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representatives are instructed to do everything to bring the
conference into discredit； but this is now denied。 It is said
that their programme is changed； and things look like it。 On the
whole； though no one is sanguine； there is more hope。
May 21。
In the morning went with Dr。 Holls to a Whitsunday service at the
great old church here。 There was a crowd； impressive chorals； and
a sermon at least an hour long。 At our request； we were given
admirable places in the organ…loft； and sat at the side of the
organist as he managed that noble instrument。 It was sublime。
After the closing voluntary Holls played remarkably well
To me the most striking feature in the service was a very earnest
prayer made by the clergyman for the conference。 During the
afternoon we also visited the old prison near the Vijver； where
the De Witts and other eminent prisoners of state were confined；
and in front of which the former were torn in pieces by the mob。
Sadly interesting was a collection of instruments of torture；
which had the effect of making me better satisfied with our own
times than I sometimes am。
In the evening； with our minister； Mr。 Newel； and the Dean of
Ely； his guest； to an exceedingly pleasant 〃tea〃 at the house of
Baroness Gravensteen； and met a number of interesting people；
among them a kindly old gentleman who began diplomatic life as a
British attache at Washington in the days of Webster and Clay；
and gave me interesting accounts of them。
The queer letters and crankish proposals which come in every day
are amazing。 I have just added to my collection of diplomatic
curiosities a letter from the editor of a Democratic paper in
southern Illinois； addressed to me as ambassador at Mayence；
which he evidently takes to be the capital of Germany； asking me
to look after a great party of Western newspaper men who are to
go up the Rhine this summer and make a brief stay in the
above…named capital of the empire。 I also receive very many
letters of introduction； which of course make large demands upon
my time。 The number of epistles； also； which come in from public
meetings in large and small American towns is very great； some
evidently representing no persons other than the writers。 As I
write the above； I open mechanically a letter from a peace
meeting assembled in Ledyard； Connecticut； composed of 〃Rogerine
Quakers〃； but what a 〃Rogerine Quaker〃 is I know not。 Some of
these letters are touching； and some have a comic side。 A very
good one comes from May Wright Sewall； would that all the others
were as thoughtful！
It goes without saying that the Quakers are out in full force。 We
have been answering by cable some of the most important
communications sent us from America； the others we shall try to
acknowledge by mail； though they are so numerous that I begin to
despair of this。 If these good people only knew how all this
distracts us from the work which we have at heart as much as
they； we should get considerably more time to think upon the
problems before us。
May 22。
In the afternoon came M。 de Bloch； the great publicist； who has
written four enormous volumes on war in modern times； summaries
of which； in the newspapers； are said to have converted the young
Emperor Nicholas to peace ideas； and to have been the real cause
of his calling the conference together。 I found him interesting；
full of ideas； and devoted most earnestly to a theory that
militarism is gradually impoverishing all modern states； and that
the next European war will pauperize most of them。
Just afterward Count Welsersheimb； president of the Austrian
delegation； called； and was very anxious to know the line we are
to take。 I told him frankly that we are instructed to present a
plan of arbitration； and to urge a resolution in favor of
exempting private property； not contraband of war； from seizure
on the high seas； that we are ready to go to the full length in
improving the laws of war； and in extending the Geneva rules to
maritime warfare； but that we look on the question of reducing
armaments as relating wholly to Europe； no part of it being
applicable to the United States。
As he seemed strongly in favor of our contention regarding
private property on the high seas； but fearful that Russia and
England； under a strict construction of the rules； would not
permit the subject to be introduced； I pointed out to him certain
clauses in the Mouravieff circular which showed that it was
entirely admissible。
May 23。
In the morning came a meeting of the American delegation on the
subject of telegraphing Washington for further instructions。 We
find that some of the details in our present instructions are
likely to wreck our proposals； and there is a fear among us that；
by following too closely the plan laid down for us at Washington；
we may run full in the face of the Monroe Doctrine。 It is indeed；
a question whether our people will be willing to have matters of
difference between South American States； or between the United
States and a South American State； or between European and South
American States； submitted to an arbitration in which a majority
of the judges are subjects of European powers。 Various drafts of
a telegram were made； but the whole matter went over。
At ten the heads of delegations met and considered a plan of
organizing the various committees； and the list was read。 Each of
the three great committees to which the subjects mentioned in the
Mouravieff circular are assigned was given a president；
vice…president； and two honorary presidents。 The first of these
committees is to take charge of the preliminary discussion of
those articles in the Mouravieff circular concerning the
non…augmentation of armies and the limitation in the use of new
explosives and of especially destructive weapons。 The second
committee has for its subject the discussion of humanitarian
reformsnamely； the adaptation of the stipulations of the
Convention of Geneva of 1864 to maritime warfare； the
neutralization of vessels charged with saving the wounded during
maritime combats； and the revision of the declaration concerning
customs of war elaborated in 1874 by the Conference of Brussels；
which has never yet been ratified。 The third committee has charge
of the subject of arbitration； mediation； and the like。
The president of the first committee is M。 Bernaert； a leading
statesman of Belgium； who has made a most excellent impression