Council and claimed as well by one or more Sovereigns or States
not parties to this Compact, the Council-General shall not accept the cession
of such territory to His August Majestie without obtaining the prior written
consent of the Grand Council or its duly authorized agent. The Council-General
shall not erect any agency of administrative jurisdiction (such as a Palatine
Duchy, an Administrative Area or a City or Municipality of the Exile) within
any territory held in the King's name by the Grand Council.
The Grand Council, having the same end in view, pledges that it shall not deny,
nor consent to the denial by others of, the legitimacy of the fullest extent
of His August Majestie's ancient dominions without obtaining the prior written
consent of the Council-General or its duly authorized agent. The Grand Council
shall not claim in the King's Name any territory subjected to His August Majestie's
administrative jurisdiction by the Council-General, nor any territory held in
the King's Name by the Council-General.
Whenever a subject of His August Majestie under the jurisdiction of one of the
High Contracting Parties, or a citizen of the Commonwealth, shall settle in
a region not already placed under His August Majestie's sovereignty or administrative
jurisdiction, or a person resident in such an area shall become a citizen of
the Commonwealth or subject of His August Majestie under the jurisdiction of
one of the High Contracting Parties, then the citizen or subject's place of
abode and all the land around it to the distance of one Númenorean league
shall, upon written notice given to the other High Contracting Party, become
subject to His August Majestie's administrative jurisdiction and, as appropriate,
sovereignty, according to the dispensation to which the citizen or subject may
belong, and shall so continue so long as the citizen or subject remain a citizen
or subject and continue to make the settlement his home, provided, that if the
new settlement be within two Númenorean leagues of one or more existing
settlements, the territories of the former settlements shall continue at their
full extent, and the territory of the new settlement shall be accordingly reduced.
Whenever such a citizen or subject shall either abandon His August Majestie's
allegiance or leave his dwelling place abandoned, with no obvious intention
of return, or make another settlement his home for eight months of any twelve,
the High Contracting Party having jurisdiction shall give timely written notice
to the other, and the sovereignty or administrative jurisdiction shall lapse.
Whenever a person under the jurisdiction of both of the High Contracting Parties
shall make such a new settlement, the settlement shall be under His August Majestie's
sovereignty or administrative jurisdiction according to the condition which
may obtain in the settled territory nearest the new settlement.
Neither High Contracting Party shall extend His August Majestie's sovereignty
or administrative jurisdiction over wider territories than individual settlements
without obtaining the prior written consent of the other High Contracting Party,
which consent shall be withheld only for grave cause specifically stated. The
High Contracting Parties pledge themselves to attempt to develop in the future
a form of condominium under which His August Majestie's authority may be jointly
wielded in new territories by agents of the High Contracting Parties.
Article Six: Citizenship
HIS AUGUST MAJESTIE'S SUBJECTS, and citizens of the Commonwealth, may travel
freely from one portion of His August Majestie's dominions and territories to
another, without requirement of any entrance or exit visa, provided, that a
traveller may be required to show a passport or such other form of identification
as a subject of His August Majestie, or citizen of the Commonwealth, as the
High Contracting Parties may agree to accept, and may be subject to such customs
inspections as may be usual common and reasonable.
The citizens or subjects under the ordinary jurisdiction of one of the High
Contracting Parties shall, when travelling or resident within the other's jurisdiction,
be entitled to all the privileges and immunities of subjects or citizens ordinarily
under that jurisdiction, and shall be bound by all the laws thereof, except
those pertaining to taxation and compulsory military service.
A person charged within the jurisdiction of either of the High Contracting Parties,
who shall flee from justice, and be found within the domains or territories
of the other, and be pursued thither by the agents of the Party from whose jurisdiction
he fled, shall be subject to the executive power of such agents to remove him
to the domains or territories of the Party having jurisdiction of the crime.
The agents shall enjoy the hospitality of the other Party, with any facilities
that they may need at their disposal on demand, all costs thereby caused being
defrayed by the Party which is their principal.
All Peers, Nobles, High Ministers, Great Officers of State, members of Orders
of Chivalry, Kings of Arms, Heralds, Pursuivants, Governors-General, Lieutenant
Governors, Mayors, Judges, Masters of Lore, persons holding land or office of
His August Majestie, Esquires, Ladies and Gentlemen and all other persons entitled
to some form of rank or precedency under the ordinary jurisdiction of one of
the High Contracting Parties shall, when travelling or resident within the other's
jurisdiction, be accorded rank and precedency with but after persons holding
the nearest equivalent title, office, honor or dignity under that other's jurisdiction;
and the Marshals, Heralds or other designated agents of each of the High Contracting
Parties shall from time to time jointly advise the persons having responsibility
for precedence under the jurisdiction of each of the High Contracting Parties
as to what the several equivalencies may be.
Any person may, and persons proposing to dwell for more than a year and a day
within territories under the jurisdiction of the other High Contracting Party
shall, apply to be accepted under the jurisdiction of the High Contracting Party
to which they do not already owe allegiance; which application shall not be
refused except for grave cause specifically stated in writing. Each High Contracting
Party shall devise such forms for admission to joint jurisdiction as it may
see fit, provided, that no test or condition may be imposed, nor any oath required
which would derogate the sovereign claims of the other High Contracting Party.
Article Seven: Protocols and Arbitration
IN ORDER that this friendship, concord and union may be better and more strongly
kept, restored and protected, and to specify the body of international law and
custom jointly recognized by the High Contracting Parties and further to facilitate
in other ways the execution of the present Compact, the High Contracting Parties
may from time to time jointly append to this compact various protocols, which
documents shall have equal force and weight with this present treaty.
There is hereby created a Court of Arbitration as one of His August Majestie's
Courts in and for the Kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor and the territories of the
Forodrim, and as a court of the Commonwealth of Esgaroth, which Court shall
have original jurisdiction over all controversies between the High Contracting
Parties arising from this present Compact or any of its appended protocols,
or from any circumstance not foreseen herein. The Court of Arbitration shall
hear and determine of matters brought before it with the fullest authority given
to any Court of His August Majestie the King or Court of the Commonwealth within
the jurisdiction of either of the High Contracting Parties, and shall determine
its own rules of evidence and procedure, subject to such provisions in the law
or customary procedure of any of the High Contracting Parties as may apply.
The decisions of a majority of the Court shall be equally binding with this
compact, and shall not be subject to appeal to any other of His August Majestie's
courts nor to any court of the Commonwealth. Whenever a dispute shall arise
between the High Contracting Parties, each of the parties shall appoint an Arbitrator
to serve on the Court, and the two appointed Arbitrators shall select a third,
provided, that the third Arbitrator shall not be, and the other two need not
be, subject to the jurisdiction of either of the High Contracting Parties, and
that all three shall be jurists, legislators, or diplomats, of discretion and
learning equal to the responsibility with which they are to be entrusted.
Article Eight: Ratification
THIS COMPACT shall be prepared in two authoritative copies in the English language differing only in the order of naming of the High Contracting Parties and their agents; and the solemn ratifications of this Compact expedited in good and due form shall be exchanged between the High Contracting Parties within the space of twelve months, or sooner if possible, from the date of signature of this Compact.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF we Beregond Sworn Knight of the Forodrim and Chargé d' Affaires and Gary Baron Hunnewell of Tuckborough and Secretary of State of Gondor and Arnor, have signed with our hands the present and definitive compact.
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