260 IN THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE -XX 



of the wounded on land will certainly be improved and 

 extended to warfare on sea, and the laws of war will 

 doubtless be improved and given stronger sanction. 



Whether we can get our proposals as to private prop 

 erty on the high seas before the conference is uncertain ; 

 but I think we can. Our hopes are based upon the fact 

 that they seem admissible under one heading of the Mou- 

 ravieff circular. There is, of course, a determination 

 on the part of leading members to exclude rigorously 

 everything not provided for in the original programme, 

 and this is only right ; for, otherwise, we might spend years 

 in fruitless discussion. The Armenians, for example, are 

 pressing us to make a strong declaration in their behalf. 

 Poland is also here with proposals even more inflam 

 matory ; so are the Finlanders ; and so are the South Af 

 rican Boers. Their proposals, if admitted, would simply 

 be bombshells sure to blow all the leading nations of 

 Europe out of the conference and bring everything to 

 naught. Already pessimists outside are prophesying that 

 on account of these questions we are doomed to utter 

 failure. 



The peace people of all nations, including our own, are 

 here in great force. I have accepted an invitation from 

 one of them to lunch with a party of like mind, including 

 Baroness von Suttner, who has written a brilliant book, 

 &quot;Die Waff en Nieder,&quot; of which the moral is that all 

 nations shall immediately throw down their arms. Mr. 

 Stead is also here, vigorous as usual, full of curious 

 information, and abounding in suggestions. 



There was a report, on our arriving, that the Triple 

 Alliance 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 san 

 guine, 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, 



