elucidations. Of course all know about his great book, have read
criticisms of it, and have had a chance to turn the leaves of the six
volumes as they lie on my drawing-room table; and so they give the most
eager attention to what the author himself relates regarding the
establishment of his work and its results. In this exposition Bloch
speaks so calmly, modestly, and to the point! It is felt that his
conviction rests on scrupulously investigated facts; he is conscious in
his own mind that he has gathered the simple truth and given it out in
its full scope.
D’Estournelles announces a visitor. To-morrow Charles Richet is coming
to The Hague as D’Estournelles’s guest. This very day Richet’s latest
book had reached me,—a succinct history of the peace movement. The
French savant, editor of the _Revue scientifique_, is with us heart and
soul; he and Frédéric Passy are members of the board of directors of the
French Peace Society. It is therefore a twofold pleasure to hear that
the representative of France here at The Hague is a friend of his; more
than a friend, an admirer. _C’est un grand cœur, une belle
intelligence_; such is D’Estournelles’s judgment on Charles Richet.
May 22. Another “meeting again” (_Wiedersehen_) with an old acquaintance
whom I had never seen; Charles Richet calls on us and brings us
greetings from our poor Passy. He has hopes that he will get well, but
none that he will come to The Hague. Richet proves to be a great
enthusiast in our cause. I wanted to keep him for luncheon, but he and
D’Estournelles are invited to the French ambassador’s.
In the meantime we had an invitation to a luncheon given by Frau Grete
Moscheles to Andrew D. White, head of the American delegation and
ambassador to Berlin.
The information which Dr. White gave us filled us all with the keenest
satisfaction: “I am guilty of no indiscretion,” he said at dessert, “if
I tell you that at the first session of the arbitration committee we
shall bring forward a complete plan for an international tribunal,—and
this at the command of the United States government. I cannot as yet
give the details, but the fact itself will, and should, be no secret.”
May 23. In spite of closed doors, Staal’s opening address is already
known. An English paper has printed it. I extract the specially
significant passages:
The name “Peace Conference,” which has been conferred on our meeting
by the instinct of the nations, anticipating the decisions of the
governments, designates correctly the object of our endeavors; the
“Peace Conference” cannot be unfaithful to the mission intrusted to
it; it must bring forth a tangible result such as the whole world
confidently expects from it.
... Let me be permitted to say that diplomacy, following a general
process of development, is no longer what it formerly was,—an art in
which personal cleverness plays the chief rôle,—but is on the point of
becoming a science with definite rules for the settlement of
international difficulties. This is to-day the ideal aim which it must
keep before its eyes, and it will unquestionably be a great advance if
there is a successful attempt made here to settle some of those rules.
Therefore we must take special pains to generalize and to codify the
application of the principles of arbitration as well as of mediation
and friendly offices. These ideas, so to speak, form the very kernel
of our task, the common aim of our endeavors, that is to say the
solution of international controversies by peaceful means.
... The nations cherish a burning desire for peace, and we are
responsible to mankind and to the governments that have empowered us
with their authority, we are responsible to ourselves, to do a
profitable work in establishing methods of employing some of the means
for securing peace. In the front rank of these means stand arbitration
and mediation.
Charles Richet and his son breakfast with us. One thing Richet said
makes a deep impression on me: “On all sides we are compelled to hear it
said that the time has not yet come to carry out our ideals. This may be
so, but certainly the present is the time to prepare for it.”
In the afternoon a call on Frau von Okoliczany. This lady—born Princess
Lobanof—has the reputation of having been a dazzling beauty. She is
still beautiful. Figure, shoulders, arms of statuesque harmony of lines.
The white cashmere tea gown in which she received us has loose sleeves
which leave her fair, round arms free. Hands have their individual
physiognomies, as is well known; Frau von Okoliczany’s beautiful hands
accompany her vivacious conversation with what might be called vivacious
pantomime, and the motions of her arms are eloquent.
