June6。
InthemorningSirJulianPauncefotecalled，andagainwentovercertaindetailsintheAmerican，British，andRussianplansofarbitration，discussingsomematterstobestrickenoutandotherstobeinserted。Hedeclaredhisreadinesstostrikeoutafeatureofhisplantowhichfromthefirst，Ihavefeltaverygreatobjection——namely，thatwhich，afterthetribunalisconstituted，allowsthecontestingpartiestocallintoitandmixwithitpersonssimplychosenbythecontestantsadhoc。Thisseemstomeadilutionoftheideaofapermanenttribunal，andameansofdelayandofcomplicationswhichmayproveunfortunate。
Itwouldcertainlybesaidthatifthecontestantsweretobeallowedtonametwoormorejudgesfromoutsidethetribunal，theymightjustaswellnominateall，andthussavetheexpenseattendantuponaregularlyconstitutedinternationalcourtchosenbythevariousgovernments。
LaterinthedayIwroteaprivatelettertotheSecretaryofStatesuggestingthatourAmericandelegationbeauthorizedtolayawreathofsilverandgolduponthetombofGrotiusatDelft，notonlyasatributetothemanwhosetinmotiontheideaswhich，nearlythreehundredyearslater，haveledtotheassemblingofthisconference，butasanindicationofourgratitudetotheNetherlandsGovernmentforitshospitalityandtheadmirableprovisionithasmadeforourworkhere，andalsoasasignofgood—willtowardtheoldergovernmentsoftheworldontheoccasionoftheirfirstmeetingwithdelegatesfromthenewworld，inaconferencetreatingofmattersmostimportanttoallnations。
IntheeveningtoMr。vanKarnebeek’sreception，andtheremetMr。Raffalovitch，oneoftheRussiansecretariesoftheconference，who，ascounciloroftheRussianEmpireandcorrespondingmemberoftheFrenchInstitute，hasaEuropeanreputation，andurgedhimtoaidinstrikingouttheclauseintheplanwhichadmitsjudgesotherthanthoseofthecourt。Myhopeisthatitwilldisappearinthesubcommitteeandnotcomeupinthegeneralmeetingofthethirdgreatcommittee。
June8。
TheAmericandelegationintheafternoondiscussedatlengththeproposalsrelatingtotheBrusselsConferencerulesforthemorehumanecarryingonofwar。Considerabledifferenceofopinionhasariseninthesectionoftheconferenceinwhichthepreliminarydebatesareheld，andCaptainCrozier，ourrepresentative，hasbeeninsomedoubtastothegroundtobetakenbetweentheseopposingviews。Ononesidearethosewhothinkitbesttogoatconsiderablelengthintomoreorlessminuterestrictionsupontheconductofinvadersandinvaded。Ontheotherside，M。
BernaertofBelgium，oneofthetwomosteminentmenfromthatcountry，andothers，takethegroundthatitwouldbebettertoleavethewholemattertothegeneraldevelopmentofhumanityininternationallaw。M。deMartensinsiststhatnowisthetimetosettlethematter，ratherthanleaveittoindividualswho，intimeofwar，arelikelytobemoreorlessexasperatedbyaccountsofatrocitiesandtohavenoadequatetimefordecidinguponapolicy。Afterconsiderablediscussionbyourdelegation，thewholematterwentover。
IntheeveningtoagreatreceptionatthehouseofSirHenryHoward，Britishministeratthiscourt。Itwasverybrilliant，andthewholeaffordedanexampleofJohnBull’sgoodsenseinprovidingforhisrepresentativesabroad，andenablingthemtoexerciseasocialinfluenceonthecommunitieswheretheyarestationed，whichrapidlybecomesapoliticalinfluencewiththegovernmentstowhichtheyareaccredited。SirHenryisprovidedwithalarge，attractivehouse，meanstoentertainamply，andhasbeenkeptintheservicelongenoughtoknoweverybodyandtobecomeexperiencedintherightwayofgettingatthemenhewishestoinfluence，andofdoingthethingshisgovernmentneedstohavedone。ThroughoutthewholeworldthisisJohnBull’swisewayofdoingthings。AteverycapitalIhavevisited，includingWashington，Constantinople，St。