Autobiography of Andrew Dickson White

629 Pages·1905·36.54 MB·English

by  Andrew Dickson White

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AUTOBIOGRAPHY
OF
ANDREW DICKSON WHITE
WITH PORTRAITS
VOLUME
II
NEW YORK
THE CENTURY
CO.
1905
c
it
Copyright, 1904, 1905, by
The Century Co.
PublishedMarch,1905
TheDeVinnePress
;;
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART V—IN THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE {Continued)
Chapter XXXIII. As Minister to Russia—1892-1894
PAGE
AppointmentbyPresidentHarrison. My stayinLondon. LordRothschild;
hisviewofRussiantreatmentoftheJews. SirJulianGoldschmidt; impres-
sion made by him. Paris; the Vicomte de Vogu<5; funeral of Renan; the
DukedelaRochefoucauld. OurMinister,WilliamWalterPhelps,andothers
iatngBeirnlfilnue;ntcaelsk;wpiatrhalCysoiusntofSehunvearlgoyffa.ssAerernivoanltihneSrta.iPlewtaeyrss;bulirtgt.le aDpepaadreenn-t
changeinexternalssincemyformervisit; changewroughtbyemancipation
of the serfs. Improvement inthe surroundings of the Emperor. Visit to
theForeign Office. PresentationtoAlexanderIII; hisviewoftheBehring
SCheiacaQugeosEtxipoonsi;thiiosn.acqMuyiecsocnevnecresaitniotnhewiAthmetrhiecAarnchvbiieswh;ophiosfaWlalurssiaown.toCotnhe-
versation with the Empress; her reference to the Rev. Dr. Talmage. Im-
pressionmadeuponmebytheEmperor. Mypresentationtotheheir to the
Tofhrtohneese,.nPorwestehnetaEtmiponertoorsuNnidcrhoylGarsaInId;Dhuikseesv.idAenrtelmiimniitsacteinocnse;ofmathienGcraaunsde
Duke Michael. The Grand Dukes Vladimir and Alexis. The diplomatic
corps. General von Schweinitz. Sir Robert Morier; his victory over the
UnitedStatesattheParisArbitrationTribunal;itscauses;itslessons . .
Chapter XXXIV. Intercourse with Eussian
—
Statesmen 1892-1894
Lastdays of Sir Robert Morier at St. Petersburg; his last appearance at
Court. CountdeMontebello. Husny Pasha. Marochetti. CountWolken-
stein. Van Stoetwegen andhisviewsregarding peaceinEurope. Pasitch,
the Servian Minister; his two condemnations to death. Contrast between
theChineseandJapaneserepresentatives. CharacterofRussianstatesmen
ttRhuheseismri;agniolodldeuasltqriuanatgliisotniwseistohf; ttFhhiiensilrvainmedawiafnnrdodewmfieTtchhtset.hHeaRBgaaurlietitcpyeaPorfcoevfpiirnrscote-gscr.laasmsMm.meedanendGaimferorosnmg
hwiosrsleovoefoRfuspseiaacein;tshteroBneghriimnpgreSsesaiomantmteard.e bFiynhanicmeoMninmies.terWDeeakWintetses;ahnids
strength his early history. Difference in viewbetween DeWitte and his
predecess;orWischniegradsky. Pobedonostzeff. Dournovo. Myexperience
;
TABLE OF CONTENTS
vi
PAGE
withthelatter. Theshirking of responsibility byleadingRussian officials
theirlackof enterprise. An exception; Plehve. One good example setus
by Russia value placed on Russian, compared with the cheapening and
;
prostitutionofAmerican, citizenship 22
Chapter XXXV. "All Sorts and Conditions of
—
Men" in Russia 1892-1894
The"MinisterofPublicEnlightenment,"Delyanoff; histheoryandsystem.
HostilityofsundryRussianstothe Russian-Germans; evident follyof this.
Woronzoff-Daschkoff andGeneral Annenkoff. The Caucasian railwaysand
theannexationofBokhara. GalkinWraskoyandtheprisonsystem. Orloff
Davidoff; "thefunniestthinghe saw in America." ProfessorDemetrieff's
accountofthemurderofPeter IIIand of the relationofCatherineIItoit.
PrinceSergeWolkonsky; hisabilityandversatility; his tour de forceatthe
farewelldinnergivenmeatSt. Petersburg; hislecturesintheUnitedStates.
Russian scientificmen. Woeikoff. Admiral Makharoff. Senator Semenoff
andPrinceGregoryGalitzin. Mendeleieff. Twosalons. Otherattractions.
