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upon the subject of the 〃House in the Wood〃 by thanking her for
the pains her government had taken in providing so beautiful a
place for us。 This new topic seemed to please her； and we had
quite a long talk upon it； she speaking of her visits to the
park； for skating and the like； and I dwelling on the beauty of
the works of art and the views in the park。 Then the delegates；
going to the apartments of the Queen…mother； went through a
similar formality with her。 She is very stout； but fine…looking；
with a kindly face and manner。 Both mother and daughter spoke；
with perfect ease； Dutch； French； German English； and how many
other languages I know not。 The young Queen was very simply
dressed； like any other young lady of seventeen； except that she
had a triple row of large pearls about her neck。 In the evening；
at 9。30； the entire delegations were received at a great
presentation and ball。 The music was very fine； but the most
interesting thing to me was the fact that； as the palace was
built under Louis Bonaparte and Hortense； the main rooms were in
the most thoroughgoing style Empire； not only in their
decorations； but in their furniture and accessories；clocks；
vases； candelabra； and the like。 I have never seen that style；
formerly so despised； but now so fashionable； developed as fully。
After the presentation I met Sir John Fisher； one of the English
delegates； an admiral in the British navy； and found him very
intelligent。 He said that he was thoroughly for peace； and had
every reason to be so； since he knew something of the horrors of
war。 It appears that in one of the recent struggles in China he
went ashore with eleven hundred men and returned with only about
five hundred； but； to my regret； I found him using the same
argument as regards the sea that Count Munster had made regarding
the land。 He said that the navy of Great Britain was and would
remain in a state of complete preparation for war； that a vast
deal depended on prompt action by the navy； and that the truce
afforded by arbitration proceedings would give other powers time；
which they would otherwise not have； to put themselves into
complete readiness。 He seemed uncertain whether it was best for
Great Britain； under these circumstances； to support a
thoroughgoing plan of arbitration； but； on the whole； seemed
inclined to try it to some extent。 Clearly what Great Britain
wants is a permanent system of arbitration with the United
States； but she does not care much； I think； for such a provision
as regards other powers。
There is considerable curiosity among leading members to know
what the United States really intends to do； and during the day
Sir Julian Pauncefote and others have called to talk over the
general subject。
The London 〃Times〃 gives quite correctly a conversation of mine；
of rather an optimistic nature； as to the possibilities and
probabilities of arbitration； and the improvement of the customs
of war； but in another quarter matters have not gone so well： the
〃Corriere della Sera〃 of Milan publishes a circumstantial
interview with me； which has been copied extensively in the
European press； to the effect that I have declared my belief in
the adoption of compulsory arbitration and disarmament。 This is a
grotesque misstatement。 I have never dreamed of saying anything
of the kind； in fact； have constantly said the contrary； and；
what is more； I have never been interviewed by the correspondent
of that or of any other Continental paper。
CHAPTER XLVI
AS PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN DELEGATION AT THE PEACE CONFERENCE
OF THE HAGUEII
May 25。 This morning a leading delegate of one of the great
European powers called and gave me a very interesting account of
the situation as he sees it。
He stated that the Russian representatives； on arriving here；
gave out that they were not prepared with any plan for a definite
tribunal of arbitration； but that shortly afterward there
appeared some discrepancy on this point between the statements of
the various members of their delegation； and that they now
propose a system of arbitration； mediation； and examination into
any cause of difficulty between nations。
In the evening our secretary spoke of the matter to M。 de Staal；
the president of the Russian delegation and of the conference；
and was told that this plan would； within a day or two； be
printed and laid before the whole body。
This is a favorable sign。 More and more it looks as if the great
majority of us are beginning to see the necessity of some scheme
of arbitration embracing a court and definite； well…contrived
accessories。
The above…mentioned discrepancy between various statements of the
Russians leads me to think that what Count Munster told me some
days since may have some truth in itnamely； that
Pobedonostzeff； whom I knew well； when minister to Russia； as the
strongest man of moral； religious； and social questions in that
country； is really the author of the documents that were
originally given to the world as emanating from the Russian
Foreign Office； and that he has now added to them this definite
scheme for arbitration。 Remembering our old conversations； in
which he dwelt upon the great need of money in order to increase
the stipends of the Russian clergy； and so improve their moral as
well as religious condition； I can understand easily that he may
have greatly at heart a plan which would save a portion of the
enormous expenditure of Russia on war； and enable him to do more
for the improvement of the church。
Dined at the British legation with the minister； my old friend of
St。 Petersburg days； Sir Henry Howard； De Martens； the real head
of the Russian delegation； being of the party； and had a long
talk with the latter about Russia and Russians。 He told me that
Pobedonostzeff is now becoming old and infirm； and it appears
that there has been a sort of cleaning out of the Foreign Office
and the Ministry of the Interiora procedure which was certainly
needed in my time。
Later in the evening we went to a reception by Baron van
Hardenbroek； the grand chamberlain； where I met various
interesting persons； especially M。 Descamps； the eminent Belgian
delegate； who； in the fervor of his speech yesterday morning；
upset his inkstand and lavished its contents on his neighbors。 He
is a devotee of arbitration； and is preparing a summary for the
committee intrusted with that subject。 There seemed to be； in
discussing the matter