Petersburg，Rome，Paris，Berlin，andVienna，theBritishrepresentativeisamanwhohasbeenselectedwithreferencetohisfitness，keptintheservicelongenoughtogivehimusefulexperience，andprovidedwithagood，commodioushouseandthemeanstoexercisesocialand，therefore，politicalinfluence。Theresultisthat，although，ineverycountryintheworld，oratorsandeditorsarealwayshowlingatJohnBull，heeverywherehashisway:touseourvernacular，he\"getsthere，\"andcanlaughinhissleeveatthespeechesagainsthiminpublicbodies，andatthediatribesagainsthiminnewspapers。ThemenwhoareloudestinsuchattacksaregenerallythemostdelightedtoputtheirlegsundertheBritishambassador’smahogany，ortotaketheirdaughterstohisreceptionsandballs，andthenquietlytofollowthegenerallineofconductwhichhefavors。
June9。
InthemorninganinterestingvisitfromM。deStaal，presidentoftheconference。Wediscussedarbitrationplans，BrusselsrulesandGenevarules，and，finally，oursocialdebtstotheDutchauthorities。
Astothegeneralprospectsofarbitration，heexpressedthebeliefthatwecan，byamalgamatingtheBritish，Russian，andAmericanplans，produceagoodresultDuringtheday，manymembersoftheconferencehavinggonetoRotterdamtoseethewelcomingoftheQueeninthatcity，Itookup，withespecialcare，theBrusselsrulesfortheconductofwar，andtheamendmentsofthemnowproposedintheconference，someofwhichhaveprovokedconsiderabledebate。ThemoreIreadtheproposalsnowmade，themoreadmirablemostofthemseemtobe，andthemoreitseemstomethatweought，withafewexceptions，toadoptthem。GreatBritaindeclinestosanctionthemaspartofinternationallaw，butstillagreestoadoptthemasageneralbasisforherconductintimeofwar;andeventhiswouldbeagoodthingforus，ifwecannotinduceourgovernmenttogotothelengthofmakingthemfullybinding。
Atsixo’clockDr。Holls，whorepresentsusuponthesubcommitteeonarbitration，cameinwithmostdiscouragingnews。ItnowappearsthattheGermanEmperorisdeterminedtoopposethewholeschemeofarbitration，andwillhavenothingtodowithanyplanforaregulartribunal，whetherasgivenintheBritishortheAmericanscheme。Thisnewscomesfromvarioussources，andisconfirmedbythefactthat，inthesubcommittee，oneoftheGermandelegates，ProfessorZornofKonigsberg，whohadbecomeveryearnestinbehalfofarbitration，nowsaysthathemaynotbeabletovoteforit。TherearealsosignsthattheGermanEmperorisinfluencingthemindsofhisallies——thesovereignsofAustria，Italy，Turkey，andRoumania——leadingthemtoopposeit。
Curiouslyenough，inspiteofthis，CountNigra，theItalianambassadoratViennaandheadoftheItaliandelegation，madeavigorousspeechshowingtheimportanceoftheworkinwhichthecommitteeisengaged，urgingthattheplanbeperfected，andseemingtoindicatethathewillgoonwiththerepresentativeswhofavorit。This，comingfromperhapsthemostearnestallyofGermany，isnoteworthy。
AtthecloseofthesessionSirJulianPauncefoteinformedDr。
HollsthathewasabouttotelegraphhisgovernmentregardingtheundoubtedeffortsoftheGermanEmperoruponthesovereignsabovenamed，andIdecidedtocableourStateDepartment，informingthemfullyastothischangeintheconditionofaffairs。
Ateightwenttothedinnerofourminister，Mr。Newelandfoundtherethreeambassadors，DeStaal，Munster，andPauncefote，aswellasM。LeonBourgeois，presidentoftheFrenchdelegation;
SirHenryHoward，theBritishminister;BarondeBildt，theSwedishminister;andsomeleadingNetherlandsstatesmen。HadalongtalkwithM。deStaalandwithSirJulianPauncefoteregardingthestateofthingsrevealedthisafternooninthesubcommitteeonarbitration。M。deStaalhascalledameetingoftheheadsofdelegationsforSaturdayafternoon。BothheandSirJulianareevidentlymuchvexedbytheunfortunateturnthingshavetaken。Thelatterfeels，asIdo，thattheonlythingtobedoneistogoonandmaketheplanforarbitrationasperfectaspossible，lettingthoseofthepowerswhoarewillingtodososignit。IassuredhimandDeStaalthatweoftheUnitedStateswouldstandbythemtothelastinthematter。
