IntheeveningdinedatMinisterNewel’s。SatbetweenMinisterOkolicsanyioftheAustriandelegation，andCountWelsersheimb，thechairmanofthatdelegation，andhadinterestingtalkswiththem，withtheDukeofTetuan，andothers。ItappearsthattheDuke，whoisaverycharming，kindlyman，has，likemyself，apassionbothforcathedralarchitectureandfororganmusic;hedweltmuchuponBurgos，whichhecalledthegemofSpanishcathedrals。
ThencetothefinalreceptionatthehouseofM。deBeaufort，ministerofforeignaffairs，whoshowedmeacontemporaryportraitofGrotiuswhichdisplaysthetraitsobservableinthecopieswhichBurleighpaintedformetwentyyearsagoatAmsterdamandLeyden。TalkedwithSirJulianPauncefoteregardingtheSwissmatter;hehadabstainedfromvotingforthereasonthathehadnoinstructionsinthepremises。
July2。
InthemorningMajorAllen，militaryattacheofourembassyatBerlin，arrived，bringingtheGrotiuswreath。UnderSecretaryHay’spermission，IhadgiventooneofthebestBerlinsilversmithsvirtuallycarteblanche，andtheresultismostsatisfactory。Thewreathisverylarge，beingmadeup，ononeside，ofalaurelbranchwithleavesoffrostedsilverandberriesofgold，and，ontheother，ofanoakbranchwithsilverleavesandgoldacorns，bothboughsbeingtiedtogetheratthebottombyalargeknotofribboninsilvergilded，bearingthearmsoftheNetherlandsandtheUnitedStatesonenameledshields，andaninscriptionasfollows:
TotheMemoryofHUGOGROTIUS;
InReverenceandGratitude，FromtheUnitedStatesofAmerica;
OntheOccasionoftheInternationalPeaceConferenceofTheHague。
July4th，1899。
Itisasuperbpieceofwork，anditsebonycase，withsilverclasps，andbearingasilvershieldwithsuitableinscription，isalsoperfect:thewholethingattractsmostfavorableattention。
CHAPTERXLIX
ASPRESIDENTOFTHEAMERICANDELEGATIONATTHEPEACECONFERENCE
OFTHEHAGUE:V——1899
July4。
OnthisdaytheAmericandelegationinvitedtheircolleaguestocelebrateournationalanniversaryatthetombofGrotius，firstinthegreatchurch，andafterwardinthetownhallofDelft。
SpeechesweremadebytheministerofforeignaffairsoftheNetherlandsDeBeaufort;bytheirfirstdelegate，VanKarnebeek;
byMr。Asser，oneoftheirleadingjurists;bytheburgomasterofDelft;andbyBarondeBildt，chairmanoftheSwedishdelegationandministeratRome，whoreadatelegramfromtheKingofSwedenreferringtoGrotius’srelationstotheSwedishdiplomaticservice;aswellasbyPresidentLowofColumbiaUniversityandmyself:thedutybeingintrustedtomeoflayingthewreathuponGrotius’stombandmakingtheaddresswithreferencetoit。Asalltheaddressesaretobeprinted，Ishallgivenomoreattentiontothemhere。Averylargeaudiencewaspresent，embracingtheambassadorsandprincipalmembersoftheconference，theNetherlandsministersofstate，professorsfromthevariousuniversitiesoftheNetherlands，andalargebodyofotherinvitedguests。
Themusicofthechimes，oftheorgan，andoftheroyalchoirofonehundredvoiceswasveryfine;and，althoughthedaywasstormy，withahighwindanddrivingrain，everythingwentoffwell。
Aftertheexercisesinthechurch，ourdelegationgaveabreakfast，whichwasverysatisfactory。Aboutthreehundredandfiftypersonssatdowntothetablesatthetownhall，andonehundredotherguests，includingthemusicians，attheleadingrestaurantintheplace。IntheafternoontheAmericansgatheredatthereceptiongivenbyourminister，Mr。Newel，andhiswife，andintheeveningtherewasalargeattendanceatan"Americanconcert"givenbytheorchestraatthegreathallinScheveningen。
July5。
Earlyinthemorningtothesecondcommitteeoftheconference，whereIspokeinbehalfoftheBeldimanresolution，doingjusticetoSwitzerlandasregardsthecontinuanceoftheRedCrossinterestsinSwisshands;andongoingtoavoteweweresuccessful。
