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decreed it； and it was difficult to see what other course we
could pursue。 I trust that the Washington authorities will
rectify the matter by signing them both。
We also affixed our signatures to the first of the
〃declarations。〃
At three P。M。 came the formal closing of the conference。 M。 de
Staal made an excellent speech； as did Mr。 van Karnebeek and M。
de Beaufort； the Netherlands minister of foreign affairs。 To
these Count Munster； the presiding delegate from Germany； replied
in French； and apparently extemporaneously。 It must have been
pain and grief to him； for he was obliged to speak respectfully；
in the first place； of the conference； which for some weeks he
had affected to despise； and； secondly； of arbitration and the
other measures proposed； which； at least during all the first
part of the conference； he had denounced as a trick and a humbug；
and； finally； he had to speak respectfully of M。 de Staal； to
whom he has steadily shown decided dislike。 He did the whole
quite well； all things considered； but showed his feelings
clearly； as regarded M。 de Staal； by adding to praise of him
greater praise for Mr。 van Karnebeek； who has been the main
managing man in the conference in behalf of the Netherlands
Government。
Then to the hotel and began work on the draft of a report；
regarding the whole work of the conference； to the State
Department。 I was especially embarrassed by the fact that the
wording of it must be suited to the scruples of my colleague；
Captain Mahan。 He is a man of the highest character and of great
ability； whom I respect and greatly like； but； as an old naval
officer； wedded to the views generally entertained by older
members of the naval and military service； he has had very
little； if any； sympathy with the main purposes of the
conference； and has not hesitated to declare his disbelief in
some of the measures which we were especially instructed to
press。 In his books he is on record against the immunity of
private property at sea； and in drawing up our memorial to the
conference regarding this latter matter； in making my speech with
reference to it in the conference； and in preparing our report to
the State Department； I have been embarrassed by this fact。 It
was important to have unanimity； and it could not be had； so far
as he was concerned； without toning down the whole thing； and；
indeed； leaving out much that in my judgment the documents
emanating from us on the subject ought to contain。 So now； in
regard to arbitration； as well as the other measures finally
adopted； his feelings must be considered。 Still； his views have
been an excellent tonic； they have effectively prevented any
lapse into sentimentality。 When he speaks the millennium fades
and this stern； severe； actual world appears。
I worked until late at night； and then went to Scheveningen
almost in despair。
July 30。
Returned to The Hague early in the morning； and went on again
with the report； working steadily through the day upon it。 For
the first time in my life I have thus made Sunday a day of work。
Although I have no conscientious scruples on the subject； it was
bred into me in my childhood and boyhood that Sunday should be
kept free from all manner of work； and so thoroughly was this
rule inculcated that I have borne it in mind ever since； often
resisting very pressing temptation to depart from it。
But to…day there was no alternative； and the whole time until
five o'clock in the afternoon was given to getting my draft
ready。
At five P。M。 the American delegation came together； and； to my
surprise； received my report with every appearance of
satisfaction。 Mr。 Low indicated some places which； in his
opinion； needed modification； and to this I heartily agreed； for
they were generally places where I was myself in doubt。
My draft having thus been presented； I turned it over to Mr。 Low；
who agreed to bring it to…morrow morning with such modifications；
omissions； and additions as seemed best to him。 The old proverb；
〃 'T is always darkest just before daylight；〃 seems exemplified
in the affairs of to…day； since the kind reception given to my
draft of the report； and the satisfaction expressed regarding it；
form a most happy and unexpected sequel to my wretched distrust
regarding the whole matter last night。
July 31。
The American delegation met at eleven in the morning and
discussed my draft。 Mr。 Low's modifications and additions were
not many and were mainly good。 But he omitted some things which I
would have preferred to retain： these being in the nature of a
plea in behalf of arbitration； or； rather； an exhibition of the
advantages which have been secured for it by the conference； but；
between his doubts and Captain Mahan's opposition； I did not care
to contest the matter； and several pages were left out。
At six in the afternoon came the last meeting of our delegation。
The reports； duly engrossed；namely； the special reports； signed
by Captain Mahan and Captain Crozier； from the first and second
committees of the conference； the special report made by myself；
Mr。 Low； and Dr。 Holls as members of the third committee； and the
general report covering our whole work； drawn almost entirely by
me； but signed by all the members of the commission；were
presented； re…read； and signed； after which the delegation
adjourned； sine die。
August 1。
After some little preliminary work on matters connected with the
winding up of our commission； went with my private secretary； Mr。
Vickery； to Amsterdam； visiting the old church； the palace； the
Zoological Gardens； etc。 Thence to Gouda and saw the
stained…glass windows in the old church there； which I have so
long desired to study。
August 3。
At 8。30 left The Hague and went by rail； via Cologne and
Ehreinbreitstein； to Homburg； arriving in the evening。
August 5。
This morning resumed my duties as ambassador at Berlin。
There was one proceeding at the final meeting of the conference
which I have omitted； but which really ought to find a place in
this diary。 Just before the final speeches； to the amazement of
all and almost to the stupefaction of many； the president； M。 de
Staal； handed to the secretary； without comment； a paper which
the latter began to read。 It turned out to be a correspondence
which had taken place； just before the conference； between the
Queen of the Netherlands and the Pope。
The Queen's letterwritten； of course； by her ministers； in the
desire to placate the Catholic party； which holds the balance of
power in the Netherlandsdwelt most respectfully on the high
functions of his Holiness； etc。； etc。； indicating； if not saying；
that it was not the fault of her government that he was not
invited to join in the conference。
The answer from the Pope was a masterpiece of Vatican skill。 In
it he referred to what he claimed was his natural position as a
peacemaker on earth； dwelling strongly on this point。
The reading of these papers was received in silence； and not a
word was publicly said afterward regarding them； though in
various quarters there was very deep feeling。 It was felt that
the Dutch Government had taken this means of forestalling local
Dutch opposition； and that it was a purely local matter of
political partizanship that o