June6。
　　InthemorningSirJulianPauncefotecalled，andagainwentovercertaindetailsintheAmerican，British，andRussianplansofarbitration，discussingsomematterstobestrickenoutandotherstobeinserted。Hedeclaredhisreadinesstostrikeoutafeatureofhisplantowhichfromthefirst，Ihavefeltaverygreatobjection——namely，thatwhich，afterthetribunalisconstituted，allowsthecontestingpartiestocallintoitandmixwithitpersonssimplychosenbythecontestantsadhoc。Thisseemstomeadilutionoftheideaofapermanenttribunal，andameansofdelayandofcomplicationswhichmayproveunfortunate。
　　Itwouldcertainlybesaidthatifthecontestantsweretobeallowedtonametwoormorejudgesfromoutsidethetribunal，theymightjustaswellnominateall，andthussavetheexpenseattendantuponaregularlyconstitutedinternationalcourtchosenbythevariousgovernments。
　　LaterinthedayIwroteaprivatelettertotheSecretaryofStatesuggestingthatourAmericandelegationbeauthorizedtolayawreathofsilverandgolduponthetombofGrotiusatDelft，notonlyasatributetothemanwhosetinmotiontheideaswhich，nearlythreehundredyearslater，haveledtotheassemblingofthisconference，butasanindicationofourgratitudetotheNetherlandsGovernmentforitshospitalityandtheadmirableprovisionithasmadeforourworkhere，andalsoasasignofgood—willtowardtheoldergovernmentsoftheworldontheoccasionoftheirfirstmeetingwithdelegatesfromthenewworld，inaconferencetreatingofmattersmostimportanttoallnations。
　　IntheeveningtoMr。vanKarnebeek’sreception，andtheremetMr。Raffalovitch，oneoftheRussiansecretariesoftheconference，who，ascounciloroftheRussianEmpireandcorrespondingmemberoftheFrenchInstitute，hasaEuropeanreputation，andurgedhimtoaidinstrikingouttheclauseintheplanwhichadmitsjudgesotherthanthoseofthecourt。Myhopeisthatitwilldisappearinthesubcommitteeandnotcomeupinthegeneralmeetingofthethirdgreatcommittee。
　　June8。
　　TheAmericandelegationintheafternoondiscussedatlengththeproposalsrelatingtotheBrusselsConferencerulesforthemorehumanecarryingonofwar。Considerabledifferenceofopinionhasariseninthesectionoftheconferenceinwhichthepreliminarydebatesareheld，andCaptainCrozier，ourrepresentative，hasbeeninsomedoubtastothegroundtobetakenbetweentheseopposingviews。Ononesidearethosewhothinkitbesttogoatconsiderablelengthintomoreorlessminuterestrictionsupontheconductofinvadersandinvaded。Ontheotherside，M。
　　BernaertofBelgium，oneofthetwomosteminentmenfromthatcountry，andothers，takethegroundthatitwouldbebettertoleavethewholemattertothegeneraldevelopmentofhumanityininternationallaw。M。deMartensinsiststhatnowisthetimetosettlethematter，ratherthanleaveittoindividualswho，intimeofwar，arelikelytobemoreorlessexasperatedbyaccountsofatrocitiesandtohavenoadequatetimefordecidinguponapolicy。Afterconsiderablediscussionbyourdelegation，thewholematterwentover。
　　IntheeveningtoagreatreceptionatthehouseofSirHenryHoward，Britishministeratthiscourt。Itwasverybrilliant，andthewholeaffordedanexampleofJohnBull’sgoodsenseinprovidingforhisrepresentativesabroad，andenablingthemtoexerciseasocialinfluenceonthecommunitieswheretheyarestationed，whichrapidlybecomesapoliticalinfluencewiththegovernmentstowhichtheyareaccredited。SirHenryisprovidedwithalarge，attractivehouse，meanstoentertainamply，andhasbeenkeptintheservicelongenoughtoknoweverybodyandtobecomeexperiencedintherightwayofgettingatthemenhewishestoinfluence，andofdoingthethingshisgovernmentneedstohavedone。ThroughoutthewholeworldthisisJohnBull’swisewayofdoingthings。AteverycapitalIhavevisited，includingWashington，Constantinople，St。