To-day I noted a deep remark uttered by Léon Bourgeois. The talk turned on the great progressive ideas which permeate the world so slowly, altogether too slowly, because the daily happenings, the problems and sensations of the moment, claim everybody’s entire attention. L’actualité, c’est l’ennemi, said he.
The Swedish envoy’s son again took his oath to me that he would remain true to the ideal of peace and work for it according to his ability.
The conversation reverted to that session in which Colonel Schwarzhoff delivered his speech against the proposition of limitation. The gentlemen remarked that he had spoken with great mordant. Now the German equivalent for that word is not beissend (“biting”) but schneidig (“keen”). In either case it is an adjective expressing admiration. Now, it seems to me, sharp teeth and polished sonority are very valuable things in their place, but are they specially suited for the Peace Conference?
At dinner we are in Oriental company,—with Noury Bey and Mirza Rhiza Khan. Were it not for the fez, one might take Noury Bey for a Frenchman. He takes the point of view of the Turkish patriotic party, faithful to the Sultan, not that of the Young Turks. The persecution of the Armenians has been necessary, he says; they are revolutionists, rebels, conspirators. In short, they are wicked lambs; the wolf is in the right!
We were regretting the failure of the project for restricting armaments or talking of something similar, I do not remember exactly what.
“But that is a thing,” remarked Noury Bey to my husband, “which you, as an Austrian patriot, ought to approve of.”
“We friends of peace do not recognize this contradiction,” replied my husband; “what one must regret as a man, one cannot be glad of as a patriot. And indeed it is a mistake to believe that what will not benefit mankind will be useful to one’s own country. In any case, the interest of humanity, absolute right, always stands higher than the special advantages of any one country.”
“Splendid!” cried Noury Bey in amazement, but not without irony. “People with such views ought to be appointed judges in the coming international tribunal.”
July 4. To-day, in connection with the American holiday, an excursion to Delft in commemoration of Grotius. In the early morning a severe storm is raging and rain is beating on the window panes. We countermand our order for a carriage and stay at home.
It is a melancholy, gloomy day. The windows rattle and tremble; an ice-cold wind forces itself in. Gray are the rolling clouds and the foaming angry sea. Lamentation, brawling, and menace commingle in the roar of wind and waves.