Thenumberofdocuments，printedandwritten，cominginuponusisstillenormous。Manyarevirtuallysermonsdisplayingtheevilsofwar，theblessingsofpeace，andthenecessityoffallingbackupontheBible。ConsideringthefactthatourearliersacredbooksindicateapprovalbytheAlmightyofsomeofthemostbloodthirstypeoplesandmostcruelwarseverknown，sucharecommendationseemslackingin"actuality。"
ThismorningwehadanothervisitfromSirJulianPauncefote，presidentoftheBritishdelegation，anddiscussedwithhimanamalgamationoftheRussian，British，andAmericanproposalsforanarbitrationtribunal。Hefindshimself，aswealldo，agreeablysurprisedbytheRussiandocument，which，inadequateasitis，showsabilityindevisingapermanentschemebothformediationandarbitration。
DuringthedayPresidentLow，whohadbeenaskedbyourdelegationtobringthevariousproposalsagreedtobyusintodefiniteshape，madehisreport;itwasthoroughlywelldone，and，withsomeslightchanges，wasadoptedasthebasisforourfinalprojectofanarbitrationscheme。WearealltomeetonMonday，the29th，forastudyofit。
Intheeveningtotheconcertgiventotheconferencebytheburgomasterandcitycouncil。Itwasveryfine，andtheaudiencewaslargeandbrilliant。TherewasmusicbyTschaikovsky，Grieg，andWagner，someofwhichwasgood，butmostofitseemedtomenoisyandtendingnowhither;happily，inthemidstofitcametwonoblepieces，onebyBeethovenandtheotherbyMozart，whichgaveadelightfulrelief。
May28。
DrovewithDr。HollstoDelft，fivemiles，andattendedserviceatthe"NewChurch。"Thebuildingwasnoble，buttheserviceseemedverycrudeanddismal，nearlythewholeofitconsistingoftwolongsermonsseparatedbyhymns，andallunspeakablydreary。
AfterwardwesawthetombsofWilliamofOrangeandGrotius，andtheystirredmanythoughts。Ivisitedthemfirstnearlyfortyyearsago，withthreepersonsverydeartome，allofwhomarenowpassedaway。Morethaneveritiscleartomethatofallbookseverwritten——notclaimingdivineinspiration——thegreatworkofGrotiuson"WarandPeace"hasbeenofmostbenefittomankind。Ourworkhere，attheendofthenineteenthcentury，isthedirectresultofhis，atthebeginningoftheseventeenth。
AfterwardtothePrinzenhof，visitingtheplacewhereWilliamofOrangewasassassinated。WasgladtoseethenewstatueofGrotiusinfrontofthechurchwhereheliesburied。
May29。
InthemorningPresidentLowandmyselfwalked，andtalkedovervariousproposalsforarbitration，especiallyourown。ItlooksmuchasifwecanamalgamatetheRussian，British，andoriginalAmericanplansintoagoodarrangementforatribunal。Wealsodiscussedaschemefortheselection，bydisagreeingnations，of"secondingpowers，"who，beforethebeginningofhostilities，orevenafter，shallattempttosettledifficultiesbetweenpowers，or，ifunsuccessful，tostopthemassoonafterwarbeginsasthehonorofthenationsconcernedmayallow。TheGermansgreatlyfavorthisplan，sinceitresemblestheirtribunalofhonor（Ehrengericht）;itwasoriginallysuggestedtousbyoursecretary，Dr。Holls。
Intheevening，atsix，theAmericandelegationmet。Wehadbeforeustype—writtencopiesofourwholearbitrationprojectaselaboratedinourprevioussessions，andsundrychangeshavingbeenmade，mostofthemverbal，thewhole，afterconsiderablediscussion，wasadopted。
AttenIleft，viaHookofHollandandHarwich，forLondon，arrivingabouttenthenextmorning，andattendingtovariousmattersofbusiness。ItwasfortunateformethatIcouldhaveforthispurposeanalmostcompletelullinourproceedings，thefirstandsecondcommitteesoftheconferencebeingatworkontechnicalmatters，andthethirdnotmeetinguntilnextMonday。
IntheeveningIwenttotheLyceumTheatre，sawHenryIrvingandEllenTerryinSardou’s"Robespierre，"andforthefirsttimeinmylifewaswoefullydisappointedinthem。Theplayiswretchedlyconceived，anditamazesmethatSardou，whowrote"Thermidor，"