Petersburg，Rome，Paris，Berlin，andVienna，theBritishrepresentativeisamanwhohasbeenselectedwithreferencetohisfitness，keptintheservicelongenoughtogivehimusefulexperience，andprovidedwithagood，commodioushouseandthemeanstoexercisesocialand，therefore，politicalinfluence。Theresultisthat，although，ineverycountryintheworld，oratorsandeditorsarealwayshowlingatJohnBull，heeverywherehashisway:touseourvernacular，he"getsthere，"andcanlaughinhissleeveatthespeechesagainsthiminpublicbodies，andatthediatribesagainsthiminnewspapers。ThemenwhoareloudestinsuchattacksaregenerallythemostdelightedtoputtheirlegsundertheBritishambassador’smahogany，ortotaketheirdaughterstohisreceptionsandballs，andthenquietlytofollowthegenerallineofconductwhichhefavors。
　　June9。
　　InthemorninganinterestingvisitfromM。deStaal，presidentoftheconference。Wediscussedarbitrationplans，BrusselsrulesandGenevarules，and，finally，oursocialdebtstotheDutchauthorities。
　　Astothegeneralprospectsofarbitration，heexpressedthebeliefthatwecan，byamalgamatingtheBritish，Russian，andAmericanplans，produceagoodresultDuringtheday，manymembersoftheconferencehavinggonetoRotterdamtoseethewelcomingoftheQueeninthatcity，Itookup，withespecialcare，theBrusselsrulesfortheconductofwar，andtheamendmentsofthemnowproposedintheconference，someofwhichhaveprovokedconsiderabledebate。ThemoreIreadtheproposalsnowmade，themoreadmirablemostofthemseemtobe，andthemoreitseemstomethatweought，withafewexceptions，toadoptthem。GreatBritaindeclinestosanctionthemaspartofinternationallaw，butstillagreestoadoptthemasageneralbasisforherconductintimeofwar;andeventhiswouldbeagoodthingforus，ifwecannotinduceourgovernmenttogotothelengthofmakingthemfullybinding。
　　Atsixo’clockDr。Holls，whorepresentsusuponthesubcommitteeonarbitration，cameinwithmostdiscouragingnews。ItnowappearsthattheGermanEmperorisdeterminedtoopposethewholeschemeofarbitration，andwillhavenothingtodowithanyplanforaregulartribunal，whetherasgivenintheBritishortheAmericanscheme。Thisnewscomesfromvarioussources，andisconfirmedbythefactthat，inthesubcommittee，oneoftheGermandelegates，ProfessorZornofKonigsberg，whohadbecomeveryearnestinbehalfofarbitration，nowsaysthathemaynotbeabletovoteforit。TherearealsosignsthattheGermanEmperorisinfluencingthemindsofhisallies——thesovereignsofAustria，Italy，Turkey，andRoumania——leadingthemtoopposeit。
　　Curiouslyenough，inspiteofthis，CountNigra，theItalianambassadoratViennaandheadoftheItaliandelegation，madeavigorousspeechshowingtheimportanceoftheworkinwhichthecommitteeisengaged，urgingthattheplanbeperfected，andseemingtoindicatethathewillgoonwiththerepresentativeswhofavorit。This，comingfromperhapsthemostearnestallyofGermany，isnoteworthy。
　　AtthecloseofthesessionSirJulianPauncefoteinformedDr。
　　HollsthathewasabouttotelegraphhisgovernmentregardingtheundoubtedeffortsoftheGermanEmperoruponthesovereignsabovenamed，andIdecidedtocableourStateDepartment，informingthemfullyastothischangeintheconditionofaffairs。
　　Ateightwenttothedinnerofourminister，Mr。Newelandfoundtherethreeambassadors，DeStaal，Munster，andPauncefote，aswellasM。LeonBourgeois，presidentoftheFrenchdelegation;
　　SirHenryHoward，theBritishminister;BarondeBildt，theSwedishminister;andsomeleadingNetherlandsstatesmen。HadalongtalkwithM。deStaalandwithSirJulianPauncefoteregardingthestateofthingsrevealedthisafternooninthesubcommitteeonarbitration。M。deStaalhascalledameetingoftheheadsofdelegationsforSaturdayafternoon。BothheandSirJulianareevidentlymuchvexedbytheunfortunateturnthingshavetaken。Thelatterfeels，asIdo，thattheonlythingtobedoneistogoonandmaketheplanforarbitrationasperfectaspossible，lettingthoseofthepowerswhoarewillingtodososignit。IassuredhimandDeStaalthatweoftheUnitedStateswouldstandbythemtothelastinthematter。
