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sovereign throw himself heartily into the movement and become a
recognized leader and power here； we will all support him； and to
him will come the credit of it。
〃Then； in addition to this； support us as far as you can as
regards the immunity of private property on the high seas； and
thus you will gain another great point； for； owing to her
relations to France； Russia has not dared commit herself to this
principle as otherwise she doubtless would have done； but； on the
contrary； has opposed any consideration of it by the conference。
〃Next； let attention be called to the factand we will gladly
aid in making the world fully aware of itthat Germany； through
you； has constantly urged the greatest publicity of our
proceedings； while certain other powers have insisted on secrecy
until secrecy has utterly broken down； and then have made the
least concession possible。 In this way you will come out of the
conference triumphant； and the German Emperor will be looked upon
as； after all； the arbiter of Europe。 Everybody knows that France
has never wished arbitration； and that Russian statesmen are
really； at heart； none too ardent for it。 Come forward； then； and
make the matter thoroughly your own； and； having done this；
maintain your present attitude strongly as regards the two other
matters above named；that is； the immunity from seizure of
private property on the high seas； and the throwing open of our
proceedings；and the honors of the whole conference is yours。〃
He seemed impressed by all this； and took a different tone from
any which has been noted in him since we came together。 I then
asked him if he had heard Baron d'Estournelles's story。 He said
that he had not。 I told it to him； as given in my diary
yesterday； and said； 〃You see there what the failure to obtain a
result which is really so much longed for by all the peoples of
the world will do to promote the designs of the socialistic
forces which are so powerful in all parts of the Continent； and
nowhere more so than in Germany and the nations allied with her。〃
This； too； seemed to impress him。 I then went on to say； 〃This is
not all。 By opposing arbitration； you not only put a club into
the hands of socialists； anarchists； and all the other
anti…social forces； but you alienate the substantial middle class
and the great body of religious people in all nations。 You have
no conception of the depth of feeling on this subject which
exists in my own country； to say nothing of others； and if
Germany stands in the way； the distrust of her which Americans
have felt； and which as minister and ambassador at Berlin I have
labored so hard to dispel； will be infinitely increased。 It will
render more and more difficult the maintenance of proper
relations between the two countries。 Your sovereign will be
looked upon as the enemy of all nations； and will be exposed to
every sort of attack and calumny； while the young Emperor of
Russia will become a popular idol throughout the world； since he
will represent to the popular mind； and even to the minds of
great bodies of thinking and religious people； the effort to
prevent war and to solve public questions as much as possible
without bloodshed； while the Emperor of Germany will represent to
their minds the desire to solve all great questions by force。
Mind； I don't say this is a just view： I only say that it is the
view sure to be taken； and that by resisting arbitration here you
are playing the game of Russia； as you yourself have stated
itthat is； you are giving Russia the moral support of the whole
world at the expense of the neighboring powers； and above all of
Germany。〃
I then took up an argument which； it is understood； has had much
influence with the Emperor；namely； that arbitration must be in
derogation of his sovereignty；and asked； 〃How can any such
derogation be possible？ Your sovereign would submit only such
questions to the arbitration tribunal as he thought best； and；
more than all that； you have already committed yourselves to the
principle。 You are aware that Bismarck submitted the question of
the Caroline Islands for arbitration to the Pope； and the first
Emperor William consented to act as arbiter between the United
States and Great Britain in the matter of the American
northwestern boundary。 How could arbitration affect the true
position of the sovereign？ Take； for example； matters as they now
stand between Germany and the United States。 There is a vast mass
of petty questions which constantly trouble the relations between
the two countries。 These little questions embitter debates；
whether in your Reichstag on one hand； or in our Congress on the
other； and make the position of the Berlin and Washington
governments especially difficult。 The American papers attack me
because I yield too much to Germany； the German papers attack Von
Bulow because he yields too much to America； and these little
questions remain。 If Von Bulow and I were allowed to sit down and
settle them； we could do so at short notice； but behind him
stands the Reichstag； and behind our Secretary of State and
myself stands the American Congress。〃
I referred to such questions as the tonnage dues； the additional
tariff on bounty…promoted sugar； Samoa； the most…favored…nation
clause； in treaties between Germany and the United States； in
relation to the same clause in sundry treaties between the United
States and other powers； and said； 〃What a blessing it would be
if all these questions； of which both governments are tired； and
which make the more important questions constantly arising
between the two countries so difficult to settle； could be sent
at once to a tribunal and decided one way or the other！ In
themselves they amount to little。 It is not at all unlikely that
most of thempossibly all of themwould be decided in favor of
Germany； but the United States would acquiesce at once in the
decision by a tribunal such as is proposed。 And this is just what
would take place between Germany and other nations。 A mass of
vexatious questions would be settled by the tribunal； and the
sovereign and his government would thus be relieved from
parliamentary chicanery based； not upon knowledge； but upon party
tactics or personal grudges or inherited prejudices。〃
He seemed now more inclined to give weight to these
considerations； and will； I hope； urge his government to take a
better view than that which for some time past has seemed to be
indicated by the conduct of its representatives here。
In th