A caller comes in,—Count Costantino Nigra. Can it be possible that this
slender, tall man, with his thick, wavy hair still blond, with his
regular features showing scarcely any marks of age, is already seventy
years old? Of course the conversation turns on the Conference and its
objects. Count Nigra gives the impression of being thoroughly imbued
with the solemnity of the task, and of being hopeful of its results.
Of course it is his duty, not only from a diplomatic point of view but
almost from that of propriety, to speak in this way. One would hardly
dare to take part in official, nay more, secret, deliberations, and then
make light of them in a drawing-room conversation. Only to Baron von
Stengel did it happen to be sent to a Conference the object of which he
had shortly before characterized as “a daydream.”... But apart from
diplomatic punctiliousness, you are instinctively aware when any one
speaks frankly and from conviction, and I get the impression that Count
Nigra is going to work earnestly and zealously for the cause.
May 24 D’après les ordres de
Sa Majesté _la Reine_
Le Maréchal de la Cour a l’honneur d’inviter
Monsieur le Baron, Madame la Baronne Berthe Suttner
née Comtesse Kinsky, et Mademoiselle de Suttner[32]
à une Soirée au Palais
Mercredi le 24 Mai à 9½ heures
en Gala
One court function is like another: the long line of carriages which
drive in _à la file_ through the palace gates; the broad, covered steps
adorned with flowers, where the liveried lackeys stand on either side
and with dumb show indicate the way; the lofty, gilded drawing-rooms
with polished parqueted floors; the numberless uniforms and gala court
costumes of the men, the trailing light robes of the ladies, who are
adorned with diamonds, flowers, and heron plumes; the atmosphere full of
excitement and expectation.
The first halls through which we pass are rather empty; we are shown by
the master of ceremonies through a vast, half-filled room, and farther
still into a salon which is quite densely crowded. Here people are
standing almost tête-à-tête. Nods of recognition and greetings are
exchanged; there is lively conversation. Some one remarks that it is
different at the English court. There the appearance of the Queen is
awaited in religious silence.
A half hour elapses. In the adjoining drawing-room the guests take their
places round the center, which is left vacant. These are the diplomats
and their wives, for whom their majesties will hold court. The Chinaman
and his wife again make the most striking appearance in this circle.
They are in silken robes with rich embroidery of flowers, but Mrs. Yang
wears for the adornment of her head only the usual paper flowers hanging
down over her temples.
“Leurs Majestés les Reines!”
A lane is made in the circle and in come Queen Wilhelmina and Queen Emma
surrounded by their courtiers. Both are in white. A white veil flows
down from the Queen mother’s diadem. The girl Queen wears the broad band
of the Order of Catherine, which this day was conferred upon her by Herr
von Staal in the name of the Tsar.
The circle is completed. The Queen stands for a moment before each lady
and gentleman, bows, speaks a few words, bows again, and passes on.
After this diplomatic court is over, the other presentations are made.
Frau von Okoliczany leads me up to her Majesty and calls me by name.
A brief conversation in French ensues. The young Queen, graciously
smiling, asks me, just as she probably asks most of the others, if this
is the first time I have ever visited The Hague and how I like it. I
include in my reply the observation that my sojourn in Holland is made
particularly happy by the greatness of the cause that brought me there.
The gracious little sovereign nods at that but says nothing.
I was presented also to Queen Emma by our ambassador’s wife.
After the two royal women have spoken with all present, the whole
company withdraws into a third salon, an enormous room, probably the
ballroom, where a long table, covered with flowers, fruits, cold dishes,
tea, and other liquid refreshments, stands along one side, while near
the other are little round tables at which the guests may sit. An
orchestra in the gallery plays various concert pieces. As I listened I
was surprised to hear the intermezzo from _Cavalleria Rusticana_.
But not much attention is given to the music. Ear and eye and mind are
occupied with other things. Did I begin by saying that this court
function was like all others? That was wrong. This is a court function
such as has never been seen before since courts began,—a court function
which only a year ago, if prophesied, would have been laughed to scorn
as the wildest freak of the imagination.
“Baroness, the Minister of War desires to be presented to you.”