whichisasadmirableas"Robespierre"ismiserablecouldeverhaveattachedhisnametosuchapiece。
Forthewretchednessofitsformthereis，nodoubt，someexcuseinthefactthatithasbeendoneintoEnglish，anddoubtlesscut，pieced，andalteredtosuittheLyceumaudiences;butwhenonecomparestheconspiracypartofitwithaproperlyconceiveddramainwhichaconspiracyisdeveloped，likeSchiller’s"Fiesco，"thedifferenceisenormouslyinfavorofthelatter。AsliteraturetheplayinitsEnglishdressisbelowcontempt。
Astoitshistoricalcontents，Sardouresortstoanexpedientwhich，althoughquiteFrenchinitscharacter，bringsthewholethingdowntoalowerlevelthananythinginwhichIhadeverseenIrvingbefore。Thecenterofinterestisayoungroyalistwho，havingbeenpresentwithhismotherandsisterattheroll—callofthecondemnedandtheharrowingscenesresultingtherefrom，rushesforth，determinedtoassassinateRobespierre，butisdiscoveredbythelattertobehislong—lostillegitimateson，andthenoccuraseriesofmystificationssuitedonlytothelowestboulevardmelodrama。
Astotheactionofthepiece，theonlythingthatshowedIrving’sgreatabilitywasthesceneintheforestofMontmorency，where，asRobespierre，herevealsatonemoment，inhistalkwiththeEnglishenvoy，hisambition，hisoverestimateofhimself，hissuspicionofeverybodyandeverything，hiswillingnesstobecrueltoanyextentinordertobafflepossibleenemies;andthen，nextmoment，onthearrivalofhisyoungfriends，boysandgirls，thesentimental，Rousseausideofhischaracter。Thistransitionwasverystriking。ThechangesintheexpressionofIrving’sfaceweremarvelous——aswonderfulasthoseinhisLouisXI;butthatwasverynearlyall。Ineverythingelse，Coquelin，asIhadseenhiminSardou’s"Thermidor，"wasinfinitelybetter。
Besidesthis，thepiecewas，ingeneral，grotesquelyunhistorical。ItexhibitsRobespierre’scolleaguesintheCommitteeofPublicSafetyasnoisyanddirtystreetblackguards。
Now，badastheywere，theywerenotatallofthatspecies，nordidtheirdeliberationstakeplaceinthemannerdepicted。
Billaud—Varennesisrepresentedasadrunkenvagabondsittingonatableatthecommitteeanddeclaiming。Hewasnotthisatall，norwasTallien，vileashewas，anythingliketheblackguardshowninthispiece。
Thefinalscene，inwhichRobespierreisbroughtunderaccusationbytheConvention，wasvastlyinferiortothesamethingin"Thermidor";and，whatwasworse，insteadofparaphrasingortranslatingthespeechesofBillaud—Varennes，Tallien，andRobespierre，whichhemighthavefoundinthe"Moniteur，"Sardou，orratherIrving，makestheleadingcharactersyellharanguesverymuchofthesortwhichwouldbemadeinameetingofdrunkendocklaborersto—day。Irving’spartinthiswasnotatallwelldone。Theunhistoricaldetailsnowcamethickandfast，amongthemhisputtinghisheaddownonthetableofthetribuneasasignofexhaustion，andthen，attheclose，shootinghimselfinfrontofthetribunal。Ifhedidshoothimself，whichisdoubtful，itwasneitheratthattimenorinthatplace。
But，worstofall，thecharacterofRobespierrewasmadefartoomelodramatic，andwasutterlyunworthyofIrving，whom，inallhisotherpieces，Ihavevastlyadmired。Hecompletelymisconceiveshishero。Insteadofrepresentinghimas，fromfirsttolast，ashallowRousseausentimentalist，withthepropermixtureofvanity，suspicion，andcruelty，heputsintohimagreatdealtoomuchoftheruffian，whichwasnotatallinRobespierre’scharacter。
Themoststrikingsceneinthewholewastheroll—callattheprison。ThiswasperhapsbetterthanthatinSardou’s"Thermidor，"andthetableauxweredecidedlybetter。