General Ignatieff. Princess Ourousoff and her answer to Alexander III.
PrincessRadzivill. The copy-book used by Louis XIV when a child, pre-
served in the Imperial Library; its historical importance. The American
colonyatSt. Petersburg. Mr.Prince; hisreminiscencesofsundryAmerican
ministers. Mr. Buchanan'ssatireonspies, intheEmbassyArchives. Diffi-
cultiesoftheAmericanRepresentativearisingfromhiswantofahabitation.
Diplomatic questions between the two countries The BehringSeaFisher-
ies. MydealingswiththeCommandantoftheRussianPacificIslands. Suc-
cessof Sir Robert Morier; howgained. Worldlywisdom of Great Britain.
DifficultiesregardingIsraelites;mylongdespatchonthesubjecttoSecretary
Gresham. AdventurousAmericans. EffortstoprostituteAmericancitizen-
ship. Difficultiesarising from thecomplicated law of the Empire. Viola-
tions of the Buchanan Treaty. Cholera at St. Petersburg; thoroughmea-
surestakenbytheGovernment; deathofTschaikovsky; difficultyini.mp.os.i.ng
sanitaryregulationsuponthepeasantry . , , , 41
Chapter XXXVI. My Recollections of Pobedo-
—
nostzeff 1892-1894
MydesiretoknowPobedonostzeff; hishistory; hispower. Publicbusiness
whichled to our meeting; his characteristics; reasons for his course; his
viewoftherelations of the Russo-GreekChurch tothe Empire; his frank-
nessin speakingofthe Church. His hostilitytoWestern civilization. His
discussionofrevolutionaryefforts iu Russia. His theoryof Russian public
instruction. His ultra-reactionary views. His mingled feelings regarding
Tolstoi. His lovefor American literature; his paradoxical admiration for
Emerson;histranslationofEmerson's"Essays"; hisliterarygift. Peeling
towardhimin Russiansociety. Hisreligiouscharacter. His esthetic char-
acter. Charles A. Dana's impression of him. Our discussion of possible
relations between the Russian and English Churches; his talksuponintro-
ducingthe"HolyOrthodoxChurch"intotheUnitedStates. Histreatment
of hostile articles in the English Reviews. His professorial friends. His
statements regarding Father Ivan; miracles by the latter; proofs of their
legendarycharacter; Pobedonostzeffstestimonyonthesubject 55
;
TABLE OF CONTENTS vii
Chapter XXXVII. Walks and Talks with Tolstoi-
March, 1894
PAGE
Moscow revisited. Little change for the better. First visit to Tolstoi
Curiousarrangementof hishousehold. Our first discussions; condition of
the peasants; his view of Quakers; their "want of logic." His view of
Russianreligiousandgeneralthought. Socratesas asaint in the Kremlin.
HAimserviiceawnsoqfuestthieoJnse.wsO;uorfvRiussitsitaontthreeMatomsecnotwofMupsriesuonmer;sh.isHriesmairntkeroenstthien
pMisctudreepsrefcoirattihoenCoafthleadnrdaslcaopfeKpiaefifnt;inhigs;ldoeveepfofreerleianlgistsihcorwenligbiyouhsipmicbteufreosr;e
sundrygenrepictures. Hisestimate of Peter the Great. His acknowledg-
mentofhumanprogress. Hisviewof the agencyof the Czar in maintain-
ingpeace. HisideasregardingFrenchliterature; ofMaupassant; ofBalzac.
HisviewsofAmericanliteratureandthe source of its strength; hisdiscus-
shOiiusornaomwfaazlvikarsnigotuoasgnesAtwmheeerrr;itcohainmsyaiunqtduhieossrctsriiomaninndaastleteoaadltemhrsesgiginrveipanhtgie;lsatdnoitfshcrAuomspseiicroinmcoatvnheewmrreeiuntpetorssn;.
