The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-08-30
He Invites the Powers to Take Part
in an international Conference.
IT is REGARDED AS IMPOSSIBLE.
The Papers Filled With Discussions,
Comments and Opinions-Difiicuit
20 Obtain Opinions of Public
Men, But the Religious
World Loudly Wei
comes the Proposition

ST. PETERSBURG. August 2s-By or
der o. Emperor Nicholas, Count Mura-
vien. tho Foreign Minister on the 2ith
instant handed to the foreign diplomats
at st. Petersburg note declaring that
the maintenance Of peace and the reduc-
| ton of the excessive armaments now
crushing all nations is the ideal for which
all governments ought to strive.
The Car considers the present moment
favorable for the inauguration OF
movement looking to this end, and in
vites the powers to take part in an-in-
tcrnauonal conference as a means of
thus insuring real and lasting peace, and
terminatisg tho progressive increase OF
| armament
PRESS COMMENTS.
LONDON, August 29.-The papers are
! filled with discussions, comments ana
opinions as TO the circular OF the En-
! peror Nicholas.
The most w0rld-shaking event could
! hardly have produced such coup as
| this suggestion, the fruiti0n OF which Is
/ regarded on all sides as an absolute I'M
possibility
This being holiday season 1t is difficult
| to Obtaine-the opinions Of public men on
| the subject The religious world. how
ever. loudly welcomes and praises the
! Cars noble initiative. Numerous bishops
/ have already publicly expressed their
/ views In that sense.
| Among statesmen interviewed, Lord
| Kimberly. the Liberal leader. declined 10
express a hasty opinion beyond saying
that the proposal was one Of the utmost
Importance
The Marquis Of Ripon said: Il heartily
/ wish the proposal all success.
STRONG PEACE FOOTING.
Sir Charles Dixie, Radical member OF
! Parliament for the Forest Of Dean. re-
marked: 'The Russian peace footing Of
/ nearly n million regulars exceeds the
| peace footing Of Germany. Austria and
! Italy combined.
"Thus 10 has been I'm Russa's power 20
reduce the land forces by diminishing
her own I'm connection with a similar
action on the part Of Germany.
LET THEM LEAD.
French public opinion is not prepared
| FOR disarmament which would mean. as
| things stand now. an acceptance Of the
| Alsace-Lorraine situation. Naval disarm-
ament would Doe dangerous for Great
! Britain. Any formal plan would involve
! subsequent breaches OF faith. but If Ger
| many 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,
I'm reply. 20 a request Of his opinion:
"It would be most satisfactory If such
a proposal can be carried out"
HISTORICAL UTTERANCE
The Earl of Grove calls the Cars sug
! gestion "a Historical utterance' and
! earnestly hopes that Great Britain will
! not object TO a conference.
! No excitement is noticeable at the
Foreign Office. It is understood that a
| special messenger was sent from 81. Pc
tersburg recently with full explanation
of the cars proposal.
Naturally all persons and societies con-
nected with peace and arbitration move
| ments are iubilant. The Pope wired his
! congratulations 20 Emperor Nicholas i'm
mediately. and offered every assistance
| i'm his power to promote the proposed
| conference.
The Times in its financial article, this
morning says:
EFFECT ON THE MARKETS.
"The Cars circular has had a good
effect upon the markets. as indicating
| that there is no immediate probability OF
war Many people remark the fact that
the proposal appears when Russia's pow
| er to borrow freely is almost ended. and
when she has placed herself in positions
| I'm China and elsewhere. which can be
defended only great cost.
FRENCH COMMENT.
| PARIS. Aug. 29.-The French newspa-
| pers generally distrust the practicabilitv
| OF the Cars peace scheme. and clearly
| indicate that France would make the
restoration OF Alsace-Lorraine a pre-
requisite TO her participation in the con-
ference.
A FAIR TRIAL.
! BERLIN. August % The North Ger
/ man Gazette, referring to-day to the
| Cars peace conference proposals, re-
marks:
"Ol< armaments were never intended
for selfish ends, but only for our own
protection and for tie maintenance Of
| peace. We are willing 70 give fair trial
10 another method OF attaining the OBJ
| ject az a smaller cost
The National Zeitung says. "'rhe car
| and his ministers have not deluded thers-
| selves with the idea that they can ri
| the world Of the causes which Tor years
| have been responsible FOR the growing
armaments When a great power how
| ever, addresses such proposals 70 others
they VIII be recognized everywhere as
deserving Of The most serious considera-
! tlon'
The Vossiche yeitung expresses the
oninion that the importance Of the note
does not he IN the proposal for the con-
ference. but in lis conception.
MUST AROUSE SYMPATHY.
The Post warmly eulOgizcs the cars
motives which II adds: Must every
where arouse sympathy
The Kreuse Zeitung says: mo one can
yet appreciate the real significance OF rhe
note. Its btter-sweet reception In France
shows IL will not meet with universal ap-
| proval."
J According to the Hamburger Cores
! nondence the note will remain forever an
imperishable monument 10 the fame OF
Emperor Nicholas Continuing the paper
saws: ~ stands 10 reason that Germany
welcomes the proposal In the most Siad
manner and is prepared 10 cooperate In
| the sacred work
ST. PETERSBURG, August 2s.-The
newspapers here declare that the czar's
manifesto viii probably consutute
turning point in history. Sviet says; t
AL the powers accept Russia's proposai
with the same earnestness with WHICH II