Vattel’s Doctrine of the Customary Law of Nations between Sovereign Interests and the Principles of Natural Law

Abstract

the following maxims will appear very strange to cabinet politicians: and such is the misfortune of mankind, that, to many of those refined conductors of nations, the doctrine of this chapter will be a subject of ridicule. Be it so! – but we will nevertheless boldly lay down what the law of nature prescribes to nations. Shall we be intimidated by ridicule, when we speak after Cicero? [...] The punctual observance of the law of nature he considered as the most salutary policy to the state.1