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Curious things came out during our conversation Baron de Bildt
informed me that； strongly as he favored the measure； and
prepared as he was to vote for it； he should have to be very
careful in discussing it publicly； since his instructions were to
avoid； just as far as possible； any clash between the opinions
expressed by the Swedish representatives and those of the great
powers。 Never before have I so thoroughly realized the difficult
position which the lesser powers in Europe hold as regards really
serious questions。
More surprising was the conversation of Count Munster； he being
on one side of me and Mr。 van Karnebeek on the other。 Bearing in
mind that the Emperor William during his long talk with me just
before I left Berlin in referring to the approaching Peace
Congress had said that he was sending Count Munster because what
the conference would most need would be 〃common sense；〃 and
because； in his opinion； Count Munster had 〃lots of it；〃 some of
the count's utterances astonished me。 He now came out； as he did
the day before in his talk with me； utterly against arbitration；
declaring it a 〃humbug；〃 and that we had no right to consider it；
since it was not mentioned in the first proposals from Russia；
etc。； etc。
A little later； something having been said about telegraphs and
telephones； he expressed his belief that they are a curse as
regards the relations between nations； that they interfere with
diplomacy； and do more harm than good。 This did not especially
surprise me； for I had heard the same opinions uttered by others；
but what did surprise me greatly was to hear him say； when the
subject of bacteria and microbes was casually mentioned； that
they were 〃all a modern humbug。〃
It is clear that； with all his fine qualities；and he is really
a splendid specimen of an old…fashioned German nobleman devoted
to the diplomatic service of his country； he is saturated with
the ideas of fifty years ago。
Returning from a drive to Scheveningen with Major Burbank of the
United States army； I sketched the first part of a draft for a
letter from our delegation to M。 de Staal； and at our meeting at
six presented it； when it met with general approval。 President
Low had also sketched a draft which it was thought could be
worked very well into the one which I had offered； and so we two
were made a subcommittee to prepare the letter in full。
June 13。
This morning come more disquieting statements regarding Germany。
There seems no longer any doubt that the German Emperor is
opposing arbitration； and； indeed； the whole work of the
conference； and that he will insist on his main allies； Austria
and Italy； going with him。 Count Nigra； who is personally devoted
to arbitration； allowed this in talking with Dr。 Holls； and the
German delegatesall of whom； with the exception of Count
Munster； are favorably inclined to a good arbitration planshow
that they are disappointed。
I had learned from a high imperial official； before I left
Berlin； that the Emperor considered arbitration as derogatory to
his sovereignty； and I was also well aware； from his
conversation； that he was by no means in love with the conference
idea； but； in view of his speech at Wiesbaden； and the petitions
which had come in to him from Bavaria； I had hoped that he had
experienced a 〃change of heart。〃
Possibly he might have changed his opinion had not Count Munster
been here； reporting to him constantly against every step taken
by the conference。
There seems danger of a catastrophe。 Those of us who are faithful
to arbitration plans will go on and do the best we can； but there
is no telling what stumbling…blocks Germany and her allies may
put in our way； and； of course； the whole result； without their
final agreement； will seem to the world a failure and； perhaps； a
farce。
The immediate results will be that the Russian Emperor will
become an idol of the 〃plain people〃 throughout the world； the
German Emperor will be bitterly hated； and the socialists； who
form the most dreaded party on the continent of Europe； will be
furnished with a thoroughly effective weapon against their
rulers。
Some days since I said to a leading diplomatist here； 〃The
ministers of the German Emperor ought to tell him that； should he
oppose arbitration； there will be concentrated upon him an amount
of hatred which no minister ought to allow a sovereign to incur。〃
To this he answered； 〃That is true； but there is not a minister
in Germany who dares tell him。〃
June 14。
This noon our delegation gave a breakfast to sundry members of
the conference who are especially interested in an effective plan
of arbitration； the principal of these being Count Nigra from
Italy； Count Welsersheimb； first delegate of Austria； M。 Descamps
of Belgium； Baron d'Estournelles of France； and M。 Asser of the
Netherlands。 After some preliminary talk； I read to them the
proposal； which Sir Julian had handed me in the morning； for the
purpose of obviating the objection to the council of
administration in charge of the court of arbitration here in The
Hague； which was an important feature of his original plan； but
which had been generally rejected as involving expensive
machinery。 His proposal now is that； instead of a council
specially appointed and salaried to watch over and provide for
the necessities of the court； such council shall simply be made
up of the ministers of sundry powers residing here；thus doing
away entirely with the trouble and expense of a special council。
This I amended by adding the Netherlands minister of foreign
affairs as ex…officio president； there being various reasons for
this； and among these the fact that； without some such provision；
the Netherlands would have no representative in the council。
The plan and my amendment were well received； and I trust that
our full and friendly discussion of these and various matters
connected with them will produce a good effect in the committees。
Count Nigra expressed himself to me as personally most earnestly
in favor of arbitration； but it was clear that his position was
complicated by the relations of his country to Germany as one of
the Triple Alliance； and the same difficulty was observable in
the case of Count Welsersheimb； the representative of Austria；
the third ally in the combination of which Germany is the head。
In the course of our breakfast； Baron d'Estournelles ma