The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-23
DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE
CREDENTIALS FOR UNCLE SANS
REPRESENTATIV
President Mckinley Will Have an
Opportunity to Advocate the
Policy Which He Has Al
ways Championed.
Special Dispatch to The Call

NEW YORK, March 22-The Her
aids Washington correspondent sends
the following: There is reason to be-
AeVe that an important proposition
looking to the settlement of interna-
tlonal disputes by arbitration will be
advanced at the coming disarmament
conference by the American delegates.
learned to-day on high authority that
the credentials for and instructions to
American delegates are now being pre-
pared by Secretary Hay and will be
ready for submission to the President
Tor his approval when he returns to
Washington from his Southern trip.
These instructions will be a complete
exposition of the attitude of this Gov
eminent on the question of disarma-
ment and arbitration.
Sir Julian Pauncefote has been ad-
vised of his appointment as senior
member of the British delegation. The
British Minister 10 The Hague Will also
be a member. NJ. de Stael, Russian
ambassador in Great Britain and a
leading representative of the Car at
the conference, Will be assisted by Pro
feSSor Martens, professor of interna-
tional law in the University at st.
Petersburg, and probably by the Rus
sian Minister TO The Hague.
likely that all nations will adopt Presi-
dent Mckinley will accredit the Minis
ter to the Netherlands as one Of
the American delegates. ambassadors
White and Tower Will probably be the
other members of the American dele
cation.
1t was explained TO me by a diplo-
mat having knowledge of the present
programme of the Russian Government
that upon the assembling of the dele
gates a committee will be appointed to
determine the subjects to come before
the conference and the order in which
they shall be considered.
So far as the proposition for general
disarmament of the nations Of the
world is concerned, 1t will be the duty
Of the American delegates to explain
and 10 show that the United States
both from military and naval stand
point is far below the armament 1t
should have, and besides it was ex-
planned TO me that this Government
does not intend to hamper in any way
the inventive faculty of the people of
this country. Nor is it expected that
Great Britain will do so. In fact, the
most important result which the off,
Gals expect of the conference viii be
the adoption of some plan for the refer
ence of disputes to general arbitration.
and the United States will have plan
of This character well as other ma
tons.
The administration is strongly in ia
vor of arbitration as a means for set
tlement of disputes between nations,
and while it appreciates that there are
a number of controversies that can
only be settled by war, it is still be
lieved that many questions which arise
and are consequences of much friction
can be arbitraIed. The President IS
committed TO international arbitration
by his inaugural address and by sub
gequent declarations, but his admins
tration has not attempted to negotiate
arbitration treaties, for one reason be-
cause Of the imminence of war with
Spain and the occurrence or war IN
view Of the assembling of the confer
ence at The Hague it is thought by the
officials that the time has come when
the administration can put itself on
record before the world as favoring ar
bitratiOn