The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-08-29
THE END OF
WARFARE.
eussia's Car Makes a
\ Startling Proposal.
o.. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
b Discuss the Need For. Reduction
in Armament.
CONSTANT MENACE TO PEACE.

The Cars Note to the Powers Declares
That the Continual Danger Which Lies
In This Massing Of War Materials Are
Transforming the Armed Peace Of Our
Day Into Crushing Burden Which the
People Have More and Moro Difficulty in
Bearing.
st. Petersburg, Aug. 29.-By order of
Emperor Nicholas, Count Muravieff,
he foreign minister, handed to the
6reign diplomats at st. Petersburg a
iote declaring maintenance of peace
ments now crushing all nations Is the
deal for which all nations ought to
krive. The czar considers the present
moment favorable for the Inauguration
" movement looking to this end and
Invites the powers to take part in an
International conference as a means Of
thus ensuring real and lasting peace
and terminating the progressive in
hease of armament
The czar's proposition Is likely to pro-
luce a sensation throughout Europe,
Ind coming from such a quarter and
With such evident sincerity of purpose,
is likely to have important effects.
fhere is no doubt that with Russia
Aking the lead in such a step Ger
many, France and the other nations
Vill be ready to follow.
The text of the note follows:
'The maintenance of general peace
and the possible reduction of the ex-
iessive ornaments which weigh upon
I'll nations present themselves in cx-
sting conditions to the whole world as
In ideal toward which the endeavors
If all governments should be directed.
The humanitarian and magnanimous
IDEAS of his majesty, the emperor, my
august master, have been won over to
This view In the conviction that this
lofty aim is in conformity with the
most essential interests and legitimate
views of all powers, and the imperial
government thinks the present mo-
ment would be very favorable to seek
hg the means.
International discussion Is the most
Pffectual means Of ensuring all peoples
beneflt-a real durable peace. above all,
putting an end to the progressive de-
teiopment of the present amaments.
I'm the course of the last 20 years
the longing for general appeasement
has grown especially pronounced in
The consciences of civilized nations, and
the preservation Of peace has been put
as an object Of International
policy, 1t is in its name that great
states have concluded among them
Besses powerful alliances.
ut Is the better to guarantee peace
hat they have developed in proportions
hitherto unprecedented their military
forces and still continue to increase
lhem, without shrinking from any sac
rifce.
Nevertheless, all these efforts have
hot yet been able to bring about the
beneficient result desired-paclfcatio
'"The financial charges following the
upward march strike at the very root |
pf public prosperity The Intellectual
Ind physical strength of the nations
abor and capital are mostly diverted
rom their natural application and are |
lnproductively consumed. Hundreds Of |
millions are devoted to acquiring ter
fbte engines of destruction, which,
hough today regarded as the last work ,
II science, are destined tomorrow to
0se all their value In consequence of
)ome fresh discovery in the same field.
National culture, economic progress
Ind the production Of wealth are
'ither paralyzed or checked in develop
nent. Moreover, in proportion as the
ornaments of each power increase,
hey less and less fulfill the object the
government set before themselves.
''The economic crisis, due in great
'art to the system of armaments
'outrance, and the continual danger
which lies in this massing of war ma
erfal are Transforming the armed
'eace Of our days into a crushing bur-
len which the people have more and
more difficulty in bearing.
'It appears evident that If this state
4 things were to be prolonged 1t would
bevitably lead to the very cataclysm
is desired to avert, and the horrors
whereof make every thinking being
hudder in advance.
$40 put an end to these incessant
!Imaments and to seek the means Of
yarding off the calamities which are
threatening the whole world-such Is
he supreme duly today imposed upon
II states.
''Filled with this idea, his majesty
las been pleased to command me to
'ropose to all the governments whose
representatives. are accredited to the
imperial court, the assembling of
conference which shall occupy itself
nth this grave problem.
''This conference will be, by the help
I God, happy presage for the CEN
ury which is about to open. 1t would
onverge into one powerful focus the
forts of all states sincerely seeking to
,ake the great conception Of universal
'eace triumph over the elements Of
rouble and discord, and 1t would, at
he same time, cement their agreement
" corporate conservation of the
rinciples of equity and right whereon
est the security of states and the well
are Of peoples"
The weather.