346 IN THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE-XXIV 



sent, according to law, to certain high officials of our 

 government. 



I affixed my signature to the arbitration convention, 

 writing in, as agreed, the proviso that our signatures 

 were subject to the Monroe Doctrine declaration made 

 in open session of the conference on July 25. The other 

 members of the American delegation then signed in 

 proper order. But the two other conventions we left 

 unsigned. It was with deep regret that I turned away 

 from these; but the majority of the delegation had de 

 creed it, and it was difficult to see what other course we 

 could pursue. I trust that the Washington authorities 

 will rectify the matter by signing them both. 



We also affixed our signatures to the first of the &quot; dec 

 larations. 



At three P.M. came the formal closing of the conference. 

 M. de Staal made an excellent speech, as did Mr. van 

 Karnebeek and M. de Beaufort, the Netherlands minister 

 of foreign affairs. To these Count Munster, the presid 

 ing delegate from Germany, replied in French, and ap 

 parently extemporaneously. It must have been pain and 

 grief to him, for he was obliged to speak respectfully, 

 in the first place, of the conference, which for some weeks 

 he had affected to despise; and, secondly, of arbitration 

 and the other measures proposed, which, at least dur 

 ing all the first part of the conference, he had denounced 

 as a trick and a humbug; and, finally, he had to speak 

 respectfully of M. de Staal, to whom he has steadily 

 shown decided dislike. He did the whole quite well, 

 all things considered; but showed his feelings clearly, 

 as regarded M. de Staal, by adding to praise of him 

 greater praise for Mr. van Karnebeek, who has been 

 the main managing man in the conference in behalf of 

 the Netherlands Government. 



Then to the hotel and began work on the draft of a 

 report, regarding the whole work of the conference, to 

 the State Department. I was especially embarrassed by 

 the fact that the wording of it must be suited to the 



