The 1899 Hague Peace Conference

""The Dawn of a New Era"", as some rejoiced, ""a printer's error in the history of mankind"", as others loathed. From the day Czar Nicholas' Peace Rescript surprised a divided world, the First Hague Peace Conference has evoked irreconcilable responses. A predictable failure in the disarmament debate, a distinct leap ahead in curbing the Moloch of War, its lasting repute is linked to its brainchild, the Permanent Court of Arbitration, the cradle of The Hague's present claim as self-imposed Juridical Capital of the World. By all accounts, this ""First Parliament of Man"" opened the door to the International Era and man's ultimate dream, ""The Federation of the World."";This text pays tribute to this historical assembly. It deals comprehensively with the genesis, proceedings, and outcome of this first diplomatic encounter of its kind, in the political heart and royal residence of a small, yet ambitious nation. It details the substance matter of the Conference, to put a check on the armaments spiral, to restrain the evils and control the customs of war, and to provide for the peaceful settlement of disputes. Enlarging on the intense debate in committees large and small, the publication likewise echoes the splendour of the ceremonial sittings of the Plenary, that ""New Areopagus"" gathered in the House in the Wood, itself the glorification of the Peace of Westphalia, its exotic drawing rooms and celebrated canvasses the pinnacle of arts and crafts of the Dutch Golden Age.;On top of this, the work colourfully portrays to a man the full hundred delegates, politicians, diplomats, jurists, and military men, luminaries of the day most of them, and highlights some of their astounding addresses. It introduces the world of pacifists, led by Bloch, Stead, and Von Suttner, who gravitated in great numbers to the hotels of repute at the luxury seashore resort. In a wealth of anecdotes distilled from diaries, memoirs and magazines, this jubilee book pictures in detail the social entourage of royal receptions, public dinners and cultural excursions. Illustrated with scores of pictures, it sketches The Hague of the Belle Epoque, the world of Mesdog and Couperus. Based on primary sources and in-depth research, this commemorative publication provides a multi-disciplined approach to a pivotal diplomatic venue, a sweeping legal debate, and a social event.