按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 the matter； and to concert means for
getting the whole subject before the full conference。
June 11。
Instead of going to hear the Bishop of Hereford preach on
〃Peace；〃 I walked with Dr。 Holls to Scheveningen； four miles； to
work off a nervous headache and to invite Count Munster to our
luncheon on Monday； when we purpose to take counsel together
regarding private property on the high seas。 He accepted； but was
out of humor with nearly all the proceedings of the conference。
He is more than ever opposed to arbitration； and declares that；
in view of the original Russian programme under which we were
called to meet； we have no right to take it up at all； since it
was not mentioned。 He was decidedly pessimistic regarding the
continuance of the sessions； asking me when I thought it would
all end； and on my answering that I had not the slightest idea；
he said that he was entirely in the dark on the subject； that
nobody could tell how long it would last； or how it would break
off。
June 12。
At half…past twelve came our American luncheon to Count Munster；
Mr。 van Karnebeek； and Baron de Bildt； each of whom is at the
head of his delegation；our purpose being to discuss with them
the best manner of getting the subject of immunity of private
property at sea； not contraband； before the conference； these
gentlemen being especially devoted to such a measure。
All went off very well； full interchange of views took place； and
the general opinion was that the best way would be for us； as the
only delegation instructed on the subject； to draw up a formal
memorial asking that the question be brought before the
conference； and sending this to M。 de Staal as our president。
Curious things came out during our conversation Baron de Bildt
informed me that； strongly as he favored the measure； a