Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-15

the Russian delegation wereI of course de-
sirous Of clarifying their ruier.
A Policy of 0bstrdction.
The appointment by Emperor William Of
Stengel, an avowed ana recorded advocate
of war, was much more seriously regarded
by the delegates of other countries than
they permitted the journalists to know
This appointment, with certain actions on
the part of the German delegates quickly
outlined the emperor's policy of obstruc-
ton. Ii by the time this article appears in
print some of the larger plans of the other
participating powers, fnotabiy the estab-
lishment of a permanent board of arbitra-
ton and 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.
Russia's attitude was, of course, intense
ly interesting. 1t is not likely that any of
the delegates believed entirely in the abso-
lutte sincerity of the Great White Car,
who, sitting in his palace in st. Peters
burg. had spoken through the mouth of
Count Moravieff, his prime minister. 1t
was impossible that the car should be-
lieve that all his lovely dreams of boundary
lines marked oy olive branches and loving
white doves as intercapitalian messengers
could be realized in truth.
Russia's Insincerity.
with all due respect Tor ana much dQ-
miration of the emperor of all the Rus
sias, it may be readily believed that his
letter to the nations, inviting the peace
conference, was induced much more by
desire to hide Russian grabs in China and
outrageous Russian oppression in Finland
to counterfeit the effect of Tolstoi's cam
paign in behalf of the Russian Quakers and
against compulsory military service, and to
generally hoodwink the worlds diplomat
let To hcio oh
the disarmament of armies and the cesSa-
ton of war. But Russian sleeves are large
and commodous and afford much room for
side issues. Up the sleeve of the car was
the realization that whether or not his
peace conference manifesto resulted in
bringing about the political ends which
have been mentioned, it could still scarcely
fail to rebound to his own credit. What
spectacle could be lovelier than that of this
reformed ruler in his new role of the uni
verSal peacemaker?
The sessions of the conference in the
Palace of the Woods were interesting to
watch because of their absolute lack of
formality. 1t might have been expected
that this gathering of diplomatists would
be the most formal of all bodies in its pro-
cedure but the choice of NJ de Stael, the
head of the Russian delegation, as presi-
dent made this impossible. De Stael is
weakened little old man, with a tendency
toward doddering on his legs. But despite
his age he has no tendency toward senlity
in his mind. He exhibited, however, some
unique and eccentric ideas of the duties of
a presiding officer. He opened the sessions
by striking his desk gentle tap with the
gavel. There no prayer, there were
opening exercises whatever, except this
wooden mallet'S blow. Then he sat down
and left the delegates to their own devices.
There was no getting the floor, there
were no parliamentary practices at all.
The delegates simply talked in French with
occasional lapse into their native
tongues At times under this system, the
conference became perfect Babel.
Adjourning the Sessions.
None of the sessions were lengthy, and
the way in which they were terminated was
quite as unique as the manner in which
they were opened. NJ. de Stael would quiet
ly slip out of his chair and go away. Some
times this merely meant that he wished
to speak to a delegate on theef1oor or visit
a committee room. But if it CHANGED mat
he thought that the delegatss had talked
enough, he did not return. aof course, it
was impossible for the delegates to know
if his absence was to be 'briefs8r permanent
without waiting for him to come back. If,
after waiting for him area soRable time De
Stael did not reappear, the delegates went
home.
Votes were taken in the simplest manner
possible. A motion having been read, De
Stael asked the delegates if they liked it.
Some of them said yes, some of them said
no. De Stael gave fairly close guess as
to the number on each side and the rate OF
the motion was decided. Such was the pro-
cedure OF the peace conference from the
beginning.
There was as little of ceremony about the
way in which the delegates We're treated
by the Dutch government as there was
about the way in which they conducted their
deliberations. One or two official recep-
tons and dinners o. which Holland
charming little queen played her part
pleasantly, as she ever does, constituted all
the official entertaining. There were few
exchanges of social visits between the del
egates.
Where Our Delegates Lived.
The quarters of the American delegation
at the Hotel Vieux-Doeien were elegant and
commodious. 1t is one of the most extra
ordinary structures in Europe and dates
back to about 1470. II is at the same time,
however, much better managed and
equipped than most European hotels. In
view Of the coming of the American delega-
ton its owner bought large ADJOINING res
idence which he turned over entirely to our
representatives, giving them their own en-
trance and at the same time connecting
them by means of new doors and new cor
ridors with the body of the motel proper
The rooms were furnished in the forid gold
and red which is likely to prevail wherever
a Dutchman thinks elegance is necessary
For some reason Seth Low did not take
advantage of these fine quarters, but went
alone to the Hotel Belle Vue, where Mrs.
Low joined him shortly after the sessions
of the conference began.
The complete apathy of the Dutch puDlc
concerning the doings and personality OF
the peace delegates was quite as surprising
as their own lack of ceremony in conduct
ing the conference. Only one delegate went
habitually to the sessions of the conference
in uniform, and he, strangely enough, was
Capt. Crozier the American attache. L be-
lieve, although L am not certain, that some
regulation of the service made it necessary
for him to wear the sober and impressive
uniform of the United States army at the
sessions of the conferences. The car sent
a special photographer to The Hague for
the purpose of making pictures of the del
egates for a great album to be kept in the
Winter Palace at st. Petersburg. When
this photographer was at work the foreign
delegates made bright spots of color in
the court yard of the VieuX-Doelen. Char
acteristic uniforms, covered with decora-
tons nd bedecked with gold lace, appeared
by the Dozen but the moment the pho
tographer went away the informal dress
which was worn at the sessions of the con-
ference was Immediately resumed. The only
decorations indicating that great interna-
tional gathering was in session at The
Hague We're the dozen so of flags whose
gorgeous folds draped impressively against
the old red of the bricks in the Hotel VieuX-
Doelens front. They were the flags of the
delegations quartered there