　　LateintheeveningwenttoareceptionofM。deBeaufort，theNetherlandsministerofforeignaffairs，anddiscussedcurrentmatterswithvariouspeople，amongthemCountNigra，whomI
　　thankedforhiseloquentspeechintheafternoon，andBarondeBildt，whofeelsasIdo，thattherightthingforusistogoon，nomatterwhofallsaway。
　　June10。
　　ThismorningIgavetostudiesofthevariousreportssentinfromthesubcommittees，especiallythoseonarbitrationandontheBrusselsConferencerules。Bothhaveintenselyinterestedme，mymainattentionbeing，ofcourse，centeredontheformer;buttheBrusselsrulesseemtomeofmuchgreaterimportancenowthanatfirst，andmyhopeisthatweshallnotonlydeviseagoodworkingplanofarbitration，butgreatlyhumanizethelawsofwar。
　　Atfouro’clockintheafternoonmetthefourotherambassadorsandtwoorthreeotherheadsofdelegations，attheroomsofM。
　　deStaal，todiscussthequestionofrelaxingtherulesofsecrecyasregardstheproceedingsofcommittees，etc。ThewholeoriginalRussianplanofmaintainingabsolutesecrecyhascollapsed，justastherepresentativesfromconstitutionalcountriesinthebeginningsaiditwould。EverydaytherearepublishedminuteaccountsinDutch，French，andEnglishjournalswhichshowthat，insomeway，theirrepresentativesobtainenoughinformationtoenablethem，withsuchadditionalthingsastheycanimagine，tomakereadablereports。Theresultisthatvariousgentlemenintheconferencewhoformerlyfavoredapolicyofcompletesecrecyfindthemselvescreditedwithspeecheswhichtheydidnotmake，andwhichtheydisliketobeconsideredcapableofmaking。
　　Afteragreatdealoftalk，itwasdecidedtoauthorizethechairmanofeachcommitteetogivetothepresscompletereports，sofaraspossible，keepinginthebackgroundtheparttakenbyindividuals。
　　AtsixtheAmericandelegationmet，andthesubjectofourinstructionsregardingthepresentationoftheAmericanviewoftheimmunityofprivatepropertyonthehighseasintimeofwarwastakenup。Itwasdecidedtoasksomeoftheleadingsupportersofthisviewtomeetusatluncheonat12。30onMonday，inordertodiscussthebestwayofovercomingtheRussianplanofsuppressingthematter，andtoconcertmeansforgettingthewholesubjectbeforethefullconference。
　　June11。
　　InsteadofgoingtoheartheBishopofHerefordpreachon"Peace，"IwalkedwithDr。HollstoScheveningen，fourmiles，toworkoffanervousheadacheandtoinviteCountMunstertoourluncheononMonday，whenwepurposetotakecounseltogetherregardingprivatepropertyonthehighseas。Heaccepted，butwasoutofhumorwithnearlyalltheproceedingsoftheconference。
　　Heismorethaneveropposedtoarbitration，anddeclaresthat，inviewoftheoriginalRussianprogrammeunderwhichwewerecalledtomeet，wehavenorighttotakeitupatall，sinceitwasnotmentioned。Hewasdecidedlypessimisticregardingthecontinuanceofthesessions，askingmewhenIthoughtitwouldallend;andonmyansweringthatIhadnottheslightestidea，hesaidthathewasentirelyinthedarkonthesubject;thatnobodycouldtellhowlongitwouldlast，orhowitwouldbreakoff。
　　June12。
　　Athalf—pasttwelvecameourAmericanluncheontoCountMunster，Mr。vanKarnebeek，andBarondeBildt，eachofwhomisattheheadofhisdelegation，——ourpurposebeingtodiscusswiththemthebestmannerofgettingthesubjectofimmunityofprivatepropertyatsea，notcontraband，beforetheconference，thesegentlemenbeingespeciallydevotedtosuchameasure。