Thesceneatthe"FestivaloftheSupremeBeing"wasalsoverystriking，andinmanyrespectshistorical;but，unlessIamgreatlymistaken，theperformancereferredtodidnottakeplaceasrepresented，butinthegardendirectlyinfrontoftheTuileries。ThefamilysceneatthehouseofDuplaythecarpenterwasexceedinglywellmanaged;oldDuplay，smokinghispipe，listeningtohisdaughtersplayingonaspinetandsingingsentimentalsongsoftheRousseauperiod，wasperfect。Theoldcarpenterandhisfamilyevidentlyfeltthatthegoldenagehadatlastarrived;thathumanitywasattheendofitstroubles;
andthattheworldwasindebtedforitalltotheirlodgerRobespierre，whosatinthemidstofthemreading，writing，andenjoyingthecoddlingandapplauselavisheduponhim。Andheandtheyweretogototheguillotinewithinaweek！
IncidentallytherecamealittletouchworthyofSardou;for，asRobespierrereadshisletters，hefindsonefromhisbrother，inwhichhespeaksofayoungsoldierandrevolutionistofabilitywhoseacquaintancehehasjustmade，whomheverymuchlikes，andwhoserepublicanismhethoroughlyindorses——oneBuonaparte。Thismighthaveoccurred，andverylikelydidoccur，verymuchasshownonthestage;foroneofthechargeswhichnearlycostBonapartehislifeontheNinthThermidorwasthathewasonfriendlytermswiththeyoungerRobespierre，whowasexecutedwithhismorefamousbrother。
Onthewhole，theplaywasverydisappointing。ItwouldcertainlyhavebeenhissedatthePorteSt。Martin，andprobablyatanyotherParistheater。
June1。
HavingleftLondonlastevening，IarrivedatTheHagueearlythismorningandfound，tomygreatsatisfaction，thatthesubcommitteeofthethirdcommitteehadunanimouslyadoptedtheAmericanplanof"secondingpowers，"andthatourwholegeneralplanofarbitrationwillbeto—dayinprintandtranslatedintoFrenchforpresentation。IalsofindthatSirJulianPauncefote’sarbitrationprojecthasadmirablepoints。
ThefirstarticleinSirJulian’sproposalstatesthat，withthedesiretofacilitateimmediaterecoursetoarbitrationbynationswhichmayfailtoadjustbydiplomaticnegotiationsdifferencesarisingbetweenthem，thesignatorypowersagreetoorganizeapermanenttribunalofinternationalarbitration，accessibleatalltimes，tobegovernedbyacode，providedbythisconference，sofarasapplicableandconsistentwithanyspecialstipulationsagreedtobetweenthecontestingparties。
Itssecondprovisionistheestablishmentofapermanentcentraloffice，wheretherecordsofthetribunalshallbepreservedanditsofficialbusinesstransacted，withapermanentsecretary，archivist，andsuitablestaff，whoshallresideonthespot。Thisofficeshallmakearrangementsfortheassemblingofthetribunal，attherequestofcontestingparties。
Itsthirdprovisionisthateachofthesignatorypowersshalltransmitthenamesoftwopersonswhoshallberecognizedintheirowncountryasjuristsorpublicistsofhighcharacterandfitness，andwhoshallbequalifiedtoactasjudges。Thesepersonsshallbemembersofthetribunal，andalistoftheirnamesshallberecordedinthecentraloffice。Incaseofdeathorretirementofanyoneofthese，thevacancyshallbefilledupbynewappointment。
Itsfourthprovisionisthatanyofthesignatorypowersdesiringtohaverecoursetothetribunalforthesettlementofdifferencesshallmakeknownsuchdesiretothesecretaryofthecentraloffice，whoshallthereuponfurnishthepowersconcernedwithalistofthemembersofthetribunal，fromwhichsuchpowersmayselectsuchnumberofjudgesastheymaythinkbest。
Thepowersconcernedmayalso，iftheythinkfit，adjointothesejudgesanyotherperson，althoughhisnamemaynotappearonthelist。Thepersonssoselectedshallconstitutethetribunalforthepurposeofsucharbitration，andshallassembleatsuchdateasmaybemostconvenientforthelitigants。
Thetribunalshallordinarilyholditssessionsat————;butitshallhavepowertofixitsplaceofsessionelsewhere，andtochangethesamefromtimetotime，ascircumstancesmaysuggest。
Thefifthprovisionisthatanypower，eventhoughnotrepresentedinthepresentconference，mayhaverecoursetothetribunalonsuchtermsasmaybeprescribedbytheregulations。
