Evening journal., 1898-08-29
A UNIVERSAL PEAc7
The Czar Makes o Startlii
Proposal.
CONFERENCE OF POWERS AS1
Nicholas Proposes That All the crea
Nations End the Progressive Iucretss
of Nnvai and Military Arota-
manlA- Eneli.h nnInlnn.


ST. PETERsBURG. Aug % -Ry or
dor of Emperor Nicholas count Mura-
vicn the foregn minister Oh the 2lth
inst handed 90 the forcign diplomats
al So. Petersburg "a note dcclanns that
me maintenance of peace ana tho te-
ductlon of the excessive armpments
now crushing AN nations ls tho ideal fof
which all governments ought to su'Vf
THE c2ar eunsIdc.s The present moo
pcnt favorable for the inauguration 81
y movement looking TO this end and
invites the powers to take part In an
international conference as q means Of
thus assuring real and lasting peace and
terminating the progressive increase Of
armaments.
The cars proposition; as conveyed In
note from Count Muravieff. the Rus
sian foreign minister, to the foreign
diplomats at 81. Petersburg, Is likely 70
produce a sensation throu hout Europe,
and, coming from such a quarter and
with such evident sincerity Of purpose
1t is likely 20 have important effects.
There Is no doubt that with Russia
taking the lead IN such a step Germany,
France and the pther nations will be
ready TO follow
Ine text OF the note follows.
"rhe maintenance OF general peace
and the possible reduction OF the ex-
cessive armaments 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 magnanlmous ideas
Of his majesty the emperor my august
MASTER have been won over to this
view in the conviction that this lofty
aim is in conformity with the most es-
sential interests and legitimate views
Of all the powers. and the imperial gov
ernment thinks the present moment
would be very favorable to seeking the
means.
international discussion is the most
effectual means of insuring all peoples
beneft-a real, durable peace, above all
putting an end to the progressive de-
velopment of the present armaments.
"ln 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 for
ward as an object of international poll
cy. 1t Is in It's name that great states
powerful alliances.
1T is the better to guarantee peace
that they have developed I'm proportions
hitherto Unprecedented their military
forces and still continue TO increase
them without shrinking from any sac
rifce
Nevertheless. all these efforts have
not yet been able to bring about the
beneflcent result desired-paclncation.
"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 mostly diverted
from their natural application and are
unproductively consumed. Hundreds OF
millions are devoted to acquiring terri
bic 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 par
alyzed or checked in development.
Moreover, in proportion as the arma-
ments OF each power increase they less
and less fulfill the object the govern
ment has set before themselves
THE economic crisis. due in great
part TO the system OF armaments rou-
trance and the continual danger which
lies IN this massing OF war material are
Transforming the armed peace Of our
days into a crushing burden. which the
peoples have more and more difficulty
In bearing.
1T appears evident that IL this state
of things were 10 be prolonged It would
inevitably lead TO 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
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 10 propose
to all the governments whose represent
atives are accredited TO the imperial
court the assembling Of a conference
which shall occupy itself with this grave
problem.
This conference viii be. by the helr
OF God, happy presage for the century
which Is about TO open. 1t would con-
verge into one powerful focus the ef-
forts OF all states sincerely asking 70
make the great conception Of universal
peace triumph over the elements OF
trouble and discord, and Il would at the
same time cement their agreement by
corporate conservation OF the princi.
pies Of equity and right whereon rest
the security Of states and the welfar,
Of peoples"