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of autocracy men of independent strength rarely flourish。 Indeed；
I find that the opinion regarding Russian statesmen which I
formed in Russia is confirmed by old diplomatists； of the best
judgment； whom I meet here。 One of them said to me the other day：
〃There is no greater twaddle than all the talk about far…seeing
purposes and measures by Russian statesmen。 They are generally
weak； influenced by minor； and especially by personal；
considerations； and inferior to most men in similar positions in
the other great governments of Europe。 The chancellor； Prince
Gortchakoff； of whom so much has been said； was a weak； vain man；
whom Bismarck found it generally very easy to deal with。〃
As to my own experience； I think many of those whom I saw were
far from the best of their kind with whom I have had to do。 I
have never imagined a human being in the position of minister of
the interior of a great nation so utterly futile as the person
who held that place at St。 Petersburg in my time； and the same
may be said of several others whom I met there in high places。
There are a few strong men； and； unfortunately； Pobedonostzeff is
one of them。 Luckily； De Witte； the minister of finance； is
another。
July 10。
The evil which I dreaded； as regards the formation of public
opinion in relation to the work of our conference； is becoming
realized。 The London 〃Spectator；〃 just received； contains a most
disheartening article； 〃The Peace Conference a Failure；〃 with an
additional article； more fully developed； to the same effect。
Nothing could be more unjust； but； on account of the
〃Spectator's〃 〃moderation；〃 it will greatly influence public
opinion； and doubtless prevent； to some extent； the calling of
future conferences needed to develop the good work done in this。
Fortunately the correspondent of the 〃Times〃 gives a better
example； and shows； in his excellent letters； what has been
accomplished here。 The 〃New York Herald；〃 also； is thus far
taking the right view； and maintaining it with some earnestness。
July 17。
This morning； at ten； to the 〃House in the Wood〃 to hear Mr。 van
Karnebeek's report on disarmament； checking invention； etc。；
before the session of committee No。 1。 It was strongly attacked；
and was left in shreds： the whole subject is evidently too
immature and complicated to be dealt with during the present
conference。
In the afternoon came up an especially interesting matter in the
session of the arbitration committee； the occasion being a report
of the subcommittee。 Among the points which most interested us as
Americans was a provision for an appeal from the decision of the
arbitration tribunal on the discovery of new facts。
De Martens of Russia spoke with great force against such right of
appeal； and others took ground with him。 Holls really
distinguished himself by a telling speech on the other
sidewhich is the American side； that feature having been
present in our original instructions； Messrs。 Asser and Karnebeek
both spoke for it effectively； and the final decision was
virtually in our favor； for Mr。 Asser's compromise was adopted；
which really gives us the case。
The Siamese representatives requested that the time during which
an appeal might be allowed should be six instead of three months；
which we had named； but it was finally made a matter of
adjustment between the parties。
July 18。
The American delegation met at ten； when a cable message from the
State Department was read authorizing us to sign the protocol。
July 19。
Field day in the arbitration committee。 A decided sensation was
produced by vigorous speeches by my Berlin colleague； Beldiman；
of the Roumanian delegation； and by Servian； Greek； and other
delegates； against the provision for commissions d'enquete；De
Martens； Descamps； and others making vigorous speeches in behalf
of them。 It looked as if the Balkan states were likely to
withdraw from the conference if the commission d'enquete feature
was insisted upon： they are evidently afraid that such 〃examining
commissions〃 may be sent within their boundaries by some of their
big neighborsRussia； for exampleto spy out the land and start
intrigues。 The whole matter was put over。
In the evening to Count Munster's dinner at Scheveningen； and had
a very interesting talk on conference matters with Sir Julian
Pauncefote； finding that in most things we shall be able to stand
together as the crisis approaches。
July 20。
For several days past I have been preparing a possible speech to
be made in signing the protocol； etc。； which； if not used for
that purpose； may be published； and； perhaps； aid in keeping
public opinion in the right line as regards the work of the
conference after it has closed。
In the afternoon to the 〃House in the Wood；〃 the committee on
arbitration meeting again。 More speeches were made by the
Bulgarians and Servians； who are still up in arms； fearing that
the commissionn d'enquete means intervention by the great states
in their affairs。 Speeches to allay their fears were made by
Count Nigra； Dr。 Zorn； Holls； and Leon Bourgeois。 Zorn spoke in
German with excellent effect； as did Holls in English； Nigra was
really impressive； and Bourgeois； from the chair； gave us a
specimen of first…rate French oratory。 He made a most earnest
appeal to the delegates of the Balkan states； showing them that
by such a system of arbitration as is now proposed the lesser
powers would be the very first to profit； and he appealed to
their loyalty to humanity。 The speech was greatly and justly
applauded。
The Balkan delegates are gradually and gracefully yielding。
July 21。
In the morning to the 〃House in the Wood；〃 where a plenary
session of the conference was held。 It was a field day on
explosive； flattening and expanding bullets； etc。 Our Captain
Crozier； who evidently knows more about the subject than anybody
else here； urged a declaration of the principle that balls should
be not more deadly or cruel than is absolutely necessary to put
soldiers hors de combat； but the committee had reported a
resolution which； Crozier insists； opens the door to worse
missiles than those at present used。 Many and earnest speeches
were made。 I made a short speech； moving to refer the matter back
to the committee； with instructions to harmonize and combine the
two ideas in one articlethat is； the idea which the ar