was interested, he would stalk across the hall and stand near the speaker until he had concluded.

The British delegation contained men of distinction. The first delegate, Sir Edward Fry, had attained eminence in his profession of the law, but was without experience in political life; hence his recognized talents were not so effective in a body largely composed of trained politicians. He was eighty years of age, the Nestor of the Conference, but in full vigor of health, and though he spoke French haltingly, and with a broad English accent, he always commanded attention and his views had great weight. He is a strict member of the Society of the Friends, and an author of standard authority in works on both religion and law.

The second British delegate, Sir Ernest Satow, had spent thirty-five years in the Far East, and is excelled by few as a Japanese scholar, but he had no opportunity to make use of this accomplishment in the Conference. Lord Reay, the third delegate, had had a rare experience. He was born at The Hague, was for twenty years in the Dutch diplomatic and legislative service, and later inherited a Scotch peerage, became by naturalization a British subject, and holds a seat in the House of Lords.

The Dutch delegation was one of the most able and best equipped. The Chairman of the Second Commission, M. Beernaert, the first Belgian delegate, a member of the First Conference, of large experience at home, was recognized as a forceful man; but it was understood that he was not in harmony with his own Government on some of the important questions before the Conference and in the latter part of the sessions ceased to exert his influence. The man of all others who commanded universal attention and weight when he spoke was Professor Renault, of the French delegation. His use of his native tongue was perfect, and he was sure to enlighten every subject which he discussed.

The person who gained the most reputation out of the Con

ference was Mr. Choate, the head of the American delegation. He was much handicapped by his imperfect knowledge of the French language, but his ability as a speaker was recognized early in the sessions. His long training at the bar, his political and diplomatic experience, his courtly address, and his ready wit admirably fitted him for the important rôle he had to play. The American delegation presented more important and controverted propositions than any other delegation, and Mr. Choate had the chief burden to bear in their defense, well supported as he was by the expert delegate, Dr. Scott. In the discharge of this duty he antagonized able men in the opposition, but he never lost the respect and esteem of the delegates. The manner in which he sometimes met his opponents was illustrated in one of his replies to Baron Marschall, the German delegate, who at the outset seemed to give his adhesion to the American plan of obligatory arbitration, but later became its most strenuous opponent and succeeded in defeating it by minority obstinacy. He said: "Indeed, while the Baron admires obligatory arbitration without reserve in the abstract form, he does not want it on earth, but prefers it in Heaven. He even dreams about obligatory arbitration, but immediately after waking up he turns toward the wall in order not to see it."

Professor Martens, one of the Russian delegates, had much to do with the work preliminary to the opening of the Conference, having been sent by the Russian Government to the Capitals of Europe to confer about the programme of subjects. Notwithstanding the President had been taken from the Russian delegation, Mr. Martens was made chairman of one of the most important commissions, a position which he had held in the First Conference. He is well versed in international law and the forms of diplomatic practice and is a ready speaker, but did not rank in point of ability with the first men of the Conference. He subjected himself to much criticism both by the delegates and in the press on account of his

conduct in the chair, freely using his position to urge his views of pending questions. For instance, after the debate on the American proposition for immunity of private property at sea had been closed and Mr. Choate had demanded a vote, M. Martens before taking a vote, according to the press report, "with evident irritation began a speech in opposition which, seeing he is chairman, was strongly lacking in discretion." Other reports criticised him because "from the chair he takes an active part in the discussion."

One of the persons whom he most antagonized was Señor Barbosa, the first delegate from Brazil, who by his frequent speeches sometimes exposed himself to criticism. He was one of the most remarkable men of the Conference on account of his versatile talents and his ready speech. At the beginning he wearied the delegates by his long discourses on almost every topic introduced, but before the close he had established himself as one of the strongest debaters and most erudite of the members.

The South American nations, which took part for the first time, sent a number of other able men to the Conference, one of the most notable of whom was Señor Drago, whose name has been associated with the doctrine against the collection. by force of contractual claims against nations. These delegations acquitted themselves generally with credit and commanded the respect of their associates. Some comment has been passed upon the fact that they did not always follow the lead of the United States; but that was not strange, as they were all independent in their duties and entitled to their own views of the subject before them.

1907

CHAPTER XXXVIII

THE HAGUE PEACE CONFERENCE ITS RESULTS

DURING the four months of the sessions of the Conference there were many questions stoutly contested, and the debates were often quite animated and sometimes marked by earnest feeling, but at no time was there any want of parliamentary courtesy and no animosities were engendered. As expressed in one of the resolutions presented by M. Bourgeois and unanimously adopted at the adjournment, "all the States of the world, in working together for four months, not only learned to know each other better by getting closer together, but developed during this long collaboration high ideals for the common welfare."

One of the attractive features of the Conference was the manifestation of social courtesies. Mrs. Foster and I carried with us letters of introduction to a number of the Dutch families resident at The Hague, and we were at once ushered into a society as cultured and hospitable as is to be found in any other European Capital. Although the sessions were held mostly in the vacation season of The Hague, the official and society circles remained at home to receive and entertain the delegates.

Soon after the organization all the delegates and their wives were received by the Queen and Prince Consort in the royal palace of The Hague; later the heads of delegations were entertained at dinner by their majesties in the royal palace at Amsterdam; two garden-parties were given in honor of the delegates at the historic "House in the Woods"; and the Queen presented to each delegate a silver medal specially struck to celebrate the event, one side bearing the legend,

"Donum Wilhelminae Neerlandiae Reginae ad secundum pacis conventum legato," and the name of the delegate; and on the reverse a representation of the Hall of the Knights, with the sun of justice shining above it.

A most elaborate entertainment was given by the Burgomaster of The Hague in one of the large hotels at Scheveningen, in which the dances and songs of the Dutch peasantry were produced in native costumes. The city of Rotterdam gave a water-fête on the River Meuse, which enabled its authorities to show the extensive docking improvements they have made along the river, and concluded with a sumptuous entertainment in one of the public parks. The Government of Belgium carried all the delegates and the ladies, by rail and steamer, to the ancient city of Bruges, where there was given. a medieval tournament, at which the Golden Fleece of the Emperor Charles V was exhibited.

After those official entertainments, the various delegations began a series of dinners and evening parties which extended nearly to the time of adjournment. All this tended to create a more friendly and intimate acquaintance among the members, but the multiplicity was a severe test of their gastronomic capabilities. It will indicate the extent of these entertainments when I state that the American delegation gave four elaborate dinners to nearly one hundred guests each, and an evening party to more than one thousand; and these in addition to the private dinners of the individual delegates. It may be stated in this connection that the American Legation, in one of the pleasantest suburbs, presided over by the Resident Minister, Dr. Hill, and his accomplished wife, was the centre of the most refined and hospitable entertainment, and was enjoyed by all the delegates.

The Conference, which opened on June 15, closed its sessions on October 18. The result of its labors has been variously estimated by the press and the public. In Europe a general spirit of skepticism seemed to prevail. In passing