July 22. Again the Commission of Inquiry. The question is asked whether the representatives of Roumania, Greece, and Servia have received the answers of their governments. Mr. Delyannis declares, in the name of Greece, that he has been instructed to accept the new form of the convention. Dr. Velkovitch,[43] in the name of Servia, makes a similar declaration. Now it is Roumania’s turn. The president announces that he has just had a letter from Herr Beldimann, stating that his instructions have come to-day authorizing him to accept the new form, but only on condition that the eliminated clauses, “honor and interests of the nations” and “when circumstances allow,” be restored. Otherwise Roumania cannot sign the convention. Put to vote, the Beldimann ultimatum is accepted. In the last plenary session, on July 28, Descamps’s “Rapport final à la Conférence sur le règlement pacifique des conflits internationaux” is read. The introduction to this document brings out thoughts and points of view which embrace the whole ideal of peace,—I might rather say the whole gospel of peace,—as, for example: Resolved to use every endeavor to bring about the peaceful solution of international conflicts; recognizing the solidarity which unites shoulder to shoulder all the civilized nations; desirous of extending the sovereignty of law and of strengthening the sentiment of international justice, etc., the undersigned [the names follow] have agreed upon the following provisions. The first of the sixty-one paragraphs gives the gist of everything that is elaborated in the rest: “With a view to obviating, as far as possible, recourse to force in the relations between states, the signatory powers agree to use their best efforts to insure the pacific settlement of international differences.” Early on July 29 the conventions were signed in the “House in the Wood,” and the formal concluding session took place in the afternoon. The last word—it was uttered by D’Estournelles—was: “May our Conference be a beginning, not a conclusion. May our countries, by inaugurating new assemblages such as this has been, continue to serve the cause of civilization and of peace!” LXI AFTER THE HAGUE CONFERENCE