LateintheeveningwenttoareceptionofM。deBeaufort，theNetherlandsministerofforeignaffairs，anddiscussedcurrentmatterswithvariouspeople，amongthemCountNigra，whomI
thankedforhiseloquentspeechintheafternoon，andBarondeBildt，whofeelsasIdo，thattherightthingforusistogoon，nomatterwhofallsaway。
June10。
ThismorningIgavetostudiesofthevariousreportssentinfromthesubcommittees，especiallythoseonarbitrationandontheBrusselsConferencerules。Bothhaveintenselyinterestedme，mymainattentionbeing，ofcourse，centeredontheformer;buttheBrusselsrulesseemtomeofmuchgreaterimportancenowthanatfirst，andmyhopeisthatweshallnotonlydeviseagoodworkingplanofarbitration，butgreatlyhumanizethelawsofwar。
Atfouro’clockintheafternoonmetthefourotherambassadorsandtwoorthreeotherheadsofdelegations，attheroomsofM。
deStaal，todiscussthequestionofrelaxingtherulesofsecrecyasregardstheproceedingsofcommittees，etc。ThewholeoriginalRussianplanofmaintainingabsolutesecrecyhascollapsed，justastherepresentativesfromconstitutionalcountriesinthebeginningsaiditwould。EverydaytherearepublishedminuteaccountsinDutch，French，andEnglishjournalswhichshowthat，insomeway，theirrepresentativesobtainenoughinformationtoenablethem，withsuchadditionalthingsastheycanimagine，tomakereadablereports。Theresultisthatvariousgentlemenintheconferencewhoformerlyfavoredapolicyofcompletesecrecyfindthemselvescreditedwithspeecheswhichtheydidnotmake，andwhichtheydisliketobeconsideredcapableofmaking。
Afteragreatdealoftalk，itwasdecidedtoauthorizethechairmanofeachcommitteetogivetothepresscompletereports，sofaraspossible，keepinginthebackgroundtheparttakenbyindividuals。
AtsixtheAmericandelegationmet，andthesubjectofourinstructionsregardingthepresentationoftheAmericanviewoftheimmunityofprivatepropertyonthehighseasintimeofwarwastakenup。Itwasdecidedtoasksomeoftheleadingsupportersofthisviewtomeetusatluncheonat12。30onMonday，inordertodiscussthebestwayofovercomingtheRussianplanofsuppressingthematter，andtoconcertmeansforgettingthewholesubjectbeforethefullconference。
June11。
InsteadofgoingtoheartheBishopofHerefordpreachon\"Peace，\"IwalkedwithDr。HollstoScheveningen，fourmiles，toworkoffanervousheadacheandtoinviteCountMunstertoourluncheononMonday，whenwepurposetotakecounseltogetherregardingprivatepropertyonthehighseas。Heaccepted，butwasoutofhumorwithnearlyalltheproceedingsoftheconference。
Heismorethaneveropposedtoarbitration，anddeclaresthat，inviewoftheoriginalRussianprogrammeunderwhichwewerecalledtomeet，wehavenorighttotakeitupatall，sinceitwasnotmentioned。Hewasdecidedlypessimisticregardingthecontinuanceofthesessions，askingmewhenIthoughtitwouldallend;andonmyansweringthatIhadnottheslightestidea，hesaidthathewasentirelyinthedarkonthesubject;thatnobodycouldtellhowlongitwouldlast，orhowitwouldbreakoff。
June12。
Athalf—pasttwelvecameourAmericanluncheontoCountMunster，Mr。vanKarnebeek，andBarondeBildt，eachofwhomisattheheadofhisdelegation，——ourpurposebeingtodiscusswiththemthebestmannerofgettingthesubjectofimmunityofprivatepropertyatsea，notcontraband，beforetheconference，thesegentlemenbeingespeciallydevotedtosuchameasure。
Allwentoffverywell，fullinterchangeofviewstookplace，andthegeneralopinionwasthatthebestwaywouldbeforus，astheonlydelegationinstructedonthesubject，todrawupaformalmemorialaskingthatthequestionbebroughtbeforetheconference，andsendingthistoM。deStaalasourpresident。
