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I worked until late at night； and then went to Scheveningen
almost in despair。
July 30。
Returned to The Hague early in the morning； and went on again
with the report； working steadily through the day upon it。 For
the first time in my life I have thus made Sunday a day of work。
Although I have no conscientious scruples on the subject； it was
bred into me in my childhood and boyhood that Sunday should be
kept free from all manner of work； and so thoroughly was this
rule inculcated that I have borne it in mind ever since； often
resisting very pressing temptation to depart from it。
But to…day there was no alternative； and the whole time until
five o'clock in the afternoon was given to getting my draft
ready。
At five P。M。 the American delegation came together； and； to my
surprise； received my report with every appearance of
satisfaction。 Mr。 Low indicated some places which； in his
opinion； needed modification； and to this I heartily agreed； for
they were generally places where I was myself in doubt。
My draft having thus been presented； I turned it over to Mr。 Low；
who agreed to bring it to…morrow morning with such modifications；
omissions； and additions as seemed best to him。 The old proverb；
〃 'T is always darkest just before daylight；〃 seems exemplified
in the affairs of to…day； since the kind reception given to my
draft of the report； and the satisfaction expressed regarding it；
form a most happy and unexpected sequel to my wretched distrust
regarding the whole matter last night。
July 31。
The American delegation met at eleven in the morning and
discussed my draft。 Mr。 Low's modifications and additions were
not many and were mainly good。 But he omitted some things which I
would have preferred to retain： these being in the nature of a
plea in behalf of arbitration； or； rather； an exhibition of the
advantages which have been secured for it by the conference； but；
between his doubts and Captain Mahan's opposition； I did not care
to contest the matter； and several pages were left out。
At six in the afternoon came the last meeting of our delegation。
The reports； duly engrossed；namely； the special reports； signed
by Captain Mahan and Captain Crozier； from the first and second
committees of the conference； the special report made by myself；
Mr。 Low； and Dr。 Holls as members of the third committee； and the
general report covering our whole work； drawn almost entirely by
me； but signed by all the members of the commission；were
presented； re…read； and signed； after which the delegation
adjourned； sine die。
August 1。
After some little preliminary work on matters connected with the
winding up of our commission； went with my private secretary； Mr。
Vickery； to Amsterdam； visiting the old church； the palace； the
Zoological Gardens； etc。 Thence to Gouda and saw the
stained…glass windows in the old church there； which I have so
long desired to study。
August 3。
At 8。30 left The Hague and went by rail； via Cologne and
Ehreinbreitstein； to Homburg； arriving in the evening。
August 5。
This morning resumed my duties as ambassador at Berlin。
There was one proceeding at the final meeting of the conference
which I have omitted； but which really ought to find a place in
this diary。 Just before the final speeches； to the amazement of
all and almost to the stupefaction of many； the president； M。 de
Staal； handed to the secretary； without comment； a paper which
the latter began to read。 It turned out to be a correspondence
which had taken place； just before the conference； between the
Queen of the Netherlands and the Pope。
The Queen's letterwritten； of course； by her ministers； in the
desire to placate the Catholic party； which holds the balance of
power in the Netherlandsdwelt most respectfully on the high
functions of his Holiness； etc。； etc。； indicating； if not saying；
that it was not the fault of her government that he was not
invited to join in the conference。
The answer from the Pope was a masterpiece of Vatican skill。 In
it he referred to what he claimed was his natural position as a
peacemaker on earth； dwelling strongly on this point。
The reading of these papers was received in silence； and not a
word was publicly said afterward regarding them； though in
various quarters there was very deep feeling。 It was felt that
the Dutch Government had taken this means of forestalling local
Dutch opposition； and that it was a purely local matter of
political partizanship that ought never to have been intruded
upon a conference of the whole world。
I had no feeling of this sort； for it seemed to me well enough
that the facts should be presented； but a leading representative
of one of the great Catholic powers； who drove home with us； was
of a different mind。 This eminent diplomatist from one of the
strongest Catholic countries； and himself a Catholic； spoke in
substance as follows： 〃The Vatican has always been； and is
to…day； a storm…center。 The Pope and his advisers have never
hesitated to urge on war； no matter how bloody； when the
slightest of their ordinary worldly purposes could be served by
it。 The great religious wars of Europe were entirely stirred up
and egged on by them； and； as everybody knows； the Pope did
everything to prevent the signing of the treaty of Munster； which
put an end to the dreadful Thirty Years' War； even going so far
as to declare the oaths taken by the plenipotentiaries at that
congress of no effect。
〃All through the middle ages and at the Renaissance period the
Popes kept Italy in turmoil and bloodshed for their own family
and territorial advantages； and they kept all Europe in turmoil；
for two centuries after the Reformation；in fact； just as long
as they could；in the wars of religion。 They did everything they
could to stir up the war between Austria and Prussia in 1866；
thinking that Austria； a Catholic power； was sure to win； and
then everything possible to stir up the war of France against
Prussia in 1870 in order to accomplish the same purpose of
checking German Protestantism； and now they are doing all they
can to arouse hatred； even to deluge Italy in blood； in the vain
attempt to recover the temporal power； though they must know that
they could not hold it for any length of time even if they should
obtain it。
〃They pretend to be anxious to 'save souls；' and especially to
love Poland and Ireland； but they have for years used those
countries as mere pawns in their game with Russia and Great
Britain； and would sell every Catholic soul they contain to the
Greek and English churches if they could thereby secure the
active aid of those two governments against Italy。 They have
obliged the Italian youth to choose between patriotism and
Christianity； and the result is that the best of these have
become atheists。 Their whole policy is based on stirring up
hatred and promoting conflicts from which they hope to draw
worldly advantage。
〃In view of all this； one stands amazed at the cool statements of
the Vatican letter。〃
These were the words of an eminent Roman Catholic representative
of a Roman Catholic power； and to them I have nothing to add。
In looking back calmly over the proceedings of the conference； I
feel absolutely convinced that it has accomplished a great work
for the world。
The mere assembling of such a body for such a purpose was a
distinct gain； but vastly more important is the positive outcome
of its labors。
First of these is the plan of arbitration。 It provides a court
definitely constituted； a place of meeting easily accessible； a
council for summoning it always in session； guarantees for
perfect independence； and a suitable procedure。
Closely connected with this is the provision for 〃international
commissions of inquiry；〃 which cannot fail to do much in clearing
up issues likely to lead to war between nations。 Thus we may
hope； when there is danger of war； for something better than that
which the world has hitherto heardthe clamor of interested
parties and the shrieks of sensation newspapers。 The natural
result will be； as in the Venezuelan difficulty between the
United States and Great Britai