HtvothihifhosoeeufrwusevsgemidhiieotanfswnicirdnuonesfelisRittcisgruhoaisanvaorsendaiul;coa.ptroqe;nuruTmg.eeehsrnneteeltiOrioscugana;irlsuosnhrar.eietesstgoueaVfrlnirethdsldiiaioistgnfnicgmotetuaohAsiiamsatn.efnaradni"eOafcfOtuueailncrncetdisrvws.aiBomslei;;mltLeisaitenttocvs;rketarehnuof"egfnfee;fiKcatbnrsvsteecoeaemronrulanectibshnyl.Ta.eonolgfvsFetHiuhoieroiiswf-.s
HsiiosnvoifewAsmaesritcoatnhelidtuetryatuorfe.eduHciastehdoypoeunfogrmReunssiinanRupsrsoigar.essF.urtHhiesrmdainscuuasl-
lOaubrorfareHwiesllv.iewEsotfimNaatpoeloefonh.im.HisHiesagsrye-agtoiqnuaglitthieeos.ryoHfiswasrilnickeeriotpye.ratCiaounss.e
otfiohnisoflihmiistiadteiaosn.s. EfPfeercstonoaflRcuhsasriaacntecriivsitliiczsatrieolnatoendstuontdhresye.strEovngidmeennt.evo.lu-. 72
Chapter XXXVIII. Official Life in St. Petersburg
—
1892-1894
nDiefwfsipcualpteyrsinansdecbuoroiknsg;adcicfufriacutletyiinnfoarsmcaetritoainniinngRtuhsesitaru;ththoencaennysoqrusehsitpionof
erowthofmythandlegendintheRussianatmosphereofsecrecyandrepres-
.sotisRttifuiuhoro•esAnendsmrCaisehn;ariDgAnicieabfachrlfgamoieosunocpsfusaiElitxtnttcahipodaleeolisibstgreiyoialt.fbfpiitroetoesivhndtBnee;lrgRmeiiAc;luenmrlsgnieahsaintrinskhaiatiencnRsfdaEuehsxnsstwptrosMoioeriviisqmaieniutensiteisnsi;ecttsoatesnsryarceptfiaeinartrtctro.thaoielemsdriWeieqRnxidsueganrelmftetaepphretrluroiretpoomseePnu.oatg;opolhtfloahAeceRmgteicurhero;seerfnasitintLinhceeaaepaclgnrntBasoesltunaodepiecdspoinvwsrneeeiietsntsnyts-h.o-g
omcaPbfhaenaalgdnrtaiahcncheCeteno,ieiWurronra.ifgtsts.taeiMnrcoassfVAr.;imrstieihtarVtehgiieoescEfi"amotnppPfoear"tfrilhNnomteucrhbe'GbeisarVaAlainllmcnsa.etsd""ote;rDriucFNloocluafmhnnpepeeoBsasrslorsaekitlohsXhnoaoeefrnnnttaioohae;fevS;tisGt.dikrheniePangnetnudR.tldnueaesDrrssMsusdiibc,oaudhinarnentgiswggtsis;hhtCite°htafsPttmehchhateiuesresrsiGrienshoreoouo-snfn;
Eastereve; beauty of the music. The opera. Midnight excursions in the
northerntwilight. FinlandandHelsingfors. Moscowrevisited. Visittothe
Scandinaviancountries. Confidence reposedin me byPresidentCleveland. ^
Myresignation
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
V1U
Chapter XXXIX. As Member of the Venezuelan
—
Commission 1895-1896
PAGE
TheVenezuelan Commission; curiouscircumstancesof mynominationtoit
by PresidentCleveland. Natureof the questionto bedecided; itsprevious
evolution. Mr. Cleveland's message. Attacks upon him; his firmness.
Sessions of theCommission; initial difficulties; solutionof them. Theold
question between the Netherlands and Spain. Material at our command.
DiscreditablefeaturesofthefirstBritish BlueBook onthe subject; British
"fair play"inthisandin theBehringSeaquestion. Distributionofduties
intheCommission. MyincreasedrespectforLordAberdeen; boundaryline
acceptedbyhim; strikingconfirmationofhisjusticeandwisdombytheAr-
bitrationTribunalatParis. TriumphofPresidentCleveland and Secretary
Olney. Men whom I met in Washington. Lord Pauncefote. Secretary
Ctiacrsl.islVei;ces-tPrrieksinigdetnrtibSutteevteonhsiomn;bhyisanpoewmeirnsenatsReapruabcloinctaeunr;.hiSsecnhaatroarctGerriasy-
andMr.Olney. VisitwiththeAmericanGeographicalSocietytoMonticello
curious evidences there of Jefferson's peculiarities; beauty of the place.
