The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-11
OUR NEW DIPLOMACY WINS.
DELEGATES TAKE FRONT
RANK IN THE PEA CE CONFERENCE.

To Their Firm stand for Honest Effort Will
he Due whatever Success tho Confer
enoe Hasa Frank Declaration which
Upset the Plans of European Delegates.
Special Gable D~pateA to TIE Sun.
THE HAGUE. June 1o.-The real work OF the
Peace Conference 10 now almost at crisis and
the difficulties OF the task grow greater daily.
The approval OF the concrete details OF the
PROPOSAL proves different thing from the ap-
proval Of the principle. Three weeks more
will probably be required before the delegates
are able to agree on any definite scheme OF ar
hitration. and even then the result Is certain
to be mcagre skeleton.
1t is time now to record the remarkab BILE
change which has taken place In the estima l.
ton in which the American delegates are held
10y all their colleagues. They were regarded
Mt first In some quarters as almost interlopers.
having no place In the discussion OF situation
which the Old World powers considered strictly
European. Their disposition was to treat the
Americans as a Qunntite ne9lioedble. This idea
suddenly disappeared almost at the outset OF
the deliberations. when the American delega-
tion said in effect:
Gentlemen. we come here to do business
We are not hero for diplomacy. but to discuss
in straightforward fashion the subjects con-
tanned in tho Cars rescript and with a sincere
purpose to reach a practical result. II we fail
10 accomplish that object We propose to inform
the world why we failed and place the respon-
sibitv for that failure exactly whore II be-
longs"
This was new dip omacy with a vengeance.
and it Is not an exaggeration to say that it
changed the whole situation at The Hague. 1t
Is perhaps invdious to intimate that the effect
OF the declaration was most noticeable upon
the German attitude. but the greatest OBJ
ktacle to any practical agreement. espe-
cially on the subject OF arbitration. dis
appeared after it was made. The Ameri-
can plain speaking had another important
effect. 1t won for the Am erican delegation con-
ldence in its good faith and practical com mon
sense which perhaps none other enjoys. SO in
q great degree no leader Of the conference. not
NJ. de Staal himself. is now so much sought for
hy his confreres OF all countries for consulta-
tion and advice as Ambassador White. and it
Is undeniable that he and Sir Julian Paunce-
iote have now the strongest personal influences
OF the six score OF representatives here as
sembled.
1t is necessary to repeat that the practical re-
suits OF the conference will be OF more ap-
parent than real Importance. but some prog
ress will certainly be made. and the credit for
that progress will be mainly due to the firm at
In the subcommittee OF the second section
OF the Peace conference to-day Major Gen. Sir
John Ardagh OF Great Britain declared that
Great Britain would never sign a convention
on the rules OF war. She would cooperate in
Ameliorating the rules OF war II possible. but
governments ought to be free as to adopting
them or not as might be convenient at the
moment OF war.
Clause of the Brussels declaration was
adopted.
The Arts Society gave a fete to the delegates
and the civil and military authorities this
evening. The affair was q great success.
Prof Martens OF Russia will proceed to Paris
Monday evening to attend the formal opening
of the Venezuelan conference. after which he
will return to The Hague. The American and
British members OF the Venezuelan conference
would not assent to his request for postpone
ment OF the opening Of the sittinGs Of that
body. hence his visit to Paris