1899、1907年兩次海牙保和會，是二十世紀國際和平運動的濫觴，也是國際聯盟與聯合國的重要前身之一。清末參與兩次保和會，及民初對第三次保和會的籌備，是中國外交史中重要而至今仍遭忽略的課題。
本文依據一手史料，考察此歷程。認為此歷程是清末民初中國參與國際會議、國際組識的重要萌芽階段。會後簽署加入各種海牙及日內瓦公約，是中國參與國際公約、承擔國際義務的開端。會議前後，中國外交官對國際局勢與中國的國際地位，有較深刻的體認。而日俄戰爭與歐戰，中國兩次宣告中立，均未被尊重，外交官建議政府加強法制改革，以便引用國際公法維護國權。終於能在1917年8月，中國宣布遵守海牙各約，對德、奧宣戰，並在戰後以戰勝國身份參加巴黎和會。
陸徵祥參與兩次保和會，主持籌備第三次保和會，表現傑出。歐戰後又擔任巴黎和會中國代表團團長，實可稱為清末民初中國外交官中的佼佼者。其於外交史中的承先啟後的重要地位，應予以較公允的評價。

The Hague Peace Conference of 1899 and 1907 were important events of international peace movement, which paved the way for League of Nations and United Nations. China participated both conferences and even prepared for the third, which been interrupted by WWI. This study consults with firsthand archives, trying to rebuild and examine this much neglected historical event.
This study suggests that China's participation of Hague Conferences were the starting points for both China's entering into international organizations and international conventions. Chinese diplomats acknowledged the international diplomatic trend and China's international situation during the conferences. They urged Chinese government to accelerate its constitutional reform and to sign and ratify Hague conventions, then, China could protect her national rights by referring to these conventions. By 1917, Chinese government managed to join most of Hague conventions, and declaring war to Germany and Austria accordingly.
Lu Cheng-hsiang was the most significant Chinese diplomat among those who participated in Hague conferences. His splendid performance in both Hague and Peking suggests that he deserves a much higher evaluation in modern Chinese diplomatic history.