VisittotheUniversityof Virginia. Myincreasing respectfor the qualities
ofMr. Cleveland 117
—
Chapter XL. As Ambassador to Germany 1897-1903
Nomination by President McKinley. Light thrown upon his methods by
appointmentsofsecondsecretaryandmilitaryattach^. SecretarySherman
his reference to President Johnson's impeachment. Judge Harlan's refer-
encetoDr. Burchard'salliteration. Discussionswith the German ambassa-
dorandothers. Changeof theAmerican legationinto an embassy; its ad-
vantages and disadvantages. First interview with Emperor William II;1
subjects discussed. Hisreference toFrederickthe Great'smusicalpowers.
TheEmpress; happychange intheattitudeof the peopletowardher. The
^ Chancellor of theEmpire; Prince Hohenlohe; his peculiarities; his refer-
encestoBismarck; hisopinion of Germans. CountvonBiilow, Ministerof/
ForeignAffairs;resemblancesbetweenhimandhisfather;hischaracteristics
asministerandasparliamentaryleader. Ambassadorialreceptions; difficul-
tsieensta;tmiviesst.akeCnhapnogleiciynoGfeorumrangopvuebrlnicmeonptinrieognatrodwianrgdrtehseidUennicteesdfoSrtaittessrseipnrce-e
mreyprmeisneinsttaetriioanlsdianysGe;rimtsacnauasnedsA;meevriidcenacnespaopferist,daunrdintgheSipraenfifsechtsW;aro.u-r Moiwsn-
culpabilityas shown in the Fessenden case. International questions; Hai-
tiantheoryoftheMonroeDoctrine. TheSamoanquestion', fiirorconsularis;
missionary squabbles; reasonableness of Minister von Biilow. Attendance
atParliament; its characteristics; noteson sundrymembers; Posadowski
Itichter; Bebel; Barth. TheGermanParliament Housecompared withthe
NewYorkStateCapitol 131
Chapter XLI. America, Germany, and the Spanish
—
War 1897-1903
TheChinesequestion; Germanpartinit; mydutiesregardingit; courseof
President McKinleyand Secretary Hay. Theexclusionof American insur-
aTnhceec"ommepaatniqeuses;tdiifofni"cu;ltAiemse.riAcmaenriicllaunstrsautgiaorn douftideesf;ecotuivrewaGveerrmianng ppoolliiccyy..
;;;
TABLE OF CONTENTS ix
PAliE
The "fruit question" and its adjustment. The Spanish-American War;
attitudeoftheGerman press; mycourseunderinstructions; importance of
dWteholeoadyEfimonpgredtrh;oertwhearerdg;easrctdorinunfcgetriieotnn;ceohfiisnthvPeiaerMiwasiownfietihta.nAdmMbiyatssrseeaflfdaeotcirto;nPsocrowtnievtrehrastnahdteiMoSinpnaiwnsiittsehhr
ambassador. VisittoDresdento present thePresident's congratulationsto
the Saxon king; curious contretemps; festivities. Change in character of
European monarchs sinceJefferson's lettertoLangdon. TheKingofWiir-
tembergandGrand Dukeof Baden. Notes on sundrypretenders to Euro-
pean thrones. Course of German Government during our Spanish War; '
arrestof Spanish vesselatHamburg. Goodnews at the Leipsic Fourth of
July celebration. Difficulties arising in Germany as the war progressed.
Theprotectionof American citizens abroad; prostitution of American citi-
zbaesneslheisps;perxaaimseploefsG;rsetartenBgrtihteaniinngatotfhteheexrpuleensseagoafintshtepUrneitteenddeSdtaAtmees.ricDauntsy
oftheembassytoward Americanstudents; admissionof women totheGer-
man universities. Efforts of various compatriots to reach the Emperor;
psychological curiosities. Changes in Berlin since myformer official resi-
dvoernsce; ;Mdoimsmapspeenar;anHcaeronfacmkanystrongmen; characteristicsof sundrysurvi- 157
Chapter XLII. America, Germany, and the Chinese
—
War 1899-1902
Ex-President Harrison visitsBerlin; attention shownhim bythe Emperor
andothers; changeinhimsince hisWashingtondays. Difficultyregarding
embassyquarters moral. Bicentenaryof the RoyalAcademyof Sciences
;
pomp and ceremony; picturesque appearance of delegates; conversation
withtheEmperoronthe subject; his jocose statementof histheoryof the
monarchy. Coming of age of theheir tothethrone; receptionof theEm-
peror of Austria-Hungary gala opera and opinionof theChineseminister
;
regarding it; banquet; speeches of the twoEmperors. Characteristics of
the Emperor Franz Josef; conversation with him; his views of American
questions; prospects of his Empire. Visit from the German-American
Kriegerverein. Outbreak of the revolution in China; American policy
commendation of it fromforeign source; mydutiesrelating toit. Fourth
ofJulyspeechatLeipsicin1900. Visit toAmerica;torridheatatWashing-
ton; new revelation of President McKinley's qualities; his discussion of
publicaffairs. Two-hundredth anniversaryof the Prussian kingdom; cele-
bitrabtyiotnh;emFyreonffcihciaalmsbpaesescahdo;rr.eliAgiopuesrscoenraelmobneireesav;egmaelnato.perVaac;arteimoanrsktuudpioens
onFra Paolo Sarpi. Deathof theEmpress Frederick; her kindness tome
andmine conversations; herreminiscencesofQueenVictoria'srelationsto
;
Americanaffairs herfuneral 181
;
Chapter XLIII. Closing Years of My Embassy.
