The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-06-22
THE PEACE CONFERENCE
Work Of the Arbitration Committee
Proceeding Satisfactorily.
RussIA's DIsARMAMEATSoHEME.

~ VIII fr0DaDly BE IntrOducOO ny
Baron De staal ~ Today's Confer
ence Of the Committee, Who II Ex-
pected to Introduce Fresh Proposals.
The Hague. June 22.-The best in
formed circles here do not share the
gloomy views OF the European press
regarding the peace conference. After
a weeks adjournment the arbitration
COMMITTEES met for . short time yes
terday, DR.. Zorn, OF the German dele
cation, and Frederick Hollis, of the
United States delegation, attending.
Mr.. Hollis expressed himself as salts
fed with the results Of the trip he took
to Berlin In company with DR.. 1orn.
and the German delegates have been
instructed to take part in the delibera-
tons Of the arbitration committee.
which will now continue brisk work
pending the Anal decision Of Germany.
The disarmament committee. to
which was submitted the circular Of
Count Muravish. has considered the
second, third and fourth paragraphs III
subcommittee, the result being mega
tive vote upon all three, on the ground
that 1t would be impossible to decide
upon a satisfactory plan for checking
the continued improvements In ex-
plOsive ordnance.
The FIRST paragraph Of the circular,
which proposes to arrest the increase
In land and sea forces and war budgets,
has not yet been touched.
The Russians, 1t Ia said, intend to
introduce fresh proposals, and 1t Is
not doubted that the conference will
reach important proposals on the last
four paragraphs Of the circular, sup
plemsnting the Geneva convention AMI
the Brussels conference, and provid
ing for mediation and arbitration,
M. De Staal is expected to introduce
his disarmament scheme today, and
in moving 1t he will probably say he
must apologize for its lateness, but
that 1t was considered more business
like to ASCERTAIN the views Of the con-
ference on the minor aspect Of the dis
armament question, such as torpsdoes,
rams and the like. II the proposals
connected with these minor matters
had been more favorably received he
would have been encouragsd-he will
probably say-to widen their scope into
the more general one of disarmament.
"Nevertheless-he is expected tosay-
as, after all, disarmament Is the chief
object the czar had in view in calling
the conference, he feels bound to move
scheme embodying, albeit in limit
ed degree, the views of his imperial
master. He will probably hint, in con-
clusion, that as the time is short it
would be wiser to leave the idea of any
complete scheme Of disarmament for
consideration by future conference"
The correspondent of the London
Daily News telegraphs that paper.
Mr.. Hollis had interviews with
Prince Won Hohenloe and Baron Won
Buelow while he was in Berlin. It
appears that Emperor William had as
on second thought he objected to dis
cussing matters with anybody below
the rank Of first delegate.
"Mr Hollis wishes to emphasize the
fact that he was only concerned In de-
Tending American interests, task
which Mr.. White would have himself
undertaken had he been able to leave
The Hague. ! have satisfied myself
that there was absolutely no sort Of
partnership between DR.. Zorn and Mr.
Hollis. Both are animated with COM
mon anxiety for the success of the
conference, but the role Of Mr.. Hollis
in Berlin was that of an American del
egate endeavoring to carry out an
American deal.
1T is understood that he did ex-
ceedingly well in Berlin, but, notwith-
standing all assertions to the contrary,
| learn that the German delegates have
| received no fresh instructions. Thoy
must abide by the old ones-to listen,
and to take no initiative '