The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-16

their batteries was freely commented on
The possibility that l myself might be
called as a witness before one of the sub
committees was early suggested by two
members of enc of the European delegd-
lions The American delega ton, however
Immediately saw the inadvisabiiity of in
PRODUCING any such note of discord into the
the conference, and it was decided in con-
sequence, TO avoid action of any kind
along these lines. although the delegates
all realized the necessity of some compar-
atiVely immediate congress at which these
matters could be discussed. This it was
that gave rise TO the announcement that
a second Geneva conference would be one
Of the prompt results of the congress at
The Hague.
The work of the American delegates
was never finished 1t began with the
rising of the sun and ceased not with its
going down. Ii was the impression of
many delegates, as well as laymen, before
the conference began, that the gathering
would be junket, but the preponderance
of serious design among the American,
English and Russian delegates became
instantly apparent when the conference
met. The English and American delegates
had evidently gone to The Hague with the
digniffed and earnest intention of accom-
plishing something along the lines which
the Gar had laid down. The German
delegation had as evidently gone there
with the firm intention or preventing any
useful work in these directions The
Russian delegation was, of course, desir-
Gus of clarifying their ruler.
The appointment by Emperor William
of Stengel, an ayowed and recorded ad-
vocate of war, was much more seriously
regarded by the delegates of other coun-
tries than they permitted the journalists
to know. This appointment, with certain
actions on the part of the German dele
gates, quickly outlined the Emperor
policy of obstruction. II by the time this
article appears in print some of the larger
plans of the other participating powers.
notably the establishment of permanent
board of arbitration ana mediation, have
not been finally adopted, it will have been
purely because of Germany's hindrance.
The plans of no delegation were more
frequently interfered with by Germany
than those of the able gentlemen who
represented the United States.
Russias attitude was, of course, in
tensely interesting. 1t is not likely that
any of the delegates believed entirely in
the absolute sincerity of the Great White
Car, who, sitting in his palace in st.
Petersburg, had spoken through the
mouth of Count Muravieff, his prime min
lister. 1t was impossible that the Car
should believe that all his lovely dreams
of boundary lines marked by olive
branches and loving white doves as in
tercapltalian messengers could be realized
in truth.
With all due respects for, and much adj
miration of the Emperor of all the Rus
sias, 1t may be readily believed that his
letter to the nations, inviting the peace
conference, was induced much more by a
desire to hide Russian grabs in China
and outrageous Russian oppression in Fin
land; to counteract the effect of TolstoFs
campaign in behalf of the Russian quak-
ers and against compulsory military serv-
ice, and to generally hoodwink the worlds
diplomatists and politicians, than to bring
about the disarmament of armies and the
cessation of war. But Russian sleeves are
large and commodious and afford much
room for side issues. Up the sleeve or
the Gar was the realization that whether
or hot his peace conference manifesto re-
suited in bringing about the political ends
which have been mentioned, IL could still
scarcely fail to rebound TO mis- own credit.
What spectacle could be loveier than
that of this reformed ruler in his new
role Of the universal peacemaker?
The sessions of the conference in the
Palace of the Woods were interesting 10
watch, because of their absolute lack of
Formally. II might have been expected
that this gathering Of diplomatists would
De the most formal of all bodies in its
procedure, but The choice of NJ. de Stael.
the head of the Russian delegation as
president, made this impossible. De Stael
is a weakened little old man. with a ten
deEcy towards doddering on his legs. But
despite his age, he has no tendency to-
wards senlity in his mind. He exhibited
however, some unique and eccentric ideas
of the duties Of a presiding officer He
opened the session by striking his desk a
gentle tap with the gavel There was no
prayer, there were no opening exercises
whatever except this wooden malets
blow. Then he sat down and left the dele
gates 10 their own devices. There was
no getting the floor" there were no par
liamentary practices at all The delegates
simply talked IN French with an occasional
lapse into their native tongues. At times, !