CuriousthingscameoutduringourconversationBarondeBildtinformedmethat，stronglyashefavoredthemeasure，andpreparedashewastovoteforit，heshouldhavetobeverycarefulindiscussingitpublicly，sincehisinstructionsweretoavoid，justasfaraspossible，anyclashbetweentheopinionsexpressedbytheSwedishrepresentativesandthoseofthegreatpowers。NeverbeforehaveIsothoroughlyrealizedthedifficultpositionwhichthelesserpowersinEuropeholdasregardsreallyseriousquestions。
MoresurprisingwastheconversationofCountMunster，hebeingononesideofmeandMr。vanKarnebeekontheother。BearinginmindthattheEmperorWilliamduringhislongtalkwithmejustbeforeIleftBerlininreferringtotheapproachingPeaceCongresshadsaidthathewassendingCountMunsterbecausewhattheconferencewouldmostneedwouldbe\"commonsense，\"andbecause，inhisopinion，CountMunsterhad\"lotsofit，\"someofthecount’sutterancesastonishedme。Henowcameout，ashedidthedaybeforeinhistalkwithme，utterlyagainstarbitration，declaringita\"humbug，\"andthatwehadnorighttoconsiderit，sinceitwasnotmentionedinthefirstproposalsfromRussia，etc。，etc。
Alittlelater，somethinghavingbeensaidabouttelegraphsandtelephones，heexpressedhisbeliefthattheyareacurseasregardstherelationsbetweennations;thattheyinterferewithdiplomacy，anddomoreharmthangood。Thisdidnotespeciallysurpriseme，forIhadheardthesameopinionsutteredbyothers;
butwhatdidsurprisemegreatlywastohearhimsay，whenthesubjectofbacteriaandmicrobeswascasuallymentioned，thattheywere\"allamodernhumbug。\"
Itisclearthat，withallhisfinequalities，——andheisreallyasplendidspecimenofanold—fashionedGermannoblemandevotedtothediplomaticserviceofhiscountry，——heissaturatedwiththeideasoffiftyyearsago。
ReturningfromadrivetoScheveningenwithMajorBurbankoftheUnitedStatesarmy，IsketchedthefirstpartofadraftforaletterfromourdelegationtoM。deStaal，andatourmeetingatsixpresentedit，whenitmetwithgeneralapproval。PresidentLowhadalsosketchedadraftwhichitwasthoughtcouldbeworkedverywellintotheonewhichIhadoffered，andsowetwoweremadeasubcommitteetopreparetheletterinfull。
June13。
ThismorningcomemoredisquietingstatementsregardingGermany。
ThereseemsnolongeranydoubtthattheGermanEmperorisopposingarbitration，and，indeed，thewholeworkoftheconference，andthathewillinsistonhismainallies，AustriaandItaly，goingwithhim。CountNigra，whoispersonallydevotedtoarbitration，allowedthisintalkingwithDr。Holls;andtheGermandelegates——allofwhom，withtheexceptionofCountMunster，arefavorablyinclinedtoagoodarbitrationplan——showthattheyaredisappointed。
Ihadlearnedfromahighimperialofficial，beforeIleftBerlin，thattheEmperorconsideredarbitrationasderogatorytohissovereignty，andIwasalsowellaware，fromhisconversation，thathewasbynomeansinlovewiththeconferenceidea;but，inviewofhisspeechatWiesbaden，andthepetitionswhichhadcomeintohimfromBavaria，Ihadhopedthathehadexperienceda\"changeofheart。\"
PossiblyhemighthavechangedhisopinionhadnotCountMunsterbeenhere，reportingtohimconstantlyagainsteverysteptakenbytheconference。
Thereseemsdangerofacatastrophe。Thoseofuswhoarefaithfultoarbitrationplanswillgoonanddothebestwecan;butthereisnotellingwhatstumbling—blocksGermanyandheralliesmayputinourway;and，ofcourse，thewholeresult，withouttheirfinalagreement，willseemtotheworldafailureand，perhaps，afarce。
