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。