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copies which Burleigh painted for me twenty years ago at
Amsterdam and Leyden。 Talked with Sir Julian Pauncefote regarding
the Swiss matter； he had abstained from voting for the reason
that he had no instructions in the premises。
July 2。
In the morning Major Allen； military attache of our embassy at
Berlin； arrived； bringing the Grotius wreath。 Under Secretary
Hay's permission； I had given to one of the best Berlin
silversmiths virtually carte blanche； and the result is most
satisfactory。 The wreath is very large； being made up； on one
side； of a laurel branch with leaves of frosted silver and
berries of gold； and； on the other； of an oak branch with silver
leaves and gold acorns； both boughs being tied together at the
bottom by a large knot of ribbon in silver gilded； bearing the
arms of the Netherlands and the United States on enameled
shields； and an inscription as follows：
To the Memory of HUGO GROTIUS；
In Reverence and Gratitude；
From the United States of America；
On the Occasion of the International Peace Conference
of The Hague。
July 4th； 1899。
It is a superb piece of work； and its ebony case； with silver
clasps； and bearing a silver shield with suitable inscription； is
also perfect： the whole thing attracts most favorable attention。
CHAPTER XLIX
AS PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN DELEGATION AT THE PEACE CONFERENCE
OF THE HAGUE： V1899
July 4。
On this day the American delegation invited their colleagues to
celebrate our national anniversary at the tomb of Grotius； first
in the great church； and afterward in the town hall of Delft。
Speeches were made by the minister of foreign affairs of the
Netherlands De Beaufort； by their first delegate； Van Karnebeek；
by Mr。 Asser； one of their leading jurists； by the burgomaster of
Delft； and by Baron de Bildt； chairman of the Swedish delegation
and minister at Rome； who read a telegram from the King of Sweden
referring to Grotius's relations to the Swedish diplomatic
service； as well as by President Low of Columbia University and
myself： the duty being intrusted to me of laying the wreath upon
Grotius's tomb and making the address with reference to it。 As
all the addresses are to be printed； I shall give no more
attention to them here。 A very large audience was present；
embracing the ambassadors and principal members of the
conference； the Netherlands ministers of state； professors from
the various universities of the Netherlands； and a large body of
other invited guests。
The music of the chimes； of the organ； and of the royal choir of
one hundred voices was very fine； and； although the day was
stormy； with a high wind and driving rain； everything went off
well。
After the exercises in the church； our delegation gave a
breakfast； which was very satisfactory。 About three hundred and
fifty persons sat down to the tables at the town hall； and one
hundred other guests； including the musicians； at the leading
restaurant in the place。 In the afternoon the Americans gathered
at the reception given by our minister； Mr。 Newel； and his wife；
and in the evening there was a large attendance at an 〃American
concert〃 given by the orchestra at the great hall in
Scheveningen。
July 5。
Early in the morning to the second committee of the conference；
where I spoke in behalf of the Beldiman resolution； doing justice
to Switzerland as regards the continuance of the Red Cross
interests in Swiss hands； and on going to a vote we were
successful。
Then； the question of a proper dealing with our memorial
regarding the immunity of private property on the high seas
coming up； I spoke in favor of referring it to the general
conference； and gave the reasons why it should not simply be
dropped out as not coming within the subjects contemplated in the
call to the conference。 Though my speech was in French； it went
off better than I expected。
In the afternoon； at the full conference； the same subject came
up； and then； after a preface in French； asking permission to
speak in English； I made my speech； which； probably； three
quarters of all the delegates understood； but； at my request； a
summary of it was afterward given in French by Mr。 van Karnebeek。
The occasion of this speech was my seconding the motion； made in
a very friendly manner by M。 de Martens； to refer the matter to a
future conference； but I went into the merits of the general
subject to show its claims upon the various nations； etc。； etc。；
though not； of course； as fully as I would have done had the
matter been fully under discussion。 My speech was very well
received； and will； I hope； aid in keeping the subject alive。
In the afternoon drove to Ryswyck； to the house of M。 Cornets de
Groot； the living representative of the Grotius family。 The house
and grounds were very pleasant； but the great attraction was a
collection of relics of Grotius； including many manuscripts from
his own hand； among these a catechism for his children； written
in the prison of Loewenstein； with official documents； signed and
sealed； connected with the public transactions of his time； also
letters which passed between him and Oxenstiern； the great
Swedish chancellor； some in Latin and some in other languages；
besides sundry poems。 There were also a multitude of portraits；
engravings； and documents relating to Olden…Barneveld and others
of Grotius's contemporaries。
The De Groot family gave us a most hearty reception； introducing
their little girl； who is the latest…born descendant of Grotius；
and showing us various household relics of their great ancestor；
including cups； glasses； and the like。 Mr。 De Groot also gave me
some curious information regarding him which I did not before
possess； and； among other things； told me that when Grotius's
body was transferred； shortly after his death； from Rostock to
Delft； the coffin containing it was stoned by a mob at Rotterdam；
also that at the unveiling of the statue of Grotius in front of
the church at Delft； a few years ago； the high…church Calvinists
would not allow the children from their church schools to join
the other children in singing hymns。 The old bitterness of the
extreme Calvinistic party toward their great compatriot was thus
still exhibited； and the remark was made at the time； by a member
of it； that the statue was perfectly true to life； since 〃its
back was turned toward the church〃； to which a reply was made
that 〃Grotius's face in the statue； like his living face； was
steadily turned toward justice。〃 This latter remark had reference
to the fact that a court is held in the city hall； toward which
the statue is turned。
In the evening to a dinner given by Mr。 Piersoon； minister of
finance and prime minister of the Netherlands； to our delegation
and to his colleagues of the Dutch ministry。 Everything passed
off well； Mr。 Piersoon proposing a toast to the health of the
President of the United States； to which I replied in a toast to
the Queen of the Netherlands。 In the course of his speech Mr。
Piersoon thanked us for our tribute to Grotius； and showed really
deep feeling on the subject。 There is no doubt that we have
struck a responsive chord in the hearts of all liberal and
thoughtful men and women of the Netherlands； from every quarter
come evidences of this。
A remark of his； regarding arbitration； especially pleased us。 He
said that the arbitration plan； as it had come from the great
committee； was like a baby：apparently helpless； and of very
little value； unable to do much； and requiring careful nursing；
but that it had one great merit：IT WOULD GROW。
This I believe to be a very accurate statement of the situation。
The general feeling of the conference becomes better and better。
More and more the old skepticism has departed； and in place of it
has come a strong ambition to have a share in what we are
beginning to believe may be a most honorable contribution to the
peace of the world。 I have never taken part in more earnest
discussions than those which during the last two weeks have
occupied us； and especially those relating to arbitration。
I think I may say； without assuming too much； that our Grotius