The state herald., 1898-09-02
URGES DISARMAMENT
THE czAR's SURPRISING PLEA
He Invites all Nations to Moet and Con-
slider the Propriety of Reducing Stand
Ing Armies In the Interests of Peace
and Civilization.

St. Petersburg, Aug. 2S.-By order of
Emperor Nicholas, Count Murayien,
the foreign minister, on the oath in
stant, handed to the foreign diplomats
mt ST. Petersburg note declaring that
the maintenance of peace and the re-
ductiOn of the excessive armaments
now crushing all nations is the ideal
for which all governments ought to
strive.
The ear considers the present mo-
ment favorable for the inauguration of
movement looking to this end, and
invites the powers to take part In an
international conference as n means of
thus insuring real and lasting peace
and terminating the progressive in
! crease Of armament.
London, Aug. 2S.-The cars prOpo-
sition for an international conference
for the purpose of securing real and
lasting peace among the powers and
the termination of the progressive in
crense In armamentS, as conveyed In
note from Count Muravleff, the Rus
sian foreign minister, to the foreign
diplomats ut st. Petersburg, is likely
to produce sensation throughout Eu-
rope, and, coming from such quar-
ter and with such evident sincerity
OF purpose, 1t is likely to have import
ant effects.
There Is no doubt that with Russia
taking the lead in such step, Ger
many, France and other nations will
be ready to follow.
London, Aug. 29.-The Times corre-
spondent in st. Petersburg says:
"The proposal for Il conference
which was made by the cZar Wednes-
day through the medium OF the for
eign ambassadors at st. Petersburg.
has been kept profoundly secret until
to-day at the express wish of Count
Muraviefr, the foreign minister, so that
1t might be first promulgated on the
day of the unveiling of the monument
In the kremlin to Alexander ii.
There Is reason to believe that 1t
formed the object of communication
between the courts of st. Petersburg
and Berlin some time previously, and
In all probability the support of Ger
many, at least, was secured in ad-
vance.
"Russia, with her chronic famines
and her vast enterprises In the far east
to provide for out of her budget, which
Is being drawn upon more and more
Nh'h ythi ioI iiiteTlsils VI WIT Ill or
der TO keep pace with the other pow
ers, must naturally feel the want of
International cooperation In her pres
ent policy of peace end in economical
developments"
Paris, Aug. 29.-The Paris papers
publish the czars note. but too late for
comment. In diplomatic and press cir
cles the greatest surprise is evinced
1t Is no secret that the sensitive cars
feelings are towards peace He hates
milltarism. and even objects TO moving
about with military escort. He would
prefer TO govern Poland with sympa-
thy, and is shocked by bloodshed.
Here Is the great question asked.
What attitude does the Kaiser VIII
helm takcy'
Visits to various newspaper offices
show the tone the journals will take
tomorrow. The Aurorc is delighted
with the proposal. lie Journal thinks
II Is good omen for the future II the
nutocratic car makes the proposal.
The Gaulois thinks II impossible that he
could have made such n grave pro-
posnl without having first consulted
France. especially as II comes at the
moment Of the exchange of tclcgrams
between the ear and President Faure.
Some OF the papers say that Alsacc-
Lorraine must he restored before peace
can be assured.