Answer to an open letter, published in Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant 56 (1899), no. 112, May 11, 1899, by the Dutch ambassador to St. Petersburg, E.W.F. Wttewaall van Stoetwegen (1840–1908). On May 2, 1899, Kuyper had interpellated in the Second Chamber about the fact that the Transvaal and the Orange Free State had not been invited to the Peace Conference (see 1899.05, pp. 950–956). This first Peace Conference (held May 18–June 30, 1899 at The Hague) was an ini- tiative of the emperor of Russia. In response the minister of foreign affairs stated that the diplomatic efforts of the ambassador in St. Petersburg had failed to affect any change in the invitation policy.

This prompted Kuyper to make the passing remark in his reply (see 1899.05, pp. 955–956) that the envoy in St. Petersburg had just been granted a high royal honor, but that it would have been better if this distinction had been granted after his negotiations had succeeded rather than after they had failed. After learning of this remark, Van Stoetwegen (in his capacity as ambassador) published a letter to Kuyper (in his capacity as member of Parliament). The letter was written in such a way as to compel a sharp response.

Two weeks after this public exchange of letters, the envoy was withdrawn at his own request by royal decree and was then, without cost to the treasury, made available for another function. Both letters were also published in De Standaard 28 (1899), no. 8343, May 15, 1899.