Provisionsixth:Thegovernmentof————ischargedbythesignatorypowers，ontheirbehalf，assoonaspossibleaftertheconclusionofthisconvention，tonameapermanentcouncilofadministration，at————，composedoffivemembersandasecretary。Thiscouncilshallorganizeandestablishthecentraloffice，whichshallbeunderitscontrolanddirection。Itshallmakesuchrulesandregulationsasmaybenecessaryfortheoffice;itshalldisposeofallquestionsthatmayariseinrelationtotheworkingofthetribunal，orwhichmaybereferredtoitbythecentraloffice;itshallmakeallsubordinateappointments，maysuspendordismissallemployees，andshallfixtheirsalariesandcontroltheirexpenditure。Thiscouncilshallselectitspresident，whoshallhaveacasting—vote。Theremunerationofthemembersshallbefixedfromtimetotimebyaccordbetweenthesignatorypowers。
Provisionseventh:Thesignatorypowersagreetoshareamongthemtheexpensespertainingtotheadministrationofthecentralofficeandthecouncilofadministration;buttheexpensesincidenttoeveryarbitration，includingtheremunerationofthearbiters，shallbeequallybornebythecontestingpowers。
Fromatheoreticalpointofview，IprefertothisourAmericanplanofatribunalpermanentlyinsession:thejudges，ineveryparticularcase，tobeselectedfromthis。Thuswouldbeprovidedacourtofanyoddnumberbetweenthreeandnine，asthecontestingpowersmaydesire。Butfromthepracticalpointofview，eventhoughtheRussianplanofrequiringthesignatorypowerstosendtothetribunalamultitudeofsmallermatters，suchasthoseconnectedwiththepostalservice，etc。，iscarriedout，thegreatdangeristhatsuchacourt，sittingconstantlyaswepropose，would，forsomeyears，haveverylittletodo，andthatsoonweshouldhavedemagoguesandfeather—brained"reformers"ridiculingthemas"useless，""eatingtheirheadsoff，"and"doingnothing";thatthendemagogicappealsmightleadonenationafteranothertowithdrawfromanarrangementinvolvinglargeexpenseapparentlyuseless;andinviewofthislatterdifficultyIammuchinclinedtothinkthatwemay，underouramendedinstructions，agreetosupport，initsessentialfeaturesasabovegiven，theBritishproposal，and，withsomereservations，thecodeproposedbytheRussians。
AmongthethingsnamedbytheRussiansassubjectswhichtheagreeingpowersmustsubmittoarbitration，arethoserelatingtorivernavigationandinternationalcanals;andthis，inviewofourpresentdifficultiesinAlaskaandinthematteroftheIsthmusCanal，wecanhardlyagreeto。DuringthemorningSirJuliancameinandtalkedoverourplanofarbitrationaswellashisownandthatsubmittedbyRussia。HesaidthathehadseenM。
deStaal，andthatitwasagreedbetweenthemthatthelattershouldsendSirJulian，atthefirstmomentpossible，anamalgamationoftheRussianandBritishplans，andthisSirJulianpromisedthathewouldbringtous，givingusachancetoinsertanyfeaturesfromourownplanwhich，inourjudgment，mightbeimportant。Heseemedmuchencouraged，asweallare。
Returningtoourrooms，IfoundCountMunster。Asusual，hewasveryinteresting;and，afterdiscussingsundryfeaturesoftheRussianplan，hetoldoneortworathergoodstories。HesaidthatduringhisstayinStPetersburgasminister，earlyinthereignofAlexanderII，hehadaveryseriousquarrelwithPrinceGortchakofftheministerofforeignaffairs，whoafterwardbecamethefamouschancelloroftheempire。