Then again,—“Gracious lady, permit me to introduce myself; my name is
Kramer, Secretary in the Ministry of War, and I am eager to tell you
that the ideal for which you stand in your novel I have been cherishing
in silence for two and thirty years, and now I am heartily rejoiced to
see its accomplishment drawing nearer.”
I had a long conversation with Lu Tseng-Tsiang, Secretary of the Chinese
Embassy in St. Petersburg.
“For us Chinese especially,” he remarked, “the attainment of the object
set by the Conference would be most highly desirable, for we are
particularly threatened by the most serious dangers of the European
policy of force.”
Herr von Staal talks with me and Herr von Descamps about Johann von
Bloch and his book. “C’est un homme remarquable,” he observes. “He wants
to prove that peace is no longer a Utopia, but that, in the present
state of arms and armies, it is Utopia for civilized nations to wage
war. And,” adds the Russian diplomat, “he may be right.”
May 25. A card is brought me, announcing the Earl of Aberdeen. I have
been for some time in correspondence with Lady Isabel Aberdeen, who is
to preside at the forthcoming Congress of Women in London.
The earl, formerly Governor of Canada,—still a young man of tall,
slender figure, with a short, black beard,—brings me greetings from his
wife. He tells me that he has been taking an active part in the great
campaign of meetings organized by Stead, and has spoken at the
gatherings. Charles Richet joins us, also a few German newspaper
correspondents, who hitherto have heard and written only things
derogatory to the cause of peace; they lay stress especially on the
principle that the only guaranty for peace lies in the thorough armament
of Germany, since all the other nations are hungry for war. It was a
great satisfaction to me that they could hear the Frenchman and the
Englishman defend the cause in perfect unanimity and with the most
powerful arguments. At the same time, these two men are no “obscure
cranks,” but one of them is among the highest dignitaries of the British
Empire and the other is one of the most distinguished savants of the
University of Paris.
In the afternoon, at the reception at the Russian Embassy, we meet Sir
Julian Pauncefote. He is seventy-one years old, but of robust physique;
his head and beard are already white, his beard cut in Austrian style
with the chin shaven; figure tall and slender; expression of face
friendly and noble. Just as services rendered on the battlefield justify
promotion to a superior command in a campaign of war, so distinguished
deeds in behalf of peace give a suitable title to appointment as a
delegate to this Conference. Sir Julian in his diplomatic career has to
his credit two great victories in the campaign of peace.
He was ambassador in Washington when Cleveland’s message on the
Venezuela question startled the world, and everywhere the tidings flew
that war between the United States and England was unavoidable. If a
Chamberlain had been in his place at that post, possibly matters might
have gone to hostilities. Sir Julian was able to conduct affairs in such
a calm and conciliatory tone that the matter was submitted to the court
of arbitration which, at this very moment, under the chairmanship of
Professor von Martens, is deliberating on it in Paris. Secondly, Sir
Julian is the man who, together with the United States Secretary of
State Olney, on the eleventh of January, 1899, signed the famous
arbitration treaty between America and Great Britain—the first treaty of
the sort that was ever drawn up. He is not responsible for the fact that
the ratification which had to ensue failed by three votes of the
requisite two-thirds majority.
Just as Dr. White had told us a few days before of the plan of the
Americans, so now Sir Julian assures us that his delegation, too, will
come out with a definite proposal in the third committee (that on
arbitration). He cherishes the strongest hopes of a positive result. I
bring the conversation to the stillborn Anglo-American treaty. He
replies that the matter will certainly be taken up again. “What does not
succeed on the first throw, my dear Baroness, succeeds on the second or
the third.”
In the evening a party at the house of the Queen’s head chamberlain.
Again make the acquaintance of many great people, among them
distinguished “foreigners.” The German delegation is the only one from
which no one does me the honor of greeting me. Count Münster treats me
as if I were a rattlebrain. When Professor Stengel spoke in his pamphlet
of the “comical persons” of the peace movement, from whose grotesque
behavior and ideas he could not sufficiently warn people, he evidently
included me in the number.