　　Allwentoffverywell，fullinterchangeofviewstookplace，andthegeneralopinionwasthatthebestwaywouldbeforus，astheonlydelegationinstructedonthesubject，todrawupaformalmemorialaskingthatthequestionbebroughtbeforetheconference，andsendingthistoM。deStaalasourpresident。
　　CuriousthingscameoutduringourconversationBarondeBildtinformedmethat，stronglyashefavoredthemeasure，andpreparedashewastovoteforit，heshouldhavetobeverycarefulindiscussingitpublicly，sincehisinstructionsweretoavoid，justasfaraspossible，anyclashbetweentheopinionsexpressedbytheSwedishrepresentativesandthoseofthegreatpowers。NeverbeforehaveIsothoroughlyrealizedthedifficultpositionwhichthelesserpowersinEuropeholdasregardsreallyseriousquestions。
　　MoresurprisingwastheconversationofCountMunster，hebeingononesideofmeandMr。vanKarnebeekontheother。BearinginmindthattheEmperorWilliamduringhislongtalkwithmejustbeforeIleftBerlininreferringtotheapproachingPeaceCongresshadsaidthathewassendingCountMunsterbecausewhattheconferencewouldmostneedwouldbe"commonsense，"andbecause，inhisopinion，CountMunsterhad"lotsofit，"someofthecount’sutterancesastonishedme。Henowcameout，ashedidthedaybeforeinhistalkwithme，utterlyagainstarbitration，declaringita"humbug，"andthatwehadnorighttoconsiderit，sinceitwasnotmentionedinthefirstproposalsfromRussia，etc。，etc。
　　Alittlelater，somethinghavingbeensaidabouttelegraphsandtelephones，heexpressedhisbeliefthattheyareacurseasregardstherelationsbetweennations;thattheyinterferewithdiplomacy，anddomoreharmthangood。Thisdidnotespeciallysurpriseme，forIhadheardthesameopinionsutteredbyothers;
　　butwhatdidsurprisemegreatlywastohearhimsay，whenthesubjectofbacteriaandmicrobeswascasuallymentioned，thattheywere"allamodernhumbug。"
　　Itisclearthat，withallhisfinequalities，——andheisreallyasplendidspecimenofanold—fashionedGermannoblemandevotedtothediplomaticserviceofhiscountry，——heissaturatedwiththeideasoffiftyyearsago。
　　ReturningfromadrivetoScheveningenwithMajorBurbankoftheUnitedStatesarmy，IsketchedthefirstpartofadraftforaletterfromourdelegationtoM。deStaal，andatourmeetingatsixpresentedit，whenitmetwithgeneralapproval。PresidentLowhadalsosketchedadraftwhichitwasthoughtcouldbeworkedverywellintotheonewhichIhadoffered，andsowetwoweremadeasubcommitteetopreparetheletterinfull。
　　June13。
　　ThismorningcomemoredisquietingstatementsregardingGermany。
　　ThereseemsnolongeranydoubtthattheGermanEmperorisopposingarbitration，and，indeed，thewholeworkoftheconference，andthathewillinsistonhismainallies，AustriaandItaly，goingwithhim。CountNigra，whoispersonallydevotedtoarbitration，allowedthisintalkingwithDr。Holls;andtheGermandelegates——allofwhom，withtheexceptionofCountMunster，arefavorablyinclinedtoagoodarbitrationplan——showthattheyaredisappointed。
　　Ihadlearnedfromahighimperialofficial，beforeIleftBerlin，thattheEmperorconsideredarbitrationasderogatorytohissovereignty，andIwasalsowellaware，fromhisconversation，thathewasbynomeansinlovewiththeconferenceidea;but，inviewofhisspeechatWiesbaden，andthepetitionswhichhadcomeintohimfromBavaria，Ihadhopedthathehadexperienceda"changeofheart。"
　　PossiblyhemighthavechangedhisopinionhadnotCountMunsterbeenhere，reportingtohimconstantlyagainsteverysteptakenbytheconference。
　　Thereseemsdangerofacatastrophe。Thoseofuswhoarefaithfultoarbitrationplanswillgoonanddothebestwecan;butthereisnotellingwhatstumbling—blocksGermanyandheralliesmayputinourway;and，ofcourse，thewholeresult，withouttheirfinalagreement，willseemtotheworldafailureand，perhaps，afarce。
