348 IN THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE-XXIV 



But to-day there was no alternative, and the whole 

 time until five o clock in the afternoon was given to 

 getting my draft ready. 



At five P.M. the American delegation came together, 

 and, to my surprise, received my report with every 

 appearance of satisfaction. Mr. Low indicated some 

 places which, in his opinion, needed modification ; and to 

 this I heartily agreed, for they were generally places 

 where I was myself in doubt. 



My draft having thus been presented, I turned it over 

 to Mr. Low, who agreed to bring it to-morrow morn 

 ing with such modifications, omissions, and additions as 

 seemed best to him. The old proverb, i T is always 

 darkest just before daylight,&quot; seems exemplified in the 

 affairs of to-day, since the kind reception given to my 

 draft of the report, and the satisfaction expressed re 

 garding it, form a most happy and unexpected sequel to 

 my wretched distrust regarding the whole matter last 

 night. 



July 31. 



The American delegation met at eleven in the morn 

 ing and discussed my draft. Mr. Low s modifications and 

 additions were not many and were mainly good. But he 

 omitted some things which I would have preferred to 

 retain: these being in the nature of a plea in behalf of 

 arbitration, or, rather, an exhibition of the advantages 

 which have been secured for it by the conference; but, 

 between his doubts and Captain Mahan s opposition, I 

 did not care to contest the matter, and several pages were 

 left out. 



At six in the afternoon came the last meeting of our 

 delegation. The reports, duly engrossed, namely, the 

 special reports, signed by Captain Mahan and Captain 

 Crozier, from the first and second committees of the con 

 ference; the special report made by myself, Mr. Low, 

 and Dr. Holls as members of the third committee; and 

 the general report covering our whole work, drawn al- 



