The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-29
ALL NATIONS
Excessive Armaments Sapping
the Life Blood of Europe.
THE CAR CALLS A HALT
Suggests the Reduction OF Military
Forces as a Step Towards an Endur-
ing Peace-Invites the Powers
to a Conference.

| Emperor Nicholas. Count MuraVieff, the
foreign minister. on the 22d, handed to
the foreign diplomats at st. Peterburg
a note declaring that the maintenance
| of peace and the reduction of the ex-
cessive armaments now crushing all ma
tions is the ideal for which all govern
ments ought to strive. The car con-
siders the present movement favorable
| for the Inauguration of a movement
looking to this end and invites the pow
ers to take part in an internatioal con-
| ference as a means of thus insuring real
and lasting peace and terminating the
| progressive increase of armament.
London, Aug. 2s.-The cars PROPOSE
| tion for an International conference
| for the purpose of obtaining real and
lasting peace among the powers and
the termination of the progressive in
| crease of armaments, as conveyed in
note from Count Mauravief, the
Russian foreign minister, to the foreign
diplomats at st. Petersburg, is likely to
produce a sensation throughout Eu-
rope, and coming from such a quarter
and with such sincerity of purpose, ii is
likely to have important effects. There
is no doubt that with Russia taking
the lead in such a step, Germany.
France and other nations will be ready
to follow.
The text of the note follows: THE
maintenance of general peace and the
possible reduction of the expensive ar
maments which weigh upon all ma
tions present themselves in eX-
listing conditions to the whole
world as an ideal toward
which the endeavors of the gov
ernments should be directed. The hu-
manitarian and magnanimous ideas of
his majesty, the emperor, my august
master have been won over to these
| views in the conviction that
this lofty ideal is in con-
formity with the most essential
interests and legitimate views of all the
powers; and the imperial government
thinks the present moment would be
very favorable to seeking the means.
International discussion is the most
effective means of ensuring all peoples
benefit-a real, durable peace, above
all, putting an end to the progressive
development of the present ornaments.
In 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
forward as an object of international
policy. 1t is in its name that great
states have concluded among them
selves powerful alliances.
1T is the better to guarantee peace
that they have developed i'm propor-
tions hitherto unprecedented their mill
itary forces and still continue to in
crease them without shrinking from
any sacrifice. Nevertheless all these
efforts have not yet been able to brin 2
about the beneficent result desired-pa-
cification.
THE financial charges following the
upward march strike at the very roo
of public prosperity. The intellectual
and physical strength of the nations
labor and capital are mostly diverted
from their natural application and are
unproductvely consumed. Hundreds
of millions are devoted to acquiring
terrible engines of destruction. which
though to-day regarded as the last
work of science. are destined to-mor-
row to lose all their value in conse-
quence of some fresh discovery in the
same field. National culture, economic
progress and the production of wealth
are either paralyZed or checked in de- |
velopment. Moreover, in proportion as
the armaments of each power increase, |
the less and less they fulfill the objects |
the governments have set before them |
selves.
The economic crisis, due in great |
part TO the system of armaments, |
routrance,' and the continual danger |
which lies in this massing OF war ma |
terial, are transforming the armed |
peace of our days into a crushing bur- |
den which the people have more and |
more difficulty in bearing. |
1T appears evident that IL this state |
of things were TO be prolonged it would |
inevitably lead to the very cataclysm II |
is desired to avert and the horrors |
which make every thinking man shud- |
der at in advance.
ITO put an end TO these incessant ar |
maments and to seek the means OF |
warding off the calamities which are |
threatening the whole world-such is |
the supreme duty to-day imposed on |
all states.
Filled with this idea, his majesty |
has been pleased TO command me 10 |
propose to all the governments whose |
representatives are accredited to the /
imperial court, the assembling of con-
ference which shall occupy itself with /
this grave problem.
This conference will be. with the /
help of God. the happy presage for the /
century which is about to open. II /
would converge into one powerful TO-
Gus the efforts of all states sincerely |
seeking TO make the great conception 1
of universal peace triumph over the ell /
ements of trouble and discord. and il /
would at the same time cement their /
agreement by a corporate concentration /
of the principles of Europe and right /
whereon rests the security Of states and /
the welfare of peoDles."
The Daily Graphic this morning re-
ferring to the proposal of Emperor /
Nicholas, says: 1T would be idle to at
tempt to ignore the many and grave
difficulties standing in the way OF the |
attainment OF the cars wishes; but it /
cannot be possible to doubt the sin
certify of the magnanimous proposal"
The Standard says, speaking editor
tally of the cars proposal: In En-
gland. at least, respect and sympathy 4
viii be felt for the proposal II is a
conception well worthy Of the young