CountMunsterhadreceivedonedayfromaprofessoratGottingenaletterstatingthatayoungGermansavant，travelingforscientificpurposesinRussia，hadbeenseizedandtreatedasaprisoner，withoutanypropercausewhatever;that，whilehewasengagedinhispeacefulbotanizing，apoliceofficer，whowastakingagangofcriminalstoSiberia，hadcomealong，andoneofhisprisonershavingescaped，thisofficer，inordertoavoidcensure，hadseizedtheyoungsavant，quietlyclappedthenumberofthemissingmanonhisback，puthiminwiththegangofprisoners，andcarriedhimoffalongwiththerest;sothathewasnowheldasaconvictinSiberia。Thecountputtheletterinhispocket，thinkingthathemighthaveanopportunitytouseit，andadayortwoafterwardhischancecame。Walkingonthequay，hemettheEmperor（AlexanderII），whogreetedhimheartily，andsaid，"Letmewalkwithyou。"Afterwalkingandtalkingsometime，thecounttoldthestoryoftheyoungGerman，whereupontheEmperoraskedforproofsofitstruth。AtthisMunsterpulledtheletteroutofhispocket;and，bothhavingseatedthemselvesonabenchatthesideofthewalk，theEmperorreadit。Onfinishingit，theEmperorsaid:"SuchathingasthiscanhappenonlyinRussia。"Thatveryafternoonhesentaspecialpolicesquad，post—haste，allthewaytoSiberia，orderingthemtofindtheyoungGermanandbringhimbacktoSt。Petersburg。
NextdayCountMunstercalledattheForeignOfficeoncurrentbusiness，whenGortchakoffcameathiminagreatrage，askinghimbywhatrighthecommunicateddirectlywiththeEmperor;andinsistingthathehadnobusinesstogivealetterdirectlytotheEmperor，thatitoughttohavegonethroughtheForeignOffice。Gortchakoffreproachedthecountbitterlyforthisdeparturefromelementarydiplomaticetiquette。AtthisMunsterreplied:"IgavethelettertotheEmperorbecauseheaskedmeforit，andIdidnotgiveittoyoubecauseIknewperfectlywellthatyouwouldpigeonholeitandtheEmperorwouldneverhearofit。Iconcedemuchinmakinganyansweratalltoyourtalk，whichseemstomeofasortnotusualbetweengentlemen。"
AtthisGortchakoffwasmuchmilder，andfinallyalmostobsequious，becomingapparentlyoneofMunster’sdevotedfriends，evidentlythinkingthat，asMunsterhadgainedtheconfidenceoftheEmperor，hewasamantobecultivated。
Thesequeltothestorywasalsointeresting。Thepolicemen，aftertheirlongjourneytoSiberia，foundtheyoungGermanandbroughthimtoSt。Petersburg，wheretheEmperorreceivedhimverycordiallyandgavehimtwentythousandrublesasanindemnityforthewrongdonehim。TheyoungsavanttoldMunsterthathehadnotbeenbadlytreated，thathehadbeenassignedaverypleasantlittlecottage，andhadperfectfreedomtopursuehisscientificresearches。
OnmytalkingwiththecountaboutcertainRussianabuses，andmaintainingthatRussia，atleastincourtcircles，hadimprovedgreatlyunderAlexanderIIIasregardedcorruption，hesaidthathefearedshewasnowgoingback，andhethenrepeatedaremarkmadebytheoldGrandDukeMichael，brotherofAlexanderII，whosaidthatifanyRussianwereintrustedwiththeofficialcareofacanaryhewouldimmediatelysetupandmaintainacoachandpairoutofit。
Atsixo’clockourAmericandelegationmetandheardreports，especiallyfromCaptainMahanandCaptainCrozier，withreferencetothedoingsinthesubcommittees。CaptainMahanreportedthathehadvotedagainstforbiddingasphyxiatingbombs，etc。，evidentlywiththeideathatsuchaprovisionwouldprovetoberatherharmfulthanhelpfultothecauseofpeace。
CaptainCrozierreportedthathissubcommitteeofcommitteeNo。2
had，atitsrecentmeeting，triedtotakeuptheexemptionofprivatepropertyfromseizureonthehighseasintimeofwar，buthadbeendeclaredoutoforderbythechairman，DeMartens，theleadingRussiandelegate，whoseemsdeterminedtopreventthesubjectcomingbeforetheconference。ThequestionbeforeourAmericandelegationnowwas，ShallwetrytopushthisAmericanproposalbeforethesubcommitteeofthesecondcommittee，orbeforetheentireconferenceatalaterperiod？andthegeneralopinionwasinfavorofthelattercourse。Itwasnotthoughtbesttodelaythearbitrationplanbyitsintroductionatpresent。
IntheeveningdinedwithMinisterNewel，andhadaveryinterestingtalkwithVanKarnebeek，whohadalreadyfavorablyimpressedmebyhisclear—headednessandstraightforwardness;
