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Isthmus Canal； we can hardly agree to。 During the morning Sir
Julian came in and talked over our plan of arbitration as well as
his own and that submitted by Russia。 He said that he had seen M。
de Staal； and that it was agreed between them that the latter
should send Sir Julian； at the first moment possible； an
amalgamation of the Russian and British plans； and this Sir
Julian promised that he would bring to us； giving us a chance to
insert any features from our own plan which； in our judgment；
might be important。 He seemed much encouraged； as we all are。
Returning to our rooms； I found Count Munster。 As usual； he was
very interesting； and； after discussing sundry features of the
Russian plan； he told one or two rather good stories。 He said
that during his stay in St Petersburg as minister； early in the
reign of Alexander II； he had a very serious quarrel with Prince
Gortchakoff the minister of foreign affairs； who afterward became
the famous chancellor of the empire。
Count Munster had received one day from a professor at Gottingen
a letter stating that a young German savant； traveling for
scientific purposes in Russia； had been seized and treated as a
prisoner； without any proper cause whatever； that； while he was
engaged in his peaceful botanizing； a police officer； who was
taking a gang of criminals to Siberia； had come along； and one of
his prisoners having escaped； this officer； in order to avoid
censure； had seized the young savant； quietly clapped the number
of the missing man on his back； put him in with the gang of
prisoners； and carried him off along with the rest； so that he
was now held as a convict in Siberia。 The count put the letter in
his pocket； thinking that he might have an opportunity to use it；
and a day or two afterward his chance came。 Walking on the quay；
he met the Emperor （Alexander II）； who greeted him heartily； and
said； 〃Let me walk with you。〃 After walking and talking some
time； the count told the story of the young German； whereupon the
Emperor asked for proofs of its truth。 At this Munster pulled the
letter out of his pocket； and； both having seated themselves on a
bench at the side of the walk； the Emperor read it。 On finishing
it； the Emperor said： 〃Such a thing as this can happen only in
Russia。〃 That very afternoon he sent a special police squad；
post…haste； all the way to Siberia； ordering them to find the
young German and bring him back to St。 Petersburg。
Next day Count Munster called at the Foreign Office on current
business； when Gortchakoff came at him in a great rage； asking
him by what right he communicated directly with the Emperor； and
insisting that he had no business to give a letter directly to
the Emperor； that it ought to have gone through the Foreign
Office。 Gortchakoff reproached the count bitterly for this
departure from elementary diplomatic etiquette。 At this Munster
replied： 〃I gave the letter to the Emperor because he asked me
for it； and I did not give it to you because I knew perfectly
well that you would pigeonhole it and the Emperor would never
hear of it。 I concede much in making any answer at all to your
talk； which seems to me of a sort not usual between gentlemen。〃
At this Gortchakoff was much milder； and finally almost
obsequious； becoming apparently one of Munster's devoted friends；
evidently thinking that； as Munster had gained the confidence of
the Emperor； he was a man to be cultivated。
The sequel to the story was also interesting。 The policemen；
after their long journey to Siberia； found the young German and
brought him to St。 Petersburg； where the Emperor received him
very cordially and gave him twenty thousand rubles as an
indemnity for the wrong done him。 The young savant told Munster
that he had not been badly treated； that he had been assigned a
very pleasant little cottage； and had perfect freedom to pursue
his scientific researches。
On my talking with the count about certain Russian abuses； and
maintaining that Russia； at least in court circles； had improved
greatly under Alexander III as regarded corruption； he said that
he feared she was now going back； and he then repeated a remark
made by the old Grand Duke Michael； brother of Alexander II； who
said that if any Russian were intrusted with the official care of
a canary he would immediately set up and maintain a coach and
pair out of it。
At six o'clock our American delegation met and heard reports；
especially from Captain Mahan and Captain Crozier； with reference
to the doings in the subcommittees。 Captain Mahan reported that
he had voted against forbidding asphyxiating bombs； etc。；
evidently with the idea that such a provision would prove to be
rather harmful than helpful to the cause of peace。
Captain Crozier reported that his subcommittee of committee No。 2
had； at its recent meeting； tried to take up the exemption of
private property from seizure on the high seas in time of war；
but had been declared out of order by the chairman； De Martens；
the leading Russian delegate； who seems determined to prevent the
subject coming before the conference。 The question before our
American delegation now was； Shall we try to push this American
proposal before the subcommittee of the second committee； or
before the entire conference at a later period？ and the general
opinion was in favor of the latter course。 It was not thought
best to delay the arbitration plan by its introduction at
present。
In the evening dined with Minister Newel； and had a very
interesting talk with Van Karnebeek； who had already favorably
impressed me by his clear…headedness and straightforwardness；
also with Messrs。 Asser； member of the Dutch Council of State；
and Rahusen； member of the Upper Chamber of the States General；
both of whom are influential delegates。
All three of these men spoke strongly in favor of our plan for
the exemption of private property on the high seas； Van Karnebeek
with especial earnestness。 He said that； looking merely at the
material interests of the Netherlands； he might very well favor
the retention of the present system； since his country is little
likely to go into war； and is certain to profit by the carrying
trade in case of any conflict between the great powers； that； of
course； under such circumstances； a large amount of commerce
would come to Holland as a neutral power； but that it was a
question of right and of a proper development of international
law； and that he； as well as the two other gentlemen above named；
was very earnestly in favor of joint action by the powers who are
in favor of our proposal。 He thought that the important thing
just now is to secure the cooperation of Germany； which seems to
be at the parting of the ways； and undecided which to take。
In the course of the evening one of my European colleagues； who
is especially familiar with the inner history of the calling of
the conference； told me that the reason why Professor Stengel was
made a delegate was not that he wrote the book in praise of war
and depreciating arbitration； which caused his appointment to be
so unfavorably commented upon； but because； as an eminent
professor of international law； he represented Bavaria； and that
as Bavaria； though represented at St。 Petersburg； was not
invited； it was thought very essential that a well…known man from
that kingdom should be put into the general German delegation。
On my aski