The truth is that the whole conception of neutrality implies the existence of some power above and beyond the State, it may be simply a group of powerful States who are able to impose their will upon the rest of Europe, it may be a general Congress, like the Congress of Vienna.

Since the Concert of Europe disappeared and gradually gave place to the two opposing alliances of great powers, there has been no such authority in the civilised world.
The results are before us in the ruined cities and starving population of violated Belgium.
[Footnote 1: The neutralisation of sovereign States is very recent in origin.

Switzerland and Luxembourg are the only other instances.

The former was neutralised in 1815, the latter in 1867.] [Footnote 2: _Cambridge Modern History_, xi.642.See for the whole question of neutralised States, Lawrence, _Principles of International Law_, Sec.Sec.

246-248.] As independent States, therefore, small nations can only survive, in the long run, if their neutrality is permanently guaranteed by some international authority, which is itself permanently capable of enforcing its decrees upon recalcitrant States.