New-York tribune., 1904-10-16
rae PALACE OF PEACE
Strange Apathy at the Hague Be
fore a Golden Opportunity.
The Hague. October

IN Keeps tight grip upon the hard cash. It
-. a pr!ncely gift for unique structure
9.ls,s cs Peace-and It was made without re-
..-s.scus OF conditions. Mr.. Carnegie might
-. ,sst the administrative council OF the Per
--.,spt Court OF Arbitration in control OF the
- ar he might have imposed restrictions
-, fbe choice Of q site, or the character Of the
80 70 be adopted for the building He pre-
s,-,es 70 give the money outright TO the Dutch
..--.rurnent IN the confident expectation that it
s-,ula provide the best possible site for Palace
. p.scs and make all the arrangements for the
-...,sn OF stately and beautiful edIfce. where
=. arbitration court could have permanent
-, sna International pariiaments be at liberty
), assemble n the highest interests OF civiliza-
-, ana humanity. Among his numerous bene-
s,esons II was perhaps the most conspicuous,
o. n appealed 20 mems .Tnaginations as gift
!, an races and nations. 90 inspire them with
80 that q millennium OF universal peace was
--i,p. and as his trustee he appointed the
,--vsrnuasnt OF the peace loving. artistic little
o,vntry where the first peace conference had
Assn held ana the arbitration tribunal estab-
usssa. II was a princely gift, which ought 10
b.vs besn accepted with nobility OF mind and
-,sb high sense OF the dignity and RESPONSE
,.1,,v AZ the trust The best site Il The Hague
,uvbt 10 have been selected by q commission OF
,-+is+s and architects and set apart for the
palace OF Peaos An international competition
,rvb, 70 have been ordered FOR the most beaut:-
evI and harmonious design for this unique Par
I,ameut House of the rights of man 1t was a
,--ovn,nQ opportunity for the display OF great
rational traits; but Il has been met Win strange
apathy and l!ttleness of mind
About eighteen months have passed since the
,,onsv was received n trust for the good of the
,o-ls ane Il Still lies i6le In the State treasury.
~ Dasienai government has not taken effective
-,...,,rss sor the acquisition OF a suitable site
,oy shown any interest n the projected ediace-
The Municipal Council os The Hague. by vote
NJ IS 70 L has vetoed q proposal for sanctioning
a building site II the Bosch, the capitals beau
tteul Measure ground No public meetings have
heen held n support oS any movement for Sc
curing the cooperation OF national and munici-
pal authorities IN Carrying cut the wishes OF thu
h~oaaminded benefactor. 30 member OF the
,ovsrment has taken hearty. personal In
tsrest II this monument 70 peace; and the only
voces advocating immediate action by the Mu-
ric,paI Council have been those OF Socialists.
indignant rsnonstrances against cutting down
shs trees q the Bosch have been accompanied
by sarcasns and sneers directed against Mr..
Caasgiss bsnesactton So influential q court
c1elsl az AGr s. de Ranisz master ef the Queen
mothers househole has baked about profaning
Is Bosch with sn unzightly structure. and sug-
rufeS that 9 would be better % give back the
ElE0QOO0 20 the American millionaire rather
uzn Ezc-1dce Q few hectares OF trses- &r. Van
Euylen ven NieVell cf the Municipal Council has
uos-ssy described The money grant "a white
ssphGat" which is only a source OF trouble
saa annoyance, end expressed regret that Il
hse ever been received Protests headed by
artists Gae directed against the PROCLAMATION OF
the sacred wood have been numerOusly signed
b. stizsna and there has been scant evidence
a Eupathy with the International peace move-
nsnt nS Of appreciation OF Mr. Carnegie's gen
eroEty. Instead of welcoming q gift which
would enable them 70 build a stately palace n
The oapifal and 20 set up II the Netherlands
shrine for the lovers % peace and the friends of
progress Throughout; the world legislators ooUn-
eilors. court oficiAls and citizens have Wed one
with another IN displaying indifference TO the na-
tOnai trust undertaken when the money was
paid into the treasury s!ghteen months ago.
HunoT is not g characteristic Dutch trait
Otherwise there would be CLEANS OF conscious
ness that The Hague 10 Il imminent danger OF
making itself the laughing stock OF the Euro
pean capitals.
The nFst site about which there was any dis
eussion was virtually proposed by the British
Minister. Sir Henry Howard. II was at the back
of the Aalisvele. OF TIE edge oF the Bosch. This
parade ground has been scratched and slightly
cE1gursd By a diagonal bicycle path but Il re-
mains q broad. grassy level bordered on the
nees By HVsnues % trees ana with a background
q woodland behind II The palace could be
oah On the crossToad behind this parade
Ground. and an architect OF genius would have
Nssn Inspired By the beauty OF the SITE with its
environment of peaceful woodland and wide ex-
psnse OF tuTf This plan was opposed on the
ground that II involved invasion Of the wood and
obstruction OF & few ene trees. The next site
1oSlaaly proposed BY member OF the govern
I-ent was u the KoekEmp. the east side OF
me main roadway OF the Bosch There IS
Open space there corresponding 20 the Malieveld,
DaL not more than half as large and IN the
ualeEets behind Il, where there were tool houses.
user sheds and keepers lodges. II was suggested
taN Few trees could be spared and a site
e.eareo Tor the Palace OF Peace. While not so
pietureSque as the spot behind the Mhleveid. It
soais have been an admirable site on Crown
iAaos IN close proximity 70 the Lange Workout.
q residential quarter for the dipIomatists- As
tae Bosch vas under municipal control the plan
-s referred to the council and rejected. with
oly four dissenting voices. There were shril
o0'er1es against the construction OF the palace
= ne historic wood as an act OF vandalism;
e's we're inlpass!oned appeals for the salvation
ne Bosch q sacred Inheritance from
VlFluous foresathers. ard there were gloomy vati-
eniaoons over the frightsul possibilities OF gar
'I French architecture among the leefy soil
saoeA The edict has apparently been issued
1~t ne Bosch Is tnv1olable against the intrigues
= marauding diplomats and desDoiIing million
~Ies The trees are not % be cut down. the
1seF summing themselves "a the paddock are not
= os disturbed, and the range for the American
"hite elephant" must be measured on on
vacant Zorgvlist land well out toward Scheve-