Then，thequestionofaproperdealingwithourmemorialregardingtheimmunityofprivatepropertyonthehighseascomingup，Ispokeinfavorofreferringittothegeneralconference，andgavethereasonswhyitshouldnotsimplybedroppedoutasnotcomingwithinthesubjectscontemplatedinthecalltotheconference。ThoughmyspeechwasinFrench，itwentoffbetterthanIexpected。
Intheafternoon，atthefullconference，thesamesubjectcameup;andthen，afteraprefaceinFrench，askingpermissiontospeakinEnglish，Imademyspeech，which，probably，threequartersofallthedelegatesunderstood，but，atmyrequest，asummaryofitwasafterwardgiveninFrenchbyMr。vanKarnebeek。
Theoccasionofthisspeechwasmysecondingthemotion，madeinaveryfriendlymannerbyM。deMartens，toreferthemattertoafutureconference;butIwentintothemeritsofthegeneralsubjecttoshowitsclaimsuponthevariousnations，etc。，etc。，thoughnot，ofcourse，asfullyasIwouldhavedonehadthematterbeenfullyunderdiscussion。Myspeechwasverywellreceived，andwill，Ihope，aidinkeepingthesubjectalive。
IntheafternoondrovetoRyswyck，tothehouseofM。CornetsdeGroot，thelivingrepresentativeoftheGrotiusfamily。Thehouseandgroundswereverypleasant，butthegreatattractionwasacollectionofrelicsofGrotius，includingmanymanuscriptsfromhisownhand，——amongtheseacatechismforhischildren，writtenintheprisonofLoewenstein;withofficialdocuments，signedandsealed，connectedwiththepublictransactionsofhistime;alsoletterswhichpassedbetweenhimandOxenstiern，thegreatSwedishchancellor，someinLatinandsomeinotherlanguages;
besidessundrypoems。Therewerealsoamultitudeofportraits，engravings，anddocumentsrelatingtoOlden—BarneveldandothersofGrotius’scontemporaries。
TheDeGrootfamilygaveusamostheartyreception，introducingtheirlittlegirl，whoisthelatest—borndescendantofGrotius，andshowingusvarioushouseholdrelicsoftheirgreatancestor，includingcups，glasses，andthelike。Mr。DeGrootalsogavemesomecuriousinformationregardinghimwhichIdidnotbeforepossess;and，amongotherthings，toldmethatwhenGrotius’sbodywastransferred，shortlyafterhisdeath，fromRostocktoDelft，thecoffincontainingitwasstonedbyamobatRotterdam;
alsothatattheunveilingofthestatueofGrotiusinfrontofthechurchatDelft，afewyearsago，thehigh—churchCalvinistswouldnotallowthechildrenfromtheirchurchschoolstojointheotherchildreninsinginghymns。TheoldbitternessoftheextremeCalvinisticpartytowardtheirgreatcompatriotwasthusstillexhibited，andtheremarkwasmadeatthetime，byamemberofit，thatthestatuewasperfectlytruetolife，since"itsbackwasturnedtowardthechurch";towhichareplywasmadethat"Grotius’sfaceinthestatue，likehislivingface，wassteadilyturnedtowardjustice。"Thislatterremarkhadreferencetothefactthatacourtisheldinthecityhall，towardwhichthestatueisturned。
IntheeveningtoadinnergivenbyMr。Piersoon，ministeroffinanceandprimeministeroftheNetherlands，toourdelegationandtohiscolleaguesoftheDutchministry。Everythingpassedoffwell，Mr。PiersoonproposingatoasttothehealthofthePresidentoftheUnitedStates，towhichIrepliedinatoasttotheQueenoftheNetherlands。InthecourseofhisspeechMr。
PiersoonthankedusforourtributetoGrotius，andshowedreallydeepfeelingonthesubject。ThereisnodoubtthatwehavestruckaresponsivechordintheheartsofallliberalandthoughtfulmenandwomenoftheNetherlands;fromeveryquartercomeevidencesofthis。
Aremarkofhis，regardingarbitration，especiallypleasedus。Hesaidthatthearbitrationplan，asithadcomefromthegreatcommittee，waslikeababy:——apparentlyhelpless，andofverylittlevalue，unabletodomuch，andrequiringcarefulnursing;
butthatithadonegreatmerit:——ITWOULDGROW。
ThisIbelievetobeaveryaccuratestatementofthesituation。
Thegeneralfeelingoftheconferencebecomesbetterandbetter。
Moreandmoretheoldskepticismhasdeparted，andinplaceofithascomeastrongambitiontohaveashareinwhatwearebeginningtobelievemaybeamosthonorablecontributiontothepeaceoftheworld。Ihavenevertakenpartinmoreearnestdiscussionsthanthosewhichduringthelasttwoweekshaveoccupiedus，andespeciallythoserelatingtoarbitration。
IthinkImaysay，withoutassumingtoomuch，thatourGrotiuscelebrationhasbeenacontributionofsomevaluetothisgrowthofearnestness。Ithas，ifIamnotgreatlymistaken，revealedtotheconference，stillmoreclearlythanbefore，thefactthatitisahistoricalbodyintrustedwithamatterofvastimportanceanddifficulty，andthatweshallbejudgedinhistorywithreferencetothisfact。
July6。
At5。30P。M。offinspecialtrainwiththeentireconferencetoAmsterdam。Onarriving，wefoundalongtrainofcourtcarriageswhichtookustothepalace，thehousesoneachsidethroughouttheentiredistancebeingdecoratedwithflagsandbanners，andthestreetscrowdedwithmen，women，andchildren。Wewereindeedabraveshow，sinceallofus，exceptthemembersofourAmericandelegation，woregorgeousuniformswithnoendofribbons，stars，andinsigniaofvariousofficesandorders。
Onreachingourdestination，wewerereceivedbytheQueenandQueen—mother，andshortlyafterwardwentintodinner。Withthepossibleexceptionofalordmayor’sfeastattheGuildhall，itwasthemostimposingthingofthekindthatIhaveeverseen。
Thegreatbanqueting—hall，datingfromthegloriousdaysoftheDutchRepublic，isprobablythelargestandmostsumptuousincontinentalEurope，andthetablefurniture，decorations，anddinnerwereworthyofit。Abouttwohundredandfiftypersons，includingallthemembersoftheconferenceandthehigherofficialsofthekingdom，satdown，theQueenandQueen—motherattheheadofthetable，andaboutthemtheambassadorsandpresidentsofdelegations。Myownplace，beingveryneartheMajesties，gavemeanexcellentopportunitytoseeandheareverything。TowardthecloseofthebanquettheyoungQueenaroseandaddressedus，soeasilyandnaturallythatIshouldhavesupposedherspeechextemporaneoushadInotseenherconsultinghermanuscriptjustbeforerising。Hermannerwasperfect，andhervoicesoclearastobeheardbyeveryoneinthehall。
Everythingconsidered，itwasaremarkableeffortforayoungladyofseventeen。Atitscloseanexcellentreplywasmadebyourpresident，M。deStaal;andsoonafterward，whenwehadpassedintothegreatgallery，therecameanevenmorestrikingexhibitionofthepowersofheryouthfulMajesty，forsheconversedwitheverymemberoftheconference，andwiththeutmosteaseandsimplicity。TomeshereturnedthanksfortheGrotiustribute，andinverycordialterms，asdidlateralsotheQueen—mother;andIcannotbutbelievethattheyweresincere，since，threemonthslater，atthefestivalgiventhematPotsdam，theybothrenewedtheiracknowledgmentsinacordialwaywhichshowedthattheirpatrioticheartswerepleased。VariousleadingmenoftheNetherlandsandoftheconferencealsothankedus，andoneofthemsaid，"YouAmericanshavetaughtusalesson;for，insteadofameredisplayoffireworkstotherabbleofasinglecity，oraballorconcerttoafewofficials，youhave，inthissolemnrecognitionofGrotius，paidthehighestcomplimentpossibletotheentirepeopleoftheNetherlands，past，present，andtocome。"
July7。
Inthemorningtothegreathallofthe"HouseintheWood，"
wherethe"editingcommittee"（comitederedaction）reportedtothethirdcommitteeoftheconferencethewholearbitrationplan。
