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The close of its twenty-third year finds the Permanent Court of International Justice still in existence, and still in a position to resume its activity if and when the world situation may permit. Its premises in the Peace Palace at The Hague are intact; its President and Registrar carry on their duties from Geneva; and the twelve judges who continue in office are available for the discharge of their functions. The budget of the Court for 1944 was duly alimented and a budget has been adopted for 1945.

Its twenty-second year was a lean year for the Permanent Court of International Justice. No meeting was held by the Court, no case was referred to it, and no prospect appeared for an early resumption of its activities.

The current international situation did not permit the Permanent Court of International Justice to resume its activities during the year 1942. Two cases are still pending before the court—the case relating to the Electricity Company of Sofia and Bulgaria and the Gerliczy Case—but no action was taken by the parties in either of them during the year. Nor was there the usual activity in connection with instruments relating to the court.

The Permanent Court of International Justice was not active during its twentieth year. The institutional framework of the Court was maintained, the personnel of its bench was kept intact, its officials were at their posts, and certain funds were available for current expenses; but no sessions were held during the year, and no progress was made with the two pending cases. Nor were there any significant developments during the year with reference to the international instruments relating to the Court, the attention of Governments being completely engrossed in other fields.