The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-08-29
GEAR SPEAKS FOR PEACE
AN OFFICLAL NOTE HANDED TO
 FOREIGN DIPLOMATS.


 Themselves in Existing Conditions to the Whole World as an Ideal Toward Which the Endeavors of All Govern- national Conference Proposed Likely to Cause n Sensation in Europe.
 St. Petersburg, Aug. 28.-By order of Emperor Nicholas, Count Maraviff, the foreign minister, on the 24th inst. hand ed to the foreign diplomats at St. Pet ersburg note in which the czar makes 8 proposition to the powers for an in- ternational conference for the purpose of securing real and lasting peace.
 London, Aug. 2s.-The czar's proposi- tion for an international conference for the purpose of securing real and lasting peace among the powers and the termination of the progressive in crease in armaments, as conveyed in note from Count Maraviff, the Russian foreign minister to the foreign diplo- mats at St. Petersburg is likely to pro- duce a sensation throughout Europe and coming from such a 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 a step, Ger many, France and the other nations will be ready to follow. The text of the note follows:
 'The maintenance of general peace and the possible reduction of the ex- cessive armaments which weigh upon all nations, present themselves in exist ing conditions to the whole world as an ideal toward which the endeavor of all governments should be directed. The humanitarian and magnanimous 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 essential interests and legitimate views of all the powers: and the inn perial government thinks the present moment would be very favorable to seeking the means. The international dlSCuSSlOll IS LllC IllOSI tllSClutl Ilcduo of ensuring all peoples benefit-a real durable peace, above all, putting an end to the progressive development Of the present armaments.
 "In the course of the last twenty years the longing for general appease- ment has grown especially pronounced in the consciences of civilized nations and the preservation of peace has been put forward as an object of interna- tional policy. It is in it's name that great states have concluded among themselves powerful alliances. It 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 sacrifice Nevertheless, these efforts have not yet been able to bring about the beneficent result desired-pacification
 .'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 ter- rible 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- nt Ioronuar in nrnn0rtinn as the armaments of each power increases they less and less fulfill the object the governments have set before them selves.
 s"The economic crisis, due in great part to the system of armanents Tout rance, 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 duffi- culty in bearing. It appears evident that if this state of things were to be prolonged 1t would inevitably lead to the very cataclysm it is desired to avert, and the horrors whereof make every thinking being shudder in ad- vance. To put an end to these inces- sant ornaments and toseekthe means of warding off the calamities which are threatening the whole world-such is the supreme duty of to-day 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 accredited to the imperial court, the assembling of con- ference which shall occupy itself with this grave problem. This conference may be, with the help of God, happy presage for the century which is about to open. It would converge into one nowerful focus the efforts of all states sincerely seeking to make the great conception of universal peace triumph over the elements of trouble and dis cord. and it would, at the same time, cement their agreement by corporate consecration of the principles of equity and right whereon rest the security of states and the welfare of peoples"