Itstruckmemostfavorably，——indeed，itsurprisedme，thoughI
havekeptwatchofeverystep。Iamconvincedthatitisbetterthananyoftheplansoriginallysubmitted，notexceptingourown。Itwillcertainlybeagaintotheworld。
AtthecloseofthesessionweadjourneduntilMonday，the17th，inorderthatthedelegatesmaygetinstructionsfromtheirvariousgovernmentsregardingthesigningoftheprotocols，agreements，etc。
July8。
IntheeveningdinedwithM。deMier，theMexicanministeratParisanddelegatehere，andhadaveryinterestingtalkwithM。
Raffalovitch，towhomIspokeplainlyregardingtheonlyroadtodisarmament。ItoldhimthathemustknowaswellasanyonethatthereisavaguedreadthroughoutEuropeoftheenormousgrowthofRussia，andthathemustacknowledgethat，whetherjustornot，itisperfectlynatural。Heacquiescedinthis，andIthenwentontosaythattheEmperorNicholashadbeforehimanopportunitytodomoregoodandmakeanoblerreputationthananyotherczarhadeverdone，notexceptingAlexanderIIwithhisemancipationoftheserfs;thatIhadthoughtveryseriouslyofwriting，atthecloseoftheconference，toM。Pobedonostzeff，presentingtohimthereasonswhyRussiamightwellmakeapracticalbeginningofdisarmamentbydismissingtotheirhomes，orplacingonpublicworks，saytwohundredthousandofhersoldiers;thatthiswouldleaveherallthesoldierssheneeds，andmore;thathemustknow，aseverybodyknows，thatnootherpowerdreamsofattackingRussiaordarestodoso;thattherewouldbenodisadvantageinsuchadismissaloftroopstopeacefulavocations，buteveryadvantage;andthatifitweredonetheresultwouldbethat，inlessthanfortyyears，Russiawouldbecome，bythishusbandingofherresources，themostpowerfulnationontheeasterncontinent，andabletocarryoutanyjustpolicywhichshemightdesire。ImighthaveaddedthatoneadvantageofsuchareductionwouldcertainlybelessinclinationbythewarpartyatSt。Petersburgtoplungeintomilitaryadventures。（HadRussiathusreducedherarmyshewouldneverhavesunkintotheconditioninwhichshefindsherselfnow（1905），asIrevisetheselines。InsteadofsendingAlexeiefftomakewar，shewouldhaveallowedDeWittetomakepeace——peaceonabasisofjusticetoJapan，andawinteraccesstothePacific，underpropersafeguards，forherself。）
Raffalovitchseemedtoacquiescefullyinmyview，exceptastothenumberofsoldierstobereleased，sayingthatfiftyorsixtythousandwoulddoperfectlywellasshowingthatRussiaisinearnest。
HeisoneoftheyoungermenofRussia，buthasverydecidedability，andthishehasshownnotonlyinhissecretaryshipoftheconference，butinseveralofhisworksonfinancialandotherpublicquestionspublishedinParis，whichhavesecuredforhimacorrespondingmembershipoftheFrenchInstitute。
Itisabsolutelyclearinmymindthat，ifanythingistobedonetowarddisarmament，apracticalbeginningmustbemadebytheCzar;buttheunfortunatethingisthatwith，nodoubt，fairlygoodintentions，heisweakandillinformed。ThedreadfulmistakeheismakinginviolatingtheoathswornbyhispredecessorsandhimselftoFinlandistheresultofthisweaknessandignorance;andshouldheattempttodiminishhisovergrownarmyhewould，inallprobability，beoverbornebythemilitarypeopleabouthim，andbypettydifficultieswhichtheywouldsuggest，or，ifnecessary，create。Itmustbeconfessedthatthereisonedangerinanyattempteddisarmament，andthisisthatthemilitarycliquemight，topreventit，plungetheempireintoawar。
TheEmperorissurroundedmainlybyinferiormen。Undertheshadeofautocracymenofindependentstrengthrarelyflourish。Indeed，IfindthattheopinionregardingRussianstatesmenwhichI
formedinRussiaisconfirmedbyolddiplomatists，ofthebestjudgment，whomImeethere。Oneofthemsaidtometheotherday:
