Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-09-01
Russia Calls For a Halt in
the Construction of Enor-
nous War Fleets.
The CZAR'S PROPOSITION
Is an international Conference to Secure
Abiding Peace Among the Powers aud
Termination of Progressive In
crease of Armaments Europe
Likely to Favor tho Idea.

Likely to Favor the Idea.
ST. Petersburg, Aug. 2S.-By order Of
Emperor Nicholas, Count Muravicff. the
foreign minister on the 24th instant hand
ed 10 the foreign diplomats at ST. Peters
burg note declaring that tho maintcn-
anCc OF peace and the reduction of the
excessive ornaments now crushing all nat
tons is the ideal for which all govern
ments ought to strive.
The Car considers the present moment
favorable for the inauguration of II move
mcnt looking to this end and invites the
powers to take part in an intCrnu tioEal
conference as a means of thus assuring
real and lasting peace and terminating
the progressive Increase of armamcnts.
London, Aug. 2S-Thc Cars proposition
for an intcrHation conference for the
purpose of securing real and lasting peace
among the powers as conveyed in a note
from Count Muravieff, the Russian for
eiGn diplomat!sts at st. Petersburg Is
likely to produce a sensation throughout
Europe; and coming from such II quarter
and with such evident sincerity, 1t is like
ly to have important effects.
There is no doubt that with Russia TAX
ing the lead IN such a step Germany,
France and the other nations will he
ready to follow. The text of the note fol-
lows
! The maintenance of general peace and
the possible reduction of the excessive ar
mamcnts which weigh upon all nations
present themselves in existing conditions
/ to the whole world as an ideal toward
which the endeavors of all governments
should he directed The humantarianand
ma gnanimous instincts of mis- aicsty. the
emperor my august master, have been
won over tn the service with the convc-
ton that his lofty aim is in conformity
with tho most essential interests and le-
gctimate views Of all the powers and the
imperial government thinks that the pres
cnt moment would be very favorable TO
| seeking the means.
international discussion is the most cf-
| fcctual means of insuring all peoples bon
| cft-a real durable peace. above all, put
| ting an end to the progressive develop
mcnt of the present ornaments.
In the course OF the last 20 years tho
longing for general appenscmcnts has
grown especially pronounced in the con-
sciences of civilized nations and the pres
crvation of peace has been put forward as
an object of international policy. 1t Is
in its name that great states have con-
cludcd between themselves powerful al
liances.
ut Is the better to guarantee peace that
, they have developed in proportions hith-
orto unprecedented their military forces
and stil continue to increase them with
out shrinking. from any sacrifice.
u Nevertheless all these efforts have not
yet been able to bring about tho benc-
tcient result desired-paciication.
THE financial charges following the up.
ward march strike at the very root of
public prosperity, The intellectual and
, physical strength of the nations labor ant
capital ar" mostly diverted from their ma
tura application and are unproductivcly
consumed. Hundreds of millions are de
voted to acquiring terrible engines of dcs
truction which. though to-day regarded
as the last word of science, are destined
, tomorrow to lose all their value in con
sequence of some fresh discovery in tn,
same fed National culture economic
progress and the production of wealth
; are either paralyzed or checked in dcvel
> opmont. Moreover, in proportion as tn
r ornaments of each power increase the,
less and less fulnll the object the gov
, eminent has set before themselves.
+, "The economic crisis. due In great par
to the system Of ornaments foutranc
:, and the continual danger which lies i'm thi
\ massing of war material are Transforming
, the armed peace of our days into crush
ing burden which the peoples have NOR
and more difficulty in bearing.
ri III appears evident that II this state o
, things were TO be prolonged II would N
: evitably lead to the very cataclysm il i
r desired 10 avert ana the horrors WntreO
i make every thinking being shudder in ad
II vance
: "To put an end to these incessant ar
mam.nts and to seek the means of ward
I ing off the calamities which are threat
= ening tho whole world such Is the Su
II prcmc duty to-day imposed upon "a
/ states.
q "tillcd with this idea, his majesty ha
d been pleased to command me to propos
Il to all governments whose representative
s are accredited to the imperial court tn
:. assembling of a conference which sha
L occupy itself with this grave problem.
This conference will be by the help G
e God, a happy presage for the centur
= which is about to open. 1t would cor
IT verge into one powerfui focus the cfror,
n of all states sincerely seeking to make I'll
d great conception of universal peace tr
+ umph over the elements of trouble an
@ discord and II would. at the same tim
o cement their agreement by a corporal
n conservation of tho principles of equit
l. and right wherein rests the security
: states and the welfare of peoples"
CAUSES SURPRISE IN ROME.
> Rene Aug. 2S.--The ears note H.
: made profound impression here. Som
a of the newspapers applaud, while Other
10 greet the communication with reserve
~ diStruct