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Such council would receive notice from powers having differences
with each other which are willing to submit the questions between
them to a court； and would then give notice to the judges
selected by the parties。 The whole of the present plan； except
some subordinate features of little account； which can easily be
stricken out； is voluntary。 There is nothing whatever obligatory
about it。 Every signatory power is free to resort to such a
tribunal or not； as it may think best。 Surely a concession like
this may well be made to the deep and wide sentiment throughout
the world in favor of some possible means of settling
controversies between nations other than by bloodshed。
Pardon me for earnestly pressing upon you these facts and
considerations。 I beg that you will not consider me as going
beyond my province。 I present them to you as man to man； not only
in the interest of good relations between Germany and the United
States； but of interests common to all the great nations of the
earth；of their common interest in giving something like
satisfaction to a desire so earnest and wide…spread as that which
has been shown in all parts of the world for arbitration。
I remain； dear Baron von Bulow；
Most respectfully and sincerely yours；
（Sgd。） ANDREW D。 WHITE。
P。 S。 Think how easily； if some such tribunal existed； your
government and mine could refer to it the whole mass of minor
questions which our respective parliamentary bodies have got
control of； and entangled in all sorts of petty prejudices and
demagogical utterances； for instance； Samoa； the tonnage dues；
the sugar…bounty question； the most…favored…nation clause； etc。；
etc。； which keep the two countries constantly at loggerheads。 Do
you not see that submission of such questions to such a tribunal
as is now proposed； so far from being derogatory to sovereignty；
really relieves the sovereign and the Foreign Office of the most
vexatious fetters and limitations of parliamentarianism。 It is
not at all unlikely that such a court would decide in your favor；
and if so； every thoughtful American would say； 〃Well and good；
it appears that； in spite of all the speeches in Congress； we
were wrong。〃 And the matter would then be ended with the
good…will of all parties。
（Sgd。） A。D。W。
It is indeed a crisis in the history of the conference； and
perhaps in the history of Germany。 I can only hope that Bulow
will give careful attention to the considerations which Munster
and myself press upon him。
Later in the day Sir Julian Pauncefote called； evidently much
vexed that the sitting of the subcommittee had been deferred； and
even more vexed since he had learned from De Staal the real
reason。 He declared that he was opposed to stringing out the
conference much longer； that the subcommittee could get along
perfectly well without Dr。 Zorn； that if Germany did not wish to
come in； she could keep out； etc。； etc。 He seemed to forget that
Germany's going out means the departure of Austria and Italy； to
say nothing of one or two minor powers； and therefore the
bringing to naught of the conference。 I did not think it best to
say anything about Molls's departure； but soothed him as much as
I could by dwelling on the success of his proposal that the
permanent council here shall be composed of the resident
diplomatic representatives。
The other members of our commission； and especially President
Low； were at first very much opposed to Dr。 Holls's going； on the
ground that it might be considered an interference in a matter
pertaining to Germany； but I persisted in sending him； agreeing
to take all the responsibility； and declaring that he should go
simply as a messenger from me； as the American ambassador at
Berlin； to the imperial minister of foreign affairs。
June 17。
The morning was given largely to completing my draft of our
memorial to the conference regarding the immunity of private
property in time of war from seizure on the high seas。
In the afternoon drove to Scheveningen to make sundry official
visits； and in the evening to the great festival given by the
Netherlands Government to the conference。
Its first feature was a series of tableaux representing some of
the most famous pictures in the Dutch galleries the most
successful of all being Rembrandt's 〃Night Watch。〃 Jan Steen's
〃Wedding Party〃 was also very beautiful。 Then came peasant dances
given； in the midst of the great hall； by persons in the costumes
of all the different provinces。 These were characteristic and
interesting； some of them being wonderfully quaint。
The violinist of the late King； Johannes Wolff； played some solos
in a masterly way。
The music by the great military band； especially the hymn of
William of Nassau and the Dutch and Russian national anthems； was
splendidly rendered； and the old Dutch provincial music played in
connection with the dances and tableaux was also noteworthy。
It was an exceedingly brilliant assemblage； and the whole
festival from first to last a decided success。
June 18； Sunday。
Went to Leyden to attend service at St。 Peter's。 Both the church
and its monuments are interesting。 Visited also the church of St。
Pancras； a remarkable specimen of Gothic architecture； and looked
upon the tomb of Van der Werf； the brave burgomaster who defended
the town against the Spaniards during the siege。
At the university I was much interested in the public hall where
degrees are conferred； and above all in the many portraits of
distinguished professors。 Lingered next in the botanical gardens
back of the university； which are very beautiful。
Then to the Museum of Antiquities； which is remarkably rich in
Egyptian and other monuments。 Roman art is also very fully
represented。
Thence home； and； on arriving； found； of all men in the world；
Thomas B。 Reed； Speaker of our House of Representatives。 Mr。
Newel； our minister； took us both for a drive to Scheveningen；
and Mr。 Reed's conversation was exceedingly interesting； he is
well read in history and； apparently； in every field of English
literature。 There is a bigness； a heartiness； a shrewdness； and a
genuineness about him which greatly attract me。
June 19。
Called on M。 de Staal to show him Holls's telegram from Berlin；
which is encouraging。 De Staal thinks that we may have to give up
the tenth section of the arbitration plan； which includes
obligatory arbitration in sundry minor matters； but while I shall
be very sorry to see this done； we ought to make the sacrifice if
it will hold Germany； Italy； and Austria to us。
A little later received a hearty telegram from the Secretary of
State authorizing our ordering the wreath of silver and gold and
placing it on the tomb of Grotius。 Telegraphed and wrote Major
Allen at Berlin full directions on the subject。 I am determined
that the tribute shall be worthy of our country； of its object；
and of the occasion。
In the afternoon took Speaker Reed； with his wife and daughter；
through the 〃House in the Wood；〃 afterward through the grounds；
which are more beautiful than ever； and then to Delft； where we
visited the tombs of William the Silent and Grotius； and finally
the house in which William was assassinated。 It was even more
interesting to me than during either of my former visits； and was
evidently quite as interesting to Mr。 Reed。
At six attended a long meeting of the American delegation； which
elaborated the final draft of our communication to M。 de Staal on
the immunity of private property on the high seas。 Various
passages were stricken out； some of themand； indeed； one of the
bestin deference to the ideas of Captain Mahan； who； though he
is willing； under instructions from the government； to join in
presenting the memorial； does not wish to sign anything which can
possibly be regarded as indicating a personal belief in the
establishment of such immunity。 His is the natural view of a
sailor； but the argument with which he supports it does not at
all convince me。 It is that during war we should do everything
possible to weaken and worry the adversary； in order that he may
be the sooner ready for peace； but this argument proves too much；
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