"Thereisnogreatertwaddlethanallthetalkaboutfar—seeingpurposesandmeasuresbyRussianstatesmen。Theyaregenerallyweak，influencedbyminor，andespeciallybypersonal，considerations，andinferiortomostmeninsimilarpositionsintheothergreatgovernmentsofEurope。Thechancellor，PrinceGortchakoff，ofwhomsomuchhasbeensaid，wasaweak，vainman，whomBismarckfounditgenerallyveryeasytodealwith。"
Astomyownexperience，IthinkmanyofthosewhomIsawwerefarfromthebestoftheirkindwithwhomIhavehadtodo。I
haveneverimaginedahumanbeinginthepositionofministeroftheinteriorofagreatnationsoutterlyfutileasthepersonwhoheldthatplaceatSt。Petersburginmytime;andthesamemaybesaidofseveralotherswhomImetthereinhighplaces。
Thereareafewstrongmen，and，unfortunately，Pobedonostzeffisoneofthem。Luckily，DeWitte，theministeroffinance，isanother。
July10。
TheevilwhichIdreaded，asregardstheformationofpublicopinioninrelationtotheworkofourconference，isbecomingrealized。TheLondon"Spectator，"justreceived，containsamostdishearteningarticle，"ThePeaceConferenceaFailure，"withanadditionalarticle，morefullydeveloped，tothesameeffect。
Nothingcouldbemoreunjust;but，onaccountofthe"Spectator’s""moderation，"itwillgreatlyinfluencepublicopinion，anddoubtlessprevent，tosomeextent，thecallingoffutureconferencesneededtodevelopthegoodworkdoneinthis。
Fortunatelythecorrespondentofthe"Times"givesabetterexample，andshows，inhisexcellentletters，whathasbeenaccomplishedhere。The"NewYorkHerald，"also，isthusfartakingtherightview，andmaintainingitwithsomeearnestness。
July17。
Thismorning，atten，tothe"HouseintheWood"tohearMr。vanKarnebeek’sreportondisarmament，checkinginvention，etc。，beforethesessionofcommitteeNo。1。Itwasstronglyattacked，andwasleftinshreds:thewholesubjectisevidentlytooimmatureandcomplicatedtobedealtwithduringthepresentconference。
Intheafternooncameupanespeciallyinterestingmatterinthesessionofthearbitrationcommittee，theoccasionbeingareportofthesubcommittee。AmongthepointswhichmostinterestedusasAmericanswasaprovisionforanappealfromthedecisionofthearbitrationtribunalonthediscoveryofnewfacts。
DeMartensofRussiaspokewithgreatforceagainstsuchrightofappeal，andotherstookgroundwithhim。Hollsreallydistinguishedhimselfbyatellingspeechontheotherside——whichistheAmericanside，thatfeaturehavingbeenpresentinouroriginalinstructions;Messrs。AsserandKarnebeekbothspokeforiteffectively，andthefinaldecisionwasvirtuallyinourfavor，forMr。Asser’scompromisewasadopted，whichreallygivesusthecase。
TheSiameserepresentativesrequestedthatthetimeduringwhichanappealmightbeallowedshouldbesixinsteadofthreemonths，whichwehadnamed;butitwasfinallymadeamatterofadjustmentbetweentheparties。
July18。
TheAmericandelegationmetatten，whenacablemessagefromtheStateDepartmentwasreadauthorizingustosigntheprotocol。
July19。
Fielddayinthearbitrationcommittee。AdecidedsensationwasproducedbyvigorousspeechesbymyBerlincolleague，Beldiman，oftheRoumaniandelegation，andbyServian，Greek，andotherdelegates，againsttheprovisionforcommissionsd’enquete，——DeMartens，Descamps，andothersmakingvigorousspeechesinbehalfofthem。ItlookedasiftheBalkanstateswerelikelytowithdrawfromtheconferenceifthecommissiond’enquetefeaturewasinsistedupon:theyareevidentlyafraidthatsuch"examiningcommissions"maybesentwithintheirboundariesbysomeoftheirbigneighbors——Russia，forexample——tospyoutthelandandstartintrigues。Thewholematterwasputover。
