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to Her Majesty the Queen and our thanks to the Government of the Netherlands for the hospitality that they have extended to us.
In your name also, Gentlemen, I thank our honorable President Mr. CREMER for the zeal with which he has conducted our discussions. He has fully justified the confidence which we have placed in him.
His Exc. Mr. Lloyd Bryce said: I wish as a Delegate, also to thank Her Majesty the Queen and the Netherlands Government for the hearty coope ration and assistance they have rendered us in bringing our Conference to the stage of development it has already reached, a stage which leaves no doubt as to the future, and from which there will be no recession, but always advance. To have contributed to this end is a proud distinction for any Government.
Perhaps it may even be permitted me to touch a more personal note. To avoid seeming to detach His Exc. the Minister for Foreign Affairs from his Government let me address him further, and not in stead, in his additional capacity of Honorary President of this Conference. I desire to pay a well- deserved tribute to the unfailing kindness and consideration which he has shown to all. Though not presiding in person he has presided in spirit and he has made us feel, while in this beautiful city, so to speak, in the house of our kinsmen, yes with such success that I for one am often inclined to forget whether I am in Washington or in the Hague. Please do not attribute it to any Trans-Atlantic tendencies of a monopolistic nature if my Delegation at least claim him as half its own. His long and distinguished service in our country, in this too and in other lands has fitted him for the role of the ideal Inter- national host.
Let me also put myself on record in expressing our sincerest thanks for the patient, considerate, and impartial manner in which the actual President of this Conference His Exc. Mr. CREMER has conducted the business of its sessions. His notable career in both orient and occident not to forget the part ho played in the Hudson Fulton celebrations, attended by Delegates from all the world have made him not only personnally known but a friend to many here, while all recognise him as an international asset of the greatest value in the goodwork we are trying to accomplish.
There has been so much said, and so much well said, on this question of opium however that there seems nothing left to say. Perhaps my colleagues will not regret the admission.
But the harmony, goodfeeling and unanimity which have marked our discussions argue well not only for this Conference but for the Great Cause viz-the International settlement of matters in which the world is interested. Concerning one among the many important questions which have already received the stamp of universal approval let me relate a curious little incident: yet in its effect it is big in suggestiveness as to the future of civilization. I approach it with diffidence, because at the first hearing it may almost arouse a smile.
Some little while ago I was instructed by cable from my Government to inform the Government of Luxemburg that on the levees of New Orleans had been found at 3.30 in the afternoon a dead rat examination was proved to have died of bubonic plague. This information was (laughter) which on flashed by telegraph to every civilized Government, in accordance with the Inter- national Sanitary Convention, signed at Paris, January 17,1912. Yes, from one point of view my recital might well arouse a smile, but when you consider the effect of such detailed information imparted simultaneously to the further corners of the world as a warning of danger to come, I can think of no greater tribute to the kind of work the Hague is doing.
Mr. Carnegie, has just written me to say that he will be present at the opening of the Peace Palace. To be sure, it will be a long time before wars cease and the Millennium arrives. Just at this moment the peace movement
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may seem just a trifle retarded, but I think we can attribute to the influence of the Hague the fact that the war now in the near East has been confined to that quarter, this could hardly have been the case ten or fifteen years ago. Yes, it is my firm conviction the Peace Conferences held here have not been in vain. On the contrary they have created an atmosphere of concilation throughout the world, which already has sensibly affected the great family of nations.
In short, the Hague by furthering international cooperation along the line of beneficent legislation is making the world a better, a happier, and a healthier place for human habitation. To this end the Opium Conference closing today has played in my opinion no insignificant part.
(Applause.)
The President said:
The complimentary words that you have just heard have greatly touched me and I sincerely thank you for them.
The reason that our labors have been so agreeable and that you all, Gentlemen, particularly the Editing Committee and their collaborators, have rendered such assiduous cooperation is due, I am sure, to the conviction that our conflict with one of the evils of humanity must be crowned by success, despite the difficulties to be overcome; the conviction that we acknowledge defeat.
can never
The First Conference pointed out to us the road to follow, along which we have just taken another step, but it is with regret that we realize that the promised land is, perhaps, still distant.
This is only because all the Powers who were asked to join us are not represented here. Whatever may be the reasons for this absence, I am more than ever convinced of the truth of the old saying that "those who are absent are wrong". Let us all strive, therefore, Gentlemen, and let our Governments join in firm but friendly effort, to persuade those whose absence is so deplored soon to unite with us, so that the structure of which we have laid the foundation and sketched the outline may be completed without delay. In order that this goal may be attained, let us hope that the black war-clouds which now obscure a portion of our European heavens and hamper our peaceful task may soon forever disappear.
Gentlemen, before we disperse I deem it our duty as the Minister of France has already proposed to express how greatly we appreciate the hos pitality that we have enjoyed during our visit to this city. I therefore beg to discharge a last duty by proposing that the following telegram be addressed to Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands on behalf of the Conference:
"At the termination of their labors, the Delegates of the Powers assembled for the Second International Opium Conference beg to express to Your Majesty their sincere appreciation of the gracious hospitality extended to them by Your Majesty's Government. They beg to tender to Your Majesty their respectful homage and their sincere wishes for a prosperous reign."
One more but no less agreable task that devolves upon me a task, that has already been partly accomplished by the former speakers — is to express our deep gratitude to our distinguished Honorary President, His Excellency the Minister for Foreign Affairs, who, after opening our Conference with an address, has been so kind as to facilitate our task by lending his valuable assistance.
You will unite with me, Gentlemen, in expressing our thanks to the Secre tariat. Owing to their zeal and to that of the members of the National Printing Office, the documents so necessary during our labors have been prepared in good time and distributed to all.
And now, Gentlemen, permit your President, before relinquishing this place to your Honorary President, to thank you cordially for your kind indulgence and to wish you a happy return to your homes.
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