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！
memorandum which I left with him yesterday on the subject of
exempting private property； not contraband of war； from seizure
upon the high seas called； and insisted that it would be
impossible； under any just construction of the Mouravieff
programme； to bring the subject before the second committee as we
had hoped to do； that Russia would feel obliged to oppose its
introduction； and that Great Britain； France； and Italy； to say
nothing of other powers； would do the same。 This was rather
trying； for I had especially desired to press this long…desired
improvement in international law； and I showed him how persistent
the United States had been as regards this subject throughout our
whole history； how earnest the President and his cabinet are in
pressing it now； and how our delegation are bound； under our
instructions； to bring it before the conference。 I insisted that
we should at least have the opportunity to present it； even if it
were afterward declared out of order。 To this he demurred； saying
that he feared it would arouse unpleasant debate。 I then
suggested that the paper be publicly submitted to our whole body
for special reference to a future conference； and this he took
into consideration。 Under other circumstances； I would have made
a struggle in the committee and； indeed； in the open session of
the full conference； but it is clear that what we are sent here
for is； above all； to devise some scheme of arbitration； and that
anything which comes in the way of this； by provoking ill…feeling
or prolonging discussion on other points； will diminish our
chances of obtaining what the whole world so earnestly desires。
During the day our American delegation held two sessions； and； as
a result； a telegram of considerable length to the State
Department was elaborated； asking permission to substitute a new
section in our original instructions regarding an arbitration
tribunal； and to be allowed liberty to make changes in minor
points； as the development of opinion in the conference may
demand。 The substitute which we suggested referred especially to
the clash between the original instructions and the Monroe
Doctrine。 I was very reluctant to send the despatch； but； on the
whole； it seemed best； and it was adopted unanimously。
In the afternoon； at five； the presidents of all the delegations
went to the palace； by appointment； and were presented to the
young Queen and to the Queen…mother。 The former is exceedingly
modest； pretty； and pleasant； and as she came into the room；
about which were ranged that line of solemn； elderly men； it
seemed almost pathetic。 She was evidently timid； and it was； at
first； hard work for her； but she got along well with Count
Munster； and when she came to me I soon brought the conversation
upon the subject of the 〃House in the Wood〃 by thanking her for
the pains her government had taken in providing so beautiful a
place for us。 This new topic seemed to please her； and we had
quite a long talk upon it； she speaking of her visits to the
park； for skating and the like； and I dwelling on the beauty of
the works of art and the views in the park。 Then the delegates；
going to the apartments of the Queen…mother； went through a
similar formality with her。 She is very stout； but fine…looking；
with a kindly face and manner。 Both mother and daughter spoke；
with perfect ease； Dutch； French； German English； and how many
other languages I know not。 The young Queen was very simply
dressed； like any other young lady of seventeen； except that she
had a triple row of large pearls about her neck。 In the evening；
at 9。30； the entire delegations were received at a great
presentation and ball。 The music was very fine； but the most
interesting thing to me was the fact that； as the palace was
built under Louis Bonaparte and Hortense； the main rooms were in
the most thoroughgoing style Empire； not only in their
decorations； but in their furniture and accessories；clocks；
vases； candelabra； and the like。 I have never seen that style；
formerly so despised； but now so fashionable； developed as fully。
After the presentation I met Sir John Fisher； one of the English
delegates； an admiral in the British navy； and found him very
intelligent。 He said that he was thoroughly for peace； and had
every reason to be so； since he knew something of the horrors of
war。 It appears that in one of the recent struggles in China he
went ashore with eleven hundred men and returned with only about
five hundred； but； to my regret； I found him using the same
argument as regards the sea that Count Munster had made regarding
the land。 He said that the navy of Great Britain was and would
remain in a state of complete preparation for war； that a vast
deal depended on prompt action by the navy； and that the truce
afforded by arbitration proceedings would give other powers time；
which they would otherwise not have； to put themselves into
complete readiness。 He seemed uncertain whether it was best for
Great Britain； under these circumstances； to support a
thoroughgoing plan of arbitration； but； on the whole； seemed
inclined to try it to some extent。 Clearly what Great Britain
wants is a permanent system of arbitration with the United
States； but she does not care much； I think； for such a provision
as regards other powers。
There is considerable curiosity among leading members to know
what the United States really intends to do； and during the day
Sir Julian Pauncefote and others have called to talk over the
general subject。
The London 〃Times〃 gives quite correctly a conversation of mine；
of rather an optimistic nature； as to the possibilities and
probabilities of arbitration； and the improvement of the customs
of war； but in another quarter matters have not gone so well： the
〃Corriere della Sera〃 of Milan publishes a circumstantial
interview with me； which has been copied extensively in the
European press； to the effect that I have declared my belief in
the adoption of compulsory arbitration and disarmament。 This is a
grotesque misstatement。 I have never dreamed of saying anything
of the kind； in fact； have constantly said the contrary； and；
what is more； I have never been interviewed by the correspondent
of that or of any other Continental paper。
CHAPTER XLVI
AS PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN DELEGATION AT THE PEACE CONFERENCE
OF THE HAGUEII
May 25。 This morning a leading delegate of one of the great
European powers called and gave me a very interesting account of
the situation as he sees it。
He stated that the Russian representatives； on arriving here；
gave out that they were not prepared with any plan for a definite
tribunal of arbitration； but that shortly afterward there
appeared some discrepancy on this point between the statements of
the various members of their delegation； and that they now
propose a system of arbitration； mediation； and examination into
any cause of difficulty between nations。
In the evening our secretary spoke of the matter to M。 de Staal；
the president of the Russian delegation and of the conference；
and was told that this plan would； within a day or two； be
printed and laid before the whole body。
This is a favorable sign。 More and more it looks as if the great
majority of us are beginning to see the necessity of some scheme
of arbitration embracing a court and definite； well…contrived
accessories。