Fair play., 1898-09-03
THE CZAR'S PROPOSITION.
An International Conference for tho
Purpose of Securing Real and
Lasting Peace.
EVIDENTLY SINCERE IN HIS PURPOSE.
The Continually EnIargin- Military and
Naval Establishments lave Failed In
the Desired Object of Preventing Was
While Proving a Tax on Material Prog
ress and Wealth.

the Desired Object of Preventing Was
While Proving a Tax on Material Prog
ress and Wealth.
London, Aug 29-The cars propo-
sition for an international conference
for the purpose of securing real and
lasting peace among the powers ana
the termination of the progressive In
crease in armamentS, as conveyed IN q
note from Count Muravietf, the Russian
foreign minister. to the foreign diplo-
mats at 81. Petersburg, is likely to
produce sensation throughout Eu.
rope, and. coming from such quarter,
and with such evident sincerity of pur-
pose, it is likely to have important ef'
fects. There is no doubt that with
Russia taking the lead in such a step,
Germany, France and the other ma
tions Will be ready to follow.
Text of the Note.
The text of the note follows:
1.-The maintenance of general peace
and the possible reduction of the ex-
cessivc armamcnts, which weigh upon
all nations, present themselves IN eA-
isting conditions to the whole world as
an ideal toward which the endeavors
of all governments should be directed.
Humanitarian and MagnanImous Ideas.
THE humanitarian and magnanl'
nous ideas of his ma jesty. the en-
porer, my august master, have been
won over to this view in convection
that this lofty aim is in conformity
with the most essential interests ana
legitimate views of all the powers. and
the imperial government thinks the
present moment would be very favor
able to seeking the means.
Real, Durable Peace.
"In the course of the last 20 years,
the longing for general appcasement
has grown especially pronounced IN
the consciences of civilized nations,
and the preservation of peace has been
put forward as an object of interna-
tional policy 1t is in its name that
great states have concluded among
themselves powerful alliances.
The Better to Guarantee Peace.
1T is the better to guarantee peace
hitherto unprecedented their military
forces and still continue TO increase
them without shrinking from any
sacrifice.
Nevertheless all these efforts have
not yet been able to bring about the
benefcent result paciiication-
strike at the Very Root Of Popular Pros
perity.
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 most diverted
from their natural application and are
unproductively consumed. Hundreds
of millions are devoted to acquiring
terrible engines Of destruction. which,
though to-day regarded rs the last
work of science, are destined to-mOr-
row to lose all their value in conse-
qucnce of some fresh discovery in the
same field National culture, economic
progress and the production of wealth
are either paralyzed or checked in de-
velopment. Moreover, in proportion
crease, they less and less fulfill the OBJ
iect the governments have set before
themselves.
The Economic Crisis.
The economic crisis. due in great
part to the system of armanents,
l'outrance. and the continual danger
which lies in this massing of war ma
terial are transforming the armed
peace of our days into a crushing blow
which the peoples have more difficulty
in bearing.
Il, appears evident that if this state
of things were to be prolonged it
would inevitably lead to the very cata-
clysm it is desired to avert, and the
horrors whereof make every thinking
being shudder in advance.
To Put an End to Incessant Armaments.
ITO put an end to these incessant ar.
maments and to seek the means OF
warding off the caianities which ara
threatening the whole world-such is
the supreme duty to-day imposed upon
all states.
FILLED with this idea, his majesty
HAS Dcth ~ u
propose to all the governments whose
representatives are accredited to the
imperial court, the assembling of
conference which shall occupy itself
with this grave problem.
A Happy Presage for the Century About to
Open.
This conference will be. by the helE
of God, the happy presagc for the CEN
tury which is about to open. 1t would
converge into one powerful focus the
efforts of all states sincerely seeking to
make the great conception OF universe.
peace triumph over the elements of
trouble and discord, and it would at
the same time cement their agreement
by corporate conservation of the
principles of equity and right, ,whereon
rest the security of states and the wei.
fare of peoples
The London Press the Proposal of the
Gar.
London. Aug. 29-The Daily Graphic
f.. r. 4