Berlin, Yale, Oxford, and St. Andrews—1901-1903
Assassination of President McKinley; its effect on German feeling. My
peculiarrelationswiththeChinese minister at Berlin; ourdiscussions; my
advicetoChinathroughhim; visitsfrom and toPrinceChun, onhisexpia-
tory errand. Visit to Mr. Andrew Carnegie at Skibo Castle; evidences of
kindlyBritishfeelingregardingthedeathofPresidentMcKinleyseenduring
;
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
thisEnglishand Scotch journey; life at Skibo. America revisited; Bicen-
tenaryatYale. Amchosentohonorary membership intheRoyalAcademy
of Sciences at Berlin. Interview with the Emperor on my return from
AvemletroincaN;ecwhaYreaacrte'rsidstaiyc,s1o9f02h.iscEomnpveerrosra'tsiodni;nhniesrrteoqtuheestAtmoerPirecsaindeEnmtbRaosossye-;
departure of Prince Henry for the United States; the Emperor's remarks
uponthepurposeofit. TheAmerican "opendoor"policy;mydutiesregard-
ingit. DutiesregardingSt.LouisExposition; difficulties. Short vacationin
Italy;mysixth visit to Veniceandnew researchesregarding FatherPaul
Dtrh.eAClreoxwanndPerrinRcoeboefrtSsioanm.. RAetmurpnrestoenBteerdlibny;tvhiesiEtmopfetrhoerSthoathheofCrPoerwsniaPrainnd-
cessofSaxony; hercharmingmannerandlaterescapade. WorkwithPresident
Gilmaninbehalf of the Carnegie Institution for Research, at "Washington.
DeathofKingAlbertof Saxony; attendance,under instructions, at his fu-
neral; impressive ceremonial, and long sermon. The new Bang; impres-
sionmadebyhisconversation. The DiisseldorfExposition. Attendanceas
representativeofYaleattheBodleian TercentenaryatOxford; ieceptionof
D.C.L. degree; peculiar feature of it; banquet in Christ Church Hall;
failureofmyspeech. VisittotheUniversityofSt. Andrews;Mr.Carnegie's
Rectoraladdress curiousbutvainattemptsbyaudiencetothrowhimoffhis
guard;hisskillin; dealing withthem; receptionofLL.D. degree. Myseven-
tieth birthday; kindness of friends at Berlin and elsewhere; letters from
PresidentRoosevelt, Mr. Hay,SecretaryofState,andChancellorvonBiilow.
Myresignationatthistimeinaccordancewithresolutionmadeyearsbefore.
Final reception by the Emperor. Farewell celebration with the American
Colonyanddeparture. StayatAlassio; visitstoElbaandCorsica; relicsof
Napoleon curious monument of thevendettabetween the Pozzo di Borgo
:
andBonapartefamilies 197
—
Chaptee XLIV. My Recollections of William II
1879-1903
Myfirstknowledgeofhim; hisspeechasastudentatDiisseldorf; talkwith
hisfatherandmotherregardingit. Hisappearanceatcourt; characteristics.
Hisweddingandmyfirstconversationwithhim. Opinionregardinghimin
Berlin. Growth of opinions, favorable and unfavorable, in America. His
dismissalofBismarck effectonpublicopinionandonmyownview. »Effect
;
ofsomeofhisspeeches. The"Caligula"pamphlet. Sundryepigrams. Con-
versationatmyfirstinterviewwithhim as Ambassador. His qualitiesasa
conversationist. Hisartisticgifts; hisloveofmusic; hisdealingswithdra-
maticart. PositionofthetheaterinGermany. Hisinterestin archaeologi-
cal investigation; in education; in city improvements; in improvements
throughouttheEmpire sundrytalkswith himonthesesubjects. Hisfeel-
;
ing for literature; extent of his reading; testimony of those nearest him.
