Arizona republican., 1899-11-05

tary of the delegation He was the
only member of the delegation who was
i lawyer. His knowledge of interna-
tional law and of the German language.
which he speaks as fiuently as English.
made him one OF the most useful mem
bers of the delegation. The fact that
he is OF German parentage did not less
en- his influence with the German dele
cation. who held him in high esteem.
Captain Alfred T Mahan, another
member of the delegation. is recognized
throughout the world as possibly the
greatest living authority in matters re-
lating to naval affairs. Seth Low.
president of Columbia university. had
experience in public life and added
strength to the commission. as did Cap
tain William Crozier, who is an expert
in military affairs. Stanford Newell.
the minister of the United States at
The Hague, was also a member of the
delegation. The representatives of the
United States compared favorably with
those Of other nations in ability. learn
ing and force of character They ex-
erted strong influence upon The con-
ference. The correspondent at The
Hague of the London Times paid Il
the American delegates were held by
the entire conference on account of the
manner in which they conci'iated con-
flicting views and smoothed away fric-
ton.
Mexico. China and Spain are not re-
garded as having influenced the con-
ference in any degree. The Russian
delegation was criticized as not having
-,
discussion of the matters coming be
fore the conference and as not being
qualified to hold their own in debate.
Their perfect sincerity of purpose and
their devotion to the cause for which
the conference was convened are con-
coded by those who have any intelli-
gent knowledge Of the proceedings. The
Russian delegation was made up of
men of ability and they commanded
genuine respect. NJ. de Staal, the head
of the Russian delegation. is the am
bassador at London and has had L
wide diplomatic experience. Professor
Martens. another of Russia's represent
tatives at the conference. is a man OF
great learning and of the highest
standing throughout Europe. He was
the president of the arbitration board
which met a. Paris 70 decide the bound
airy dispute between Great Britain and
Venezuela. N. DescamI,. a member of
the Belgian commission. is a man Of
large ability and achieved 4 great po-
sition at the conference. Sir Julian
W. Pauncefote. the hsad of the British
delegation. is we'll known throughout
the United States, having been the am
basssdor of his country at Washington
MI Bourgeois of the French delegation
is recognized as one of the most bril-
liant members of the conference and
won a foremost place in it by his in
cisive and lucid oratory. He is regard
cd by many as the man of the confer
ence."
BY order of the car Count MurIvieff.
the head of the Russian foreign office.
on August 81. 1895 handed to all the
foreign representatives accredited to
the court of St. Petersburg a cOmmuni-
cation proposing d conference on disar-
mament. which he declared would be,
by the help of God. a. happy Dresase
for the century which is about to open.
This was followed in January by a cir
cuIar Indicating the subjects upon
which the car desired that an under
standing should be arrived at by the
powers.
These were in the order named:
l. The arrest and reduction of arma-
nents.
. The humanizing of war. which was
to be accomplished in part by multi
plying the restrictions placed by the
Brussels conference of 1874 on the brat
tally of warfare and by applying to
naval warfare the stiDulatiOuS of the
Geneva convention of 1864.
3. An argument for the settlement
Of international differences by interna-
tionaI mediation and arbitration.
The conference assembled in the Hail
of Orange in the Huisch Bosch. or the
House of the Woods. which is one Of
the palaces of Queen Wilhelmina. 1t
was built in 1917 and took its name
from the picturesque park surrounding
it. which is of unsurpassed beauty
The Hall of Orange is the most sump-
tuous apartment in the palace. and its
name and beautiful decorations are in