alsowithMessrs。Asser，memberoftheDutchCouncilofState，andRahusen，memberoftheUpperChamberoftheStatesGeneral，bothofwhomareinfluentialdelegates。
Allthreeofthesemenspokestronglyinfavorofourplanfortheexemptionofprivatepropertyonthehighseas，VanKarnebeekwithespecialearnestness。Hesaidthat，lookingmerelyatthematerialinterestsoftheNetherlands，hemightverywellfavortheretentionofthepresentsystem，sincehiscountryislittlelikelytogointowar，andiscertaintoprofitbythecarryingtradeincaseofanyconflictbetweenthegreatpowers;that，ofcourse，undersuchcircumstances，alargeamountofcommercewouldcometoHollandasaneutralpower;butthatitwasaquestionofrightandofaproperdevelopmentofinternationallaw，andthathe，aswellasthetwoothergentlemenabovenamed，wasveryearnestlyinfavorofjointactionbythepowerswhoareinfavorofourproposal。HethoughtthattheimportantthingjustnowistosecurethecooperationofGermany，whichseemstobeatthepartingoftheways，andundecidedwhichtotake。
InthecourseoftheeveningoneofmyEuropeancolleagues，whoisespeciallyfamiliarwiththeinnerhistoryofthecallingoftheconference，toldmethatthereasonwhyProfessorStengelwasmadeadelegatewasnotthathewrotethebookinpraiseofwaranddepreciatingarbitration，whichcausedhisappointmenttobesounfavorablycommentedupon，butbecause，asaneminentprofessorofinternationallaw，herepresentedBavaria;andthatasBavaria，thoughrepresentedatSt。Petersburg，wasnotinvited，itwasthoughtveryessentialthatawell—knownmanfromthatkingdomshouldbeputintothegeneralGermandelegation。
OnmyaskingwhyBrazil，thoughrepresentedatSt。Petersburg，wasnotinvited，heansweredthatBrazilwasinvited，butshowednodesiretoberepresented。OnmyaskinghimifhesupposedthiswasbecauseotherSouthAmericanpowerswerenotinvited，hesaidthathethoughtnot;thatitwasratheritsownindifferenceandcarelessness，arisingfromthepresentunfortunatestateofgovernmentinthatcountry。OnmysayingthattheEmperorDomPedro，inhistime，wouldhavetakentheopportunitytosendastrongdelegation，hesaid:"Yes，hecertainlywouldhavedoneso;butthepresentgovernmentisapoorsortofthing。"
IalsohadatalkwithoneofthemosteminentpublicistsoftheNetherlands，onthequestionsdividingpartiesinthiscountry，tellinghimthatIfoundithardtounderstandthelineofcleavagebetweenthem。Heansweredthatitis，inthemain，alinebetweenreligiousconservativesandliberals;theconservativesembracingtheRomanCatholicsandhighorthodoxProtestants，andtheliberalsthoseofmoreadvancedopinions。HesaidthatsocialismplaysnogreatpartinHolland;thatthenumberofitsrepresentativesisverysmallcomparedwiththatinmanyEuropeanstates;thatthequestionsonwhichpartiesdividearemainlythoseinwhichclericalideasaremoreorlessprominent;thattheliberalparty，ifitkeepstogether，ismuchthestrongerpartyofthetwo，butthatitsuffersgreatlyfromitscliquesandfactions。
Onreturninghomeafterdinner，IfoundacipherdespatchfromtheSecretaryofStateinformingusthatPresidentMcKinleythinksthatourAmericancommissionoughtnottourgeanyproposalfor"secondingpowers";thathefearslestitmayblockthewayofthearbitrationproposals。ThisshowsthatimperfectreportshavereachedthePresidentandhiscabinet。Thefactisthattheproposalof"secondingpowers"waswarmlywelcomedbythesubcommitteewhenitwaspresented;thatthemembersverygenerallytelegraphedhometotheirgovernments，andatoncereceivedorderstosupportit;thatitwaspassedbyaunanimousvoteofthesubcommittee;andthatitsstrongestadvocateswerethemenwhoaremostinfavorofanarbitrationplan。Sofarfrominjuringtheprospectsofarbitration，ithasincreasedthem;itisverygenerallyspokenofasavictoryforourdelegation，andhasincreasedrespectforourcountry，andforanythingwemayhereafterpresent。
June2。