IntheeveningtoCountMunster’sdinneratScheveningen，andhadaveryinterestingtalkonconferencematterswithSirJulianPauncefote，findingthatinmostthingsweshallbeabletostandtogetherasthecrisisapproaches。
July20。
ForseveraldayspastIhavebeenpreparingapossiblespeechtobemadeinsigningtheprotocol，etc。，which，ifnotusedforthatpurpose，maybepublished，and，perhaps，aidinkeepingpublicopinionintherightlineasregardstheworkoftheconferenceafterithasclosed。
Intheafternoontothe"HouseintheWood，"thecommitteeonarbitrationmeetingagain。MorespeechesweremadebytheBulgariansandServians，whoarestillupinarms，fearingthatthecommissionnd’enquetemeansinterventionbythegreatstatesintheiraffairs。SpeechestoallaytheirfearsweremadebyCountNigra，Dr。Zorn，Holls，andLeonBourgeois。ZornspokeinGermanwithexcellenteffect，asdidHollsinEnglish;Nigrawasreallyimpressive;andBourgeois，fromthechair，gaveusaspecimenoffirst—rateFrenchoratory。HemadeamostearnestappealtothedelegatesoftheBalkanstates，showingthemthatbysuchasystemofarbitrationasisnowproposedthelesserpowerswouldbetheveryfirsttoprofit，andheappealedtotheirloyaltytohumanity。Thespeechwasgreatlyandjustlyapplauded。
TheBalkandelegatesaregraduallyandgracefullyyielding。
July21。
Inthemorningtothe"HouseintheWood，"whereaplenarysessionoftheconferencewasheld。Itwasafielddayonexplosive，flatteningandexpandingbullets，etc。OurCaptainCrozier，whoevidentlyknowsmoreaboutthesubjectthananybodyelsehere，urgedadeclarationoftheprinciplethatballsshouldbenotmoredeadlyorcruelthanisabsolutelynecessarytoputsoldiershorsdecombat;butthecommitteehadreportedaresolutionwhich，Crozierinsists，opensthedoortoworsemissilesthanthoseatpresentused。Manyandearnestspeechesweremade。Imadeashortspeech，movingtoreferthematterbacktothecommittee，withinstructionstoharmonizeandcombinethetwoideasinonearticle——thatis，theideawhichthearticlenowexpresses，andCrozier’sideaofstatingthegeneralprincipletowhichthebulletsshouldconform——namely，thatofnotmakingawoundmorecruelthannecessary;buttheamendmentwaslost。
July22。
SirJulianPauncefotecalledtodiscusswithusthesigningoftheActeFinal。Thereseemstobegeneraldoubtastowhatisthebestmannerofsigningtheconventions，declarations，etc。，andallremainsintheair。
InthemorningtheAmericandelegationmetandCaptainMahanthrewinabombregardingarticle27，whichrequiresthatwhenanytwopartiestotheconferencearedriftingintowar，theotherpowersshouldconsideritaduty（devoir）toremindthemofthearbitrationtribunal，etc。HethinksthatthisinfringestheAmericandoctrineofnotentanglingourselvesintheaffairsofforeignstates，andwillpreventtheratificationoftheconventionbytheUnitedStatesSenate。Thisarousedearnestdebate，CaptainMahaninsistingupontheomissionoftheword"devoir，"andDr。Hollsdefendingthearticleasreportedbythesubcommittee，ofwhichheisamember，andcontendingthatthepeculiarinterestsofAmericacouldbeprotectedbyareservation。Finally，thedelegationvotedtoinsistupontheinsertionofthequalifyingwords，"autantquelescirconstancespermettent，"butthisdecisionwasafterwardabandoned。
July23。
MetatourMinisterNewel’ssupperSirHenryHoward，whotoldmethatthepresentDutchministry，withPiersoonatitsheadandDeBeaufortasministerofforeignaffairs，isinaverybadway;
thatits"subserviencytoItaly，"inoppositiontothedemandsoftheVaticanforadmittanceintotheconference，anditsdifficultieswiththesocialistsandothers，arisingfromthepolicemeasurestakenagainstArmenian，Finnish，NewTurkish，andotheroratorswhohavewishedtocomehereandmaketheconferenceandthecityabear—garden，haveledboththeextremeparties——thatis，thesolidRomanCatholicpartyononeside，andthepretendedvotariesoflibertyontheother——tohatetheministryequally。Hethinksthattheywilljoinhandsandousttheministryjustassoonastheconferenceisover。
