The age-herald., 1898-09-04
ARE TOO MANY OBSTACLES
Representatives of All Foreign Govern mentS Called in Council.
AMBASSADOR WHITE DECLINED
Owing to Present Peace Negotiations Emperor Reviews the Guard-Ger- mans Still Have an Antipathy
 for American Fruit.

Berlin. September 3.-The astounding dis armament proposal of the czar has over shadowed everything this week. The mem- bers of the government, the newspapers and public alike exhibited the liveliest interest in the matter. There is no doubt the Ger man government views the project with favor, since really and with no ulterior motives" as an official of the foreign office said to the correspondent here of the Asso- ciated Press, that Germanly will make strenuous efforts to bring about, firstly, the conference itself and then a realization of its object, at least so far as 1t is humanely possible.
 While it is not literally true that France suspects that Emperor William is respon- sible for the czar's proclamation neverthe- less 1t is fact that ever since the czar' s accession to the throne the German einepror has repeatedly discussed partial disarmament with him, and during the last year Prince Hohenlohe, the imperial chan cellor, and Count Moravieff, the Russian minister for foreign affairs, have exchanged views on the same topic. But it cannot be said that the government Is very hopeful of the czar's idea prevailing, and officials of the foreign office fully realize that there are enormous and apparently insurmount- able difficulties in the way.
 Baron von Bulow, the minister for for eign affairs, invited the foreign diplomats to the foreign office for the purpose of gleaning their views and imparting to them the ideas of the German government but owing to the fact that a number of the members of the diplomatic corps were en- toying their holidays, the meeting was sparsely attended. The secretary of the United States embassy, J. c. Jackson, ad- vfsed the United States ambassador An- drew D. White, who Is at Hamburg, of the invitation and object of the meeting. But in the absence of special instruction from Washington and in view of the delicate po- sition of the United States at the present moment, with peace negotiations about to commence, the embassy concluded that it was wise to abstain from participation in any way. The British, Russian, Austrian and Italian ambassadors came to town es- pecaaly to attend, but the Spanish ambas- sador did not take part in the meeting. A representative of the French embassy was present.
 The correspondent of the Associated Press learns from the foreign office here that the dreibund heartily favors the czar's proposal, and Great Britain signifed her sympathy with the suggestions made from St. Petersburg. All of these powers are ready to participate in the proposed con- ference on the understanding that the act ual status of each of the powers political entity should not be discussed. The repre- sentative of France contents himself with listening and enlightening the others in re- gard to his governments views.
 Review of The Guard
 Emperor Williams annual review of the guard took place Thursday on the Tempel- hof field. Half the population of Berlin att tended the ceremony. Those present in cluded enormous crowds of strangers and many Americans. The empress, who was on horseback and wore @ Curiassir un1- form, looked charming and in excellent health She was enthusiastically cheered. The emperor twice led the troops past the empress.
 The German government has freshly in structed all the frontier stations to prevent American fruit which has been refused ad- mission at one station entering by another.
 The newspapers are widely discussing the reasons for the decline in German exports to the United States. They generally deny that politics has anything to do with it. and lay the whole blame on the high tariff