298 IN THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE-XXII 



subject of bacteria and microbes was casually mentioned, 

 that they were l all a modern humbug. 



It is clear that, with all his fine qualities, and he is 

 really a splendid specimen of an old-fashioned German 

 nobleman devoted to the diplomatic service of his country, 

 he is saturated with the ideas of fifty years ago. 



Eeturning from a drive to Scheveningen with Major 

 Burbank of the United States army, I sketched the first 

 part of a draft for a letter from our delegation to M. de 

 Staal, and at our meeting at six presented it, when it 

 met with general approval. President Low had also 

 sketched a draft which it was thought could be worked 

 very well into the one which I had offered, and so we 

 two were made a subcommittee to prepare the letter in 

 full. 



June 13. 



This morning come more disquieting statements regard 

 ing Germany. There seems no longer any doubt that 

 the German Emperor is opposing arbitration, and, in 

 deed, the whole work of the conference, and that he will 

 insist on his main allies, Austria and Italy, going with 

 him. Count Nigra, who is personally devoted to arbitra 

 tion, allowed this in talking with Dr. Holls ; and the Ger 

 man delegates all of whom, with the exception of Count 

 Minister, are favorably inclined to a good arbitration 

 plan show that they are disappointed. 



I had learned from a high imperial official, before I 

 left Berlin, that the Emperor considered arbitration as 

 derogatory to his sovereignty, and I was also well aware, 

 from his conversation, that he was by no means in love 

 with the conference idea; but, in view of his speech at 

 Wiesbaden, and the petitions which had come in to him 

 from Bavaria, I had hoped that he had experienced a 

 &quot;change of heart. &quot; 



Possibly he might have changed his opinion had not 

 Count Munster been here, reporting to him constantly 

 against every step taken by the conference. 



