The object of war in the military sense "is a renewed state of peace,"[301] or as stated in the English manual, "to procure the complete submission of the enemy at the earliest possible period with the least possible expenditure of men and money." The "Institute of International Law," Oxford session of 1880, gave as a general principle that the only legitimate end that a state may have in war is to weaken the military strength of the enemy.[302]
[§ 98. General Effects]
The general and immediate effects of war are:—
(a) To suspend all non-hostile intercourse between the states parties to the war.
(b) To suspend the ordinary non-hostile intercourse between the citizens of the states parties to the war.
(c) To introduce new principles in the intercourse of the states parties to the war with third states. These impose new duties upon neutrals and allies.
(d) To abrogate or suspend certain treaties:—
(1) To abrogate those treaties which can have force only in time of peace, e.g. of amity, commerce, navigation, etc.
(2) To suspend those treaties which are permanent and naturally revive at the end of the war, e.g. of boundaries, public debts, etc.
(3) To bring into operation treaties concerning the conduct of hostilities.