SomeallowanceistobemadeforthefactthatSirHenryisaRomanCatholic:whilegenerallyliberal，heevidentlylooksatmanyquestionsfromthepointofviewofhischurch。[9]
[9]Asitturnedout，hewasright:theministrywasousted，butnotsosoonasheexpected，forthecatastrophedidnotarriveuntilabouttwoyearslater。ThencameinacoalitionofhighCalvinistsandRomanCatholicswhichbroughtintheKuyperministry。
July24。
Forsomedays——infact，eversinceCaptainMahanonthe22dcalledattentiontoarticle27ofthearbitrationconventionaslikelytobeconsideredaninfringementoftheMonroeDoctrine——ourAmericandelegationhasbeengreatlyperplexed。WehavebeentryingtoinducetheFrench，whoproposedarticle27，andwhoareasmuchattachedtoitasisahentoheronechick，togiveitup，or，atleast，toallowalimitingorexplanatoryclausetobeplacedwithit。Variousclausesofthissorthavebeenproposed。Thearticleitselfmakesitthedutyoftheothersignatorypowers，whenanytwonationsareevidentlydriftingtowardwar，toremindthesetwonationsthatthearbitrationtribunalisopentothem。Nothingcanbemoresimpleandnatural;
butwefearlest，whentheconventioncomesupforratificationintheUnitedStatesSenate，someover—sensitivepatriotmayseektodefeatitbyinsistingthatitisreallyaviolationoftime—honoredAmericanpolicyathomeandabroad——thepolicyofnotentanglingourselvesintheaffairsofforeignnations，ononeside，andofnotallowingthemtointerfereinouraffairs，ontheother。
AttwelvethisdayourdelegationgavealargeluncheonattheOudeDoelen——amongthosepresentbeingAmbassadorsDeStaal，CountNigra，andSirJulianPauncefote，Bourgeois，Karnebeek，Basily，Barond’Estournelles，BarondeBildt，andothers——todiscussmeansofgettingoutoftheabove—mentioneddifficulty。A
mostearnesteffortwasmadetoinducetheFrenchtoallowsomesuchmodificationashasbeenputintootherarticles——namely，thewords，"autantquepossible，"orsomelimitingclausetothesameeffect;butneitherBourgeoisnorD’Estournelles，representingFrance，wouldthinkofitforamoment。Bourgeois，astheheadoftheFrenchdelegation，spokeagainandagain，atgreatlength。Amongotherthings，hegaveusaverylongdisquisitiononthemeaningof"devoir"asitstandsinthearticle——adisquisitionwhichshowedthattheJesuitsarenottheonlyskilfulcasuistsintheworld。
IthenpresentedmyprojectofadeclarationoftheAmericandoctrinetobemadebyusonsigning。Ithadbeenscratchedoffwithapencilinthemorning，hastily;butitwaswellreceivedbyBourgeois，D’Estournelles，andalltheothers。
Laterweheldameetingofourowndelegation，when，tomyprojectofadeclarationstatingthatnothingcontainedinanypartoftheconventionsignedhereshouldbeconsideredasrequiringustointrude，mingle，orentangleourselvesinEuropeanpoliticsorinternalaffairs，LowmadeanexcellentadditiontotheeffectthatnothingshouldbeconsideredtorequireanyabandonmentofthetraditionalattitudeoftheUnitedStatestowardquestionspurelyAmerican;and，withslightverbalchanges，thiscombinationwasadopted。
July25。
AllnightlongIhavebeentossingaboutinmybedandthinkingofourdeclarationoftheMonroeDoctrinetobebroughtbeforetheconferenceto—day。Weallfearthattheconferencewillnotreceiveit，orwillinsistonoursigningwithoutitornotsigningatall。
