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perhaps； more of international law than of the temper of his
associates。
In the afternoon to the 〃House in the Wood；〃 where the 〃Final
Act〃 was read。 This is a statement of what has been done； summed
up in the form of three conventions； with sundry declarations；
voeux； etc。 We had taken pains to see a number of the leading
delegates； and all； in their anxiety to save the main features of
the arbitration plan； agreed that they would not oppose our
declaration。 It was therefore placed in the hands of
Raffalovitch； the Russian secretary； who stood close beside the
president； and as soon as the 〃Final Act〃 had been recited he
read this declaration of ours。 This was then brought before the
conference in plenary session by M。 de Staal； and the conference
was asked whether any one bad any objection； or anything to say
regarding it。 There was a pause of about a minute； which seemed
to me about an hour。 Not a word was said；in fact； there was
dead silence；and so our declaration embodying a reservation in
favor of the Monroe Doctrine was duly recorded and became part of
the proceedings。
Rarely in my life have I had such a feeling of deep relief； for；
during some days past； it has looked as if the arbitration
project； so far as the United States is concerned； would be
wrecked on that wretched little article 27。
I had before me notes of a speech carefully prepared； stating our
reasons and replying to objections； to be used in case we were
attacked； but it was not needed。 In the evening I was asked by
Mr。 Lavino； the correspondent of the London 〃Times；〃 to put the
gist of it into an 〃interview〃 for the great newspaper which he
serves； and to this I consented； for； during the proceedings this
afternoon in the conference； Sir Julian Pauncefote showed great
uneasiness。 He was very anxious that we should withdraw the
declaration altogether； and said； 〃It will be charged against you
that you propose to evade your duties while using the treaty to
promote your interests〃； but I held firm and pressed the matter；
with the result above stated。 I feared that he would object in
open conference； but his loyalty to arbitration evidently
deterred him。 However； he returned to the charge privately； and I
then promised to make a public statement of our reasons for the
declaration； and this seemed to ease his mind。 The result was a
recasting of my proposed speech； and this Mr。 Lavino threw into
the form of a long telegram to the 〃Times。〃
July 26。
At ten to a meeting of our American delegation； when another
bombshell was thrown among usnothing less than the question
whether the Pope is to be allowed to become one of the signatory
powers； and this question has now taken a very acute form。 Italy
is； of course； utterly opposed to it； and Great Britain will not
sign if any besides those agreed upon by the signatory powers are
allowed to come in hereafter； her motive being； no doubt； to
avoid trouble in regard to the Transvaal。
Mr。 Low stated that in the great committee the prevailing opinion
seemed to be that the signatory powers had made a sort of
partnership； and that no new partners could be added without the
consent of all。 This is the natural ground； and entirely tenable。
I would have been glad to add the additional requirement that no
power should be admitted which would not make arbitration
reciprocalthat is； no power which； while aiding to arbitrate
for others； would not accept arbitration between itself and
another power。 This would； of course； exclude the Vatican； for；
while it desires to judge others； it will allow no interests of
its own； not even the most worldly and trivial； to be submitted
to any earthly tribunal。
The question now came up in our American delegation as to signing
the three conventions in the Acte Finalnamely； those relating
to arbitration； to the extension of the Geneva rules； and to the
laws and customs of war。 We voted to sign the first； to send the
second to Washington without recommendation； and to send the
third with a recommendation that it be there signed。 The reason
for sending the second to Washington without recommendation is
that Captain Mahan feels that； in its present condition； it may
bring on worse evils than it prevents。 He especially and； I
think； justly objects to allowing neutral hospital ships to take
on board the wounded and shipwrecked in a naval action； with
power to throw around them the safeguards of neutrality and carry
them off to a neutral port whence they can again regain their own
homes and resume their status as combatants。
The reason for submitting the third to Washington； with a
recommendation to sign it there； is that considerable work will
be required in conforming our laws of war to the standard
proposed by the conference； and that it is best that the
Washington authorities look it over carefully。
I was very anxious to sign all three conventions； but the first
is the great one； and I yielded my views on the last two。
The powers are to have until the 31st of December； if they wish
it； before signing。
July 27。
Early in the morning to a meeting of our American delegation； Mr。
van Karnebeek being present。 We agreed to sign the arbitration
convention； attaching to our signatures a reservation embodying
our declaration of July 25 regarding the maintenance of our
American policythe Monroe Doctrine。 A telegram was received
from the State Department approving of this declaration。 The
imbroglio regarding the forcing of the Pope into the midst of the
signatory powers continues。 The ultramontanes are pushing on
various delegates； especially sundry Austrians and Belgians； who
depend on clerical support for their political existence； and； in
some cases； for their daily bread； and the result is that M。
Descamps； one of the most eminent international lawyers in
Europe； who has rendered great services during the conference；
but who holds a professorship at the University of Louvain； and
can hold it not one moment longer than the Jesuits allow him； is
making a great display of feeling on the subject。 Italy； of
course； continues to take the strongest ground against the
proposal to admit his Holiness as an Italian sovereign。
Our position is； as was well stated in the great committee by Mr。
Low； that the contracting parties must all consent before a new
party can come in； and this under one of the simplest principles
of law。 We ought also to add that any po