The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-10-07
EVENTS At THE HAGUE
How Peace Conference Delegates
Employ Their Leisure Tina.
INFLUENCE OF AMERICANS.

Only Delegation on Which Tee Prosi-
dsneiss Of Honor Have Bosa cOa.
Decentralization c1Ainam@a When
at Liberty Perfect ThsmsslVss In o.
OldentaI Languages.
Whatever may be the GlvarRanso q
opinion ON the burning Qu@mGioma Of
the hour among the delegates to Ths
Hague peace conferences. thar are
unanimous In their opinion about Tho
Hague. They think II most admirably
chosen as the place Of meeting for ths
parliament Of nations. Tha admaratioa
expressed for Hollands garden city"
ls universal, writes W. J. L. Klahl, the
special correspondent OF tho Chicago
News at The Hague.
Nowhere else are such advantages q
seaside and woodland scenery, ancient
buildings and historical associations 20
Of the conference, the Ridderzaal, or
hall Of the knights, is praised for tn
architectural worth and for the con-
sistent way In which II was restored
and fitted for modern usa. Especially
tho japanese delegation expressed
themselves as delighted with this an
cient Gothic structure and It's har.
monious furnishings. Such praise from
the admitted oriental leaders Of art Il
not to be counted lightly.
Every hour which In not taken up by
official duties the delegates spend II
Schefeningen, the seaside suburb 81
The Hague. Indeed. several delega.
tons have taken up their headquArterl
there the American and the French
delegations and part Of the German
and italian delegations. Several other
are contemplating a move from Ths
Hague to Schevenlngen. II You wish
to speak to a delegate, you have to b
at his hotel quite early In the morning
for otherwise he Ii or to the seaside
Indeed, perhaps It would be best TO AZ
range for interviews on the sands
where the delegates sit In quaint, hood
ed, wickerwork chairs aud enjoy tn
sea breezes while discussing the situa
tioL in a very unofficial manner.
The first days after their arrival werl
fully occupied in official visits and II
making and renewing one another's &C
qualntance.
A most amicable tone prevails amonl
the delegates. If the same sparit cOul(
be diffused smong the nations whlcl
tbey represent. there would be no neet
of a peace conference. 1t IL but nat
ural that the representatives Of tn
great world powers, among which an
reckoned the United States and japan
should have a prcponderant influence
but several of the smaller states
among them Holland, Belgium and tn
Argentine Republic, through the grsa
ability of their representatives, cas-
great weight In tie scale.
1t is interesting to contrast the atti
tude Of the expectant effacement Of ia
pan in 1899 with its great influence
ghe present conference. Japan has cen
= very strong deputatlOn both az RI
CARDS numbers and diplomatic ability.
Another country which Ia coming 3
the fore Is China. II is also ably repre-
sented. THE awakening Of China"
graphically illustrated BY the vaFiou
members Of Its delegation. who do no
use their free time in diversions. bu
take the exceptional opportunity .
perfect themselves In the languages Q
; the Occldent, among which Engiiah
: their frst object. One Of the Chimes
, delegates spends two hO1rs ever
! morning in the study Of the Englia
, language, which he still speaks rathS
: Imperfectly, but very huentlN he SAID
with much gIee, During the open sit
] ting Of the conference We Chinama
;. sat so tight. so tight we could Scareet
: move, because places had besn rossrV
ed for only MAE, and twelve came"
! The Chinese and japanese also max
excursions here and there ever "a
country to study Dutch institution
waterways and harbors.
As II was President Roosevelt IN
really took the initiative In calling ii
peace conference, II II not 70 BE- NEoG
dered at that the United States ha
mighty influence In the ConfsEsnc'
How great this influence has bacom
can be judged from the fact tAnE Ii
American delegation 10 the only On@ q
which two presideneios Of h0nOr hav
been conferred.