Mathiew Dreyfus, Alfred Dreyfus' brother, and Mme. Dreyfus, the unfortunate ex-Captain's wife, were present. This poor lady, who has struggled so bravely to secure her husband's vindication, seems to be giving way under the terrible strain. When she met the man who had suffered one year's close imprisonment for her husband's sake she was so overcome that she fainted.

In the meanwhile Dreyfus is on his way to France, having set sail early on the morning of June 10.

At first he utterly refused to wear a captain's uniform which was offered him, but finally determined that when he left the cruiser Sfax at Brest he would do so.

It is said that he refuses to speak to those about him in regard to his trial, and carefully guards against betraying either joy at his opportunity to vindicate himself or anxiety over his fate. The only remarks that he has made were relative to his happiness at the thought of seeing his wife and family again.

He is now treated with the utmost consideration. The decision of the Court has changed his position from that of a criminal convicted of one of the foulest crimes to the lot of an unhappy man who is probably the victim of a cruel plot.

Sunday, June 11, another of the great Parisian races was run. The Grand Prix was raced for at Long Champs. The President, in spite of his unfortunate experience of the previous Sunday, attended.

Throughout the week there had been rumors of proposed hostile demonstrations against him at the race course, and the city was full of excitement at

1899] President Loubet Visits the Races 829

the prospect. The shopkeepers complained bitterly because many of the fashionable women, who spend small fortunes over their costumes, flowers, and gloves, had decided not to attend the races for fear of the disturbance.

The French government, however, decided to take the matter in hand, and kept a force of over fourteen thousand men to guard the route along which the President was to pass. The soldiers were held in readiness and the announcement was made that any rioting or disorder would be vigorously checked.

The President, with his wife and party, were escorted to the race course by outriders who carried their pistols in their hands ready to fire at the slightest outbreak. Arrived at the course, the President's box was surrounded by about twelve hundred policemen in plain clothes.

The result of all these precautions was that the affair passed off without incident, but the following day it caused the downfall of the ministry.

As soon as the Chamber of Deputies assembled a resolution was offered condemning the government for the brutal way in which the police behaved to the crowd at the race course, in hustling and jostling anyone who ventured an opinion.

This was met by a counter-resolution in which the government was commended for the admirable precautions taken to prevent rioting. This latter resolution was not carried, but the vote of censure was adopted by a majority of 366 to 177. Immediately thereafter M. Dupuy, the Prime Minister, offered his resignation to M. Loubet, and it was accepted.

1899] Work of the Peace Conference

831

It is customary for a Prime Minister to offer his resignation when the parliament votes against the government measures and thus convinces him that his administration is no longer acceptable to the people.

The Work of the Peace Conference.

The work of the Peace Congress is progressing. The United States has been perfecting a plan which if adopted will put an end to all future wars. It was presented to the Conference and was favorably regarded. It is, in brief, that a treaty shall be made between at least nine of the important sovereign powers of the world which shall bind them to submit all the vexed questions which come between nations to an international court of arbitration. This court is to be composed of one person from each of the states which will sign the treaty. It shall hold perpetual sessions, and be always open and ready to receive complaints or accusations. Its decisions are to be regarded as final.

In submitting this plan to the Conference the United States Commissioners stated that the proposal had been made with the idea of proving how willing the President of the United States was to help in the establishment of such a tribunal, and to submit the vexed questions that arose in his country to its decisions. The Commissioners further stated that they did not insist on the actual form of their plan being carried out, and were willing to assist in developing any suggestions that followed along the general lines of the ideas advanced.

It is said that our representatives scored a decided success at The Hague. Amidst all the titled, decorated, and uniformed host assembled, our Commissioners were at first treated with a good deal of indifference and as if they did not amount to much. They have, however, by their straightforward manner and determined avoidance of all the wily ways of some diplomats, convinced the other members of the Conference of their sincerity and their desire to achieve some practical result from their efforts. It is stated that the most popular men at the Conference are the American, English, and Russian delegates.

It has been resolved to furnish the newspapers with statements of the work done in all branches of the Conference, as so many false reports have been spread abroad through the lack of accurate information.

A dispatch from Vienna under date of June 15 stated that a compact was made between Austria and Hungary covering their future comThe Austro-Hunga-mercial relations.

rian Difficulties.

You will remember that the Ausgleich (or agreement) between Austria and Hungary came near to breaking up the union of the two

countries.

Broadly stated, the arrangement was that Austria should pay seventy per cent of the expenses of the country, and Hungary thirty per cent.*

The agreement was made for ten years and required renewal at the end of that time. When the date for the expiration of the Ausgleich arrived Austria de

*See No. 35, page 1010.