Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-09-03
THE CZAR'S IDEA.
Proposes an International Peace Con-
ference.

ST. PETERSBURG, August 2S.-By
order of Emperor Nicholas, Count
Muravieff, the foreign minister, on
the oath instant handed to the for
eign diplomats at St. Petersburg a
note declaring that the maintenance
of peace and the reduction Of the
excessive armaments now crushing all
nations is the ideal for which all
governments ought to strive.
The car considers the present mo-
nent favorable for the inauguration of
movement looking to this end, and
invites the powers to take part in an
international conference as means Of
thus insuring real and lasting peace
and terminating the progressive in
crease of armament.
The text of the note is as follows:
"The maintenance of general peace
and the possible reduction of the ex-
cessive ornaments which weigh upon
all nations present themselves in ex-
isting conditions to the whole world
AS an ideal toward which the endeavors
Of all governments should be directed.
"The humanitarian and magnani-
nous ideas of his majesty, the emper-
Or, 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 legiti-
mate view of all the powers, and i'm
oerial government thinks the present
movement would be very favorable to
seeking the means.
"International discussion is the most
efectual means of insuring all peoples
beneft-a real durable peace-above
all, putting an end to the progressive
development of the present arma-
ment.
"In 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 forward as an object of interna-
tional policy. 1t is in it's name that
great states have concluded among
themselves powerful alliances.
"It is the better to guarantee peace
that they have developed in proper
tions hitherto unprecedented their mill
itary 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-pacifcation.
"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 today regarded as the last work
Of science, are destined tomorrow to
lose all their value in consequence of
some fresh discovery in the same field.
National culture, economic progress
and the production of wealth are either
paralyzed or checked in development.
Moreover, in proportion as the arma-
ments of each power increase they
less and less fulfill the object the
governments have set before them
selves.
"The economic crisis, due in great
part to the system of armaments,
l'outrance, and the continual danger
which lies in this massing of war
material are Transforming the armed
peace of our days into crushing blow
which the people have more difficulty
in bearing.
at appears evidently that if the
state of things were to be prolonged it
would inevitably lead to the cataclysm
it is desired to avert, and the horrors
whereof make every thinking being
shudder in advance.
"To put an end to these incessant
armaments and TO seek the means Of
warding off the calamities which are
threatening the whole world-such is
the supreme duty today imposed upon
all states.
"Filled with this idea, his majesty
has been pleased to command me to
propose to all the governments whose
representatives are accredited to the
imperial court, the assembling of a
conference which shall occupy itself
with this grave problem.
"This conference will be, by the help
&c Gnd tho hanny nresape for the
century which is about to open. 1t
would converge into one powerful
focus the efforts of states sincerely
seeking to make the great conception
of universal peace triumph over the
elements of trouble and discord, and
it would, at the same time, cement
their agreement by corporate con-
centration of the principles of equity
and right, whereon rest the security of
states and the welfare of peopl es."