Hisfreedomfromfads. Hisgiftsasastatesman; hispublicandprivatedis-
cussions of state and internationalquestions; his thoroughness in dealing
with armyandnavy questions; his interestinvariousnavies. Hisbroader
whiosrrkel;ahtiisonatboilitthyeilnegsieslleacttiivengbomdeiens;anhdishaicsqusatirnetnagnthceinwistthamndeinnganbdytthhienmgs;
inall parts of the Empire and outside theEmpire. His devotion to work.
His clearnessof vision in international questionsas shown in sundry con-
vqeurasianttiaonncse;wiutnhiomneno.f brHeiasditnhdeapnedndmeinncueteofnetshsouignhthi;shvisievwise;whoifsthlearMgeaiance-
catastrophe. Hisimpulsiveness; goodsensebeneathit; resultsofsomesup-
TABLE OF CONTENTS
xi
PAGE
posed exceptions. His ability as a speaker; characteristics. His religious
views comparisonof themwiththoseofFredericktheGreatandFrederick
;
WilliamI; hispeculiarbreadthofviewshownintheDelitzschaffair; alsoin
his dealings with his Roman Catholic subjects; treatment of the Strasburg
andMetzBishopricquestions; hisskillshownintheJerusalemchurchmatter.
His theoryofmonarchy; peculiarreasonsforit; sundrycriticismsofhimin
thisrespect. FeelingoftheGermanpeopleregardingattacksonthemonarch.
The whole subject as viewed from the American Democratic standpoint;
Thomas Jefferson's letter to John Adams. The Emperor's feeling toward
Parliamentary government; strength he has given it by sundry appoint-
ments. Hisalleged violations of the German Constitution doubtsregard-
;
ing them. HisallegedhostilitytotheUnitedStatesduringtheSpanishWar
and at other times; facts regarding this charge. Sundry other charges
againsthim; hisdealingswiththeVenezuelaquestion; excellentreasonsfor
it. Hisfeelingtoward the UnitedStates. Summaryofhisposition in con-
temporaryhistory 218
Chapter XLV. As President of the American Dele-
—
gation at the Peace Conference of The Hague I
:
1899
ProposalofaConferencebyNicholasII. ReasonswhytheNetherlandswere
preferredtoSwitzerlandas itsplaceofmeeting. Generalmisunderstanding
as to the Emperor's proposal. My own skepticism. Resultant feeling re-
gardingtheConference. Myacceptance ofthenominationtoit. Condition
ofthingsonourarrivalatTheHague. FirstmeetingoftheAmericanDele-
gation. Am chosen its president. General character of our instructions
fromWashington. Americanplanof arbitration. Preliminarymeetingsof
delegates. Theopeningsession. The "House in theWood"; its remarka-
ble characteristics. Proceedings. General skepticism at first. Baron de
StaalasPresidentof the Conference. Count Nigra. Lord Pauncefote and
others. Public spirit of the Dutch Government. Growth of hope as to a
goodresult. Difficultiesastodisarmament. Thepeacelobby. Queerletters
andcrankish proposals. Better ideas. M. de Blochand hisviews. Count
Welsersheimbandothers. Organization of the Conference. First decision
regardingthepublication of our proceedings. Rumors. AttitudeofCount
Miinster, President of the German Delegation. Attitude of Russia and
sundryotherpowersregardingtheAmericanproposalforexemptingprivate
propertyfromseizureonthehighseas. Newinstructionssoughtbyusfrom
Washington. First presentation of the Presidents of Delegations to the
Queen; her conversation. My talk with the British Admiral, Sir John
Fisher. RealandimaginaryinterviewspublishedinsundryEuropeanpapers 250
Chapter XLVI. As President of the American Dele-
gation at the Peace Conference of The Hague: II
—1899
ApparentwaveringofRussiaregardinganarbitrationscheme. CountMiin-
ster's view of the Russian proposals. Social gatherings. Influx of people
with notions, nostrums, and whimsies. First meeting of the great com-
mitteeonarbitration. PresentationoftheRussianplan; itsseriousdefects.
SuccessfuleffortofSirJulianPauncefotetoprovide fora propercourt. Ex-
cellentspiritshownbytheRussiandelegates. FinalcharacteroftheAmeri-
canprojectforanarbitrationplan. FestivalgiventotheConferencebythe
Burgomaster and City Council of The Hague. I revisit Delftafter an ab-