Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-30
THE CARS MANIFESTO
St. Petersburg Papers Declare It Marks q
Turning Point in History.
On All Sides In England 1t IL Re-
garded rs an Absolute impossible
ity-vlew in berlin mad Paris.

| The st. Petersburg newspapers declare
| that the cars manifesto will probably
constitute turning point in history. The
| Novosti says:
| 1T stands to reason that the disarma-
| ment question cannot be solved without a
| previous removal Of the causes for the ar
| Haments. The conference must accurately
| determine the respective pretensions of the
nations and propose means for a peaceful
| arrangement, and it may come to pass that
| at the close of the nineteenth century a
| liquidation may be effected of the interna-
| tional policies which are SO prolific in trou-
bleS and dangers"
The Novoe Vremya says: "AlI true friends
of peace are. naturally, on the side of Rus
STA, but 1T is impossible to guarantee that
some of the western cabinets will not raise
objections, promoted by the fact that the
armed peace which has existed since 1871
! Is the main source Of their international
| strength
The viedomosti expresses the opnion
| that the note of the car is essentially
an attempt to introduce the element of
trust into international relations" adding.
whoever believes IN the creative power
OF ideas propounded with conviction and
cIearness must rejoice that the note hrinps
new and benefcent course into the
worlds life and groups anew the partici-
PeihtS III lilstt me-
London Says Impossible.
The London papers are filled with discus
slcns, comments and opinions Is to the cir
cular of the Emperor Nicholas. The most
Notwithstanding event could hardly have pro-
duced such stir as this suggestion, the
fruition of which is regarded on all sides
as an absolute impossibiity.
This being holiday season, it is difficult
To obtain the opinions of public men on
the subject. The religious world however
loudly welcomes and praises the car S
noble initiative. Numerous bishops have
already publicly EXPRESSED their views in
that sense.
Among statesmen interviewed, Lord Kim
ber,ey, the liberal leader declined to ex-
press a hasty opinion beyond saying that
the proposal was one of the utmost i'm
portance.
Sir Charles Dixie, radical member of par
lament for the Forest of Dean, remarked
The Russian peace footing of nearly d
million regulars exceeds the peace footing
of Germany, Austria and Italy combined
Thus it has been in Russia's power to re-
duce the land forces by diminishing her
own in connection with a similar action on
the part of Germany.
French public opinion is not prepared
for disarmament. which would mean, as
things now stand an acceptance of the
Alsace-Lorrane situation. Naval disarma-
ment would be dangerous for Great Bril-
tain. Any formal plan would involve sub
sequent breaches of faith. but if Germany
and Russia will cease increasing their
| forces we can follow without formal
agreement
Lord Frederick Roberts of Kandahar
commander of the forces in Ireland, said
in reply to a request for mis- opinion: 1T
will be most satisfactory if such a pro-
pesa1 can be carried out.
No excitement Is noticeable at the for
eign office. 1t is understood that special
messenger sent from st. Petersburg
,Nlr,,a tfnr, he g
proposal.
Naturally all persons and societies con-
nected with peace and arbitration move
ments are jubiiant. The pope wired mis-
congratulations to Emperor Nicholas i'm
mediately and offered every assistance in
| his power to promote the proposed confer
ence.
The Pivotal Power.
What is noticeable in European comment
is the fact that everything is held to pivot
on the action of France. NJ. de Blowitz.
the Paris correspondent of the London
Times, puts the matter pithily. He says:
TT is practically impossible that France
could have been consulted beforehand be-
cause an absolutely primary condition or
her sanction would be that Alsnca-Lorraine
should cease to belong to Germany. Bis
marck once said to me, There are three
of us who made the German empire. The
German nation would hang all three If we
Alsace-Lorraine to France.
ct may likewise be said of those who
are at the head of France today. and who
were not responsible for the loss of Al
sace-Lorraine, that they would all be
hanged, in spite of the apparent indiIer-
ence of the nation, were they to accept
definite abandonment of Alsace Lorraine.
People ask themselves bitterly, what
is the nature Of this singular alliance il
it is possible for one of the allies to spring
upon the world such a surprise without
consulting the partner to the alliance? it
Is surprising enigma and all the more ex-
traordlnary, as at present, so far as the
Importance OF its armament is concerned,
France is the most formidable continental
power. Its new gun is superior 10 any
hitherto seen, and this weapon is on the
point OF being adopted throughout the
whole artillery. The fact is of public mo-
toriety, and the car is the last person to
be ignorant of it.
Perfection in Armament.
AT no moment could the idea OF disarm-
ament be advanced more inopportuneiy-I
would even almost say more perfidiously:
Tor France is called upon to arrest her en-
thusiasm to paralyze her efforts and to
make vain her fresh sacrifices by this in
vitation to halt in an onward movement Of
Incompatible perfection in armament.
THE scheme. therefore, appears to aim
at arresting France in her forward march.
1t is trae that a few Machiaveliis explain
that 1t Is an arranged matter between the
allies, With Il view of proving to the world
that Germany, who is expected to decline
to enter TIL; conference, is the real obstacle
to universal peace, and that, therefore. 9TH
er nations should league themselves against
her; but these are ale-house fancies. l be-
ieve that neither explanation will suffice,
but that nothing is responsible except the
car cream OF realizing his fathers idea!
of peace.
THE attempt is unfortunate, because it
Will delay the movement which European
chancellories have long been occupied with
the movement to bring about, in the more
or less distant future. a congress on a prac-
teal basis, having a chance Of success,
with view of arriving at the same results
by different means"
Other European opinions, from Berlin,
Vienna and other continental capitals, may
be summarized as cordial agreement that
the scheme is all entirely Utopian POSSIBLE
ity 1t may be that the recent American
activity In the war with Spain has had
something to do with the matter; but il SO,
the point is nowhere discussed.
The German View.
AT Berlin the North German Gazette, re-
ferfin& to the czaTS naace conference rra-