xii TABLE OF CONTENTS 



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sence of thirty years ; deep impression made upon me by the tombs of 

 William the Silent and Grotius. Amalgamation of the Russian, British, 

 and American plans for arbitration. A day in London. Henry Irving in 

 Sardou s &quot; Robespierre &quot;; good and evil characteristics of the piece; its un- 

 historical features. Return to The Hague. The American plan of &quot; Special 

 Mediation&quot; and &quot;Seconding Powers&quot; favorably received by the Conference. 

 Characteristics of the amalgamated plan for the Arbitration Tribunal ; its re 

 sults. Visit from Count Monster ; interesting stories of his life as Ambassa 

 dor at St. Petersburg; the young German savant rescued from Siberia; 

 Miinster s quarrel with Gortchakoff ; his quotation from the old Grand Duke 

 Michael. Questions in the Conference regarding asphyxiating bombs, etc. 

 Attitude of the American delegates. Question of the exemption of private 

 property from seizure at sea ; difficulty in getting it before the Conference ; 

 earnest support given us by the Netherlands and other governments. Talk 

 with the leading Netherlands Delegate, Van Karnebeek. Reasons why South 

 America was not represented in thfe Conference. Line of cleavage between 

 political parties in the Netherlands. Fears of President McKinley regarding 

 our special mediation proposal. Continuance of hortatory letters and crank- 

 ish proposals. Discussion between American and Russian delegates on a 

 fusion of various arbitration plans. Difficulties discovered in our own; 

 alteration in them obtained from the State Department. Support given by 

 Germany to the American view regarding the exemption of private property 

 on the high seas 269 



CHAPTEK XL VII. As PKESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN DELE 

 GATION AT THE PEACE CONFEKENCE OF THE HAGUE : III 



1899 



Festival given to the Conference by the city of Haarlem. Difficulties encoun 

 tered by the American proposal for the immunity of private property at sea. 

 Question as to what contraband of war really is in these days. Encouraging 

 meeting of the great committee on arbitration and mediation. Proposal to 

 the Secretary of State that the American Delegation lay a wreath of silver 

 and gold upon the tomb of Grotius at Delft. Discussion of the Brussels 

 Conference Rules. Great social function at the house of the British Minis 

 ter John Bull s wise policy in sustaining the influence of his Embassies and 

 Legations ; its happy results so far as Great Britain is concerned. Work on 

 the arbitration plans progressing. Discouragement. Germany, Austria, 

 Italy, and some minor powers seem suddenly averse to arbitration. De 

 termination of other powers to go on despite this. Relaxation of the rule of 

 secrecy regarding our proceedings. Further efforts in behalf of the Ameri 

 can proposal for exemption of private property from seizure at sea. Out 

 spoken opposition of Germany to arbitration. Resultant disappointment in 

 the Conference. Progress in favor of an arbitration plan notwithstanding. 

 Striking attitude of French socialists toward the Conference. My earnest 

 talk with Count Miinster in favor of arbitration ; gradual change in his atti 

 tude. My suggestion to Baroness von Suttner 288 



CHAPTER XL VIII. As PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN DELE 

 GATION AT THE PEACE CONFERENCE OF THE HAGUE : IV 



1899 



Declaration against an arbitration tribunal received from their Government 

 by the German delegation ; their consternation ; Professor Zorn and Secre- 



