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is； of course； utterly opposed to it； and Great Britain will not
sign if any besides those agreed upon by the signatory powers are
allowed to come in hereafter； her motive being； no doubt； to
avoid trouble in regard to the Transvaal。
Mr。 Low stated that in the great committee the prevailing opinion
seemed to be that the signatory powers had made a sort of
partnership； and that no new partners could be added without the
consent of all。 This is the natural ground； and entirely tenable。
I would have been glad to add the additional requirement that no
power should be admitted which would not make arbitration
reciprocalthat is； no power which； while aiding to arbitrate
for others； would not accept arbitration between itself and
another power。 This would； of course； exclude the Vatican； for；
while it desires to judge others； it will allow no interests of
its own； not even the most worldly and trivial； to be submitted
to any earthly tribunal。
The question now came up in our American delegation as to signing
the three conventions in the Acte Finalnamely； those relating
to arbitration； to the extension of the Geneva rules； and to the
laws and customs of war。 We voted to sign the first； to send the
second to Washington without recommendation； and to send the
third with a recommendation that it be there signed。 The reason
for sending the second to Washington without recommendation is
that Captain Mahan feels that； in its present condition； it may
bring on worse evils than it prevents。 He especially and； I
think； justly objects to allowing neutral hospital ships to take
on board the wounded and shipwrecked in a naval action； with
power to throw around them the safeguards of neutrality and carry
them off to a neutral port whence they can again regain their own
homes and resume their status as combatants。
The reason for submitting the third to Washington； with a
recommendation to sign it there； is that considerable work will
be required in conforming our laws of war to the standard
proposed by the conference； and that it is best that the
Washington authorities look it over carefully。
I was very anxious to sign all three conventions； but the first
is the great one； and I yielded my views on the last two。
The powers are to have until the 31st of December； if they wish
it； before signing。
July 27。
Early in the morning to a meeting of our American delegation； Mr。
van Karnebeek being present。 We agreed to sign the arbitration
convention； attaching to our signatures a reservation embodying
our declaration of July 25 regarding the maintenance of our
American policythe Monroe Doctrine。 A telegram was received
from the State Department approving of this declaration。 The
imbroglio regarding the forcing of the Pope into the midst of the
signatory powers continues。 The ultramontanes are pushing on
various delegates； especially sundry Austrians and Belgians； who
depend on clerical support for their political existence； and； in
some cases； for their daily bread； and the result is that M。
Descamps； one of the most eminent international lawyers in
Europe； who has rendered great services during the conference；
but who holds a professorship at the University of Louvain； and
can hold it not one moment longer than the Jesuits allow him； is
making a great display of feeling on the subject。 Italy； of
course； continues to take the strongest ground against the
proposal to admit his Holiness as an Italian sovereign。
Our position is； as was well stated in the great committee by Mr。
Low； that the contracting parties must all consent before a new
party can come in； and this under one of the simplest principles
of law。 We ought also to add that any power thus admitted shall
not only consent to arbitrate on others； but to be arbitrated
upon。 This； of course； the Vatican monsignori will never do。 They
would see all Europe deluged in blood before they would submit
the pettiest question between the kingdom of Italy and themselves
to arbitration by lay powers。 All other things are held by them
utterly subordinate to the restoration of the Pope's temporal
power； though they must know that if it were restored to him
to…morrow he could not hold it。 He would be overthrown by a
revolution within a month； even with all the troops which France
or Austria could send to support him； and then we should have the
old miserable state of things again in Italy； with bloodshed；
oppression； and exactions such as took place throughout the first
half of this century； and； indeed； while I was in Italy； under
the old papal authority； in 1856。
In the afternoon to the 〃House in the Wood〃 to go over documents
preliminary to signing the 〃Final Act。〃
July 28。
In the afternoon in plenary session of the conference； hearing
the final reports as to forms of signing； etc。
To…day appears in the London 〃Times〃 the interview which its
correspondent had with me yesterday。 It develops the reasons for
our declaration； and seems to give general satisfaction。 Sir
Julian Pauncefote told Holls that he liked it much。
The committee on forms of the 〃Final Act；〃 etc。； has at last；
under pressure of all sorts； agreed that the question of
admitting non…signatory powers shall be decided by the signatory
powers； hereafter； through the ordinary medium of diplomatic
correspondence。 This is unfortunate for some of the South
American republics； but it will probably in some way inure to the
benefit of the Vatican monsignori。
July 29。
The last and culminating day of the conference。
In the morning the entire body gathered in the great hall of the
〃House in the Wood；〃 and each delegation was summoned thence to
sign the protocol； conventions； and declarations。 These were laid
out on a long table in the dining…room of the palace； which is
adorned with very remarkable paintings of mythological subjects
imitating bas…reliefs。
All these documents had the places for each signature prepared
beforehand； and our seals； in wax； already placed upon the pages
adjoining the place where each signature was to be。 At the
request of the Foreign Office authorities for my seal； I had sent
a day or two beforehand the seal ring which Goldwin Smith gave me
at the founding of Cornell University。 It is an ancient carnelian
intaglio which he obtained in Rome； and bears upon its face；
exquisitely engraved； a Winged Victory。 This seal I used during
my entire connection with Cornell University； and also as a
member of the Electoral College of the State of New York at
General Grant's second election； when； at the request of the
president of that body； Governor Woodford； it was used in sealing
certificates of the election； which were sent； according to law；
to certain high officials of our government。
I affixed my signature to the arbitration convention； writing in；
as agreed； the proviso that our signatures were subject to the
Monroe Doctrine declaration made in open session of the
conference on July 25。 The other members of the American
delegation then signed in proper order。 But the two other
conventions we left unsigned。 It was with deep regret that I
turned away from these； but the majority of the delegation had
decreed it； and it was difficult to see what other course we
could pursue。 I trust that the Washington authorities will
rectify t