ThismorningwesentaciphertelegramtotheSecretaryofState，embodyingthefactsabovestated。
Theshoalsoftelegrams，reportsofproceedingsofsocieties，hortatoryletters，crankishproposals，andpeacepamphletsfromAmericacontinue。Oneofthetelegramswhichcamelatelastnightwaspathetic;itdeclaredthatthreemillionsofChristianEndeavorersbadeus"Godspeed，"etc。，etc。
DuringthemorningDeMartens，Low，Holls，andmyselfhadaverythoroughgoingdiscussionoftheRussian，British，andAmericanarbitrationplans。WefoundtheeminentRussianunderverycuriousmisapprehensionsregardingsomeminorpoints，oneofthembeingthathehadmistakenthesignificationofourword"publicist";andwewereespeciallysurprisedtofindhisuseoftheFrenchword"publiciste"sobroadthatitwouldincludeM。
HenriRochefort，Mr。Stead，oranynewspaperwriter;andhewasquiteassurprisedtofindthatwithusitwouldincludeonlysuchmenasGrotius，Wheaton，Calvo，andhimself。
Afteralongandintricatediscussionweseparatedonverygoodterms，havingmade，Ithink，decidedprogresstowardfusingallthreearbitrationplansintoonewhichshallembodythemeritsofall。
Onedifficultywefound，ofwhichneitherourStateDepartmentnorourselveshadbeenfullyaware。Ouroriginalplanrequiredthatthejudgesforthearbitrationtribunalshouldbenominatedbythehighestcourtsoftherespectivenations;butDeMartensshowedusthatRussiahasnohighestcourtinoursenseoftheword。Then，too，thereisAustria—Hungary，whichhastwosupremecourtsofequalauthority。Thisclause，therefore，wearrangedtoalter，thoughprovidingthattheoriginalmightstandasregardscountriespossessingsupremecourts。
AtlunchwehadBarondeBildt，SwedishministeratRomeandchiefoftheSwedishdelegationattheconference，andBarondeBille，DanishministeratLondonandchiefdelegatefromDenmark。
DeBilledeclaredhimselfaversetoapermanenttribunaltobeinconstantsession，onthegroundthat，havingsolittletodo，itwouldbeindangerofbecominganobjectofderisiontothepressandpeoplesoftheworld。
Wewereallgladtofind，uponthearrivaloftheLondon"Times，"
thatourarbitrationprojectseemedtobereceivingextensiveapproval，andvarioustelegramsfromAmericaduringthedayindicatedthesamething。
Itlooksmoreandmoreasifwearetoaccomplishsomething。TheonlythinginsightcalculatedtothrowacloudoverthefutureistheattitudeoftheGermanpressagainstthewholebusinesshere;themostvirulentinitsattacksbeingthehighLutheranconservative——andreligious！——journalinBerlin，the"Kreuz—Zeitung。"Still，itispleasanttoseethateminentnewspaperfind，foratime，someotherobjectofdenunciationthantheUnitedStates。
June3。
IntheafternoondrovetoScheveningenandtookteawithCountMunsterandhisdaughter。Hewassomewhatpessimistic，asusual，butcameoutverystronglyinfavoroftheAmericanviewasregardsexemptionofprivatepropertyonthehighseas。WhetherthisisreallybecauseGermanywouldderiveprofitfromit，orbecauseshethinksthisquestionaserviceableenteringwedgebetweentheUnitedStatesandGreatBritain，thereisnotellingatpresent。Iamsorrytosaythatourhopesregardingitaretobedashed，sofarasthepresentconferenceisconcerned。Sundrynewspaperlettersandarticlesinthe"Times"showclearlythattheEnglishGovernmentisstronglyopposedtodealingwithithereandnow;andasFranceandRussiatakethesameposition，thereisnohopeforanyaction，savesuchaswecantaketokeepthesubjectaliveandtosecureattentiontoitbysomefutureconference。
CHAPTERXLVII
ASPRESIDENTOFTHEAMERICANDELEGATIONATTHEPEACECONFERENCE
OFTHEHAGUE:III——1899
June4。