　　TheimmediateresultswillbethattheRussianEmperorwillbecomeanidolofthe"plainpeople"throughouttheworld，theGermanEmperorwillbebitterlyhated，andthesocialists，whoformthemostdreadedpartyonthecontinentofEurope，willbefurnishedwithathoroughlyeffectiveweaponagainsttheirrulers。
　　SomedayssinceIsaidtoaleadingdiplomatisthere，"TheministersoftheGermanEmperoroughttotellhimthat，shouldheopposearbitration，therewillbeconcentrateduponhimanamountofhatredwhichnoministeroughttoallowasovereigntoincur。"
　　Tothisheanswered，"Thatistrue;butthereisnotaministerinGermanywhodarestellhim。"
　　June14。
　　Thisnoonourdelegationgaveabreakfasttosundrymembersoftheconferencewhoareespeciallyinterestedinaneffectiveplanofarbitration，theprincipalofthesebeingCountNigrafromItaly;CountWelsersheimb，firstdelegateofAustria;M。DescampsofBelgium;Barond’EstournellesofFrance;andM。AsseroftheNetherlands。Aftersomepreliminarytalk，Ireadtothemtheproposal，whichSirJulianhadhandedmeinthemorning，forthepurposeofobviatingtheobjectiontothecouncilofadministrationinchargeofthecourtofarbitrationhereinTheHague，whichwasanimportantfeatureofhisoriginalplan，butwhichhadbeengenerallyrejectedasinvolvingexpensivemachinery。Hisproposalnowisthat，insteadofacouncilspeciallyappointedandsalariedtowatchoverandprovideforthenecessitiesofthecourt，suchcouncilshallsimplybemadeupoftheministersofsundrypowersresidinghere，——thusdoingawayentirelywiththetroubleandexpenseofaspecialcouncil。
　　ThisIamendedbyaddingtheNetherlandsministerofforeignaffairsasex—officiopresident，therebeingvariousreasonsforthis，andamongthesethefactthat，withoutsomesuchprovision，theNetherlandswouldhavenorepresentativeinthecouncil。
　　Theplanandmyamendmentwerewellreceived，andItrustthatourfullandfriendlydiscussionoftheseandvariousmattersconnectedwiththemwillproduceagoodeffectinthecommittees。
　　CountNigraexpressedhimselftomeaspersonallymostearnestlyinfavorofarbitration，butitwasclearthathispositionwascomplicatedbytherelationsofhiscountrytoGermanyasoneoftheTripleAlliance;andthesamedifficultywasobservableinthecaseofCountWelsersheimb，therepresentativeofAustria，thethirdallyinthecombinationofwhichGermanyisthehead。
　　Inthecourseofourbreakfast，Barond’EstournellesmadeastatementwhichIthinkimpressedeverypersonpresent。Itwasthat，ashewasleavingParis，Jaures，thefamoussocialist，whomheknowswell，saidtohim，"Goon;doallyoucanatTheHague，butyouwilllaborinvain:youcanaccomplishnothingthere，yourschemeswillfail，andweshalltriumph，"orwordstothateffect。Soclearanindicationasthisoftheeffectwhichafailureoftheconferencetoproduceagoodschemeofarbitrationwillhaveinpromotingthedesignsofthegreatinternationalsocialistandanarchistcombinationscannotfailtoimpresseverythinkingman。
　　DinedintheeveningwiththeFrenchministeratthiscourt，andverypleasantly。TherewerepresentM。LeonBourgeois，theFrenchfirstdelegate，andthefirstdelegatesfromJapan，China，Mexico，andTurkey，withsubordinatedelegatesfromothercountries。Sittingnexttheladyattherightofthehost，I
　　foundhertobethewifeofthepremier，M。Piersoon，ministeroffinance，andveryagreeable。ItookintodinnerMadameBehrends，wifeoftheRussiancharge，evidentlyaverythoughtfulandaccomplishedwoman，whowasborn，asshetoldme，ofEnglishparentsinthecityofNewYorkwhenherfatherandmotherwereontheirwaytoEngland。Ifoundherveryinteresting，andherdiscussionsofRussia，aswellasofEnglandandtheNetherlands，especiallygood。
　　Inthesmoking—roomIhadalongtalkwithM。LeonBourgeois，who，accordingtothepapers，islikelytobeappointedministerofforeignaffairsinthenewFrenchcabinet。Hedweltuponthedifficultiesofanyplanforatribunal，butseemedreadytodowhathecouldforthecompromiseplan，whichisallthat，duringsometimepast，wehavehopedtoadopt。
