TABLE OF CONTENTS xi 



PAGE 



posed exceptions. His ability as a speaker ; characteristics. His religious 

 views ; comparison of them with those of Frederick the Great and Frederick 

 William I ; his peculiar breadth of view shown in the Delitzsch affair ; also iu 

 his dealings with his Roman Catholic subjects ; treatment of the Strasburg 

 and Metz Bishopric questions ; his skill shown in the Jerusalem church matter. 

 His theory of monarchy; peculiar reasons for it ; sundry criticisms of him in 

 this respect. Feeling of the German people regarding attacks on the monarch. 

 The whole subject as viewed from the American Democratic standpoint; 

 Thomas Jefferson s letter to John Adams. The Emperor s feeling toward 

 Parliamentary government; strength he has given it by sundry appoint 

 ments. His alleged violations of the German Constitution ; doubts regard 

 ing them. His alleged hostility to the United States during the Spanish War 

 and at other times ; facts regarding this charge. Sundry other charges 

 against him ; his dealings with the Venezuela question ; excellent reasons for 

 it. His feeling toward the United States. Summary of his position in con 

 temporary history 218 



CHAPTEE XLV. As PRESIDENT OF THE AMEKICAN DELE 

 GATION AT THE PEACE CONFERENCE OF THE HAGUE : I 

 1899 



Proposal of a Conference by Nicholas II. Reasons why the Netherlands were 

 preferred to Switzerland as its place of meeting. General misunderstanding 

 as to the Emperor s proposal. My own skepticism. Resultant feeling re 

 garding the Conference. My acceptance of the nomination to it. Condition 

 of things on our arrival at The Hague. First meeting of the American Dele 

 gation. Am chosen its president. General character of our instructions 

 from Washington. American plan of arbitration. Preliminary meetings of 

 delegates. The opening session. The &quot;House in the Wood&quot;; its remarka 

 ble characteristics. Proceedings. General skepticism at first. Baron de 

 Staal as President of the Conference. Count Nigra. Lord Pauncefote and 

 others. Public spirit of the Dutch Government. Growth of hope as to a 

 good result. Difficulties as to disarmament. The peace lobby. Queer letters 

 and crankish proposals. Better ideas. M. de Bloch and his views. Count 

 Welsersheimb and others. Organization of the Conference. First decision 

 regarding the publication of our proceedings. Rumors. Attitude of Count 

 Miinster, President of the German Delegation. Attitude of Russia and 

 sundry other powers regarding the American proposal for exempting private 

 property from seizure on the high seas. New instructions sought by us from 

 Washington. First presentation of the Presidents of Delegations to the 

 Queen; her conversation. My talk with the British Admiral, Sir John 

 Fisher. Real and imaginary interviews published in sundry European papers 250 



CHAPTER XL VI. As PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN DELE 

 GATION AT THE PEACE CONFERENCE OF THE HAGUE: II 



1899 



Apparent wavering of Russia regarding an arbitration scheme. Count Miin- 

 ster s view of the Russian proposals. Social gatherings. Influx of people 

 with notions, nostrums, and whimsies. First meeting of the great com 

 mittee on arbitration. Presentation of the Russian plan ; its serious defects. 

 Successful effort of Sir Julian Pauncefote to provide for a proper court. Ex 

 cellent spirit shown by the Russian delegates. Final character of the Ameri 

 can project for an arbitration plan. Festival given to the Conference by the 

 Burgomaster and City Council of The Hague. I revisit Delft after an ab- 