TheimmediateresultswillbethattheRussianEmperorwillbecomeanidolofthe\"plainpeople\"throughouttheworld，theGermanEmperorwillbebitterlyhated，andthesocialists，whoformthemostdreadedpartyonthecontinentofEurope，willbefurnishedwithathoroughlyeffectiveweaponagainsttheirrulers。
SomedayssinceIsaidtoaleadingdiplomatisthere，\"TheministersoftheGermanEmperoroughttotellhimthat，shouldheopposearbitration，therewillbeconcentrateduponhimanamountofhatredwhichnoministeroughttoallowasovereigntoincur。\"
Tothisheanswered，\"Thatistrue;butthereisnotaministerinGermanywhodarestellhim。\"
June14。
Thisnoonourdelegationgaveabreakfasttosundrymembersoftheconferencewhoareespeciallyinterestedinaneffectiveplanofarbitration，theprincipalofthesebeingCountNigrafromItaly;CountWelsersheimb，firstdelegateofAustria;M。DescampsofBelgium;Barond’EstournellesofFrance;andM。AsseroftheNetherlands。Aftersomepreliminarytalk，Ireadtothemtheproposal，whichSirJulianhadhandedmeinthemorning，forthepurposeofobviatingtheobjectiontothecouncilofadministrationinchargeofthecourtofarbitrationhereinTheHague，whichwasanimportantfeatureofhisoriginalplan，butwhichhadbeengenerallyrejectedasinvolvingexpensivemachinery。Hisproposalnowisthat，insteadofacouncilspeciallyappointedandsalariedtowatchoverandprovideforthenecessitiesofthecourt，suchcouncilshallsimplybemadeupoftheministersofsundrypowersresidinghere，——thusdoingawayentirelywiththetroubleandexpenseofaspecialcouncil。
ThisIamendedbyaddingtheNetherlandsministerofforeignaffairsasex—officiopresident，therebeingvariousreasonsforthis，andamongthesethefactthat，withoutsomesuchprovision，theNetherlandswouldhavenorepresentativeinthecouncil。
Theplanandmyamendmentwerewellreceived，andItrustthatourfullandfriendlydiscussionoftheseandvariousmattersconnectedwiththemwillproduceagoodeffectinthecommittees。
CountNigraexpressedhimselftomeaspersonallymostearnestlyinfavorofarbitration，butitwasclearthathispositionwascomplicatedbytherelationsofhiscountrytoGermanyasoneoftheTripleAlliance;andthesamedifficultywasobservableinthecaseofCountWelsersheimb，therepresentativeofAustria，thethirdallyinthecombinationofwhichGermanyisthehead。
Inthecourseofourbreakfast，Barond’EstournellesmadeastatementwhichIthinkimpressedeverypersonpresent。Itwasthat，ashewasleavingParis，Jaures，thefamoussocialist，whomheknowswell，saidtohim，\"Goon;doallyoucanatTheHague，butyouwilllaborinvain:youcanaccomplishnothingthere，yourschemeswillfail，andweshalltriumph，\"orwordstothateffect。Soclearanindicationasthisoftheeffectwhichafailureoftheconferencetoproduceagoodschemeofarbitrationwillhaveinpromotingthedesignsofthegreatinternationalsocialistandanarchistcombinationscannotfailtoimpresseverythinkingman。
DinedintheeveningwiththeFrenchministeratthiscourt，andverypleasantly。TherewerepresentM。LeonBourgeois，theFrenchfirstdelegate，andthefirstdelegatesfromJapan，China，Mexico，andTurkey，withsubordinatedelegatesfromothercountries。Sittingnexttheladyattherightofthehost，I
foundhertobethewifeofthepremier，M。Piersoon，ministeroffinance，andveryagreeable。ItookintodinnerMadameBehrends，wifeoftheRussiancharge，evidentlyaverythoughtfulandaccomplishedwoman，whowasborn，asshetoldme，ofEnglishparentsinthecityofNewYorkwhenherfatherandmotherwereontheirwaytoEngland。Ifoundherveryinteresting，andherdiscussionsofRussia，aswellasofEnglandandtheNetherlands，especiallygood。
Inthesmoking—roomIhadalongtalkwithM。LeonBourgeois，who，accordingtothepapers，islikelytobeappointedministerofforeignaffairsinthenewFrenchcabinet。Hedweltuponthedifficultiesofanyplanforatribunal，butseemedreadytodowhathecouldforthecompromiseplan，whichisallthat，duringsometimepast，wehavehopedtoadopt。
