The Springfield herald., 1898-09-03
URGES DISARMAMENT
TIE czAR's SURPRISING PLEA.
lie Invites NIL Nations to Meet and Con-
slider the Propricty of Reducing Stand
ing Armies in the Interests of Peace
and Ciy,iizItIon

ST. Petersburg. Aug. 2S.-By order of
Emperor Nicholas, Count Muravien,
the foreign minister. on the 24th i'll
stant, handed to the foreign diplomats
AT ST. Petersburg IL note declaring that
the maintenance of peace and the re-
ductIon of the excessive armaments
now crushing all nations is the ideal
for which all governments ought to
strive.
The car considers the present mo-
mcut favorable for the Inauguration of
II movement looking TO this end, and
invites the powers TO take part in an
international conference as II means of
thus lnsuring real and lasting pence
and terminating the progressive i'll
crease of armament.
London. Aug. 2S.-Thc cars propo-
sition for an international conference
for the purpose of securing real and
lnsting peace among the powers and
the termination of the progressive in
crease In armaments, us conveyed in ii
note from Count Muravieff, the Rus
sian foreign minister, to the foreign
DIPLOMATS at st. Petersburg, is likely
to produce II sensation throughout Eu-
rope, and. coming from such quar-
ter and with such evident sincerity
of purpose il is likely TO have import
ant effects.
There is no doubt that with Russia
taking the lead in such Il step, Ger
many, France and other nations will
be ready TO follow.
London. Aug. 29-Thc Times CORE
spondent in ST. Petersburg says:
The proposal for II conference
which was made by the cZar Wednes-
day through the medium of the for
cign ambassadors AT st. Petersburg.
has been kept profoundly secret until
to-day at the express wish of Count
Muraveff the foreign minister, so that
it might be first promulgated on the
day of the unveiling of the monument
in the Kremlin to Alexander ii.
'rherc is reason to believe that it
formed the object of communication
between the courts of st. Petersburg
and Berlin some time previously, and
in all probability the support of Ger
many, at least, was secured i'll ad-
vance.
Russia. with her chronic famines
and her vast enterprises in the far east
TO provide for out of her budget, which
is being drawn upon more and more
each year for materials of war in or
der TO keep pace with the other pow
ers, must naturally feel the want of
international cooperation in her pres
ent policy of peace end in economical
developments"
Paris, Aug. 29.-The Paris papers
publish the cars note, but too late for
comment. In diplomatic and press cir
cles the greatest surprise is evinced
1t is no secret that the sensitive cars
feelings are towards peace. He hates
miltarism, and even objects to moving
about with military escort. He would
prefer TO govern Poland with sympa-
thy. and is shocked by bloodshed
Here is the great question asked:
what attitude does the Kaiser VIII
helm takei'
Visits to various newspaper offices
show the tone the journals will take
tomorrow. The Aurore is delighted
with the proposal. lie Journal thinks
1t is good omen for the future if the
autocratic car makes the proposal.
The Gnulois thinks it impossible that he
could have made such II grave pro-
posal without having first consulted
France, especially as it comes ut the
moment of the exchange of kilograms
between the ear and President Faurc.
Some of the papers say that Alsucc-
Lorraine must be restored before peace
can be assured.