It has been a source of happiness to the Government of the Netherlands to see you here. We have followed your deliberations with the greatest interest, and rejoice that your labors have borne fruit. If the Peace Conference has not been able to realize the dreams of Utopians, the fact should not be lost sight of that in this respect it is like all gatherings of serious and intelligent men who seek a practical goal. If, on the other hand, the Conference has disproved the gloomy predictions of pessimists, who beheld in it merely a generous effort about to be lost in the utterance of a few wishes, it has proved by this very fact the clear-sightedness of the august monarch who chose a propitious time for its meeting. It is not my desire to emphasize at the present moment the great importance of the results accomplished. It is true that it has not been possible to express unanimous agreement upon the principle of disarmament in a practical formula applicable to the internal legislation of the different countries and in harmony with their divergent needs. Let us remember in this connection the saying of an eminent historian, the Duke of BROGLIE, who a few weeks ago remarked in speaking of the Conference: "We are living at a time when as much account should be taken of the moral effect of an important measure as of its material and immediate results-indeed more account." Without doubt the moral effect of your deliberations, already perceptible, will make itself felt more and more and will not fail to show itself strikingly in public opinion. It will also be of the utmost assistance to the Governments in their efforts to solve the problem of the limitation of armaments, a problem which will continue to be, and rightly, the serious and legitimate concern of the statesmen of all countries. Permit me, before concluding, to express the hope that His Majesty the Emperor of Russia may find, in renewed energy to continue the great work he has undertaken, the most effectual consolation for the great and cruel sorrow through which he has passed. For ourselves, the memory of your sojourn here will remain for ever a bright spot in the annals of our country, because it is our firm conviction that this sojourn has opened a new era in the history of international relations between civilized peoples. (Unanimous applause.) The President states that the sessions of the Peace Conference are closed, and that the meeting is adjourned. FINAL ACT OF THE INTERNATIONAL PEACE CONFERENCE The International Peace Conference, convoked in the best interests of humanity by His Majesty the Emperor of All the Russias, assembled, on the invitation of the Government of Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands, in the Royal House in the Wood at The Hague, on May 18, 1899. The Powers enumerated in the following list took part in the Conference, to which they appointed the delegates named below: Germany: His Excellency Count MÜNSTER, German Ambassador at Paris, delegate plenipotentiary. The BARON VON STENGEL, professor at the University of Munich, second delegate. Dr. ZORN, Judicial Privy Councilor, professor at the University of Königsberg, scientific delegate. Colonel GROSS VON SCHWARZHOFF, Commandant of the 5th Regiment of Infantry, No. 94, technical delegate. Captain SIEGEL, Naval Attaché to the Imperial Embassy at Paris, technical delegate. Austria-Hungary: His Excellency Count R. VON WELSERSHEIMB, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, first delegate, plenipotentiary. Mr. ALEXANDER OKOLICSÁNYI VON OKOLICSNA, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at The Hague, second delegate, plenipotentiary. Mr. CAJETAN MÉREY VON KAPOS-MÉRE, Counselor of Embassy and Chief of Cabinet of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, assistant delegate. Mr. HEINRICH LAMMASCH, professor at the University of Vienna, assistant delegate. Mr. VICTOR VON KHUEPACH ZU REID, ZIMMERLEHEN UND HASLBURG, Lieutenant-Colonel on the General Staff, assistant delegate. Count STANISLAUS SOLTYK, Captain of Corvette, assistant delegate. Belgium: His Excellency Mr. AUGUSTE BEERNAERT, Minister of State, President of the Chamber of Representatives, delegate plenipotentiary. The Count DE GRELLE ROGIER, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at The Hague, delegate plenipotentiary. The Chevalier DESCAMPS, Senator, delegate plenipotentiary. China: Mr. YANG YÜ, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at St. Petersburg, first delegate plenipotentiary. Mr. Lou TSENG-TSIANG, second delegate. Mr. Hoo WEI-TEH, second delegate. Mr. HO YEN-CHENG, Counselor of Legation, assistant delegate. Denmark: [2] Chamberlain FR. E. BILLE, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at London, first delegate plenipotentiary. Mr. J. G. F. VON SCHNACK, Colonel of Artillery, ex-Minister for War, second delegate plenipotentiary. Spain: His Excellency Duque DE TETUÁN, ex-Minister for Foreign Affairs, first delegate plenipotentiary. Mr. W. RAMIREZ DE VILLA URRUTIA, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Brussels, delegate plenipotentiary. Mr. ARTURO DE BAGUER, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at The Hague, delegate plenipotentiary. The Count DE SERRALLO, Colonel, Military Attaché to the Spanish Legation at Brussels, assistant delegate. The United States of America: His Excellency Mr. ANDREW D. WHITE, United States Ambassador at Berlin, delegate plenipotentiary. The Honorable SETH LOW, president of the Columbia University at New York, delegate