form of Mediation, was proposed individually by Mr. Holls of the United States Commission. It is fully explained in the report of M. Descamps and in the minutes of the meeting of the Committee at which it was unanimously adopted. Being purely voluntary in its character, it is at least certain that it conflicts with no American interest, while, on the contrary, it is hoped that in particular crises, when the other means provided by the Convention for keeping or restoring peace have failed, it may prove to have real and practical value. It is certain that, by the Continental States of Europe, it has been exceedingly well received. The Convention for the peaceful adjustment of international differences, if ratified by the Senate, will require no special enabling legislation on the part of Congress, beyond the annual appropriation of a sum sufficient to pay the share of the United States of the expenses of the Arbitration Bureau at The Hague. It is provided that these expenses shall be borne by the Signatory Powers in the same proportion as is now prescribed by the World's Postal Convention, so that the share, even of a great Power, will be very small. All of which is most respectfully submitted. ANDREW D. WHITE. FREDERICK W. HOLLS. THE one hundred and twenty-third anniversary of American Independence, occurring during the sessions of the Peace Conference, afforded a suitable occasion for a celebration under the auspices of the American Commission to the Conference. At the suggestion of Ambassador White, the President of the American Commission, and with the cordial approval of the Secretary of State, this celebration took the character of a festival in honor of Hugo Grotius, including the deposit upon his tomb in the Grote Kerk of Delft, of a silver wreath, and a luncheon at the Stadhuis or City Hall of Delft immediately afterward. The wreath was made by Eugene Marcus, Court Jeweller, Berlin, and is twenty-eight inches in diameter: the leaves of frosted silver, on one side being oak with acorns in silver gilt, and on the other side laurel, with berries in silver gilt. The stems at the base are held together by a large ribbon and bow of silver gilt, and upon this the inscription is placed in blue enamel. Attached to this ribbon and bow and held together by it are shields of silver gilt bearing in enamel on the right side the arms of the Netherlands, and on the left those of the United States of America. The inscription on the ribbon is as follows :— TO THE MEMORY OF HUGO GROTIUS En Reverence and Gratitude FROM THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ON THE OCCASION OF The celebration was held in the apse of the great church, in front of the tomb of Grotius, - that of William the Silent being immediately adjoining. A platform, upon which the presiding officer and speakers were seated, was erected between one of the great pillars of the church and the tomb of William the Silent. A choir of one hundred voices, carefully selected from among the best singers of The Hague, and all of whom had volunteered their services, was placed at the end of the apse on a slight elevation. The choir was under the direction of Mr. Arnold Spoel, Director of the Royal Conservatory of Music in The Hague. The invited guests included all members of the Peace Conference, and all members of the Dutch Government and the Diplomatic Corps accredited to The Hague, the Deans of the Law Faculties of the Universities of Leyden, Utrecht, Amsterdam, and Gröningen, the Burgomaster and city authorities of Delft, and other distinguished visitors, and although the weather was inclement, one of the severest rain-storms of the season raging all the morning, nearly all the invited guests were present. At eleven o'clock, which was the hour set for the commencement of the exercises, the apse and the greater part of the body of the church were well filled. Beginning at a quarter after ten o'clock, Mr. John Kethel, the organist and director of the Nieuwe Kerk of Delft, played international airs on the beautiful chimes of the church for half an hour, and at quarter before eleven o'clock and during the arrival of the guests he played an organ prelude, including the Russian National Anthem, which was given at the moment when Baron de Staal, President of the Conference, entered the church. At precisely eleven o'clock Jonkheer van Karnebeek, the First Delegate of the Netherlands to the Peace Conference and Vice-President of the Conference itself, who had been chosen to preside, took the chair and the exercises were opened by a magnificent rendering, on the part |