The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-08-29
TEXT OF CZAR,s NOTE.
document Likely to Cause q Great
Sensation I'm Europe.

LONDON, Aug. 2s.-The czar,s nron-
osltion for an International confer
ehce for the purpose of securing real
ana lasting peace among the powers
ana the termination of the progress
slVe increase in armaments, which was
conveyed in note from Count Mura-
VleH, the Russian foreign minister. tn
the foreign diplomats at St. PetersbI1rs-
Is likely to produce sensation
throughout Europe, and. coming from
such quarter and with such evident
sincerity of purpose, it is likely to have
important effects. There Is no doubt
that with Russia taking the lead in
such step, Germany, France and the
other nations will be ready to follow.
Ihe text of the note follows:
Inc maintenance of general peace and the
possible reduction Of the excessive arma-
ments which weigh upon all nations present
In themselves, under existing conditions. to
the whole world al ideal toward which the
endeayors of ell governments should be di-
reoted. The humanitarian and ma gnanimous
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 con-
formity with the most essential interests and
legitimate views of all the powers, and the
imperial government thinks the present move
ment would be very favorable to seeking
means.
International discussion is the most effective
means of securing to all the peoples bene-
fitted real, durable peace, above all put
ting an end TO the progressive DEVELOPMENTS
of the present armaments
In the course Of the last twenty years the
demand for general appeasement has grown
especially pronounced in the conscience OF civ
ilized nations, and the preservation Of peace
has been put forward as an object of inter-
national policy. 1t is in its fame that great
states have concluded among themselves pow
erful alliances.
1t is the better to guarantee peace that
they have developed extensions, hitherto uu-
precedented, In their military forces and
still continue to increase them without
shrinking from any sacrifice.
Nevertheless all these efforts have not vet
been able to bring about the benefcent re-
suits desired-pacifcation
The financial charges following the upward
march strike at the very root of public pros
perity. The intellectual and physical strength
of the nations labor and capital are
diverted from their natural application and
are unproductively consumed Hundreds OF
millions are devoted to acquiring terrible en-
gines of destruction, which, though today re-
garded as the last work Of science are des-
tined 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 paralyzed or checked in development.
Moreover, in proportion as the armaments OF
each power Increase, they less and less fulfill
the object the governments have set before
themselves. The economic crisis, due in great
part of the system of armament poutranee
and the continual danger which lies in this
massing Of war material Is Transforming
the armed peace Of our days into a crushing
burden which the people have more and more
difficulty in bearing.
1t appears evident that If this state of
things were to be prolonged it would inevita-
bly, lead to the very cataclysm it is desired to
avert, the horrors of which make every think
ing 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 today
imposed upon all states
Filled with this idea, his majesty has been
pleased to command me to propose to all the
governments whose representatives are ac-
credited to the imperial court the assembling
OF conference which shall occupy itself with
this grave problem.
This conference shall, by the help of God,
be the happy presage of the century which is
about to open. 1t would converge into one
powerful focus the efforts of all states, seek
ing sincerely to 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 COR
porate conservation of the principles OF equity
and right whereon rest the security Of the
states and the welfare OF the peoples.