Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-09-05
NO FAITH IN CAR.
Europeans Suspicious of Disarmn-
ment PrOclamatiOn-Thin 1t
Diplomatic Flnesse.

| Special Cable to the Chicago Inter Ocean.
PARIS, Sept. 3.-Now that the astonish-
ment, which was the chief emotion excited
| by the cars suggestion of disarmament,
has somewhat subsided, it is possible to
| gain some idea of the effect OF his circular
upon European opinion, both official and
| popular.
1t must be said that the transports of
joy wherewith the ingenious lovers Of
peace welcomed the utterance, as herald
ing the Ctopian era, have entirely disap-
peared. Suspicion of the motives and OBJ
Ject of the proclamation, which early in
| the week was denounced as cynical and un-
worthy. is rapidly becoming general.
Public comment in England and Germany
has been almost wholly in Endorsement OF
the czar's sentiments, yet In no country
is the disbelief in Russia's good faith SO
strong as in England. Englishmen are too
polite openly to question the cars motives.
but at heart they have no confidence in his
ingenuousness
This incredulity finds public expression
Chiefly IN the criticism that the proposal Is
impracticable. England, however will give
the czar every opportunity and encourage
ment to show to what extent he is willing
to put ideas into practice.
France skeptical and Angry.
France Is not only skeptical, but exas-
perated and angry that such radical move
should have been made without even a
preliminary hint to her as an allied nation.
1t is significant that the czars letter should
be everywhere referred to in France as
the "Muravieff circular 1t is taken for
granted that it is an important move in
the great diplomatic game rIw playing
and not Platonic declaration Of PRINCIPLES
by the peace loving cZar. Even the ignor-
ant masses cry What about AIsaee-Lor-
rdlne! and the Franco-Russian alliance
suIfers seriously in popular estimation
ltaiy, which of all the countries of Eu-
rope is most severely oppressed by the
burdens OF militarism, greets the Russian
prop3sal with the apprehensive inquiry as
to what it means, never for a moment APP
good faith. Al
the russians themselves probably admit
lldt lhls almost universal dstrust is not
unnatural or unjustitied by the recent Rus
sian policy 1t has been pointed out In the
pas past DAY gay or two in every capital of Eur
century has been Immediately preceded by
some declaration of pacific intentions from
the country which has proved to be the
Moreover. as all the world knows. no
country Is so active at the present mo-
ment and in aggression in all directions
Where expansion is possible. 1t liz not sur
pTising, therefore, that the second effect
of the peace proposal is to excite appre-
hension instead of confidence There is
growing up feeling akin to alarm in
many parts of Europe.
Ang1o-Germnn Agreement,
This feeling of alarm was somewhat
checked by yesterdays report of the Anglo
German agreement anent Africa and
Egypt. 1t is shrewdly suspected that a
forewarning of this move was one of the
causes of the cars proposal. Given a
friendly understanding between England
and Germany and England and America
and all hope of Russian aggrandizement
by means of force is at an end.
Russian diplomacy has been the most
skiiiful and successful in the world, while
Russian arms have been peculiarly unfor-
-tunate. There would be none, so quick as
Russia to recognize the decisive factor OF
the force majeure and submit thereto.
What could be more to her advantage than
to procure the elimination of force and the
chance to pursue her ambitious diplomacy
wherein she is supreme and is now almost
daily winning victories.
For the present not country of Europe
dreams of relaxing for a moment the mad
competition in building warships and equip
ping armies Nor does anybody except per-
haps few gentle members of the peace so
ciety believe that the cars proposal will
bring any practical relief from the intol-
erable burdens of military and naval arma-
ments which are crushing the other ma
fionS