The times., 1898-08-30
CARS WORDS A SURPRISE.
Great Britain, Italy and Turkey
Are Taken Aback.

are inken Aback.
London. Aug. 2s.-The Daily News this
morning says the Cars. proposal for a
general disarmament was a complete sur
prise to Great Britain. Italy and Turkey,
but Austria and France supported the
proposal in advance
Emperor William had been personally
informed of the Cars intention to issue
the proposal, but he reserved his opinion.
The Daily Telegraph says that opinion
in the city regards the proposal with sIs-
pieion. II is ascribed to Russia's eco
nomie condition, and it is thought TO be
wildly impraeticable to suggest that Great
Britain give up her navy.
Russia Needs Money
A leading city man said that it is well
known that Russ!a requires largs sums
OF money in connection with her schemes
in China. especially for the railway IN
Manchuria. She will find it difficult. per-
haps, impossible. to raise money in Ber-
lin and Paris. while the present uncer-
tainty lasts.
Russia has TO make great remittances
"a nay the interest on her external debt,
and would be unwilling at present to part
with her largest stock of gold which
serves as a guarantee.
MAY BE an Efiort to Raise Money.
Therefore, NJ. Witte. the Russian
finance minister, probably conceived the
disarmament conference in the hope that
Russia would thereby be enabled TO raise
money TO more fully effect her plans in
China.
What power. the city man asked, would
enter a congress knowing beforehand
that it would have to discuss its own
fate and that its fate would be dis
cussed by other powers?
The Standard insists that Great Brit
ain will dispassionately examine the pro-
posals IL says that il has no doubt of
the Cars absolute sincerity, but it may
be assumed that in his desire to confer
a priceless boon on humanity, he has
hardly paused TO consider the political
aspects and consequences of his action.
Very likely his advisers have supplied the
omission.
The moment that Russia has obtained a
great deal that she wants. and is not
prepared for the sake of the rest 10 re-
sort to the actual arb.trament of force
is not a bad one to propose a kind of
diplomatic stay of execution. The value
Of the Russian proposal would have been
increased if it had been promulgated be-
fore the bitter dispute over China had
eliminated.
1t is the evident determination of the
British government. perhaps supported by
significant suits in other quarters. that
the process of encroachment must now
cease. Ii the government sf the Gar will
solemnly in the face OF Europe give a dis
tinct pledge that her additional war
ships viii not be proceeded with. Great
Britain might consent to her own being
abandoned. These steps can be taken
without waiting for the era of universal
peace and general disarmament The
rulers of the great military states can ac-
celerate the process by agreement
among themselves. Let Russia begin
1t Makes for Peace.
The Times says:
1T is not impossible that the first and,
perhaps, the only serious result of the
Cars precipitate action in a good cause
for it is evident that he did not take all
in his counsels-will be to bring to a
head the doubts that have been growing
up lately in France in regard to the
practical advantages of the Russian alli-
ance.
There is an additional reason for the
confidence of shrewd spectators on the
stock exchange that though NJ. Mura-
disarmament it makes decidedly for
peace"