　　June15。
　　EarlythismorningCountMunstercalled，wishingtoseemeespecially，andatonceplungedintothequestionoftheimmunityofprivatepropertyfromseizureonthehighseas。Hesaidthathehadjustreceivedinstructionsfromhisgovernmenttojoinusheartilyinbringingthequestionbeforetheconference;thathisgovernment，muchasitinclinestofavortheprinciple，couldnotyetseeitswaytocommititselffully;thatitsactionmust，ofcourse，dependupontheconductofotherpowersinthematter，asforeshadowedbydiscussionsintheconference，butthathewastoaidusinbringingitup。
　　ItoldhimIwasnowpreparingadraftofamemorialtotheconferencegivingthereasonswhythesubjectoughttobesubmitted，andthatheshouldhaveitassoonascompleted。
　　Thismatterbeingforthetimedisposedof，wetookupthestateofthearbitrationquestion，andtheconsequencesofoppositionbyGermanyandhertwoalliestoeveryfeasibleplan。
　　Hewasverymuchinearnest，anddeclaredespeciallyagainstcompulsoryarbitration。TothisIansweredthattheplanthusfaradoptedcontemplatedentirelyvoluntaryarbitration，withtheexceptionthatanobligatorysystemwasagreeduponasregardssundrypettymattersinwhicharbitrationwouldassistallthestatesconcerned;andthatifhedislikedthislatterfeature，butwouldagreetotheothers，wewouldgowithhiminstrikingitout，thoughweshouldvastlyprefertoretainit。
　　Hesaid，"Yes;youhavealreadystrickenoutpartofitintheinterestoftheUnitedStates，"referringtothefeaturesconcerningtheMonroeDoctrine，theregulationofcanals，rivers，etc。
　　"Verytrue，"Ianswered;"andifthereareanyspecialfeatureswhichaffectunfavorablyGermanpolicyorinterests，movetostrikethemout，andwewillheartilysupportyou。"
　　Hethendweltinhisusualmanneronhisspecialhobby，whichisthatmodernnationsaretakinganentirelyfalserouteinpreventingthesettlementoftheirdifficultiesbytraineddiplomatists，andintrustingthemtoarbitrationbymeninexperiencedininternationalmatters，whoreallycannotbeunprejudicedoruninfluenced;andhespokewithespecialcontemptoftheplanforcreatingabureau，composed，ashesaid，ofuniversityprofessorsandthelike，tocarryonthemachineryofthetribunal。
　　HereIhappenedtohaveatrumpcard。IshowedhimSirJulianPauncefote’splantosubstituteacouncilcomposedofalltheministersofthesignatorypowersresidingatTheHague，withmyamendmentmakingtheDutchministerofforeignaffairsitspresident。Thishereadandsaidhelikedit;infact，itseemedtoremoveamassofprejudicefromhismind。
　　Ithenspokeveryearnestlytohim——moresothaneverbefore——aboutthepresentconditionofaffairs。ItoldhimthatthecounselorsinwhomtheEmperortrusted——suchmenashimselfandtheprincipaladvisersofhisMajesty——oughtnevertoallowtheiryoungsovereigntobeexposedtothemassofhatred，obloquy，andoppositionwhichwouldconvergeuponhimfromallnationsincasehebecameknowntothewholeworldasthesovereignwhohadbrokendowntheconferenceandbroughttonaughttheplanofarbitration。ItookthelibertyoftellinghimwhattheEmperorsaidtomeregardingthecounthimself——namely，thatwhattheconferencewasmostlikelytoneedwasgoodcommonsense，andthathewassendingCountMunsterbecausehepossessedthat。Thisseemedtopleasehim，andIthenwentontosaythatheofallmenoughttoprevent，byallmeans，placingtheyoungEmperorinsuchaposition。Idweltonthegiftsandgracesoftheyoungsovereign，expressedmyfeelingofadmirationforhisnobleambitions，forhisabilities，forthestatesmanshiphehadrecentlyshown，forhisgraspofpublicaffairs，andforhiswayofconciliatingallclasses，andthendweltonthepityofmakingsuchamonarchanobjectofhatredinallpartsoftheworld。
