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exercise a social influence on the communities where they are
stationed； which rapidly becomes a political influence with the
governments to which they are accredited。 Sir Henry is provided
with a large； attractive house； means to entertain amply； and has
been kept in the service long enough to know everybody and to
become experienced in the right way of getting at the men he
wishes to influence； and of doing the things his government needs
to have done。 Throughout the whole world this is John Bull's wise
way of doing things。 At every capital I have visited； including
Washington； Constantinople； St。 Petersburg； Rome； Paris； Berlin；
and Vienna； the British representative is a man who has been
selected with reference to his fitness； kept in the service long
enough to give him useful experience； and provided with a good；
commodious house and the means to exercise social and； therefore；
political influence。 The result is that； although； in every
country in the world； orators and editors are always howling at
John Bull； he everywhere has his way： to use our vernacular； he
〃gets there；〃 and can laugh in his sleeve at the speeches against
him in public bodies； and at the diatribes against him in
newspapers。 The men who are loudest in such attacks are generally
the most delighted to put their legs under the British
ambassador's mahogany； or to take their daughters to his
receptions and balls； and then quietly to follow the general line
of conduct which he favors。
June 9。
In the morning an interesting visit from M。 de Staal； president
of the conference。 We discussed arbitration plans； Brussels rules
and Geneva rules； and； finally； our social debts to the Dutch
authorities。
As to the general prospects of arbitration； he expressed the
belief that we can； by amalgamating the British； Russian； and
American plans； produce a good result
During the day； many members of the conference having gone to
Rotterdam to see the welcoming of the Queen in that city； I took
up； with especial care； the Brussels rules for the conduct of
war； and the amendments of them now proposed in the conference；
some of which have provoked considerable debate。 The more I read
the proposals now made； the more admirable most of them seem to
be； and the more it seems to me that we ought； with a few
exceptions； to adopt them。 Great Britain declines to sanction
them as part of international law； but still agrees to adopt them
as a general basis for her conduct in time of war； and even this
would be a good thing for us； if we cannot induce our government
to go to the length of making them fully binding。
At six o'clock Dr。 Holls； who represents us upon the subcommittee
on arbitration； came in with most discouraging news。 It now
appears that the German Emperor is determined to oppose the whole
scheme of arbitration； and will have nothing to do with any plan
for a regular tribunal； whether as given in the British or the
American scheme。 This news comes from various sources； and is
confirmed by the fact that； in the subcommittee； one of the
German delegates； Professor Zorn of Konigsberg； who had become
very earnest in behalf of arbitration； now says that he may not
be able to vote for it。 There are also signs that the German
Emperor is influencing the minds of his alliesthe sovereigns of
Austria； Italy； Turkey； and Roumanialeading them to oppose it。
Curiously enough； in spite of this； Count Nigra； the Italian
ambassador at Vienna and head of the Italian delegation； made a
vigorous speech showing the importance of the work in which the
committee is engaged； urging that the plan be perfected； and
seeming to indicate that he will go on with the representatives
who favor it。 This； coming from perhaps the most earnest ally of
Germany； is noteworthy。
At the close of the session Sir Julian Pauncefote informed Dr。
Holls that he was about to telegraph his government regarding the
undoubted efforts of the German Emperor upon the sovereigns above
named； and I decided to cable our State Department； informing
them fully as to this change in the condition of affairs。
At eight went to the dinner of our minister； Mr。 Newel and found
there three ambassadors； De Staal； Munster； and Pauncefote； as
well as M。 Leon Bourgeois； president of the French delegation；
Sir Henry Howard； the British minister； Baron de Bildt； the
Swedish minister； and some leading Netherlands statesmen。 Had a
long talk with M。 de Staal and with Sir Julian Pauncefote
regarding the state of things revealed this afternoon in the
subcommittee on arbitration。 M。 de Staal has called a meeting of
the heads of delegations for Saturday afternoon。 Both he and Sir
Julian are evidently much vexed by the unfortunate turn things
have taken。 The latter feels； as I do； that the only thing to be
done is to go on and make the plan for arbitration as perfect as
possible； letting those of the powers who are willing to do so
sign it。 I assured him and De Staal that we of the United States
would stand by them to the last in the matter。
Late in the evening went to a reception of M。 de Beaufort； the
Netherlands minister of foreign affairs； and discussed current
matters with various people； among them Count Nigra； whom I
thanked for his eloquent speech in the afternoon； and Baron de
Bildt； who feels as I do； that the right thing for us is to go
on； no matter who falls away。
June 10。
This morning I gave to studies of the various reports sent in
from the subcommittees； especially those on arbitration and on
the Brussels Conference rules。 Both have intensely interested me；
my main attention being； of course； centered on the former； but
the Brussels rules seem to me of much greater importance now than
at first； and my hope is that we shall not only devise a good
working plan of arbitration； but greatly humanize the laws of
war。
At four o'clock in the afternoon met the four other ambassadors
and two or three other heads of delegations； at the rooms of M。
de Staal； to discuss the question of relaxing the rules of
secrecy as regards the proceedings of committees； etc。 The whole
original Russian plan of maintaining absolute secrecy has
collapsed； just as the representatives from constitutional
countries in the beginning said it would。 Every day there are
published minute accounts in Dutch； French； and English journals
which show that； in some way； their representatives obtain enough
information to enable them； with such additional things as they
can imagine； to make readable reports。 The result is that various
gentlemen in the conference who formerly favored a policy of
complete secrecy find themselves credited with speeches which
they did not make； and which they dislike to be considered
capable of making。
After a great deal of talk； it was decided to authorize the
chairman of each committee to give to the press complete reports；
so far as possible； keeping in the background the part taken by
individuals。
At six the American delegation met； and the subject of our
instructions regarding the presentation of the American view of
the immunity of private property on the high seas in time of war
was taken up。 It was decided to ask some of the leading
supporters of this view to meet us at luncheon at 12。30 on
Monday； in order to discuss the best way of overcoming the
Russian plan of suppressing t