The times., 1898-08-31
THE PEACE PROPOSAL
England Has Not Replied to
the Cars Circular.
WAITING FOR SALISBURY
1t Is known That the English Prime
Minister Heartily FavOrs the Dis
armament Question In Russia
1t Is Regarded AS Deciding "a
Diplomatic Feud.

London, Aug 30.-Nothing has been is
sued at St. Petersburg concerning the
disarmament proposals except the circu-
lar sent to the embassies by Count Mu-
ravieff. the foreign minister. Not the
slightest hint has reached the embassies
there regarding the practical proposals TO
be submitted to the projected conference
Great Britain has not yet replied TO the
proposals contained in the Muravieff cir
cular the government awaiting the re-
turn from his vacation of Prime Minis
ter Salisbury.
Salisbury has long been interested in
the disarmament question. In 1891 he had
a confidential state paper prepared which
showed that In the six years ending in
1885 France, GermanE austria, Great
Britain, Russia. Spain. and Italy spent
e974, lis. .sO2 for military and naval pur-
poses alone. Lord Salisbury communi-
Gated this memorandum to Emperor
William. who was so impressed by 1t that
he privately intimated his intention of
summoning a European congress to con
slider practical measures assuring univer-
sal peace"
The German Press.
The German press, as a preliminary,
was instructed to yentilate the question,
which it did in the Summer of .>9l. The
idea was Very unfayorably received by
France. Emperor william thereu pom
abandoned his intention.
Lord Salisbury is still hopeful of disarm-
ament. His attachment ID he conce ceft
of Europa is due thereto, he hoping that
the cooperation of the powers might rs
sure the settlement of international l.I+s-
tons without armies and navies. lis
speech at the Guild Hall in 1897 is now
| recalled. In the course of this speath he
said that the federation of Europe ~ the
embryo of the only possible structure of
Europe which can save civilization from
the desolating effects of a European war.
'The one hope we have Of preventing
this competition and ending the terri aie
effort at mutual destruction, which would
be fatal to Christian civilization. IS that
the powers may gradually be brorsn- IT,
gether, TO act together in a friand;v siti.!s
! on all subjects of difference until finally
they are welded together in some inter
/ national constitution which will give TO
world as a result OF their great strength
a long spell Of unfettered commerce. pros
Porous trade and continued peace"
| dispatch to the Daily Mail from
/ st. Petersburg, dated August %. saws
! that the disarmament rescript is regard
! ed as deciding the diplomatic feud be-
I tween Count Muravieff. the foreign min
! ister, and NJ. Witte minister of finance
/ which has existed since the latter induced
! the Car TO establish a gold standard fol
! the currency.
|
! NJ. Witte told the Car that if he coun-
! tenanced Count MuraviefT's aggressive
| provocative policy against England fol
| another two years Russia would become
! bankrupt, as the withdrawal of gold from
| the treasury necessitated by the heavy
! purchases of munitions OF war would de-
! plete the hoard set aside from the main
tenance of the new monetary standard.
| The correspondent adds that he is as
| 5ured that until August y the Gar was
! a strong supporter of Count Muravieff'
| policy. but in consequence of strong pres
| sure from Copenhagen within the mex
twenty-four hours. NJ. Witte prevailed
| upon him TO publish the disarmament
proposal, the idea of which had been il
allegiance since Nicholas ascended th'
| throne
The publication of the rescript cmmit!
! Russia 10 the policy Of favoring the plans
| of NJ Witte. Peace is now assured a
| least until the completion of the Siberian
! Railway. which was ever a pet project o
the government The chancellerieS o
| Europe have received no intimation o
| the advent of the Cars circular beyOn'
the official telegram sent on August 2i