Memoirs of Bertha von Suttner: The Records of an Eventful Life (Vol. 2 of 2)

In Short

This second volume of memoirs tracks the Austrian pacifist and Nobel laureate through the tumultuous turn of the twentieth century. From quiet drafting rooms to the glittering corridors of the First Hague Peace Conference, the record captures a life entirely dedicated to international arbitration. Through private correspondence, diary entries, and accounts of public congresses, it details the political maneuvering required to establish the Hague Tribunal, the opposition of militarist factions, and the personal tragedy that alters her world while leaving her commitment to the cause undiminished.

The Story

The narrative opens with quiet labors in Harmannsdorf and reflections on the 1893 World’s Fair at Chicago, where international congresses begin organizing formal support for arbitration courts. The account quickly moves into the public arena, recording encounters with figures such as the Russian painter Vasíli Vereshchágin, whose graphic depictions of battle line the walls of European galleries, forcing leaders like Emperor William II to confront the grim realities of war.

As diplomatic friction between France and Italy threatens open conflict, the author and the Interparliamentary Board draft earnest appeals to French and Italian deputies, urging them to cool nationalistic fervor and work toward reconciliation. Correspondence fills the pages, documenting dialogue with figures across Europe: Duke Peter von Oldenburg, Norwegian writer Björnstjerne Björnson, and novelist Émile Zola.

The momentum culminates in 1894 at the Sixth Peace Congress in Antwerp and the Interparliamentary Conference at The Hague. Belgian Minister Le Bruyn secures King Leopold's patronage, while regional leaders like Houzeau de Lehaye lead deliberations. The push for a permanent tribunal faces constant friction from conservative factions, but public lectures and legislative debates slowly shift opinion.

Tensions intensify as regional conflicts break out. The Spanish-American War, unrest in Italy, and disputes over the Transvaal signal the precarious nature of armaments-based security. Austrian politician Carneri writes to challenge her efforts, arguing that immense armies guarantee peace; she replies that ruinous military expenditures merely enslave populations and leave stability to the whims of absolute rulers.

In 1898, the Tsar's Peace Rescript energizes the movement. The author travels to Turin and Vienna, holding public rallies alongside former Prussian officer Lieutenant Colonel von Egidy to rally public support. The narrative reaches its centerpiece at the First Peace Conference at The Hague in 1899. Despite institutional pushback, delegates like D'Estournelles, Léon Bourgeois, and Andrew D. White secure crucial agreements for an International Court of Arbitration.

Disillusionment accompanies these victories. Tolstoy writes to her from Yasnaya Polyana, asserting that peace conferences are useless and that war will cease only when individual citizens refuse military service. Soon after, personal tragedy strikes when her husband dies, leaving her to handle his burial in Gotha alone. Bound by his final written wishes, she continues her public work, touring the United States in her later years, visiting Washington's public institutions, and speaking directly with President Theodore Roosevelt about the future of global peace.

How It Unfolds

The journey expands Work in Harmannsdorf yields to international organization as reports arrive from the Chicago Congress of Religions and the World's Fair. Addresses are dispatched to European parliamentarians to diffuse rising friction between France and Italy.

Vereshchágin's stark canvases A meeting with painter Vasíli Vereshchágin in Vienna highlights the power of visual art to strip glory from battlefields. The author reflects on how his paintings force military figures like Moltke to witness war's raw horror.

The Hague Conference of 1899 Deliberations unfold among international delegates as debates flare over disarmament and binding arbitration. D'Estournelles successfully introduces key clauses, laying the foundation for an international court.

Tolstoy's sharp dissent A letter from Leo Tolstoy challenges the entire enterprise of legislative peace societies, arguing that real change requires individuals to refuse military service. The author ponders his words while continuing her organizational labors.

Bereavement and continuation Following the death and cremation of her husband, the author resolves to persist in her life task. She honors his last testament by maintaining her leadership in international peace organizations.

American observations A tour of the United States brings encounters with American civic spaces, public libraries, and a private interview at the White House with Theodore Roosevelt regarding the progress of international law.

The People

• Bertha von Suttner: The central chronicler and activist who works tirelessly to coordinate peace societies, draft appeals, and persuade European statesmen to adopt binding arbitration.
• Vasíli Vereshchágin: A Russian military artist whose graphic paintings of battlefield scenes spark intense debate among European leaders regarding the reality of war.
• Houzeau de Lehaye: The witty and tactful Belgian politician who presides over the Sixth Peace Congress at Antwerp, guiding contentious debates with skill.
• Carneri: A skeptical friend and politician who writes to argue that massive standing armies are the only true guarantee of European peace, prompting detailed rebuttals.
• Lieutenant Colonel von Egidy: A former Prussian military officer whose public lectures in Vienna draw packed audiences to support international arbitration.
• Leo Tolstoy: The Russian author who corresponds from Yasnaya Polyana, urging a total refusal of military service rather than legislative conferences.
• Theodore Roosevelt: The President of the United States, who hosts the author in Washington and expresses his belief that universal peace is approaching step by step.

In Its Own Voice

"A fratricidal strife which should bring them face to face on the battlefield would be a real crime and would mean a backward step in civilization."

The author frames the escalating tension between France and Italy as an unthinkable betrayal of shared European heritage.

"To be sure, I heeded the injunction which came to me from beyond the grave, and I have worked on; and I have seen in the loom of time much of that red woof to which my thoughts and desires are directed."

Following the loss of her husband, she rededicates her remaining years entirely to the public cause they had shared.

"Universal peace is coming—it is certainly coming—step by step."

During their meeting in Washington, President Roosevelt shares his outlook on the gradual implementation of international law.

What It's Really About

The volume examines whether structured diplomacy and legal institutions can systematically eliminate state-sanctioned violence. It presents a clash between two philosophies: the traditional view that peace rests on formidable armaments, and the emerging belief that true security requires binding international courts. The narrative contrasts high-level diplomacy with personal conviction, showing how public opinion can be organized to challenge entrenched military structures. It also captures the inner conflict between Tolstoy’s radical individual pacifism and the author's pragmatic, legislative approach to international law.

Why Read It Today

This memoir offers a rare, firsthand view of modern international institutions at the moment of their creation. Readers interested in history, international relations, and political activism will appreciate its unvarnished portrait of pre-World War I Europe. The text avoids sentimental fluff, detailing the administrative friction, political compromises, and constant skepticism that accompany major social movements.

The reading experience feels like stepping into a dense, lively historical archive filled with private letters, meeting transcripts, and personal diary entries. While the narrative occasionally slows under the weight of formal titles, conference protocols, and extensive lists of diplomatic attendees, these details provide authentic period texture. It leaves the reader with a profound appreciation for the sheer persistence required to shift the course of international relations.