The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-05-23
GERMANY WAS LEFT OUT
Count Won Munster Is on None
of the Committees.
SITUATION IS HOPEFUL
Andrew D. White Thinks That Prac-
tical Conclusions Will Be Reached,
Arbitration Will Come
First

ment committee of the peace confer
morning, the committee on the laws
of warfare meets during the afternoon
of the same day and the committee on
arbitration meets on Wednesday,. The
first session of each committee will be
devoted to the election of officers
The chiefs of the delegates have had
frequent conference With the view of
arriving at an agreement in regard to
the choice of officers of the commit
tees. Apparently many difficulties have
arisen. as nothing has been finally
settled.
Many false and exaggerated reports
have been circulated regarding these
bitches. For instance it has been said
that Count Won Munster, the German
ambassador at Paris and head of the
German delegation. would withdraw
from the conference. Such stories must
be received with caution. as persons
hostile to the aims of the conference
have been busily engaged in spreading
distrust. The story about Count Won
Munster probably arose from the fact
that his name does not appear as
member of any of the committees. while
all the other chiefs of delegations have
Joined one or more committees But it
is pointed out. delegates, although not
members of a committee. are privileged
to attend its session and participate in
the discussions
Andrew D. White. the United States
ambassador at Berlin. and head of the
American delegation. in an interview
with a representative of the associated
press, said he regarded the situation as
promising and that the first work of
organization would be we'll done. He
added:
Il am hopeful that it will be possible
to reach practical conclusions. The
skepticsm of the first few days must
yield to serious hopes without at the
same time indulging in exaggerated
expectations.
The words of Emperor William have
contributed to prove the situation,
think we may arrive at some result on
the subject of mediation and arbitra-
tlon. Although it is undoubtedly i'm
possible to make such object obliga-
tory, but 1T can be rendered at least
optional, and | believe that after. the
conference the powers will recognize
that they have at their disposal a
means of regulating their differences
otherwise than at war. That will be
an immense advantage.
I am also confident that important
laws and usuages of war to humanize
war, especially in extending to the ma
val battles the general convention of
1854 and increasing the protection of
private property in naval wars.
Relative to the reduction of arma-
ments, l am not in a position to speak
on the subject"
Other ambassadors who are delegates
to the conference were also interviewed
and expressed similar views. They said
they were most hopeful that the delib-
erations of the conference would re-
suit in the adoption of practical rec
concentrations tending toward peace
and rendering war more humane All
We're dominated by sense of immense
responsibility to achieve something es-
pec1ally in the direction of arbitration
The delegates We're unanimously of the
opinion that the question of the reduc-
ton of armament had been the most
difficult to meet. and it is believed it
will be relegated to the rear Of the
other two features, especially since the
special object Of the congress is now
acknowledged to be an endeavor to
establish means for the solving Of in
ternational difficulties without recourse
to war, thus increasing the reality of
wars and as a lA.-ral Consequence
leading to reduction of armaments