Page:American Historical Review vol. 6.djvu/582

 572 Reviews of Books The Peace Conference at the Hague and its Bearings on International Law and Policy. By Frederick W. Holls, D.C.L. (New- York : The Macmillan Co. 1900. Pp. xxiv, 572.) The author of this book is a member of the New York bar and was secretary of the delegation from the United States to the Peace Confer- ence at the Hague. He is described on the title-page as " a member of the Conference," which is not exact, for while he was permitted to take part in its discussions he had no authority to sign on behalf of our govern- ment. Nevertheless he was active in the work of the Conference and represented the United States in the Comite d'' Exameii which framed the Convention for the peaceful adjustment of international differences. He tells us that at a critical stage of the proceedings, when the reluctance of the German government to co-operate in the establishment of a perma- nent court of arbitration seemed likely to wreck the Conference, he ac- companied Dr. Zorn of the German delegation to Berlin, consulted with Prince Hohenlohe and Count von Billow, and succeeded in averting the crisis. It would certainly seem therefore, from a perusal of his book, that no one of the persons present, certainly none of those representing the government of the United States, had better opportunities than the author for observing what passed at the Hague and for learning the true motives that actuated the several governments. Unfortunately, Mr. Holls has felt bound to observe a very disappoint- ing silence on many of the topics upon which he might have been ex- pected to be most interesting and instructive. It is apparent that in re- lating the history of the Conference he has been hampered at every turn by what he calls "the necessarily restricted limits open to members." Nor does this embarrassment exhibit itself only in the rather significant omissions from his narrative. It is even more apparent in the tone of eager, one might almost say indiscriminate, eulogy, bestowed upon every person and thing connected with the Conference. The building in which it met, the arrangements for conducting business, the luncheons set before the delegates, the handwriting of the Final Act, are all in turn the sub- jects of enthusiastic praise. This man's speech is "most eloquent and brilliant," the other man's is "of great force and beauty." This dele- gate is distinguished by " noble idealism," the next by "sound judgment," the next by "unerring prudence," the next by "perfection of decision and tact." The only unamiable word for which the author finds occa- sion, except when he speaks of those who thought ill of the Conference, is in connection with the Fourth of July celebration at Delft. He is compelled to admit that upon that day the weather was "inclement " ; but he makes amends by adding that it "moderated" in the afternoon. The author has also apparently considered that the limits of his work could not with propriety be extended so as to embrace any events occur- ring since the adjournment of the Conference. He has not even informed us of the fate of any of the measures adopted by it. Three " Conven- tions ' ' and three ' ' Declarations ' ' were voted by a majority of the Powers