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everything about him evident in all his actions； his lack of
force even in the simplest efforts for the improvement of his
people； and； above all； his yielding to the worst elements in his
treatment of the Baltic provinces and Finland； did not encourage
me to believe that he would lead a movement against the enormous
power of the military party in his vast empire。 On this account；
when the American newspapers prophesied that I was to be one of
the delegates； my feelings were strongly against accepting any
such post。 But in due time the tender of it came in a way very
different from anything I had anticipated： President McKinley
cabled a personal request that I accept a position on the
delegation； and private letters from very dear friends； in whose
good judgment I had confidence； gave excellent reasons for my
doing so。 At the same time came the names of my colleagues； and
this led me to feel that the delegation was to be placed on a
higher plane than I had expected。 In the order named by the
President； they were as follows： Andrew D。 White； Seth Low；
President of Columbia University； Stanford Newel； Minister at The
Hague； Captain Mahan； of the United States navy； Captain Crozier；
of the army； and the Hon。 Frederick W。 Holls as secretary。 In
view of all this； I accepted。
＇8＇ See account of this conversation in 〃My Mission to Russia；〃
Chapter XXXIII； pp。 9…10。
Soon came evidences of an interest in the conference more earnest
and wide…spread than anything I had dreamed。 Books； documents；
letters； wise and unwise； thoughtful and crankish； shrewd and
childish； poured in upon me； in all classes of society there
seemed fermenting a mixture of hope and doubt； even the German
Emperor apparently felt it； for shortly there came an invitation
to the palace； and on my arrival I found that the subject
uppermost in his mind was the approaching conference。 Of our
conversation； as well as of some other interviews at this period；
I speak elsewhere。
On the 16th of May I left Berlin； and arrived late in the evening
at The Hague。 As every day's doings were entered in my diary； it
seems best to give an account of this part of my life in the
shape of extracts from it。
May 17； 1899。
This morning； on going out of our hotel； the Oude Doelen； I found
that since my former visit； thirty…five years ago； there had been
little apparent change。 It is the same old town； quiet；
picturesque； full of historical monuments and art treasures。 This
hotel and the neighboring streets had been decorated with the
flags of various nations； including our own； and crowds were
assembled under our windows and in the public places。 The hotel
is in one of the most attractive parts of the city
architecturally and historically； and is itself interesting from
both points of view。 It has been a hostelry ever since the middle
ages； and over the main entrance a tablet indicates rebuilding in
1625。 Connected with it by interior passages are a number of
buildings which were once private residences； and one of the
largest and best of these has been engaged for us。 Fortunately
the present Secretary of State； John Hay； has been in the
diplomatic service； and when I wrote him； some weeks ago； on the
importance of proper quarters being secured for us； he entered
heartily into the matter； giving full powers to the minister here
to do whatever was necessary； subject to my approval。 The result
is that we are quite as well provided for as any other delegation
at the conference。
In the afternoon our delegation met at the house of the American
minister and was duly organized。 Although named by the President
first in the list of delegates； I preferred to leave the matter
of the chairmanship entirely to my associates； and they now
unanimously elected me as their President。
The instructions from the State Department were then read。 These
were； in effect； as follows：
The first article of the Russian proposals； relating to the
non…augmentation of land and sea forces； is so inapplicable to
the United States at present that it is deemed advisable to leave
the initiative； upon this subject； to the representatives of
those powers to which it may properly apply。
As regards the articles relating to the non…employment of new
firearms； explosives； and other destructive agencies； the
restricted use of the existing instruments of destruction； and
the prohibition of certain contrivances employed in naval
warfare； it seems to the department that they are lacking in
practicability and that the discussion of these articles would
probably provoke divergency rather than unanimity of view。 The
secretary goes on to say that 〃it is doubtful if wars will be
diminished by rendering them less destructive； for it is the
plain lesson of history that the periods of peace have been
longer protracted as the cost and destructiveness of war have
increased。 The expediency of restraining the inventive genius of
our people in the direction of devising means of defense is by no
means clear； and； considering the temptations to which men and
nations may be exposed in a time of conflict； it is doubtful if
an international agreement of this nature would prove effective。〃
As to the fifth； sixth； and seventh articles； aiming； in the
interest of humanity； to succor those who by the chance of battle
have been rendered helpless； to alleviate their sufferings； and
to insure the safety of those whose mission is purely one of
peace and beneficence； we are instructed that any practicable
proposals should receive our earnest support。
On the eighth article； which proposes the wider extension of
〃good offices； mediation； and arbitration；〃 the secretary dwells
with much force； and finally says： 〃The proposal of the
conference promises to offer an opportunity thus far unequaled in
the history of the world for initiating a series of negotiations
that may lead to important practical results。〃 The delegation is
therefore enjoined to propose； at an opportune moment； a plan for
an International Tribunal of Arbitration which is annexed to the
instructions； and to use their influence in the conference to
procure the adoption of its substance。
And； finally； we are instructed to propose to the conference the
principle of extending to strictly private property at sea the
immunity from destruction or capture by belligerent powers
analogous to that which such property already enjoys on land； and
to endeavor to have this principle incorporated in the permanent
law of civilized nations。 A well…drawn historical resume of the
relations of the United States to the question of arbitration
thus far is added； and a historical summary of the action of the
United States； hitherto； regarding the exemption of private
property at sea from seizure during war。
The document of most immediate importance is the plan furnished
us for international arbitration。 Its main features are as
follows：
First； a tribunal 〃composed of judges chosen； on account of their
personal integrity and learning in international law； by a
majority of the members of the highest court now existing in each
of the adhering states； one from each sovereign state
participating in the treaty； who shall hold office until their
successors are appointed by the same body。〃
Secondly； the tribunal to meet for organization not later than