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in history whom I so deeply venerate。 Twenty years ago； when
minister at Berlin； I sent an eminent American artist to Holland
and secured admirable copies of the two best portraits of the
great man。 One of these now hangs in the Law Library of Cornell
University； and the other over my work…table at the Berlin
Embassy。
June 23。
At work all the morning on letters and revising final draft of
memorial on immunity of private property at sea； and lunched
afterward at the 〃House in the Wood〃 to talk it over with Baron
de Bildt。
At the same table met M。 de Martens； who has just returned by
night to his work here； after presiding a day or two over the
Venezuela arbitration tribunal at Paris。 He told me that Sir
Richard Webster； in opening the case； is to speak for sixteen
days； and De Martens added that he himself had read our entire
Venezuelan report； as well as the other documents on the subject
which form quite a large library。 And yet we do not include men
like him in 〃the working…classes〃！
In the evening to a reception at the house of M。 de Beaufort；
minister of foreign affairs； and was cordially greeted by him and
his wife； both promising that they would accept our invitation to
Delft。 I took in to the buffet the wife of the present Dutch
prime minister； who also expressed great interest in our
proposal； and declared her intention of being present。
Count Zanini； the Italian minister and delegate here； gave me a
comical account of two speeches in the session of the first
section this morning； one being by a delegate from Persia； Mirza
Riza Khan； who is minister at St。 Petersburg。 His Persian
Excellency waxed eloquent over the noble qualities of the Emperor
of Russia； and especially over his sincerity as shown by the fact
that when his Excellency tumbled from his horse at a review； his
Majesty sent twice to inquire after his health。 The whole effect
upon the conference was to provoke roars of laughter。
But the great matter of the day was the news； which has not yet
been made public； that Prince Hohenlohe； the German chancellor；
has come out strongly for the arbitration tribunal； and has sent
instructions here accordingly。 This is a great gain； and seems to
remove one of the worst stumbling…blocks。 But we will have to pay
for this removal； probably； by giving up section 10 of the
present plan； which includes a system of obligatory arbitration
in various minor matters；a system which would be of use to the
world in many ways。 While the American delegation； as stated in
my letter which Holls took to Bulow； and which has been forwarded
to the Emperor； will aid in throwing out of the arbitration plan
everything of an obligatory nature； if Germany insists upon it； I
learn that the Dutch Government is much opposed to this
concession； and may publicly protest against it。
A curious part of the means used in bringing about this change of
opinion was the pastoral letter； elsewhere referred to； issued by
the Protestant Episcopal bishop of Texas； calling for prayers
throughout the State for the success of the conference in its
efforts to diminish the horrors of war。 This pastoral letter； to
which I referred in my letter to Minister von Bulow； I intrusted
to Holls； authorizing him to use it as he thought fit。 He showed
it to Prince Hohenlohe； and the latter； although a Roman
Catholic； was evidently affected by it； and especially by the
depth and extent of the longing for peace which it showed。 It is
perhaps an interesting example of an indirect 〃answer to prayer；〃
since it undoubtedly strengthened the feelings in the prince
chancellor's mind which led him to favor arbitration。
June 24。
Sent to M。 de Staal； as president of the conference； the memorial
relating to the exemption of private property； not contraband of
war； from capture on the high seas。 Devoted the morning to
blocking out my Grotius address； and afterward drove with Holls
to Delft to look over the ground for our Fourth…of…July festival。
The town hall is interesting and contains； among other portraits；
one which is evidently a good likeness of Grotius； the only
difficulty is that； for our intended luncheon； the rooms； though
beautiful； seem inadequate。
Thence to the church； and after looking over that part of it near
the monuments； with reference to the Grotius ceremony； went into
the organ…loft with the organist。 There I listened for nearly an
hour while he and Holls played finely on that noble instrument；
and as I sat and looked down over the church and upon the distant
monuments； the old historic scenes of four hundred years ago came
up before me； with memories almost overpowering of my first visit
thirty…five years ago。 And all then with me are now dead。
June 25。
At nine in the morning off with Holls to Rotterdam； and on
arriving took the tram through the city to the steamboat wharf；
going thence by steamer to Dort。 Arrived； just before the close
of service； at the great church where various sessions of the
synod were held。 The organ was very fine； the choir…stalls； where
those wretched theologians wrangled through so many sessions and
did so much harm to their own country and others； were the only
other fine things in the church； and they were much dilapidated。
I could not but reflect bitterly on the monstrous evils provoked
by these men who sat so long there spinning a monstrous theology
to be substituted for the teachings of Christ himself。
Thence back to The Hague and to Scheveningen； and talked over
conference matters with Count Munster。 Received telegrams from
Count von Bulow in answer to mine congratulating him on his
promotion； also one from Baron von Mumm； the German minister at
Luxemburg； who goes temporarily to Washington。
June 26。
At work all the morning on my Grotius address Lunched at the
〃House in the Wood；〃 and walked to town with sundry delegates。 In
the afternoon went to a 〃tea〃 at the house of Madame Boreel and
met a number of charming people； but the great attraction was the
house； which is that formerly occupied by John De Wittthat from
which he went to prison and to assassination。 Here also Motley
lived； and I was shown the room in which a large part of his
history was written； and where Queen Sophia used to discuss Dutch
events and personages with him。
The house is beautiful； spacious； and most charmingly decorated；
many of the ornaments and paintings having been placed th