　　Heseemedimpressedbythis，butsaidthecallingoftheconferencewassimplyapoliticaltrick——themostdetestabletrickeverpractised。Itwasdone，hesaidmainlytoembarrassGermany，toglorifytheyoungRussianEmperor，andtoputGermanyandnationswhichRussiadislikesintoafalseposition。TothisIanswered，"Ifthisbethecase，whynottrumptheRussiantrick？or，asthepoker—playerssay，’Gothemonebetter，’takethemattheirword，supportagoodtribunalofarbitrationmoreefficienteventhantheRussianshavedaredtopropose;letyoursovereignthrowhimselfheartilyintothemovementandbecomearecognizedleaderandpowerhere;wewillallsupporthim，andtohimwillcomethecreditofit。
　　"Then，inadditiontothis，supportusasfarasyoucanasregardstheimmunityofprivatepropertyonthehighseas，andthusyouwillgainanothergreatpoint;for，owingtoherrelationstoFrance，Russiahasnotdaredcommitherselftothisprincipleasotherwiseshedoubtlesswouldhavedone，but，onthecontrary，hasopposedanyconsiderationofitbytheconference。
　　"Next，letattentionbecalledtothefact——andwewillgladlyaidinmakingtheworldfullyawareofit——thatGermany，throughyou，hasconstantlyurgedthegreatestpublicityofourproceedings，whilecertainotherpowershaveinsistedonsecrecyuntilsecrecyhasutterlybrokendown，andthenhavemadetheleastconcessionpossible。Inthiswayyouwillcomeoutoftheconferencetriumphant，andtheGermanEmperorwillbelookeduponas，afterall，thearbiterofEurope。EverybodyknowsthatFrancehasneverwishedarbitration，andthatRussianstatesmenarereally，atheart，nonetooardentforit。Comeforward，then，andmakethematterthoroughlyyourown;and，havingdonethis，maintainyourpresentattitudestronglyasregardsthetwoothermattersabovenamed，——thatis，theimmunityfromseizureofprivatepropertyonthehighseas，andthethrowingopenofourproceedings，——andthehonorsofthewholeconferenceisyours。"
　　Heseemedimpressedbyallthis，andtookadifferenttonefromanywhichhasbeennotedinhimsincewecametogether。IthenaskedhimifhehadheardBarond’Estournelles’sstory。Hesaidthathehadnot。Itoldittohim，asgiveninmydiaryyesterday;andsaid，"YouseetherewhatthefailuretoobtainaresultwhichisreallysomuchlongedforbyallthepeoplesoftheworldwilldotopromotethedesignsofthesocialisticforceswhicharesopowerfulinallpartsoftheContinent，andnowheremoresothaninGermanyandthenationsalliedwithher。"
　　This，too，seemedtoimpresshim。Ithenwentontosay，"Thisisnotall。Byopposingarbitration，younotonlyputaclubintothehandsofsocialists，anarchists，andalltheotheranti—socialforces，butyoualienatethesubstantialmiddleclassandthegreatbodyofreligiouspeopleinallnations。Youhavenoconceptionofthedepthoffeelingonthissubjectwhichexistsinmyowncountry，tosaynothingofothers;andifGermanystandsintheway，thedistrustofherwhichAmericanshavefelt，andwhichasministerandambassadoratBerlinIhavelaboredsohardtodispel，willbeinfinitelyincreased。Itwillrendermoreandmoredifficultthemaintenanceofproperrelationsbetweenthetwocountries。Yoursovereignwillbelookeduponastheenemyofallnations，andwillbeexposedtoeverysortofattackandcalumny，whiletheyoungEmperorofRussiawillbecomeapopularidolthroughouttheworld，sincehewillrepresenttothepopularmind，andeventothemindsofgreatbodiesofthinkingandreligiouspeople，theefforttopreventwarandtosolvepublicquestionsasmuchaspossiblewithoutbloodshed;whiletheEmperorofGermanywillrepresenttotheirmindsthedesiretosolveallgreatquestionsbyforce。
　　Mind，Idon’tsaythisisajustview:Ionlysaythatitistheviewsuretobetaken，andthatbyresistingarbitrationhereyouareplayingthegameofRussia，asyouyourselfhavestatedit——thatis，youaregivingRussiathemoralsupportofthewholeworldattheexpenseoftheneighboringpowers，andaboveallofGermany。"
