The United Nations Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards – the New York Convention – was concluded thirty-seven years ago. I was not present at the creation but I was then practicing law in New York while hovering about United Nations Headquarters. I recall the animation at that time of Martin Domke, who was very much present, together with Pieter Sanders and other major arbitral figures. They had a great deal to be animated about. In this audience of experts on the particulars of the workings of the New York Convention, I shall prudently confine myself to the sort of generalities a celebratory occasion invites. But let me first observe that the man who should be making these remarks – the Convention's great architect, Pieter Sanders – could not be present, for he yesterday celebrated his birthday in distant parts. One of those who participated in the New York Conference, Dr. Otto Arndt Glossner, is present, and we are delighted that he is.

The first generality worth recalling is that the Convention is a treaty. That is to say, it is an instrument of public international law, a Convention entered into by governments in order to regulate the behavior of their courts in the recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitral awards. That is worth emphasizing these days, when much uninformed talk is current about the unimportance or inadequacies of international law.