humanity if the new Code of Neutrality shall not only prevent neutrals from favoring one of the belligerents and from disturbing the belligerents in their military operations, but if it shall also—and in the first place prevent the belligerents from disturbing the neutrals in their peaceful occupations, in their trade and navigation, and in the practice of science and arts.

"The United States of America would again render an immense service to humanity if they induced the States of Europe and the other parts of the world to prepare in time of peace a Code of Neutrality so favorable for the pacific nations, and so severe with regard to those who may feel desirous to have recourse to war, that it would prove to be in fact the best guarantee for the maintenance of peace.

"This would be a glorious task for the statesmen of the new world, in the beginning of a new century!"

At the conclusion of M. Asser's speech, the choir sang a magnificent Dutch hymn of the sixteenth century, "Prayer for the Fatherland," by Valerius,-whereupon the Chairman introduced the Honorable Seth Low, Commissioner of the United States of America, President of Columbia University of New York, who spoke as follows:

"MR. CHAIRMAN, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN :

"The pleasing task has been devolved upon me of expressing the thanks of the American Delegation to those whose kindness has made this occasion possible.

"First of all our thanks are due, and are most heartily given to you, Sir, for so courteously presiding; to the Burgomaster and City of Delft and to the Trustees of this venerable Church for the generous hospitality that has permitted the use of this sacred edifice and of the City

Hall; and to the chorus whose volunteered services have added to the proceedings the welcome charm and inspiration of song.

"We think ourselves fortunate, also, in being able to avail of this opportunity to express our thanks to Her Majesty, the Queen, for the gracious kindness she has shown to us in common with our colleagues of the Conference of Peace. It has been to us a sincere pleasure to have the honor of a presentation to Her Majesty, for the accents of her voice when she took the coronation oath found an echo in every American heart. Motley has enabled us to understand what it signifies when the Head of the House of Orange swears, Je maintiendrai !"

"We are glad, also, to offer our thanks to the distinguished Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, his Excellency, M. de Beaufort, and, through him, to his Government and the people of The Hague for the great hospitality in which we have had a share as members of the Conference.

"We are grateful, also, for the message that has been received from His Majesty, the King of Sweden and Norway, through his distinguished Representative at the Conference of Peace; and for the kind words spoken in the name of the Institute of International Law by its gifted and able President.

"The International Conference at The Hague doubtless will take its place in history as the first attempt on the part of the nations of the East and of the West, of Asia, and Europe and America, to create a body of International Law by formal and joint enactment. Great national assemblies have sprung from seeds not more promising than this; so that it is not strange that men should see in this Conference a distinct step toward the poet's dream: The Parliament of Man, the Federation of the World.' own Lowell has said:

Our

“For I believed the poets; it is they

Who gather wisdom from the central deep,
And, listening to the inner flow of things,
Speak to the age out of eternity.'

"But those of us who have taken part in these deliberations, can never dissociate the experience from the hearty welcome we have received in the historic Capital of Holland, the beautiful city of The Hague. Both Peace and Hospitality appear to us to have laid aside their sandals at The Hague, as if there they had found their permanent abiding-place.

66

"On this day, so full for Americans of thoughts connected with their national independence, we may not forget that Americans have yet other grounds for gratitude to the people of the Netherlands. We cannot forget that our flag received its first foreign salute from a Dutch officer, nor that the Province of Friesland gave to our independence its first formal recognition. By way of Leyden and Delft-Haven and Plymouth Rock, and again by way of New Amsterdam, the free public school reached American shores.

"The United States of America have taken their name from the United States of the Netherlands. We have

learned from you not only that

In Union there is

Strength,' that is an old lesson, but also, in large measure, how to make 'One out of many.' From you we have learned, what we, at least, value, to separate Church and State; and from you we gather inspiration at all times in our devotion to learning, to religious liberty, and to individual and national freedom. These are some of the things for which we believe the American people owe no little gratitude to the Dutch; and these are the things for which to-day, speaking in the name of the American people, we venture to express their heartfelt thanks."

The choir then sang two verses of "America,” in which they were joined by the audience, standing, and a postlude, including the "Star Spangled Banner" and the "Hallelujah" Chorus from Handel's "Messiah," ended the celebration.

At the close of the exercises in the church, the invited guests, about three hundred and thirty-eight in number, sat down with the American Commission to a luncheon served in the ancient Town Hall of Delft. This building, as well as the colossal bronze statue of Grotius standing in front of it, and the contemporary portrait of Grotius in the Hall of the Burgomaster, was decorated with the flags of the Netherlands and the United States.

During the progress of the luncheon, the American representatives, headed by Ambassador White, visited the various tables, and toasts to the President of the United States, the Queen of the Netherlands, the Emperor of Russia, and the President of the Peace Conference, as well as to the various countries represented, were exchanged.

At three o'clock the weather had moderated, and the guests returned to The Hague.

In the evening the orchestra at Scheveningen made American national airs the chief feature of the gala concert, which was attended by most of the members of the Conference.

INDEX

Administrative Council at The Arbitration, general agreements for,