May 26. Bloch has conceived the idea of having a series of lectures to
which the public shall be invited. No other place, no other opportunity,
is so well suited for representing the “Utopia of War.” The documentary
and statistic-bolstered facts and conclusions which these lectures will
contain must be of especial interest, he says, to the military
delegates. My Own and I are assisting him in his arrangements, going
round with him in search of halls, giving orders, and the like.
A visit from the correspondent of the _Frankfurter Zeitung_. He has just
come from Herr von Stengel, who assured the reporter that he had
protested only against the excrescences of the peace movement (well,
yes, the comical persons),—that, nevertheless, as a delegate he should
do his best to help the cause along. Very good!
The correspondents of _Figaro_ and of the _Écho de Paris_ interview me.
Mr. Leveson-Gower, Secretary of the British Embassy, in behalf of the
_North American Review_ asks me to furnish an article on the movement
for the July number.
At three o’clock, in Hotel Vieux Doelen, on business. Meet Stead there.
“At last I see you,” I cried. “I always expect news from you, as you are
on such intimate terms with the delegates....”
“And you shall have it. More important and better news to-day than you
could have hoped. Here is a copy of the report which I have just sent to
the English newspapers. Read it and rejoice with me. The Conference has
done a wonderfully fine stroke of work.”
Here is an extract from the report:
PLENARY MEETING OF MAY 25
On the Order of the Day the subject of the third committee is
“Peaceable Adjustment of International Controversies.”
Herr von Staal introduces the Russian proposals as a basis for the
deliberations. It is a document consisting of eighteen articles
bearing the title, “Elements for the Elaboration of a Convention to be
concluded between the Powers taking Part in the Conference.” These
elements are (1) Good offices and mediation, (2) International
arbitration, (3) International commissions of inquiry.
Before the discussion of the articles begins, Sir Julian Pauncefote
rises in the name of his government and moves that a supplementary
article be added to the Russian plan, namely, the organization of a
permanent court of arbitration. In a brief but very impressive speech
the English delegate advocates this motion. He refers to the arguments
which are contained in his colleague Descamps’s “Address to the
Governments.”[33]
The words and the positive action of the chief of the English
delegates evidently cause a great sensation. As he ends his speech, a
solemn silence reigns. Many of the members look at one another in
sheer astonishment—many of them, perhaps, for the first time
appreciate that serious matters are to be treated, brought forward by
practical statesmen acting with sincerity.
Still greater is the surprise when Herr von Staal declares that the
Russian government also has in readiness a plan, in twenty-six
articles, for the establishment of a permanent court of arbitration.
Next comes Dr. White with the American proposition. In the
introduction it says: “The proposition shows the earnest desire of the
President of the United States that a permanent international tribunal
be established for the adjustment, by means of arbitration, of the
controversies between nations, and shows the readiness of the
President to assist in its establishment.” How radical this proposal
was in its intentions can be seen in the third and fourth articles.
“Article III. The tribunal is to be permanent, and ready at any moment
to undertake all cases that are submitted.
“Article IV. All controversies of every kind[34] shall be subject to
decision by mutual agreement, and every case submitted must be
accompanied by a pledge to abide by the decision of the tribunal.”
Indeed a fine stroke of work! So here at the very beginning are
positive, concrete plans in the name of four governments, proposed for
discussion and settlement. What a pity that such initiatives have not
come also from Austria, Germany, and France!
What a pity, too, that the reports of this session, together with the
exact texts of the propositions, are not instantly telegraphed into all
the four quarters of the world and published and discussed in all the
newspapers, so that some understanding of the great interests here
involved may begin to dawn upon the world, and it may be a witness and a
judge as to the way and manner, how and by whom, these interests are
here represented!