June15。
EarlythismorningCountMunstercalled，wishingtoseemeespecially，andatonceplungedintothequestionoftheimmunityofprivatepropertyfromseizureonthehighseas。Hesaidthathehadjustreceivedinstructionsfromhisgovernmenttojoinusheartilyinbringingthequestionbeforetheconference;thathisgovernment，muchasitinclinestofavortheprinciple，couldnotyetseeitswaytocommititselffully;thatitsactionmust，ofcourse，dependupontheconductofotherpowersinthematter，asforeshadowedbydiscussionsintheconference，butthathewastoaidusinbringingitup。
ItoldhimIwasnowpreparingadraftofamemorialtotheconferencegivingthereasonswhythesubjectoughttobesubmitted，andthatheshouldhaveitassoonascompleted。
Thismatterbeingforthetimedisposedof，wetookupthestateofthearbitrationquestion，andtheconsequencesofoppositionbyGermanyandhertwoalliestoeveryfeasibleplan。
Hewasverymuchinearnest，anddeclaredespeciallyagainstcompulsoryarbitration。TothisIansweredthattheplanthusfaradoptedcontemplatedentirelyvoluntaryarbitration，withtheexceptionthatanobligatorysystemwasagreeduponasregardssundrypettymattersinwhicharbitrationwouldassistallthestatesconcerned;andthatifhedislikedthislatterfeature，butwouldagreetotheothers，wewouldgowithhiminstrikingitout，thoughweshouldvastlyprefertoretainit。
Hesaid，\"Yes;youhavealreadystrickenoutpartofitintheinterestoftheUnitedStates，\"referringtothefeaturesconcerningtheMonroeDoctrine，theregulationofcanals，rivers，etc。
\"Verytrue，\"Ianswered;\"andifthereareanyspecialfeatureswhichaffectunfavorablyGermanpolicyorinterests，movetostrikethemout，andwewillheartilysupportyou。\"
Hethendweltinhisusualmanneronhisspecialhobby，whichisthatmodernnationsaretakinganentirelyfalserouteinpreventingthesettlementoftheirdifficultiesbytraineddiplomatists，andintrustingthemtoarbitrationbymeninexperiencedininternationalmatters，whoreallycannotbeunprejudicedoruninfluenced;andhespokewithespecialcontemptoftheplanforcreatingabureau，composed，ashesaid，ofuniversityprofessorsandthelike，tocarryonthemachineryofthetribunal。
HereIhappenedtohaveatrumpcard。IshowedhimSirJulianPauncefote’splantosubstituteacouncilcomposedofalltheministersofthesignatorypowersresidingatTheHague，withmyamendmentmakingtheDutchministerofforeignaffairsitspresident。Thishereadandsaidhelikedit;infact，itseemedtoremoveamassofprejudicefromhismind。
Ithenspokeveryearnestlytohim——moresothaneverbefore——aboutthepresentconditionofaffairs。ItoldhimthatthecounselorsinwhomtheEmperortrusted——suchmenashimselfandtheprincipaladvisersofhisMajesty——oughtnevertoallowtheiryoungsovereigntobeexposedtothemassofhatred，obloquy，andoppositionwhichwouldconvergeuponhimfromallnationsincasehebecameknowntothewholeworldasthesovereignwhohadbrokendowntheconferenceandbroughttonaughttheplanofarbitration。ItookthelibertyoftellinghimwhattheEmperorsaidtomeregardingthecounthimself——namely，thatwhattheconferencewasmostlikelytoneedwasgoodcommonsense，andthathewassendingCountMunsterbecausehepossessedthat。Thisseemedtopleasehim，andIthenwentontosaythatheofallmenoughttoprevent，byallmeans，placingtheyoungEmperorinsuchaposition。Idweltonthegiftsandgracesoftheyoungsovereign，expressedmyfeelingofadmirationforhisnobleambitions，forhisabilities，forthestatesmanshiphehadrecentlyshown，forhisgraspofpublicaffairs，andforhiswayofconciliatingallclasses，andthendweltonthepityofmakingsuchamonarchanobjectofhatredinallpartsoftheworld。
