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which certainly would be much more effective in preventing
unnecessary suffering and death； but the Russians seemed glad to
score a point against Great Britain； and Sir John's proposal was
voted down； its only support being derived from our own
delegation。 Captain Crozier； our military delegate； took an
active part in supporting Sir John Ardagh； but the majority
against us was overwhelming。
As to asphyxiating bombs； Captain Mahan spoke at length against
the provision to forbid them： his ground being that not the
slightest thing had yet been done looking to such an invention；
that； even if there had been； their use would not be so bad as
the use of torpedoes against ships of war； that asphyxiating men
by means of deleterious gases was no worse than asphyxiating them
with water； indeed； that the former was the less dangerous of the
two； since the gases used might simply incapacitate men for a
short time； while the blowing up of a ship of war means death to
all or nearly all of those upon it。
To this it was answeredand； as it seemed to me； with
forcethat asphyxiating bombs might be used against towns for
the destruction of vast numbers of non…combatants； including
women and children； while torpedoes at sea are used only against
the military and naval forces of the enemy。 The original proposal
was carried by a unanimous vote； save ours。 I am not satisfied
with our attitude on this question； but what can a layman do when
he has against him the foremost contemporary military and naval
experts？ My hope is that the United States will yet stand with
the majority on the record。
I stated afterward in a bantering way to Captain Mahan； as well
as others； that while I could not support any of the arguments
that had been made in favor of allowing asphyxiating bombs； there
was one which somewhat appealed to menamely； that the dread of
them might do something to prevent the rush of the rural
population to the cities； and the aggregation of the poorer
classes in them； which is one of the most threatening things to
modern society； and also a second argument that such bombs would
bring home to warlike stay…at…home orators and writers the
realities of war。
At noon received the French translation of our memorial to De
Staal； but found it very imperfect throughout； and in some parts
absolutely inadmissible； so I worked with Baron de Bildt；
president of the Swedish delegation here； all the afternoon in
revising it。
At six the American delegation met and chose me for their orator
at the approaching Grotius festival at Delft。 I naturally feel
proud to discharge a duty of this kind； and can put my heart into
it； for Grotius has long been to me almost an object of idolatry；
and his main works a subject of earnest study。 There are few men
in history whom I so deeply venerate。 Twenty years ago； when
minister at Berlin； I sent an eminent American artist to Holland
and secured admirable copies of the two best portraits of the
great man。 One of these now hangs in the Law Library of Cornell
University； and the other over my work…table at the Berlin
Embassy。
June 23。
At work all the morning on letters and revising final draft of
memorial on immunity of private property at sea； and lunched
afterward at the 〃House in the Wood〃 to talk it over with Baron
de Bildt。
At the same table met M。 de Martens； who has just returned by
night to his work here； after presiding a day or two over the
Venezuela arbitration tribunal at Paris。 He told me that Sir
Richard Webster； in opening the case； is to speak for sixteen
days； and De Martens added that he himself had read our entire
Venezuelan report； as well as the other documents on the subject
which form quite a large library。 And yet we do not include men
like him in 〃the working…classes〃！
In the evening to a reception at the house of M。 de Beaufort；
minister of foreign affairs； and was cordially greeted by him and
his wife； both promising that they would accept our invitation to
Delft。 I took in to the buffet the wife of the present Dutch
prime minister； who also expressed great interest in our
proposal； and declared her intention of being present。
Count Zanini； the Italian minister and delegate here； gave me a
comical account of two speeches in the session of the first
section this morning； one being by a delegate from Persia； Mirza
Riza Khan； who is minister at St。 Petersburg。 His Persian
Excellency waxed eloquent over the noble qualities of the Emperor
of Russia； and especially over his sincerity as shown by the fact
that when his Excellency tumbled from his horse at a review； his
Majesty sent twice to inquire after his health。 The whole effect
upon the conference was to provoke roars of laughter。
But the great matter of the day was the news； which has not yet
been made public； that Prince Hohenlohe； the German chancellor；
has come out strongly for the arbitration tribunal； and has sent
instructions here accordingly。 This is a great gain； and seems to
remove one of the worst stumbling…blocks。 But we will have to pay
for this removal； probably； by giving up section 10 of the
present plan； which includes a system of obligatory arbitration
in various minor matters；a system which would be of use to the
world in many ways。 While the American delegation； as stated in
my letter which Holls took to Bulow； and which has been forwarded
to the Emperor； will aid in throwing out of the arbitration plan
everything of an obligatory nature； if Germany insists upon it； I
learn that the Dutch Government is much opposed to this
concession； and may publicly protest against it。
A curious part of the means used in bringing about this change of
opinion was the pastoral letter； elsewhere referred to； issued by
the Protestant Episcopal bishop of Texas； calling for prayers
throughout the State for the success of the conference in its
efforts to diminish the horrors of war。 This pastoral letter； to
which I referred in my letter to Minister von Bulow； I intrusted
to Holls； authorizing him to use it as he thought fit。 He showed
it to Prince Hohenlohe； and the latter； although a Roman
Catholic； was evidently affected by it； and especially by the
depth and extent of the longing for peace which it showed。 It is
perhaps an interesting example of an indirect 〃answer to prayer；〃
since it undoubtedly strengthened the feelings in the prince
chancellor's mind which led him to favor arbitration。
June 24。
Sent to M。 de Staal； as president of the conference； the memorial
relating to the exemption of private property； not contraband of
war； from capture on the high seas。 Devoted the morning to
blocking out my Grotius address； and afterward drove with Holls
to Delft to look over the ground for our Fourth…of…July festival。
The town hall is interesting and contains； among other portraits；
one which is evidently a good likeness of Grotius； the only
difficulty is that； for our intended luncheon； the rooms； though
beautiful； seem inadequate。
Thence to the church； and after looking over that part of it near
the monuments； with reference to the Grotius ceremony； went into
the organ…loft with the organist。 There I listened for nearly an
hour while he and Holls played finely on that noble instrument；
and as I sat and looked down over the church and upon the distant
monuments； the old historic scenes of f