LIX
THE FIRST PEACE CONFERENCE AT THE HAGUE (_continued_)
J. Novikof · Reception at the Baroness Grovestins’s · Dr. Holls ·
Utterances of the nationalistic press · Excursion to Scheveningen · We
give a small dinner · Threatening letter to Herr von Staal · At Ten
Kate’s · Reports from Descamps · Beernaert on the Geneva Convention ·
Letter from Levysohn · Results in the matter of mediation · New
acquaintances · First of Bloch’s evening lectures: subject, “The
Development of Firearms” · Stead publishes a daily chronicle on the
Conference · Young Vasily’s album · Removal to Scheveningen · Baron
Pirquet brings a letter from the Interparliamentary Union of Brussels ·
Bloch’s second lecture: subject, “Mobilization” · My birthday · Dinner
at Okoliczany’s · Lieutenant Pichon · Letters from aëronauts ·
Discussion on the permanent tribunal · President Kruger and Sir Alfred
Milner · An amusing incident · Bloch’s third lecture: subject, “Naval
Warfare” · A conversation with Léon Bourgeois · His call to Paris ·
False reports and denials · What Emperor Nicholas said to Stead · Rumor
of the blocking of the arbitration business · Bloch’s final lecture:
subject, “The War of the Future”
May 28. Novikof arrived. What kind of a man do you think is the author
of sociological-philosophical works of seven hundred royal-octavo pages
each, with such titles as _Les luttes entre sociétés humaines et leurs
phases successives_, _La théorie organique des sociétés_, and the like?
I have read these books and this is the idea of the man which I had in
my mind: White bearded, with spectacles, in externalities a trifle
neglectful of appearances,—for if a person sticks all day long poring
over learned books and carries round socialistic problems in his head,
he can scarcely be expected to bother himself with the petty vanities of
the toilet; I imagined him very earnest but free from pedantry,—for his
style is fresh and sparkling,—and probably a bit gloomy, for if one
looks so searchingly into the motive powers of the world, has been
busied so incessantly with the phenomena of wretchedness and suffering,
a mood of melancholy might well be expected.
And the actual Novikof? An elegant man of the world, the jolliest of
companions, with far too youthful an appearance for his forty-nine
years; full of wit and _entrain_ in his conversation. I believe these
characteristics, charming as they are, injure him to a certain extent.
Any one who has not read his books would not suspect what a man he is,
would not take up the reading of them with that feeling of awe with
which one should bury one’s self in scientific works.
In the forenoon a reception at the house of the Baroness Grovestins.
Almost all the delegates are present. On the stairs I meet Count Münster
and his daughter. In the drawing-room the family of the Chinese delegate
forms the center of a numerous group. Madame Yang wears the selfsame
coiffure as at the court, the same paper flowers down her temples, and
though it is daytime she is painted like a mask, just as if she were
under a chandelier. And yet there is a touch of lovableness in her
pretty little face. Her gestures when she extends her hand are something
like a wooden doll’s; but then she shakes the hand of the other person
so heartily that it seems to mean, “For life, old comrade!” Her son of
twelve and her little daughter of eight, both also in Chinese costume,
accompany her, and they bear the brunt of the conversation, for they
speak both English and French.
These children will not be brought up as pure, unadulterated Chinese.
Behind their wall lies henceforth for them a piece of the world,—a
world, moreover, in which all nations are joined to treat together in
the name of universal peace; this idea will remain all their lives bound
up with the recollection of the sweetmeats which Fräulein von
Grovestins, with pretty speeches, offers them on a Delft plate.
Gradually all Chinese walls—there are others than that one which bounds
the Middle Kingdom—will fall. We already see them tottering.
Make new acquaintances, among them Dr. Holls, the second American
delegate.[35] He sits down with me on a small corner sofa. We talk
German together. He is by profession a lawyer in New York; comes from a
German-American family; has a tall, thick-set, angular figure, and his
eyebrows are outlined high on his forehead like circumflex accents. He
confirms the news that I have heard from Stead. He informs me that
public interest in the Conference is nowhere else so keen as in his own
country. Cablegrams are received every day; resolutions and letters of
sympathy come from all the states and from the most diverse circles.
Each one of these messages is gratefully acknowledged, and they not only
are instrumental in strengthening the American delegates but also make a
strong impression on the representatives of other countries, who cannot
fail to see in this interest displayed by the Republic of the West a
significant sign of the times. I express my regret that this information
does not immediately make the round of the European press.