The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1899-1900, 1899-05-31
TO AVOID WAR.
Great Powers May Organize e
Peace Tribunal.
The Disarmament Conference Takes
Steps Toward Securing Arbitra.
tiOn Of Disputes Between the
Nations OF the World.

The Hague, May 27.-It can now be
stated with some degree of confidence
that the delegates to the peace con-
ference are gradually arriving at the
belief that its outcome will be very
much what Andrew ID. White, United
States ambassador at Berlin, and
head of the American delegation here,
forecasted in an interview cabled to
the United States last Monday. So
far as armaments are concerned the
utmost that it is expected TO accom-
plish is some slight recommendations
to the governments participating.
The various committees have now
settled to work and the delegates have
begun n formal exchange of views. 1t
was decided on Friday to appoint a
committee to receive all suggestions,
proposals and petitions emanating
from outsiders, but so far as is ascer-
tanned, these will be pigeon-hoied
without consideration unless they
come within the purview of the qucs-
tons enuemerateS in the circular OF
Count Muravieff, the Russian minister
of foreign affairs, in outlining the sub
iects for consideration.
The disarmament committee met
Friday morning and NJ. Beernaert,
chief of the Belgian delegation, who
presided, set forth the points submit
ted for consideration. The two Sec
tions imediately divided and proceed
ed to discussion of the question of
firearms and explosives, which contin-
ued until the hour for adjournment.
The arbitration committee met in
the afternoon under the presidency of
the chief of the French delegation,
Leon Bourgeois, who presented the
questions of mediation and arbitra-
ton and suggested programme the
committee might follow, urging re-
course to all pacific means to settle in
ternational questions before recourse
to war.
He submitted long list of possible
subjects of dispute which might arise
between nations and vet might find
solution in arbitration, closing with
the more difficult problems. He then
presented scheme already introduced
TO the full conference by n Russian
delegate, scheme consisting Of Az
articles. Sir Julian Panncefote p"o-
posed that the committee should p'o-
ceed before all else to consider the
question OF permanent tribunal Of
arpltratlon. he dld not, however, slb-
mt any plan, and eventually with
uerw ms motlon IN view OF the sugg as
mons onered ny Count Nlgra, who
urged the wisdom OF Following the
programme OF the president. in which
the question OF n permanent tribunal
follows the general subject OF arti-
tratlon' NJ. Bourgeois observed that
the committee, by not opposing it,
gave adhesion to the principle favor
ing peacetul solution of international
questions before recourse TO arms.
recognizing that the committee was
too large to consider the Russian pro-
posals NJ Bourgeois appointed a sub
committee which gives representation
10 all the great powers as well as to
Holland, Belgium and Switzerland.
Great importance is attached to the
meetings held Friday and to the unani-
NOUS acceptance OF the general prin-
clPle OF arbitration and mediation.
London, May T'-Ihe correspondent
OF the Telegraph at The Hague says:
Peace prospects touched high water
mark FRIDAY when the conference
found itself face to face with arbitra-
non IN practicable form and as Il
permanent international achievement
rms honor IS mainly due TO Sir Julian
Iaunce1ote. When the members OF
the arbitration section had finished
reading the Russian proposals ON this
subject Sir Julian expressed his COM
plete approval OF then, but said it
would he great pit. il the confer
ence failed TO emboGy the principle of
arbitration in some permanent shape.
II now beg TO propose" lie said, "the