Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-05-27
For Second Peace Confer :
ence at The Hague.
Ancient Castle Hall Of knights"
Is Being Fitted Up.
American Delegates Very Fortunate
With Hotel Accommodations.

The Hague, May 26.-The sittings of
the second peace conference will be
held in 18th century castle built for
the counts of Holland in the old days
when they, together with the bishops
OF Utrecht and the dukes of Guelders
ruled the low country. The romantic
House III the woods" the former royal
villa in the Haagsche forest, in the
! orange saloon Of which the original
| conference met in 1899, was found too
small to accommodate the delegates of
Z the 4G countries to be represented at
| the present conference and the Dutch
! government decided to fit up and place
| at the disposal of its distinguished
| guests the ancient castle latterly
| known as the Hall of Knights" Now,
on the very eve of the conference, the
work OF preparing the interior is only
being com leted. The Hall of knights
is a large, gloomy structure. of stone
and brick. situated in the heart of an
interesting, irregular pile of old, but
more modern buildings, which, taken
together form the BinnenhOf Fortress
Of the city. The Binnenhof is the most
historical spot in Holland, about it
clustering the memories of the S0-year
struggle which finally resulted in re-
lieving the Dutch of the Spanish yoke.
The building of the state general,
lying to the north is now used by the
upper Chamber Of the Dutch Parlia-
mcnt while the ball room of the Staat
holders residence to the south has be-
come the home of the Lower House.
The other buildings enclosing the
square are used by the various gov
amy nY,t I.y IL 10
of the Binnenhof is beautiful arti-
fetal lake called the "Vyver," famous
for its swans. The Hall of Knights
stands in the center Of a paved court.
formed by the surrounding buildings,
and is reached through half a dozen
picturesque portals. over which are
chisclled the arms of the counts of Hol-
land. Today the old building looks
more like an ancient church rescued
as it was falling into decay
Begun about 1910 by Count William
H. afterward elected Emperor Of Ger
many, the building was extended by
his son Floris. who used it as hunt
ing palace. The interior consists Of a
single enormous hall, occupying the
entire space within the church-lke
structure in front, and series of
smaller halls and rooms in the rear.
The large hall was the great bar
quoting room of the counts and their
knights when they made merry here
during their hunting expeditions to the
North Sea marshes. 1t is here that the
plenary sessions Of the conference will
be held.
For the conference electric bulbs,
hanging from hammer beams have
the dim light from the high stained
glass windows. The desks for the dele
gates, arranged like pews in a church
and flanked on either side by two lat
eral rows. are covered with green baize
and each has a single pewter ink well
set in the right hand corner. In front
Is a low rostrum for the presiding Of
ficer with the desks of the secretaries
arranged behind In the form of a semi
circle The whole object, apparently,
is to bring the delegates as close to-
gether as possible Within the city
proper. there Il only one hotel. fitted
for entertainment of the distinguished
diplomats. This Is the Hotel Des
Indies, splendidly appointed, but not
large. Here will be quartered the
American. English, japanese, Italian,
Spanish Chinese and Brazilian delega-
tons The Americans, through the
promptness OF United States Minister
Hill. have obtained the pick of the
apartments. practically the entire first
floor having been reserved for them.
The Americans alone will have their
chancellory In the hotel, the other dele
cations housed there having been COM
PEELED owing to lack of room, to estab-
lish chancelories outside. There are
several minor hotels, in which some of
the representatives of the lesser pow
ers will find accommodation.