plenipotentiary. Mr. STANFORD NEWEL, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at The Hague, delegate plenipotentiary. Captain ALFRED T. MAHAN, United States Navy, delegate plenipotentiary. Mr. WILLIAM CROZIER, Captain of Artillery, delegate plenipotentiary. Mr. FREDERICK W. HOLLS, advocate at New York, delegate and secretary to the delegation. The United States of Mexico: Mr. DE MIER, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Paris, delegate plenipotentiary. Mr. ZENIL, Minister Resident at Brussels, delegate plenipotentiary. France: Mr. LÉON BOURGEOIS, ex-President of Council, ex-Minister for Foreign. Affairs, member of the Chamber of Deputies, first delegate, plenipotentiary. Mr. GEORGES BIHOURD, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at The Hague, second delegate, plenipotentiary. The Baron D'ESTOURNELLES DE CONSTANT, Minister Plenipotentiary, member of the Chamber of Deputies, third delegate, plenipotentiary. Mr. MOUNIER, General of Brigade, technical delegate. Mr. PÉPHAU, Rear Admiral, technical delegate. Mr. LOUIS RENAULT, professor of the Faculty of Law at Paris, Legal Advisor to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, technical delegate. Great Britain and Ireland: His Excellency the Right Honorable Sir JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE, member of Her Majesty's Privy Council, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom at Washington, first delegate, plenipotentiary. Sir HENRY HOWARD, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at The Hague, second delegate, plenipotentiary. Sir JOHN A. FISHER, Vice Admiral, technical delegate. Sir J. C. ARDAGH, Major General, technical delegate. Lieutenant Colonel C. À COURT, Military Attaché at Brussels and The Hague, assistant technical delegate. Greece: Mr. N. DELYANNI, ex-President of the Council, ex-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Paris, delegate plenipotentiary. Italy : His Excellency Count NIGRA, Italian Ambassador at Vienna, Senator of the Kingdom, first delegate, plenipotentiary. Count A. ZANNINI, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at [3] The Hague, second delegate, plenipotentiary. The Chevalier GUIDO POMPILJ, Deputy in the Italian Parliament, third delegate, plenipotentiary. The Chevalier LOUIS ZUCCARI, Major General, technical delegate. The Chevalier AUGUSTE BIANCO, Captain, Naval Attaché to the Royal Embassy at London, technical delegate. Japan: The Baron HAYASHI, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at St. Petersburg, first delegate, plenipotentiary. Mr. I. MOTONO, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Brussels, second delegate, plenipotentiary. Colonel UEHARA, technical delegate. Captain SAKAMOTO, Japanese Navy, technical delegate. Mr. NAGAO ARIGA, professor of international law at the Superior Military School and the Naval School at Tokio, technical delegate. Luxemburg: His Exellency Mr. EYSCHEN, Minister of State, President of the Grand Ducal Government, delegate plenipotentiary. The Count DE VILLERS, Chargé d'Affaires at Berlin, delegate plenipotentiary. Montenegro: His Excellency Mr. STAAL, Privy Councilor, Russian Ambassador at London, delegate plenipotentiary. The Netherlands: Jonkheer A. P. C. van KarnebeEK, ex-Minister for Foreign Affairs, member of the Second Chamber of the States-General, delegate plenipotentiary. General J. C. C. DEN BEER POORTUGAEL, ex-Minister for War, member of the Council of State, delegate plenipotentiary. Mr. T. M. C. ASSER, member of the Council of State, delegate plenipotentiary. Mr. E. N. RAHUSEN, member of the First Chamber of the States-General, delegate plenipotentiary. Captain A. P. TADEMA, Chief of the Staff of the Netherland Navy, technical delegate. Persia: Aide-de-Camp General MIRZA Riza Khan, ArfA-UD-DOVlEH, Envoy Extraordinary and minister Plenipotentiary at St. Petersburg and Stockholm, first delegate, plenipotentiary. MIRZA SAMAD KHAN, MOMTAS-ES-SALTANEH, Counselor of Legation at St. Petersburg, assistant delegate. Portugal: The Count DE MACEDO, Peer of the Kingdom, ex-Minister of Marine and the Colonies, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Madrid, delegate plenipotentiary. Mr. D'ORNELLAS DE VASCONCELLOS, Peer of the Kingdom, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at St. Petersburg, delegate plenipotentiary. The Count DE SELIR, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at The Hague, delegate plenipotentiary. Captain AUGUSTO DE CASTILHO, technical delegate. Captain on the General Staff Ayres d'Ornellas, technical delegate. Roumania: Mr. ALEXANDRE BELDIMAN, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Berlin, first delegate, plenipotentiary. Mr. JEAN N. PAPINIU, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at The Hague, second delegate, plenipotentiary. Aide-de-Camp Colonel CONSTANTIN COANDA, Director of Artillery at the Ministry for War, technical delegate. Russia: His Excellency Mr. STAAL, Privy Councilor, Russian Ambassador at London, delegate plenipotentiary. [4] Mr. MARTENS, permanent member of the Council of the Imperial Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Privy Councilor, delegate plenipotentiary. Mr. BASILY, Councilor of State, Chamberlain, Director of the First Department of the Imperial Ministry for Foreign Affairs, delegate plenipotentiary. Mr. RAFFALOVICH, Councilor of State, Agent in France of the Imperial Ministry for Finance, technical delegate. Mr. GILINSKY, Colonel on the General Staff, technical delegate. |