Wehavejusthadanexperiencewhich"addstothegaietyofnations。"Somedayssince，representativesofwhatiscalled"theYoungTurkishparty"appearedandaskedtobeheard。Theyreceived，generally，thecoldshoulder，mainlybecausetheinternalconditionofTurkeyisnotoneofthethingswhichtheconferencewasaskedtodiscuss;butalsobecausethereisasuspicionthatthese"YoungTurks"areenabledtoliveinluxuryatParisbyblackmailingtheSultan，andthattheirzealforreformbecomesfervidwhenevertheirfundsrunlow，andcoolswheneveraremittancecomesfromtheBosphorus。Butatlastsomeofusdecidedtogivethemahearing，informally;themainobjectbeingtogetridofthem。Atthetimeappointed，thedelegationappearedineveningdress，and，havingbeenusheredintotheroom，thespokesmanbeganasfollows，veryimpressively:
"YourExcellencies，vearezeYoungTurkeys。"
Thiswastoomuchformostofus，andIthinkthat，duringourwholestayatTheHaguethusfar，wehaveneverundertakenanythingmoredifficult，physically，thantokeepourfacesstraightduringtheharanguewhichfollowed。
Later，wewentwithnearlyalltheothermembersoftheconferencetoHaarlem，inaspecialtrain，byinvitationoftheburgomasterandtowncouncil，tothe"FeteHippique"andthe"FetedesFleurs。"Weweretreatedverywellindeed，refreshmentsbeingservedonthegrandstandduringtheperformances，whichconsistedofhurdleraces，etc。，forwhichIcarednothing，followedbyaprocessionofpeasantsinoldchaisesofvariousperiods，andinthecostumesofthevariousprovincesoftheNetherlands，whichinterestedmemuch。Thewholeclosedwithalongtrainoffineequipagessuperblydecoratedwithflowers。
Discussingthequestionoftheimmunityofprivateproperty，notcontrabandofwar，onthehighseas，Ifindthatthemainargumentwhichouropponentsarenowusingisthat，eveniftheprinciplewereconceded，newandtroublesomequestionswouldariseastowhatreallyconstitutescontrabandofwar;thatshipsthemselveswouldundoubtedlybeconsideredascontraband，sincetheycanbeusedinconveyingtroops，coal，supplies，etc。
June5。
Havinggivenupthemorningofthe5thmainlytoworkonplansofarbitration，mediation，andthelike，Iwenttothemeeting，atthe"HouseintheWood，"ofthethirdgreatcommitteeoftheconference——namely，thatonarbitration。
Thesessionwentoffsatisfactorily，ourdutybeingtopassuponthereportfromthesubcommitteewhichhadputthevariouspropositionsintoshapeforourdiscussion。ThereportwasadmirablypresentedbyM。Descamps，and，afterconsiderablediscussionofdetails，wasadoptedinallessentialfeatures。Themattersthusdiscussedandacceptedforpresentationtotheconferenceasawholerelated:
（1）Toaplanfortendering"goodoffices。"
（2）Toaplanforexaminingintointernationaldifferences。
（3）Tothe"specialmediation"plan。
Thelastwasexceedinglywellreceived，andourdelegationhasobtainedmuchcreditforit。Itistheplanofallowinganytwonationsdriftingintowartoappoint"secondingnations，"who，like"seconds"inaduel，shallattempttoaverttheconflict;
and，ifthisbeunsuccessful，shallcontinueactinginthesamecapacity，andendeavortoarresttheconflictattheearliestmomentpossible。
Verygeneralgoodfeelingwasshown，andmuchencouragementderivedfromthefactthatthesepreliminarymatterscouldbedealtwithinsoamicableandbusiness—likeaspirit。
BeforethemeetingItookalongwalkinthegardenbackofthepalacewithvariousgentlemen，amongthemMr。vanKarnebeek，whodiscussedadmirablywithmethequestionoftheexemptionofprivatepropertyfromseizureonthehighseas。Heagreedwithmethateveniftheextremedoctrinenowcontendedfor——namely，thatwhichmakesships，coal，provisions，andverynearlyeverythingelse，contraband——bepressed，stillafirststep，suchastheexemptionofprivatepropertyfromseizure，wouldbenonethelesswise，leavingthesubordinatequestionstobedealtwithastheyarise。
IafterwardcalledwithDr。HollsatthehouseoftheburgomasterofTheHague，andthankedhimforhiskindnessintenderingustheconcertlastSaturday，andforvariousothermarksofconsideration。
Onthewhole，matterscontinuetolookencouragingasregardsbothmediationandarbitration。