New-York tribune., 1907-06-30
DIPLOMATIC AMENITIES
H School of Manners Men
and ZeaIOts.
The Hague. June IL.

arbitration tribunal. The diplomatic corps was
| installed as permanent administrative coun-
| Gill; and was charged with the responsibility OF
taking charge of the lists of arbitrators and set
! ting the machine in operation whenever inter-
! national disputes were to be amicably adjudi-
Gated As every resident minister occupied q
more dignifed and useful position In conss-
quence of the arbitration court. it became OF ths
most serious diplomatic interest. Every point Of
procedure and etiquette was the subject Of re-
peated conferences cautiously and tactfully con-
Quoted. AS the complex mechanism for regulat-
ing and preserving the peace Of the world was
brought into use in four five cases, every cog
or wheel TeadjuSted and oiled with palms.
taking care. Diplomats in other capitals might
be scornful and cynical in their comments on
arbitration a means OF grace for the regen-
Grafton of a militant world, but ministers on
the ground took serious view Of the ad-
miniStrative council and the court, and OF them
selves as custodians Of moral order. In oths,
capital have the amenities of the profession been
cultivated with greater assiduity than at Tha
Hague. 1t has been centre OF international
action for pacific ends of civilization. and thu
diplomatists have been on their best behavior
in their relations one with another.
The first peace congress, styled by enthu.
siasts the Parliament Of Man. was moral show
ending through the cooperation OF the Arnerf-
can and British delegations in practical, con-
structive work. The second peace congress
opens as a school OF manners where interna-
tional usages are to be discussed In a spirit of
accommodation. The delegates have assembled
with a conviction that whether thew accon,-.
plish much little in practical work they
must remain at peace among themselves High
ly contentious subjects must either be avoided
or summed up in harmless platitudes; the linz
of least resistance must be sought. and every
body be on his guard against Overemphasis and
loud talk The American. British and Japanese
delegations massed at the Hotel des hides;
the Russians head another concentration camp
across the Workout: the German and French
flags are flying at Scheveningen. and the other
delegations are encamped here and there. Com
pIiments and calls exchanged; the prece-
dents of the first congress are followed. and eti-
quette Is the habit Of life among these citizens
of the world. In the course OF a few weeks thera
may be rivairies in leadership, a regroUping o.
powers and Jealousies caused by intrigues; but
for the moment manners make the diplomat,
nobody has deep convictions any subject.
and the delegations. with streamers Auttering,
idly drifting on summer sea.
Amiable among themselves, these worlds
citizens are embarrassed by the attentions Of
press men, whose business Il Is to find out whas
Is likely to happen Even those who are COM
mitted to full publicity for the general sessions
Of the congress restrain their inpattence With
difficulty when they meet correspondents -
every turn and IN imminent danger OF being
inveigled into premature talk Their irritation,
is natural when they have not made I'd ther
minds on any subject and do not know what
they will do. Some OF the most outspoken ad-
vocates OF publicity have turned around whsnl
forced to face cross-flre of questioning ana
have declared that the commissions must hays
absolute privacy; and this policy will probably
be adopted. although leakage from the cons,
ferences IS inevitable and the secret proceedings
will be Systematically reported. as was done as
the first peace congress. In f1r OF exaspera-
ton Sir Edward Fry IS sent for several Of tho
English correspondents and aStontshed them ny
treating them like schOolbOys and giving them
a lecture their professional duties and the
abuses of publicity. Admiral Sperry has re-
sented with equal acerbity intrusiOnS upon bis
rnediations and shown that quarterback man
ners are as high handed as IN the days OF Peter
Simple and 8Iidshipmap Easy. These have been
the most conspicuous offenders against tho
school of manners which The congress Is sup
posed TO represent. They 70 be noted as the
exceptions which prove the rule OF courtesy 10
members OF the press
Mr. John Hay when he was ambassador
abroad used 10 saw that he considered it one OF
his chief duties 10 give American correspondents
all the Information that could properly be
shared with them and to provide them with
cues for commenting intelligently public
events. That is the view taken by all the ex-
perienced diplomats now at The Hague, Men
liFe NJ. Bourgeois. Baron de Bebersten. " Ga
Martens NJ. TsudZuki. Sir Henry Howard. Lord
Reay, General Horace Porter and Mr.. David
Jayne Hill have difficulty in dealing with
correspondents They take them into their con-
fdenCe, treat them with refinement OF courtesy
and trust them implicitly: and their faith in
them is never misplaced. Delegates who brush
correspondents aside with inciviity. instruct
them brusuuey the details OF their occupa-
tion, crOsS-examine them with whimsical
humOr have much TO learn in the international
school of manners now open at The Hague.
Probably there will be a marked Improvement
in civillry when the commissions have fairly set
tied down to work and the trend OF the proceed
ings on various important subjects is disclosed.
The embarrassed delegates who are out OF
hUmOr with the inQuisitive correspondents have
another grievance This IS the carnival OF sent-
mentality conducted by outsiders with the
aVowGd design of influencing the congress and
forcing II 10 attempt what IS impossible. Ar.
Stead Is here and IS issuing q daily newspaper IN
the interest OF internationalsrn and peace: and
while the congress is in session there will be 8
series of public meetings. attended by enthuSi-
asts from America, England and the Continent
These demonstrations OF zeal and interest offend
the more conservative members OF the congress.
who prefer to be left TO themselves and to be
released from all external pressure They de-
scribe themselves as practical diplomaIists. who
do not wish 10 be interrupted in their business
by marplots. faddists and fanatics. They
cuse Mr.. Stead Of meddlesome activity in at
tempting To manage the congress as an OUT
slider for selfish qualification; but that can
hardly be considered fair criticism from the
school of manners. Mr.. Stead may not always
be discreet in his methods and utterances. but
he is at least high minded and sincere and tries
To promote the success Of great movements,
although he often does more harm than SOod-
y congress of nations summoned for the pur-
pose of amending the codes and practices or
war and considering the real conditions or ma
tional peace cannot have too much moral sup
mort Those who cannot get under the main
tent ought 10 be allowed to find what comfort
tbe,, can in the sideshows; and Mr.. Stead and
"a. eco, ,,v-v{sr do Ia 4 al