The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-09-08
GEAR ST|RS THE WORLD
PROPOSES A GRAND PEACE
CONFERENCE.
Received With Respect
AS a Consummation To Be De-
sired But Considered Utopian.

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foreign diplomats at st. Peter sburg
a note declaring that the maipten-
ance of peace and the reduction of
the excessive ornaments now
crushing all nations is the ideal for
which all governments should
strive.
The Gar considers the present
moment favorable for the Inaugural
ton of movement looking to this
end, and invites the powers to take
part in an International conference.
LONDON, Aug. 28.-The text
of the note to the powers issued at
St. Petersburg is as follow:
THE maintenance of general
peace and the possible reduction
of the excessive armaments which
weigh upon all nations, present
themselves in existing conditions to
the whole world as an ideal toward
which the endeavors of all govern
ments should be directed. The
humanitarian and magnanimous
ideas of his majesty the Emperor,
my august master, have been won
over to these views in the convic-
ton that this lofty aim is in con-
formity with the most essential in
terests and legitimate views of all
the powers; and the imperial gov
eminent thinks the present moment
would be very favorable to seeking
the means to accomplish this.
international discussion is the
most effectual means of insuring all
peoples benefit-a real, durable
peace, above all, putting an end to
the progressive development of the
present ornaments.
"In the course of the last twenty
years the longing for general ap-
peasement has grown especially
pronounced in the consciences of
civilized nations; and the preserva-
ton of peace has been put forward
as an object of international policy.
1t is in its name that great states
have concluded among themselves
powerful alliances. II is the
better to guarantee peace that
they have developed in proper
. tons hitherto unprecedented their
military forces and still continue to
increase them, without shrinkage
from any sacrifice. Nevertheless,
all these efforts have not yet been
able to bring about the beneficent
result INSTRUMENTATION.
"The financial charges following
the upward march, strike at the
very root of public prosperity. The
intellectual and physical strength of
the nations labor and capital are
mostly diverted from their natural
application and are unproductively
consumed. Hundreds of millions are
devoted to acquiring terrible en-
gines of destruction, which, though
to-day regarded as the last work of
science, are destined tomorrow to
lose all their value in consequence
of some fresh discovery in the same
field. National culture, economic
progress and the production of
wealth are either paralyzed or check
ed in development. Moreover, in
proportion as the ornaments OF
each power increase, the less and
less they fulfill the object the gov
ernments have set before them
selves.
1.-The economic crisis, due in
great part to the system of arma-
ments, poutrance, and the continu-
al danger which lies in this massing
of war material, are Transforming
the armed peace of our days into a
crushing burden which the people
have more and more difficulty in
bearing.
cit appears evident that if this
state.of things were to be prolong-
ed it would inevitably lead to the
very cataclysm it is desired to avert
and the horrors whereof make every
thinking being shudderi in advance,
"To put an end to these incess-
ant ornaments and to seek the
means of warding off the calamities
which are threatening the whole
world--such is the supreme duty
to-day imposed upon all states
FILLED with this idea his majesty
has been pleased to command me
to propose to all the governments
whose representatives are accredit'
ed to the imperial court, the assem-
bling Of a conference which shall
occupy itself with this grave prob
! lem. This conference will be, by
the help of God, the happy presage
for the century which is about tc
open. 1t would converge into one
powerful focus the efforts of al
states sincerely seeking to make
! the great conception of nniversa
A.. 1. Il -