Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-30
THE GEAR PLEADS FOR PEACE.
He Invites the Powers tn Confer
euce-Is He sincere.

He Invites the Powers tn n Confer
cnce-Is lie Sincere.
ST. PETERSBURG. August 29.-By
order of Emperor Nicholas. Count Mura~
vieff, the Foreign Minister, on August 2ith
handed 10 the foreign diplomats at ST.
Petersburg. a note declaring the mainten-
ance Of peace and the reduction or the
excessive aramments now crushing all ma
tions, to be the ideal for which all gov
ernments ought TO strive.
The Car considers the present moment
favorable for the beginning OF a move
ment looking to this end, and invites the
Powers to take part in an international
conference as a means OF thus assuring
real and lasting peace and terminating
the progressive increase Of ornaments.
WILL CREATE A SENSATION.
LONDON, August 29.-The Cars propo-
sition for an international conference
for the purpose of securing real and last
ing peace among the Powers, and the
termination of the progressive increase oi
ornaments, as conveyed I'm a note from
Count Muravien. the Russian Foreign
Minister, TO the foreign diplomats at st.
Petersburg, is likely TO produce a sensa-
ton throughout Europe; and, coming
from such quarter, and with such eyi-
dent sincerity, IL is likely 20 have i'm
portant effects. There is no doubt that
with Russia taking the lead in such a
step Germany. France and the other ma
tons will be ready to follow.
COUNT MURAVIEFF'S NOTE.
The text of the note follows:
The maintenance of general peace and
the possible reduction Of the excessive
ornaments which weigh upon all nations
present themselves in existing conditions
to the whole world as an ideal toward
which the endeayors of all governments
should be directed The humanitarian and
magnanmous ideas of his Majesty, the
Emperor, my august master have been
won over 20 this view in the conviction
that this lofty aim is i'm conformity with
the most essential interests and legiti-
mate views Of all the Powers, and the
Imperial Government thinks the present
moment would be very favorable to seek
ing the means.
International discussion is the most ef
fectual means of insuring all peoples
benefit-a real, durable peace, above all.
putting an end to the progressive develop
ment of the present ornaments
In 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 pre-
servation of peace has been put forward
as an object of International policy. 1t is
in it's name that great States have con-
cluded between themselves powerful ALI
ances
FUTILE GUARANTEE OF PEACE.
1t is the better to guarantee peace that
they have developed in proportions
hitherto unprecedented their military
forces, and still continue TO increase
them, without shrinking from any sacri-
lice.
Nevertheless, all these efforts have not
yet been able to bring about the bene-
icent result INSTRUMENTATION.
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
and capital are mostly diverted from
their natural application, and are unpro~
ductlyely consumed. Hundreds of mill
liens are devoted to acquiring terrible
engines Of destruction, which, though to-
day regarded as the last word Of science
are destined tomorrow to lose all their
value i'm consequence Of some fresh dis
covery in the same field. National cul-
ture, economic progress. and the produc-
ton Of wealth are either paralyzed or
checked in development. Moreover, I'm
proportion as the ornaments of each
Power increase they less and less fulh
the object the governments have set be-
fore themselves.
A CRUSHING BURDEN.
The economic crisis, due in great part
IN . hta Of al me a
and the continual danger which lies in
this massing of war material are trans
forming the armed peace of our days into
a crushing burden, which the people have
more and more difficulty in bearing.
It appears evident that If this state Of
things were TO be prolonged il would IN
evitably lead 10 the very cataclysm it is
desired to avert and the horrors whereof
make every thinking being shudder in
advance.
To put an end to these incessant arma-
ments and TO seek the means of warding
Off the calamities which are threatening
the whole world--such is the supreme
duty to-day imposed upon all states.
Filled with this idea, mis- Majesty has
been pleased to command me TO propose
TO all the governments whose representa-
tives are accredited TO the Imperial Court
the assembling or conference "HlcH
shall occupy itself with this grave pro-
blem.
This conference will be. by the help Of
God, a happy presase Cor the century
which is about to open. 1t would con-
verge into one powerful focus the efforts
OF all States sincerely seeking 10 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 a corporate
conservation Of the principles Of equity
and right, whereOn rest the security Of
States and the welfare Of peoples.
ALGER PLEADS NOT GUILTY.