is accomplished to-day. It bears witness to the high Chapter VII solicitude of Governments for all that concerns pacific peaceful development of international relations, and the welfare of nations. That work, no doubt, is imperfect, but it is sincerely practical and wise. It tries to consolidate, while safeguarding both, the two principles which are the foundation of International Law, the principle of sovereignty of individual States, and the principle of a just international comity. It gives precedence to that which unites. over all which divides. It affirms that in the new era upon which we are entering the dominant factor should be good works, arising from the necessity of concord, and made fruitful by the coöperation of States seeking the realization of their legitimate interests in solid peace, regulated by justice. "The task accomplished by the Conference of The Hague in this matter is truly beautiful and meritorious. It is in accord with the magnanimous statements of its august initiator, and it will have the support of public opinion, and will gain, I hope, the approval of history. "I shall not enter, gentlemen, into the details of the Act which many of you have just signed. They are brought out and analyzed in the admirable report which is in your hands. At the present time, it is perhaps premature to judge as a whole the work which has hardly been brought to a close. We are, as yet, too near its origin; we lack the bird's-eye view. What is certain is, that this work, undertaken on the initiative of the Emperor, my August Master, Chapter VII and under the auspices of Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands, will develop in the future; and, as the President of our Third Commission said, on a memorable occasion: The further we advance on the road of time, the more clearly will its importance appear.' Gentlemen, the first step is taken. Let us unite our efforts, and profit from experience. good seed is sown; let us await the harvest. As for me, having come to the end of my career, and to the decline of my life, I consider it a supreme consolation to see the opening of new perspectives for the good of humanity, and to be able to look forward into the bright vistas of the future." Speech of Prince Münster thereupon spoke as follows: The "GENTLEMEN: You will allow me, as the senior member of this assembly, to answer the eloquent words which we have just heard, and you will join me in expressing our thanks to M. de Staal and M. van Karnebeek-the President and Vice-President of the Conference. M. de Staal has greatly contributed to the success of our work, for, by his great courtesy to all of us, he was able to maintain good relations among all the delegates. It is very rare that an assembly which has lasted two months and a half can show such perfect harmony as that which has always reigned in this room. "M. van Karnebeek has been the active principle of the Conference. He has worked more than any of us, and we owe him much. We have to thank him also for the great hospitality which we have found here, from the Throne down to the most humble citizen. M. van Karnebeek has found in- Chapter VII spiration in the example of his August Sovereign, who has honored us with a welcome which we shall never forget. If the Conference has not realized all of its wishes and its desires and illusions ran high -it will at least have a great influence upon the future, and the seeds which it has sown are sure to germinate. Its particular result will then be the influence which the meeting of so many eminent men cannot fail to have upon the mutual understanding of all nations. "This Conference will be one of our most beautiful memories, and in this recollection two names will always shine-those of M. de Staal and M. van Karnebeek. I beg you to rise in their honor." President de The President answered that he was deeply Reply of touched by the eloquent words which had just been staal. spoken, and that he thanked Prince Münster from the bottom of his heart, as well as all those whose sentiments he had expressed. In the many memories which he would take away from the Conference, that of the good relations which he had sustained with all his colleagues would never leave his recollection. Reply of He Karnebeek. Jonkheer van Karnebeek said that he was equally touched by the words of Prince Münster. hesitated nevertheless to apply these words to himself personally. If it was thought that he was able to do anything for the success of the common labors, and if he had been in any way the personification of the spirit and the work of the Conference, M. van Jonkheer van Chapter VII Karnebeek declared that he had but reflected the spirit which filled all the delegates, and of what they themselves had accomplished. Speech of Baron d'Estournelles de Constant. Baron d'Estournelles de Constant expressed himself as follows: "With the permission of our honored President I would like to submit to the Conference a personal wish before we separate. Our work may be discussed and judged too modestly, but, as Prince Münster has just said, it will never be doubted that we have worked conscientiously for two months and a half. We came to The Hague from all parts of the globe, without knowing one another, with more of prejudice and of uncertainty than of hope. To-day many prejudices have disappeared, and confidence and sympathy have arisen among us. It is owing to this concord, born of the devotion of all of us to the common work we have done, that we have been enabled to reach the first stage of progress. Little by little it will be universally recognized that the results obtained cannot be neglected, but that they constitute a fruitful germ. This germ, however, in order that it may develop, must be the object of constant solicitude, and this is the reason why we should all wish and hope that our conference is not separatConference. ing forever. It should be the beginning. It ought not to be the end. Let us unite in the hope, gentlemen, that our countries, in calling other conferences such as this, may continue to assist in advancing the cause of civilization and of peace.' Hopes for another M. de Beaufort made the following address: de Beaufort. "Before the meeting of to-day adjourns, I wish to Chapter VII address you in a few words: The Government has Speech of M. been happy to see you here. It has followed your deliberations with very great interest, and it rejoices with you that your labors have borne fruit. If the Peace Conference has not been able to realize the dreams of Utopians, we should not lose sight of the fact that in this respect it does not differ from all meetings of serious and intelligent men, having a practical end in view. If, on the other hand, it has put to shame the gloomy predictions of pessimists who see in it nothing but a generous effort, certain to exhaust itself in the recital of great wishes, it has demonstrated the justice of the view of the August Monarch who has chosen this present moment for his initiative. I do not wish at this moment to speak of the great mass of results which have been accomplished. "It is true that a unanimous agreement on the question of disarmament could not possibly be expressed in a practicable formula, applicable to the domestic requirements of the different countries, or in harmony with their diverse needs. Let us remember on this subject the words of the great historian- the Duke of Broglie—who, a few weeks ago said, regarding the Peace Conference, We live in a time where it is necessary to take account more and more of the moral effect of a great measure, rather than of its material or important results.' Without doubt the moral effect of your deliberations, already evident, will make itself felt more and more, and will not fail to 6 |