Heseemedimpressedbythis，butsaidthecallingoftheconferencewassimplyapoliticaltrick——themostdetestabletrickeverpractised。Itwasdone，hesaidmainlytoembarrassGermany，toglorifytheyoungRussianEmperor，andtoputGermanyandnationswhichRussiadislikesintoafalseposition。TothisIanswered，\"Ifthisbethecase，whynottrumptheRussiantrick？or，asthepoker—playerssay，’Gothemonebetter，’takethemattheirword，supportagoodtribunalofarbitrationmoreefficienteventhantheRussianshavedaredtopropose;letyoursovereignthrowhimselfheartilyintothemovementandbecomearecognizedleaderandpowerhere;wewillallsupporthim，andtohimwillcomethecreditofit。
\"Then，inadditiontothis，supportusasfarasyoucanasregardstheimmunityofprivatepropertyonthehighseas，andthusyouwillgainanothergreatpoint;for，owingtoherrelationstoFrance，Russiahasnotdaredcommitherselftothisprincipleasotherwiseshedoubtlesswouldhavedone，but，onthecontrary，hasopposedanyconsiderationofitbytheconference。
\"Next，letattentionbecalledtothefact——andwewillgladlyaidinmakingtheworldfullyawareofit——thatGermany，throughyou，hasconstantlyurgedthegreatestpublicityofourproceedings，whilecertainotherpowershaveinsistedonsecrecyuntilsecrecyhasutterlybrokendown，andthenhavemadetheleastconcessionpossible。Inthiswayyouwillcomeoutoftheconferencetriumphant，andtheGermanEmperorwillbelookeduponas，afterall，thearbiterofEurope。EverybodyknowsthatFrancehasneverwishedarbitration，andthatRussianstatesmenarereally，atheart，nonetooardentforit。Comeforward，then，andmakethematterthoroughlyyourown;and，havingdonethis，maintainyourpresentattitudestronglyasregardsthetwoothermattersabovenamed，——thatis，theimmunityfromseizureofprivatepropertyonthehighseas，andthethrowingopenofourproceedings，——andthehonorsofthewholeconferenceisyours。\"
Heseemedimpressedbyallthis，andtookadifferenttonefromanywhichhasbeennotedinhimsincewecametogether。IthenaskedhimifhehadheardBarond’Estournelles’sstory。Hesaidthathehadnot。Itoldittohim，asgiveninmydiaryyesterday;andsaid，\"YouseetherewhatthefailuretoobtainaresultwhichisreallysomuchlongedforbyallthepeoplesoftheworldwilldotopromotethedesignsofthesocialisticforceswhicharesopowerfulinallpartsoftheContinent，andnowheremoresothaninGermanyandthenationsalliedwithher。\"
This，too，seemedtoimpresshim。Ithenwentontosay，\"Thisisnotall。Byopposingarbitration，younotonlyputaclubintothehandsofsocialists，anarchists，andalltheotheranti—socialforces，butyoualienatethesubstantialmiddleclassandthegreatbodyofreligiouspeopleinallnations。Youhavenoconceptionofthedepthoffeelingonthissubjectwhichexistsinmyowncountry，tosaynothingofothers;andifGermanystandsintheway，thedistrustofherwhichAmericanshavefelt，andwhichasministerandambassadoratBerlinIhavelaboredsohardtodispel，willbeinfinitelyincreased。Itwillrendermoreandmoredifficultthemaintenanceofproperrelationsbetweenthetwocountries。Yoursovereignwillbelookeduponastheenemyofallnations，andwillbeexposedtoeverysortofattackandcalumny，whiletheyoungEmperorofRussiawillbecomeapopularidolthroughouttheworld，sincehewillrepresenttothepopularmind，andeventothemindsofgreatbodiesofthinkingandreligiouspeople，theefforttopreventwarandtosolvepublicquestionsasmuchaspossiblewithoutbloodshed;whiletheEmperorofGermanywillrepresenttotheirmindsthedesiretosolveallgreatquestionsbyforce。
Mind，Idon’tsaythisisajustview:Ionlysaythatitistheviewsuretobetaken，andthatbyresistingarbitrationhereyouareplayingthegameofRussia，asyouyourselfhavestatedit——thatis，youaregivingRussiathemoralsupportofthewholeworldattheexpenseoftheneighboringpowers，andaboveallofGermany。\"
