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consideration。
On the whole； matters continue to look encouraging as regards
both mediation and arbitration。
June 6。
In the morning Sir Julian Pauncefote called； and again went over
certain details in the American； British； and Russian plans of
arbitration； discussing some matters to be stricken out and
others to be inserted。 He declared his readiness to strike out a
feature of his plan to which from the first； I have felt a very
great objectionnamely； that which； after the tribunal is
constituted； allows the contesting parties to call into it and
mix with it persons simply chosen by the contestants ad hoc。 This
seems to me a dilution of the idea of a permanent tribunal； and a
means of delay and of complications which may prove unfortunate。
It would certainly be said that if the contestants were to be
allowed to name two or more judges from outside the tribunal；
they might just as well nominate all； and thus save the expense
attendant upon a regularly constituted international court chosen
by the various governments。
Later in the day I wrote a private letter to the Secretary of
State suggesting that our American delegation be authorized to
lay a wreath of silver and gold upon the tomb of Grotius at
Delft； not only as a tribute to the man who set in motion the
ideas which； nearly three hundred years later； have led to the
assembling of this conference； but as an indication of our
gratitude to the Netherlands Government for its hospitality and
the admirable provision it has made for our work here； and also
as a sign of good…will toward the older governments of the world
on the occasion of their first meeting with delegates from the
new world； in a conference treating of matters most important to
all nations。
In the evening to Mr。 van Karnebeek's reception； and there met
Mr。 Raffalovitch； one of the Russian secretaries of the
conference； who； as councilor of the Russian Empire and
corresponding member of the French Institute； has a European
reputation； and urged him to aid in striking out the clause in
the plan which admits judges other than those of the court。 My
hope is that it will disappear in the subcommittee and not come
up in the general meeting of the third great committee。
June 8。
The American delegation in the afternoon discussed at length the
proposals relating to the Brussels Conference rules for the more
humane carrying on of war。 Considerable difference of opinion has
arisen in the section of the conference in which the preliminary
debates are held； and Captain Crozier； our representative； has
been in some doubt as to the ground to be taken between these
opposing views。 On one side are those who think it best to go at
considerable length into more or less minute restrictions upon
the conduct of invaders and invaded。 On the other side； M。
Bernaert of Belgium； one of the two most eminent men from that
country； and others； take the ground that it would be better to
leave the whole matter to the general development of humanity in
international law。 M。 de Martens insists that now is the time to
settle the matter； rather than leave it to individuals who； in
time of war； are likely to be more or less exasperated by
accounts of atrocities and to have no adequate time for deciding
upon a policy。 After considerable discussion by our delegation；
the whole matter went over。
In the evening to a great reception at the house of Sir Henry
Howard； British minister at this court。 It was very brilliant；
and the whole afforded an example of John Bull's good sense in
providing for his representatives abroad； and enabling them to
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