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part05+-第67部分
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an evident feeling of disappointment; which was presently voiced
by Sir Julian Pauncefote; who; in the sort of plain; dogged way
of a man who does not purpose to lose what he came for; presented
a resolution looking definitely to the establishment; here and
now; of an international tribunal of arbitration。 After some
discussion; the whole was referred to a subcommittee; to put this
and any other proposals submitted into shape for discussion by
the main committee。 In the course of the morning the American
delegation received an answer to its telegram to the State
Department; which was all that could be desired; since it left us
virtually free to take the course which circumstances might
authorize; in view of the main object to be attained。 But it came
too late to enable us to elaborate a plan for the meeting above
referred to; and I obtained permission from the president; M。
Leon Bourgeois; to defer the presentation of our scheme until
about the middle of next week。
Just before the session of the main committee; at which the
Russian plan was received; I had a long and very interesting talk
with Mr。 van Karnebeek; one of the leading statesmen of the
Netherlands; a former minister of foreign affairs; and the
present chief of the Dutch delegation in the conference。 He seems
clear…headed and farsighted; and his belief is that the
conference will really do something of value for arbitration。 He
says that men who arrived here apparently indifferent have now
become interested; and that amour propre; if nothing else; will
lead them to elaborate something likely to be useful。 He went at
considerable length into the value of an international tribunal;
even if it does nothing more than keep nations mindful of the
fact that there is some way; other than war; of settling
disputes。
A delegate also informed me that in talking with M。 de Staal the
latter declared that in his opinion the present conference is
only the first of a series; and that it is quite likely that
another will be held next winter or next spring。
In the evening I made the acquaintance of Mr。 Marshall; a
newspaper correspondent; who is here preparing some magazine
articles on The Hague and the conference。 He is a very
interesting man on various accounts; and especially at present;
since he has but just returned from the Cuban campaign; where he
was fearfully wounded; receiving two shots which carried away
parts of the vertebral column; a bullet being left in his body。
He seems very cheerful; though obliged to get about on crutches。
May 27。
In the morning; calls from various people urging all kinds of
schemes for arbitration and various other good things for the
human race; including considerable advantages; in many cases; for
themselves。
Best of all; by far; was John Bellows of Gloucester; our old
Quaker friend at St。 Petersburg; whom I was exceedingly glad to
take by the hand: he; at least; is a thoroughly good
mansincere; honest; earnest; and blessed with good sense。
The number of documents; printed and written; coming in upon us
is still enormous。 Many are virtually sermons displaying the
evils of war; the blessings of peace; and the necessity of
falling back upon the Bible。 Considering the fact that our
earlier sacred books indicate approval by the Almighty of some of
the most bloodthirsty peoples and most cruel wars ever known;
such a recommendation seems lacking in 〃actuality。〃
This morning we had another visit from Sir Julian Pauncefote;
president of the British delegation; and discussed with him an
amalgamation of the Russian; British; and American proposals for
an arbitration tribunal。 He finds himself; as we all do;
agreeably surprised by the Russian document; which; inadequate as
it is; shows ability in devising a permanent scheme both for
mediation and arbitration。
During the day President Low; who had been asked by our
delegation to bring the various proposals agreed to by us into
definite shape; made his report; it was thoroughly well done;
and; with some slight changes; was adopted as the basis for our
final project of an arbitration scheme。 We are all to meet on
Monday; the 29th; for a study of it。
In the evening to the concert given to the conference by the
burgomaster and city council。 It was very fine; and the audience
was large and brilliant。 There was music by Tschaikovsky; Grieg;
and Wagner; some of which was good; but most of it seemed to me
noisy and tending nowhither; happily; in the midst of it came two
noble pieces; one by Beethoven and the other by Mozart; which
gave a delightful relief。
May 28。
Drove with Dr。 Holls to Delft; five miles; and attended service
at the 〃New Church。〃 The building was noble; but the service
seemed very crude and dismal; nearly the whole of it consisting
of two long sermons separated by hymns; and all unspeakably
dreary。
Afterward we saw the tombs of William of Orange and Grotius; and
they stirred many thoughts。 I visited them first nearly forty
years ago; with three persons very dear to me; all of whom are
now passed away。 More than ever it is clear to me that of all
books ever writtennot claiming divine inspirationthe great
work of Grotius on 〃War and Peace〃 has been of most benefit to
mankind。 Our work here; at the end of the nineteenth century; is
the direct result of his; at the beginning of the seventeenth。
Afterward to the Prinzenhof; visiting the place where William of
Orange was assassinated。 Was glad to see the new statue of
Grotius in front of the church where he lies buried。
May 29。
In the morning President Low and myself walked; and talked over
various proposals for arbitration; especially our own。 It looks
much as if we can amalgamate the Russian; British; and original
American plans into a good arrangement for a tribunal。 We also
discussed a scheme for the selection; by disagreeing nations; of
〃seconding powers;〃 who; before the beginning of hostilities; or
even after; shall attempt to settle difficulties between powers;
or; if unsuccessful; to stop them as soon after war begins as the
honor of the nations concerned may allow。 The Germans greatly
favor this plan; since it resembles their tribunal of honor
(Ehrengericht); it was originally suggested to us by our
secretary; Dr。 Holls。
In the evening; at six; the American delegation met。 We had
before us type…written copies of our whole arbitration project as
elaborated in our previous sessions; and sundry changes having
been made; most of them verbal; the whole; after considerable
discussion; was adopted。
At ten I left; via Hook of Holland and Harwich; for London;
arriving about ten the next morning; and attending to various
matters of business。 It was fortunate for me that I could have
for this purpose an almost complete lull in our proceedings; the
first and second committees of the conference being at work on
technical matters; and the third not meeting until next Monday。
In the evening I went to the Lyceum Theatre; saw Henry Irving and
Ellen Terry in Sardou's 〃Robespierre;〃 and for the first time in
my life was woefully disappointed in them。 The play is wretchedly
conceived; and it amazes me that Sardou; who wrote 〃Thermidor;〃
which is as admirable as 〃Robespierre〃 is miserable could ever
have attached his name to such a piece。
For the wretchedness of its form there is; no doubt; some excuse
in the fact that it has been done into English; and doubtless
cut; pieced; and altered to suit the Lyceum audiences; but when
one compares the conspiracy part of it with a properly conceived
drama in which a conspiracy is developed; like Schiller's
〃Fiesco;〃 the difference is enormously in favor of the latter。 As
literature the play in its English dress is below contempt。
As to its historical contents; Sardou resorts to an expedient
which; although quite French in its character; brings the whole
thing down to a lower level than anything in which I had ever
seen Irving before。 The center of interest is a young royalist
who; having been present with his mother and sister at the
roll…call of the condemned and the harrowing scenes resulting
therefrom; rushes forth; determined to assassinate Robespierre;
but is discovered by the latter to be his long…lost illegitimate
son; and then occur a series of mystifications suited only to the
lowest boulevard melodrama。
As to the action of the piece; the only thing that showed
Irving's great ability was the scene in the forest of
Montmorency; where; as Robespierre; he reveals at one moment; in
his talk with the English envoy; his ambition; his overestimate
of himself; his suspicion of everybody and everything; his
willingness to be cruel to any extent in order to baffle possible
enemies; and then; next moment; on the arrival of his young
friends; boys and girls; the sentimental; Rousseau side of his
character。 This transition was very striking。 The changes in the
expression of Irving's face were marvelousas wonderful as those
in his Louis XI; but that was very nearly all。 In everything
else; Coquelin; as I had seen him in Sardou's 〃Thermidor;〃 was
infinitely better。
Besides this; the p
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