The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-12-06
ing of the Russian Mission to an EN-
bassy.
CARS DISARMAMENT PRO.
POSAI

CZAR'S DISARMAMENT PRO.
POSAL.
The proposal Of the Car for a general
reduction of the vast military establish
ments that weigh so heavily upon many
peoples in time of peace was commune
Gated TO this Government with an earn
est invitation to be represented in the
conference which it is contemplated to
assemble, with view to discussing the
means of accomplishing SO desirable q
result. His Majesty was at once in
formed of the cordial sympathy of this
Government with the principle involved
III his exalted proposal. and of the readi-
ness of the United States to take part
in the conference. The active military
force of the United States, rs measured
by our population, territorial area and
taxable wealth, is, and under any con
ceivable prospective conditions must
continue to he. in time Of peace so con
spicuously less than that of the armed
powers to whom the Cars appeal is
especially addressed that the question
can have for Ills no especial Importance,
save as marking an suspicious step to-
ward the betterment of the condition OF
the modern peoples, and the cultivation
of peace and good will among them; but
in this view it behooves us rs Il nation
to lend countenance and aid to the ben
eticent project.
The claims of owners of American
sealing vessels for seizure by Russian
cruisers in Behring Sea are being press
cd to a settlement. The equities of the
cases Justify the expectation that Il mea-
sure of PREPARATION will eventually be
accorded in harmony with precedent and
in the light of the proven facts.
The recommendation made in my spe-
cial message of April 9th last is re-
newed, that appropriation be made to
reimburse the master and owner of the
Russian bark Hans for wrongful arrest
of the master and detention of the YES
sci in February, 1896, by officers of the
United States District court for the
Southern District of Mississippi. The
papers accompanying my said message
make evident Il most meritorious claim
and Justify the urgency with which it
has been presented by the Government
OF Russia
The President next calls attention TO
the death of the King Of Samoa, and
reiterates adherence to the Tripartite
aSIeelHcill loT itS EuNeIHHicltt. 4NotlCS
of the settlement of the Cheek claim
against Siam and of the accrediting of
a Siamese minister is given. Attention is
called to the extension of the rules OF
the Red Cross Convention to naval
operation and the President adds:
This government feels keen satisfac-
ton in having thus been enabled to tes-
tify its adherence TO the broadcast prin-
ciples of humanity even amidst the clash
of war, and it is to be hoped that the
extension of the Red Cross compact to
hostiities by sea as well as on land
may soon become an accomplished fact
through the general PRONUNCIATION of the
additional naval Red Cross articles by
the maitime powers not parties
to the convention of 1864. The
important question of the claim
of Switzerland to the perpetual
cantonial allegiance of American citizens
of Swiss origin has not made hopeful
progress toward solution, and contro-
yersies in this regard still continue
The message states that the new NJ n
lister to Turkey goes instructed to press
American claims for missionary pop
erty destroyed and to adjust differences
growing out of the treaty of 1880. The
approaching meeting of the arbitral tr1-
bunal TO settle the British Venezuelan
boundary dispatch is noted and the oh
jeet commended. The good work of the
Bureau of American Republics is adj
verted to as is also the work of gather
ing and collating consular reports. The
message continues: