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homes and resume their status as combatants。
The reason for submitting the third to Washington； with a
recommendation to sign it there； is that considerable work will
be required in conforming our laws of war to the standard
proposed by the conference； and that it is best that the
Washington authorities look it over carefully。
I was very anxious to sign all three conventions； but the first
is the great one； and I yielded my views on the last two。
The powers are to have until the 31st of December； if they wish
it； before signing。
July 27。
Early in the morning to a meeting of our American delegation； Mr。
van Karnebeek being present。 We agreed to sign the arbitration
convention； attaching to our signatures a reservation embodying
our declaration of July 25 regarding the maintenance of our
American policythe Monroe Doctrine。 A telegram was received
from the State Department approving of this declaration。 The
imbroglio regarding the forcing of the Pope into the midst of the
signatory powers continues。 The ultramontanes are pushing on
various delegates； especially sundry Austrians and Belgians； who
depend on clerical support for their political existence； and； in
some cases； for their daily bread； and the result is that M。
Descamps； one of the most eminent international lawyers in
Europe； who has rendered great services during the conference；
but who holds a professorship at the University of Louvain； and
can hold it not one moment longer than the Jesuits allow him； is
making a great display of feeling on the subject。 Italy； of
course； continues to take the strongest ground against the
proposal to admit his Holiness as an Italian sovereign。
Our position is； as was well stated in the great committee by Mr。
Low； that the contracting parties must all consent before a new
party can come in； and this under one of the simplest principles
of law。 We ought also to add that any power thus admitted shall
not only consent to arbitrate on others； but to be arbitrated
upon。 This； of course； the Vatican monsignori will never do。 They
would see all Europe deluged in blood before they would submit
the pettiest question between the kingdom of Italy and themselves
to arbitration by lay powers。 All other things are held by them
utterly subordinate to the restoration of the Pope's temporal
power； though they must know that if it were restored to him
to…morrow he could not hold it。 He would be overthrown by a
revolution within a month； even with all the troops which France
or Austria could send to support him； and then we should have the
old miserable state of things again in Italy； with bloodshed；
oppression； and exactions such as took place throughout the first
half of this century； and； indeed； while I was in Italy； under
the old papal authority； in 1856。
In the afternoon to the 〃House in the Wood〃 to go over documents
preliminary to signing the 〃Final Act。〃
July 28。
In the afternoon in plenary session of the conference； hearing
the final reports as to forms of signing； etc。
To…day appears in the London 〃Times〃 the interview which its
correspondent had with me yesterday。 It develops the reasons for
our declaration； and seems to give general satisfaction。 Sir
Julian Pauncefote told Holls that he liked it much。
The committee on forms of the 〃Final Act；〃 etc。； has at last；
under pressure of all sorts； agreed that the question of
admitting non…signatory powers shall be decided by the signatory
powers； hereafter； through the ordinary medium of diplomatic
correspondence。 This is unfortunate for some of the South
American republics； but it will probably in some way inure to the
benefit of the Vatican monsignori。
July 29。
The last and culminating day of the conference。
In the morning the entire body gathered in the great hall of the
〃House in the Wood；〃 and each delegation was summoned thence to
sign the protocol； conventions； and declarations。 These were laid
out on a long table in the dining…room of the palace； which is
adorned with very remarkable paintings of mythological subjects
imitating bas…reliefs。
All these documents had the places for each signature prepared
beforehand； and our seals； in wax； already placed upon the pages
adjoining the place where each signature was to be。 At the
request of the Foreign Office authorities for my seal； I had sent
a day or two beforehand the seal ring which Goldwin Smith gave me
at the founding of Cornell University。 It is an ancient carnelian
intaglio which he obtained in Rome； and bears upon its face；
exquisitely engraved； a Winged Victory。 This seal I used during
my entire connection with Cornell University； and also as a
member of the Electoral College of the State of New York at
General Grant's second election； when； at the request of the
president of that body； Governor Woodford； it was used in sealing
certificates of the election； which were sent； according to law；
to certain high officials of our government。
I affixed my signature to the arbitration convention； writing in；
as agreed； the proviso that our signatures were subject to the
Monroe Doctrine declaration made in open session of the
conference on July 25。 The other members of the American
delegation then signed in proper order。 But the two other
conventions we left unsigned。 It was with deep regret that I
turned away from these； but the majority of the delegation had
decreed it； and it was difficult to see what other course we
could pursue。 I trust that the Washington authorities will
rectify the matter by signing them both。
We also affixed our signatures to the first of the
〃declarations。〃
At three P。M。 came the formal closing of the conference。 M。 de
Staal made an excellent speech； as did Mr。 van Karnebeek and M。
de Beaufort； the Netherlands minister of foreign affairs。 To
these Count Munster； the presiding delegate from Germany； replied
in French； and apparently extemporaneously。 It must have been
pain and grief to him； for he was obliged to speak respectfully；
in the first place； of the conference； which for some weeks he
had affected to despise； and； secondly； of arbitration and the
other measures proposed； which； at least during all the first
part of the conference； he had denounced as a trick and a humbug；
and； finally； he had to speak respectfully of M。 de Staal； to
whom he has steadily shown decided dislike。 He did the whole
quite well； all things considered； but showed his feelings
clearly； as regarded M。 de Staal； by adding to praise of him
greater praise for Mr。 van Karnebeek； who has been the main
managing man in the conference in behalf of the Netherlands
Government。
Then to the hotel and began work on the draft of a report；
regarding the whole work of the conference； to the State
Department。 I was especially embarrassed by the fact that the
wording of it must be suited to the scruples of my colleague；
Captain Mahan。 He is a man of the highest character and of great
ability； whom I respect and greatly like； but； as an old naval
officer； wedded to the views generally entertained by older
members of the naval and military service； he has had very
little； if any； sympathy with the main purposes of the
conference； and has not hesitated to declare his disbelief in
some of the measures which we were especially instructed to
press。 In his books he is on record against the immunity of
private property at sea； and in drawing up our memorial to the
conference regarding this latter matter； in making my speech with
reference to it in the conference； and in preparing our report to
the State Department； I have been embarrassed by this fact。 It
was important to have unanimity； and it could not be had； so far
as he was concerned； without toning down the whole thing； and；
indeed； leaving out much that in my judgment the documents
emanating from us on the subject ought to contain。 So now； in
regard to arbitration； as well as the other measures finally
adopted； his feelings must be considered。 Still； his views have
been an excellent tonic； they have effectively prevented any
lapse into sentimentality。 When he speaks the millennium fades
and this stern； severe； actual world appears。
I worked until late at night； and then went to