The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-08-30
A CONFERENCE DESIRED
NATIONS INVITED TO JOIN IN
MOVEMENT FOR UNIVERSAL.
PEACE.
is THIS REALLY A UT0PlAN DREAM z
All People and Societies Connected with Peace
and Arbitration Movements are Jubilant
--Imperishable Monument to the
Fame of Emperor Nicholas.


st. Petersburg, Aug 2S.--By order OF
Gar Nicholas, Count Muravicff, the
Russian foreign minister. has handed to
each of the foreign representatives i'll 81.
Petersburg Il note stating that the main
tenance of peace and the reduction OF
the excessive ornaments now crushing
all European nations form the ideal for
which all governments ought to strive.
The Gear considers the present moment
favorable for starting Il movement look
ing TO this end and invites the powers To
take part in IN international conference
as a means of ensuring real and lasting
neace and ending the increase of arm.i-
ment.
The text Of Count Muravieff's note is
as follows: The maintenance of general
peace and the possible reduction of the
excessive ornaments which weigh upon
all nations present themselves in exist
ing conditions to the whole world as an
ideal toward which the endeavOrs of 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 the
powers: and the imperial government
thinks the present moment would be very
favorable to seeking the means.
"A REAL, DURABLE PEACE"
international discussion is the most
effectual means of ensuring all peoples
henefit-a real dura BILE peace, above all,
putting an end to the progressive deyel-
opment of the present ornaments.
I'm the course of the last twenty years
the longing for general appeasement has
grown especially pronounced in the con-
sciences of civilized nations: and the
preservation of peace has been put for
ward as an object of international pol
icy. 1t is in its name that great states
have concluded among themselves pow
erful alliances; it is the better TO guaran-
tee peace that they have developed i'll
proportions hitherto unprecedented their
military forces and still continue to in
crease them without shrinking from any
sacrifice. Nevertheless, all these efforts
have not yet been able to bring about
the benefcent result desired-pacification.
BIG ARMIES DWARF PROSPERITY
''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 is mostly diverted from nat
ural application and is unproductively
consumed Hundreds of millions are de-
voted to acquiring terrible engines of
destruction. which, though to-day re-
erordad 10 la CT xvarly of cafonon nrp
destined tomorrow to lose all their value
in consequence Of some fresh discovery
in the same field. National culture. eco
monte progress and the production of
wealth are either paralyzed or checked
in development. Moreover, in proportion
as the ornaments of each power increase
they less and less fulfill the object which
the government have set before them
selves.
1.-THE economic crisis, due In great part
to the system of ornaments and the con
tinual danger which lies in this massng
of war material, is transforming the
armed peace of our days into crushing
burden which the peoples haze more
and more difficulty in bearing.
START FOR THE NEXT CENTURY.
"It appears evident that if this state
of things were to be prolonged it would
inevitably lead to the very cataclysm it
is desired to avert and to horrors which
make every thinking being shudder in
advance. TO put an end TO these inces-
SAINT ornaments and to seek the means
of wardng 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 representa-
tives are credited TO the imperial court,
the assembling of a conference which
shall occupy itself with this grave prob
lem.
This conference will be by the help
of God n happy presage for the century
which is about to open. 1t would con-
verge into one powerful focus the efforts
of all States sincerely seeking to make
the great conception of universal peace
triumph over the elements Of trouble and
discord, and would, at the same time,
cement their agreement by a corporate
conservation of the principles of equity
and right whereon rest the security OF
States and the welfare of peoples"