　　Ithentookupanargumentwhich，itisunderstood，hashadmuchinfluencewiththeEmperor，——namely，thatarbitrationmustbeinderogationofhissovereignty，——andasked，"Howcananysuchderogationbepossible？Yoursovereignwouldsubmitonlysuchquestionstothearbitrationtribunalashethoughtbest;and，morethanallthat，youhavealreadycommittedyourselvestotheprinciple。YouareawarethatBismarcksubmittedthequestionoftheCarolineIslandsforarbitrationtothePope，andthefirstEmperorWilliamconsentedtoactasarbiterbetweentheUnitedStatesandGreatBritaininthematteroftheAmericannorthwesternboundary。Howcouldarbitrationaffectthetruepositionofthesovereign？Take，forexample，mattersastheynowstandbetweenGermanyandtheUnitedStates。Thereisavastmassofpettyquestionswhichconstantlytroubletherelationsbetweenthetwocountries。Theselittlequestionsembitterdebates，whetherinyourReichstagononehand，orinourCongressontheother，andmakethepositionoftheBerlinandWashingtongovernmentsespeciallydifficult。TheAmericanpapersattackmebecauseIyieldtoomuchtoGermany，theGermanpapersattackVonBulowbecauseheyieldstoomuchtoAmerica，andtheselittlequestionsremain。IfVonBulowandIwereallowedtositdownandsettlethem，wecoulddosoatshortnotice;butbehindhimstandstheReichstag，andbehindourSecretaryofStateandmyselfstandstheAmericanCongress。"
　　Ireferredtosuchquestionsasthetonnagedues，theadditionaltariffonbounty—promotedsugar，Samoa，themost—favored—nationclause，intreatiesbetweenGermanyandtheUnitedStates，inrelationtothesameclauseinsundrytreatiesbetweentheUnitedStatesandotherpowers，andsaid，"Whatablessingitwouldbeifallthesequestions，ofwhichbothgovernmentsaretired，andwhichmakethemoreimportantquestionsconstantlyarisingbetweenthetwocountriessodifficulttosettle，couldbesentatoncetoatribunalanddecidedonewayortheother！Inthemselvestheyamounttolittle。Itisnotatallunlikelythatmostofthem——possiblyallofthem——wouldbedecidedinfavorofGermany;buttheUnitedStateswouldacquiesceatonceinthedecisionbyatribunalsuchasisproposed。AndthisisjustwhatwouldtakeplacebetweenGermanyandothernations。Amassofvexatiousquestionswouldbesettledbythetribunal，andthesovereignandhisgovernmentwouldthusberelievedfromparliamentarychicanerybased，notuponknowledge，butuponpartytacticsorpersonalgrudgesorinheritedprejudices。"
　　Heseemednowmoreinclinedtogiveweighttotheseconsiderations，andwill，Ihope，urgehisgovernmenttotakeabetterviewthanthatwhichforsometimepasthasseemedtobeindicatedbytheconductofitsrepresentativeshere。
　　IntheafternoonIwenttothefive—o’clockteaoftheBaronessd’Estournelles，foundagreatcrowdthere，includingtheleadingdelegates，andallanxiousastotheconductofGermany。MeetingtheBaronessvonSuttnerwhohasbeenwritingsuchearnestbooksinbehalfofpeace，IurgedhertowritewithallhermighttoinfluencepublicprintsinAustria，Italy，andGermanyinbehalfofarbitration，tellingherthatwearejustarrivingatthepartingoftheways，andthateverythingpossiblemustbedonenow，orallmaybelost。Tothissherespondedveryheartily，andIhavenodoubtwilluseherpenwithmucheffect。
　　IntheeveningwenttoagreatreceptionatthehouseoftheAustrianambassador，M。Okolicsanyi。Therewasacrush。HadalongtalkwithMr。Stead，tellinghimD’Estournelles’sstory，andurginghimtouseitineverywaytoshowwhataboonthefailureofarbitrationwouldbetotheanti—socialforcesinallpartsofEurope。
　　IntheintervalsduringthedayIbusiedmyselfincompletingthememorialtotheconferenceregardingtheimmunityfromseizureofprivatepropertyatsea。Ifwecannotsecureitnow，wemustatleastpavethewayforitsadmissionbyafutureinternationalconference。