Ithentookupanargumentwhich，itisunderstood，hashadmuchinfluencewiththeEmperor，——namely，thatarbitrationmustbeinderogationofhissovereignty，——andasked，\"Howcananysuchderogationbepossible？Yoursovereignwouldsubmitonlysuchquestionstothearbitrationtribunalashethoughtbest;and，morethanallthat，youhavealreadycommittedyourselvestotheprinciple。YouareawarethatBismarcksubmittedthequestionoftheCarolineIslandsforarbitrationtothePope，andthefirstEmperorWilliamconsentedtoactasarbiterbetweentheUnitedStatesandGreatBritaininthematteroftheAmericannorthwesternboundary。Howcouldarbitrationaffectthetruepositionofthesovereign？Take，forexample，mattersastheynowstandbetweenGermanyandtheUnitedStates。Thereisavastmassofpettyquestionswhichconstantlytroubletherelationsbetweenthetwocountries。Theselittlequestionsembitterdebates，whetherinyourReichstagononehand，orinourCongressontheother，andmakethepositionoftheBerlinandWashingtongovernmentsespeciallydifficult。TheAmericanpapersattackmebecauseIyieldtoomuchtoGermany，theGermanpapersattackVonBulowbecauseheyieldstoomuchtoAmerica，andtheselittlequestionsremain。IfVonBulowandIwereallowedtositdownandsettlethem，wecoulddosoatshortnotice;butbehindhimstandstheReichstag，andbehindourSecretaryofStateandmyselfstandstheAmericanCongress。\"
Ireferredtosuchquestionsasthetonnagedues，theadditionaltariffonbounty—promotedsugar，Samoa，themost—favored—nationclause，intreatiesbetweenGermanyandtheUnitedStates，inrelationtothesameclauseinsundrytreatiesbetweentheUnitedStatesandotherpowers，andsaid，\"Whatablessingitwouldbeifallthesequestions，ofwhichbothgovernmentsaretired，andwhichmakethemoreimportantquestionsconstantlyarisingbetweenthetwocountriessodifficulttosettle，couldbesentatoncetoatribunalanddecidedonewayortheother！Inthemselvestheyamounttolittle。Itisnotatallunlikelythatmostofthem——possiblyallofthem——wouldbedecidedinfavorofGermany;buttheUnitedStateswouldacquiesceatonceinthedecisionbyatribunalsuchasisproposed。AndthisisjustwhatwouldtakeplacebetweenGermanyandothernations。Amassofvexatiousquestionswouldbesettledbythetribunal，andthesovereignandhisgovernmentwouldthusberelievedfromparliamentarychicanerybased，notuponknowledge，butuponpartytacticsorpersonalgrudgesorinheritedprejudices。\"
Heseemednowmoreinclinedtogiveweighttotheseconsiderations，andwill，Ihope，urgehisgovernmenttotakeabetterviewthanthatwhichforsometimepasthasseemedtobeindicatedbytheconductofitsrepresentativeshere。
IntheafternoonIwenttothefive—o’clockteaoftheBaronessd’Estournelles，foundagreatcrowdthere，includingtheleadingdelegates，andallanxiousastotheconductofGermany。MeetingtheBaronessvonSuttnerwhohasbeenwritingsuchearnestbooksinbehalfofpeace，IurgedhertowritewithallhermighttoinfluencepublicprintsinAustria，Italy，andGermanyinbehalfofarbitration，tellingherthatwearejustarrivingatthepartingoftheways，andthateverythingpossiblemustbedonenow，orallmaybelost。Tothissherespondedveryheartily，andIhavenodoubtwilluseherpenwithmucheffect。
IntheeveningwenttoagreatreceptionatthehouseoftheAustrianambassador，M。Okolicsanyi。Therewasacrush。HadalongtalkwithMr。Stead，tellinghimD’Estournelles’sstory，andurginghimtouseitineverywaytoshowwhataboonthefailureofarbitrationwouldbetotheanti—socialforcesinallpartsofEurope。
IntheintervalsduringthedayIbusiedmyselfincompletingthememorialtotheconferenceregardingtheimmunityfromseizureofprivatepropertyatsea。Ifwecannotsecureitnow，wemustatleastpavethewayforitsadmissionbyafutureinternationalconference。