The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-05-19
THE PEACE CONFERENCE
Delegates Assembled at The Hague
to Discuss Disarmament.
THE SESSIONS TO BE SECRET.

The Hague, May 19.-The peace con-
ference, called by the czar OF Russia,
was opened at 2 o'clock yesterday af-
ternoon in the hall OF the Huisten
Bosch, or the House I'm the Woods"
two miles from The Hague.
NJ. De Beaufort, president OF the
council and minister of foreign affairs
OF the government Of the Netherlands,
delivered the inaugural address and
welcomed the delegates He concluded
by calling attention to the allegorical
group over the doorway Of the hall
Peace entering to close the temple Of
Janus, and said:
81 trust this beautiful allegory will
be a good augury Of your labors, and
that after you have completed them
you will be able to say that Peace,
whom Art introduced into this hall,
left it TO spread its blessings among
the whole of humanity"
The delegates decided to send the
following telegram to the czar:
THE peace conference lays at the
feet of your majesty its respectful con-
gratulations upon the occasion OF your
birthday and expresses its sincere de-
sire to cooperate in the great and
noble work in which your majesty has
taken a generous initiative, and for
which it begs you to accept its humble
and profound gratitude"
M. De Staal, the Russian ambassador
TO Great Britain and head of the Rus
sian delegation, assuming the presi-
dency of the conference, said his first
duty was to express to NJ. De Beaufort
h rfv IL
terms in which he had referred to his
august master, adding that his ma
jesty would be deeply touched as well
as by the spontanelty with which the
high assembly had associated itself
Herewith
Continuing NJ. De Staal said:
Though to the czar is due the initia-
tive of the conference. we owe much to
the queen of the Netherlands for in
viting us to her capital. 1t is a happy
augury Of success that we have met
under the auspices of the young SOW
ereign whose charge is felt in wide
circle, whose heart is open to every
thing great and generous and who has
displayed much sympathy with the
cause which brings us here It Is on
the historic soil of the Netherlands
that the greatest political problems
have been discussed Here is the
cradle of science and international law.
II cannot consider my election other
wise than inspired by my position as
plenipotentiary of the emperor who
was the initiator of the conference.
On this ground l accept with deep
gratitude the distinguished honor, and
l shall use every endeavor to justify
your confidence"
After making his address M. De
Staal, in behalf of the conference, tele-
graphed to the queen of the Neither
lands as follows:
The members of this conference. as
sembled for the first time in this beau
ttful Huis Ten Bosch, hasten to Law
at the feet of your majesty their best
wishes, praying you to accept their
homage and gratitude for the hos
pitality you have so graciously deigned
to offer them"
The reading of the message was
warmly applauded.
M. De Beaufort was appointed honor
ary president and the leading Dutch
delegate, A. P, G. Van Karnobeck, for
mer minister of foreign affairs and
deputy, was appointed vice president.
After the appointment of nine sec.
retaries M. De Stalls proposal that
the sessions be secret was adopted.
The next session will take place on
Saturday, when the delegates will ar
range a program and appoint COM
mittees.
The session yesterday lasted only 25
minutes, and the apparent unanimity
displayed was considered to augur well
for the outcome.
The delegates to the conference from
the principal sections are as follows;
Neutrality-suspicious. Won VOL
sersheimb, first secretary of the Aus
trian foreign office, ambassador extra
ordinary; M. Okoliosanyo Okalicona.
minister at The Hague, and Court and
Ministerial Councillor Mercy.
Belgium-M. Boornaert, minister of
foreign affairs; Chevalier Deschamp-
David, senator, and Count de Grelle-
Rogiar, minister at The Hague.
Dsnmark-Fr. e. de Billie, minister
at the court of st. James, and Colonel
Van Schmack, former minister of war,
France--M. Bourgeois, a former pre-
mier; M. Bihourd, minister at The
Hague; Baron Estournelles de Con-
slant, deputy; Vice Admiral Popha
Brigadier General Mannier and Louis
Renault, professor of law.
tisrmany-Count Won Munster-Le-
denburg, ambassador at Paris; PROT
Won Stengel, of the Munich university;
Prof. Zorn, of the university of Ko-
nigsberg; Captain Siegel, naval at
taehe at the German embassy in Paris
and Colonel Gross Won Sohwarzhoff
commanding the Ninty-fourth resl,
ment Of infantry,
Great Britain-Sir Julian Pauncs.
fote, O.. @. b., British ambassador Al
Washington; Sir Henry Howard, X. o
M. c., minister at The Hague; Vice
Admiral Sir John Fisher, X. =. B., and
Major General Sir John Ardagh.
Italy-Count Niga, minister at the
court OF Vienna; Count zernini, minis,
ter at The Hague; General Huccar
and Captain Blanca, of the navy.
Russia-Baron de Staal, Russian am
bassador at the court of st. James
Colonel Jalinsky, Colonel Count Bar
antzew, Captain Scheme, of the navy
Lieutenant outchinnokOw, of the navy
and Prof. de Martens, the we'll known
authority on international law.
Spain-Duke de Tetuan, NJ. de viii
Urrutia, ambassador at Brussels; N
de Bageur, minister at The Hague.
United States-Seth Low, presiden
OF Columbia university; Andrew q
White, ambassador at Berlin; Stanfor
Newell, minister at The Hague; Cap
tain Crozier, of the ordnance depart
ment of the army; Captain A. T. Ma
han, of the navy (retired), and Fred
eriek Hollis, as secretary.