AT THE HAGUE PEACE CONFERENCE: IH-1899 289 



Hippique and the Fete des Fleurs. We were treated 

 very well indeed, refreshments being served on the grand 

 stand during the performances, which consisted of hur 

 dle races, etc., for which I cared nothing, followed by a 

 procession of peasants in old chaises of various periods, 

 and in the costumes of the various provinces of the Neth 

 erlands, which interested me much. The whole closed 

 with a long train of fine equipages superbly decorated 

 with flowers. 



Discussing the question of the immunity of private 

 property, not contraband of war, on the high seas, I find 

 that the main argument which our opponents are now 

 using is that, even if the principle were conceded, new and 

 troublesome questions would arise as to what really con 

 stitutes contraband of war; that ships themselves would 

 undoubtedly be considered as contraband, since they can 

 be used in conveying troops, coal, supplies, etc. 



June 5. 



Having given up the morning of the 5th mainly to work 

 on plans of arbitration, mediation, and the like, I went 

 to the meeting, at the House in the Wood, of the third 

 great committee of the conference namely, that on ar 

 bitration. 



The session went off satisfactorily, our duty being to 

 pass upon the report from the subcommittee which had 

 put the various propositions into shape for our discus 

 sion. The report was admirably presented by M. Des- 

 camps, and, after considerable discussion of details, was 

 adopted in all essential features. The matters thus dis 

 cussed and accepted for presentation to the conference 

 as a whole related : 



(1) To a plan for tendering &quot;good offices.&quot; 



(2) To a plan for examining into international differ 

 ences. 



(3) To the &quot;special mediation&quot; plan. 



The last was exceedingly well received, and our dele 

 gation has obtained much credit for it. It is the plan of 



II. 19 



