AT THE HAGUE PEACE CONFERENCE: V-1899 347 



scruples of my colleague, Captain Mahan. He is a man 

 of the highest character and of great ability, whom I re 

 spect and greatly like ; but, as an old naval officer, wedded 

 to the views generally entertained by older members 

 of the naval and military service, he has had very little, 

 if any, sympathy with the main purposes of the confer 

 ence, and has not hesitated to declare his disbelief in 

 some of the measures which we were especially instructed 

 to press. In his books he is on record against the im 

 munity of private property at sea, and in drawing up 

 our memorial to the conference regarding this latter 

 matter, in making my speech with reference to it in the 

 conference, and in preparing our report to the State 

 Department, I have been embarrassed by this fact. 

 It was important to have unanimity, and it could not be 

 had, so far as he was concerned, without toning down 

 the whole thing, and, indeed, leaving out much that in 

 my judgment the documents emanating from us on the 

 subject ought to contain. So now, in regard to arbitra 

 tion, as well as the other measures finally adopted, his 

 feelings must be considered. Still, his views have been 

 an excellent tonic; they have effectively prevented any 

 lapse into sentimentality. When he speaks the millen 

 nium fades and this stern, severe, actual world appears. 



I worked until late at night, and then went to Scheven- 

 ingen almost in despair. 



July 30. 



Returned to The Hague early in the morning, and 

 went on again with the report, working steadily through 

 the day upon it. For the first time in my life I have 

 thus made Sunday a day of work. Although I have no 

 conscientious scruples on the subject, it was bred into 

 me in my childhood and boyhood that Sunday should be 

 kept free from all manner of work; and so thoroughly 

 was this rule inculcated that I have borne it in mind 

 ever since, often resisting very pressing temptation to 

 depart from it. 



