按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
appeared； for a time； a hopeless chaos： the unfamiliarity of our
president； Baron de Staal； with parliamentary usages seemed
likely to become embarrassing； but sundry statesmen； more
experienced in such matters； began drawing together； and were
soon elaborating a scheme to be presented to the entire
conference。 It divided all the subjects named in the Mouravieff
circular among three great committees； the most important being
that on 〃Arbitration。〃 The choice of representatives on these
from our delegation was made； and an ex…officio membership of all
three falls to me。
In the course of the day I met and talked with various
interesting men； among them Count Nigra； formerly Cavour's
private secretary and ambassador at the court of Napoleon III；
where he accomplished so much for Italian unity； Sir Julian
Pauncefote； the British ambassador at Washington； and M。
Bernaert； president of the Belgian Chamber。 In the evening； at a
reception given by the minister of foreign affairs； M。 de
Beaufort； I made further acquaintances and had instructive
conversations。
In addition to the strict duties of the conference； there is； of
course； a mass of social business； with no end of visits； calls；
and special meetings； to say nothing of social functions； on a
large scale； at the houses of sundry ministers and officials； but
these； of course； have their practical uses。
The Dutch Government is showing itself princely in various ways；
making every provision for our comfort and enjoyment。
In general； I am considerably encouraged。 The skeptical feeling
with which we came together seems now passing away； the recent
speech of the Emperor William at Wiesbaden has aroused new hopes
of a fairly good chance for arbitration； and it looks as if the
promise made me just before I left Berlin by Baron von Bulow；
that the German delegation should cooperate thoroughly with our
own； is to be redeemed。 That delegation assures us that it is
instructed to stand by us as far as possible on all the principal
questions。 It forms a really fine body； its head being Count
Munster； whom I have already found very agreeable at Berlin and
Paris； and its main authority in the law of nations being
Professor Zorn； of the University of Konigsberg； but； curiously
enough； as if by a whim； the next man on its list is Professor
Baron von Stengel of Munich； who has written a book AGAINST
arbitration； and next to him comes Colonel Schwartzhoff； said to
be a man of remarkable ability in military matters； but strongly
prejudiced against the Russian proposals。
As to arbitration； we cannot make it compulsory； as so many very
good people wish； it is clear that no power here would agree to
that； but even to provide regular machinery for arbitration；
constantly in the sight of all nations； and always ready for use；
would be a great gain。
As to disarmament； it is clear that nothing effective can be done
at present。 The Geneva rules for the better care of the wounded
on land will certainly be improved and extended to warfare on
sea； and the laws of war will doubtless be improved and given
stronger sanction。
Whether we can get our proposals as to private property on the
high seas before the conference is uncertain； but I think we can。
Our hopes are based upon the fact that they seem admissible under
one heading of the Mouravieff circular。 There is； of course； a
determination on the part of leading members to exclude
rigorously everything not provided for in the original programme；
and this is only right； for； otherwise； we might spend years in
fruitless discussion。 The Armenians； for example； are pressing us
to make a strong declaration in their behalf。 Poland is also here
with proposals even more inflammatory； so are the Finlanders； and
so are the South African Boers。 Their proposals； if admitted；
would simply be bombshells sure to blow all the leading nations
of Europe out of the conference and bring everything to naught。
Already pessimists outside are prophesying that on account of
these questions we are doomed to utter failure。
The peace people of all nations； including our own； are here in
great force。 I have accepted an invitation from one of them to
lunch with a party of like mind； including Baroness von Suttner；
who has written a brilliant book； 〃Die Waffen Nieder；〃 of which
the moral is that all nations shall immediately throw down their
arms。 Mr。 Stead is also here； vigorous as usual； full of curious
information； and abounding in suggestions。
There was a report； on our arriving； that the Triple Alliance
representatives are instructed to do everything to bring the
conference into discredit； but this is now denied。 It is said
that their programme is changed； and things look like it。 On the
whole； though no one is sanguine； there is more hope。
May 21。
In the morning went with Dr。 Holls to a Whitsunday service at the
great old church here。 There was a crowd； impressive chorals； and
a sermon at least an hour long。 At our request； we were given
admirable places in the organ…loft； and sat at the side of the
organist as he managed that noble instrument。 It was sublime。
After the closing voluntary Holls played remarkably well
To me the most striking feature in the service was a very earnest
prayer made by the clergyman for the conference。 During the
afternoon we also visited the old prison near the Vijver； where
the De Witts and other eminent prisoners of state were confined；
and in front of which the former were torn in pieces by the mob。
Sadly interesting was a collection of instruments of torture；
which had the effect of making me better satisfied with our own
times than I sometimes am。
In the evening； with our minister； Mr。 Newel； and the Dean of
Ely； his guest； to an exceedingly pleasant 〃tea〃 at the house of
Baroness Gravensteen； and met a number of interesting people；
among them a kindly old gentleman who began diplomatic life as a
British attache at Washington in the days of Webster and Clay；
and gave me interesting accounts of them。
The queer letters and crankish proposals which come in every day
are amazing。 I have just added to my collection of diplomatic
curiosities a letter from the editor of a Democratic paper in
southern Illinois； addressed to me as ambassador at Mayence；
which he evidently takes to be the capital of Germany； asking me
to look after a great party of Western newspaper men who are to
go up the Rhine this summer and make a brief stay in the
above…named capital of the empire。 I also receive very many
letters of introduction； which of course make large demands upon
my time。 The number of epistles； also； which come in from public
meetings in large and small American towns is very great； some
evidently representing no persons other than the writers。 As I
write the above； I open mechanically a letter from a peace
meeting assembled in Ledyard； Connecticut； composed of 〃Rogerine
Quakers〃； but what a 〃Rogerine Quaker〃 is I know not。 Some of
these letters are touching； and some have a comic side。 A very
good one comes from May Wright Sewall； would that all the others
were as thoughtful！
It goes without saying that the Quakers are out in full force。 We
have been answering by cable some of the most important
communications sent us from America； the others we shall try to
acknowledge by mail； though they are so numerou