History of Modern International Law in 19th and 20th Centuries

1.  1815 – Congress of Vienna – Series of international diplomatic meetings to discuss a new European order post the downfall of Napoleon that led to agreements on national boundaries within Europe, Neutrality Pacts, freedom of navigation.  

2.  1823 – Monroe Doctrine by James Monroe, then President of US - Any intervention by external powers in the politics of the Americas is a potentially hostile act against the US.  

3.  1824 – Calvo Doctrine –  Jurisdiction in international investment disputes lies with the country in which the investment is located. (Carlos Calvo, Argentine Jurist). Used mostly in International Investment Law.  

4.  1842 – Treaty of Nanking – Ended the First Opium War between Britain and Qing Dynasty – Its provisions involved cession of Hong Kong to the crown. Was considered an unequal treaty.  

5.  1864 – First Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded in Armies in the Field.  

6.  1865 – Establishment of International Telegraph Union to deal with international interconnection, standardization of equipment, tariffs etc.  

7.  1871 – Sino-Japanese Friendship and Trade Treaty – Mutual pledge for friendship and cooperation, exchange of ambassadors, trade related provisions.  

8.  1899 – First Hague Peace Conference – Establishment of Permanent Court of Arbitration.  

9.  1914-1918 – First World War

10.  1919 – Treaty of Versailles – Disarmament of Germany, payment of reparations by Germany, territorial concessions etc.  

11.  1920 – Paris Peace Conference – Establishment of League of Nations – a worldwide intergovernmental organization to maintain world peace.  

12.  1920 - Establishment of Permanent Court of International Justice.  

13.  1923 - Establishment of the Hague Academy of International Law  

14.  1928 – Kellogg-Briand Pact – International Agreement on peace – was aimed at preventing the second world war.  

15.  1939-1945 – Second World War

16.  26.06.1945 – Signing of Charter of United Nations  

17.  18.04.1946 – Replacement of Permanent Court of International Justice by International Court of Justice.  

18.  10.12.1948 – Adoption of Universal Declaration of Human Rights by UN GA.