OnmywaytoTheHaguefromScheveningenImetM。Descamps，theeminentprofessorofinternationallawintheUniversityofLouvain，andtheleadingdelegateintheconferenceasregardsintricatelegalquestionsconnectedwiththearbitrationplan。Hethoughtthatourbestwayoutofthedifficultywasabsolutelytoinsistonaclauselimitingthedevoirimposedbyarticle27，andtoforceittoavote。Hedeclaredthat，inspiteoftheFrench，itwouldcertainlybecarried。ThisIdoubt。M。Descampsknows，perhaps，moreofinternationallawthanofthetemperofhisassociates。
Intheafternoontothe"HouseintheWood，"wherethe"FinalAct"wasread。Thisisastatementofwhathasbeendone，summedupintheformofthreeconventions，withsundrydeclarations，voeux，etc。Wehadtakenpainstoseeanumberoftheleadingdelegates，andall，intheiranxietytosavethemainfeaturesofthearbitrationplan，agreedthattheywouldnotopposeourdeclaration。ItwasthereforeplacedinthehandsofRaffalovitch，theRussiansecretary，whostoodclosebesidethepresident，andassoonasthe"FinalAct"hadbeenrecitedhereadthisdeclarationofours。ThiswasthenbroughtbeforetheconferenceinplenarysessionbyM。deStaal，andtheconferencewasaskedwhetheranyonebadanyobjection，oranythingtosayregardingit。Therewasapauseofaboutaminute，whichseemedtomeaboutanhour。Notawordwassaid，——infact，therewasdeadsilence，——andsoourdeclarationembodyingareservationinfavoroftheMonroeDoctrinewasdulyrecordedandbecamepartoftheproceedings。
RarelyinmylifehaveIhadsuchafeelingofdeeprelief;for，duringsomedayspast，ithaslookedasifthearbitrationproject，sofarastheUnitedStatesisconcerned，wouldbewreckedonthatwretchedlittlearticle27。
Ihadbeforemenotesofaspeechcarefullyprepared，statingourreasonsandreplyingtoobjections，tobeusedincasewewereattacked，butitwasnotneeded。IntheeveningIwasaskedbyMr。Lavino，thecorrespondentoftheLondon"Times，"toputthegistofitintoan"interview"forthegreatnewspaperwhichheserves，andtothisIconsented;for，duringtheproceedingsthisafternoonintheconference，SirJulianPauncefoteshowedgreatuneasiness。Hewasveryanxiousthatweshouldwithdrawthedeclarationaltogether，andsaid，"Itwillbechargedagainstyouthatyouproposetoevadeyourdutieswhileusingthetreatytopromoteyourinterests";butIheldfirmandpressedthematter，withtheresultabovestated。Ifearedthathewouldobjectinopenconference;buthisloyaltytoarbitrationevidentlydeterredhim。However，hereturnedtothechargeprivately，andI
thenpromisedtomakeapublicstatementofourreasonsforthedeclaration，andthisseemedtoeasehismind。Theresultwasarecastingofmyproposedspeech，andthisMr。Lavinothrewintotheformofalongtelegramtothe"Times。"
July26。
AttentoameetingofourAmericandelegation，whenanotherbombshellwasthrownamongus——nothinglessthanthequestionwhetherthePopeistobeallowedtobecomeoneofthesignatorypowers;andthisquestionhasnowtakenaveryacuteform。Italyis，ofcourse，utterlyopposedtoit，andGreatBritainwillnotsignifanybesidesthoseagreeduponbythesignatorypowersareallowedtocomeinhereafter，hermotivebeing，nodoubt，toavoidtroubleinregardtotheTransvaal。
Mr。Lowstatedthatinthegreatcommitteetheprevailingopinionseemedtobethatthesignatorypowershadmadeasortofpartnership，andthatnonewpartnerscouldbeaddedwithouttheconsentofall。Thisisthenaturalground，andentirelytenable。
Iwouldhavebeengladtoaddtheadditionalrequirementthatnopowershouldbeadmittedwhichwouldnotmakearbitrationreciprocal——thatis，nopowerwhich，whileaidingtoarbitrateforothers，wouldnotacceptarbitrationbetweenitselfandanotherpower。Thiswould，ofcourse，excludetheVatican;for，whileitdesirestojudgeothers，itwillallownointerestsofitsown，noteventhemostworldlyandtrivial，tobesubmittedtoanyearthlytribunal。