AT THE HAGUE PEACE CONFERENCE: V-1899 351 



pose of checking German Protestantism; and now they 

 are doing all they can to arouse hatred, even to deluge 

 Italy in blood, in the vain attempt to recover the temporal 

 power, though they must know that they could not hold 

 it for any length of time even if they should obtain it. 



They pretend to be anxious to save souls, and espe 

 cially to love Poland and Ireland; but they have for 

 years used those countries as mere pawns in their game 

 with Eussia and Great Britain, and would sell every 

 Catholic soul they contain to the Greek and English 

 churches if they could thereby secure the active aid of 

 those two governments against Italy. They have obliged 

 the Italian youth to choose between patriotism and Chris 

 tianity, and the result is that the best of these have become 

 atheists. Their whole policy is based on stirring up ha 

 tred and promoting conflicts from which they hope to 

 draw worldly advantage. 



&quot;In view of all this, one stands amazed at the cool state 

 ments of the Vatican letter. &quot; 



These were the words of an eminent Eoman Catholic 

 representative of a Roman Catholic power, and to them 

 I have nothing to add. 



In looking back calmly over the proceedings of the 

 conference, I feel absolutely convinced that it has accom 

 plished a great work for the world. 



The mere assembling of such a body for such a purpose 

 was a distinct gain; but vastly more important is the 

 positive outcome of its labors. 



First of these is the plan of arbitration. It provides 

 a court definitely constituted; a place of meeting easily 

 accessible ; a council for summoning it always in session ; 

 guarantees for perfect independence ; and a suitable pro 

 cedure. 



Closely connected with this is the provision for &quot;inter 

 national commissions of inquiry,&quot; which cannot fail to 

 do much in clearing up issues likely to lead to war be 

 tween nations. Thus we may hope, when there is danger 

 of war, for something better than that which the world 



