Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-05-18
CARS CONFERENCE.
None Of the Powers Likely to Favor
Disarmament.
RUSSIA PARTICULARLY NISTRUSTED
The Programme That VIII BE Considered
VIII Deal Chiefly with International
Arbitration and the Provisions
OF the Geneva Convention.

London, May l5,-There is no longer
the least doubt that the original object
of the car in summoning the peace
conference, which meets next Friday
at The Hague, will not be secured. No
European state entertains any illusion
on the subject of either a reduction or
limitation of ornaments. After conf
Dental exchanges of opinion the pro-
gramme of the conference has been
modified with the approval OF the Rus
sian government.
Any question affecting ornaments
will be discussed, If at all, merely in an
academic way This is the result not
only Of mutual suspicious among the
great powers, but particularly of the
mistrust they all feel as to Russia.
Count Won Munster, German ambas-
sador to France, one Of Germany's del
egates, has explained in the course OF
the preliminary interchange of views
the motives that prevent Germany
from consenting to either reduc-
ton or a limitation of her military
or naval strength. The reason is
the grievance of France toward Ger
many, German official organsare careful
not to take cynical attitude, but
the great body of non-otlicial news
paper opinion in Germany is even more
scornful than II was six weeks ago with
respect to disarmament. The week has
witnessed remarkable outburst on
the part OF the educated men of Ger
many against any suggestion to weaken
International defenses. Men of the high
est scholastic rank like Mommsen, are
the most outspoken, and the diplomatic
hint from Russia that Prof. Won STEM
gel, one Of Germanys delegates, ought
to be withdrawn because Of his pam
phlets defending war, has not been
deemed worthy Of the slightest consid-
Grafton.
So far as questions affecting military
and naval organizations come before
the conference, they will be discussed
only in general terms, which in prac-
tice would place no restrictions upon
any powers. Something must be done
however, to save the prestige of
Nicholas as an absolute collapse would
be an affront that would seriously
diminish hisprestige. Under such con-
ditions, the various foreign officers
have cast about for questions, in deal
ing with which some practical results
might be attained, and the programme
TO be considered will deal chiefly with
international arbitration and the pro-
visions of the Geneva convention. In
the settlement of both the United
States will undoubtedly take the lead
ing role, closely seconded by Great
Britain There will be little or nc
difference as to broadening the terms
OF the Geneva convention. II is capa-
BILE OF Improvement and something
would have been attempted in this d.
rection quite irrespective Of the con
ference. Some of the clauses will be
modified and others will be added
Those in aposition to forecast results
believe these will proceed on the fol-
lowing lines: The extension of the
convention to warfare by sea; neutral
ization of the wounded, with guaran-
tees for their protection on the field of
battle by special police, and improve
ment in ambulance and Red Cross
work, together with adequate arrange
ments to identify the wounded and to
exchange prisoners. These results
could have been attained without sum
moning an assembly of such proper
tons, but their attainment by the con-
ference will supply some practical re-
suits, without which the proceedings
would be ridiculous.
Extension of arbitration to the set
Element Of international disputes prom
ses to be much more difficult problem.
The chief obstacle will be the defni-
lion of a plan acceptable in practice to
controlling majority of the confer
,nce. The most encouraging symptoms
ire the fact that something in the ma
lure OF arbitration is going on with re-
'pect to Samoa, the fact that the, czars
'ather and grandfather frequently
agreed to act as arbitrators, and the
act, more important than the
,thers, that the United States
md Great Britain, who have done
he most to put the principle into
practice, will be found in harmony in
lrging some project broad enough to
lllow of workable adjustment Of de-
ails later on. Here in London the
most that is expected is, first, the ac-
eptance of the principle and then an
greement upon an international tribu-
lal OF some character, to which nations
nay or may not resort, as their sense
Il national interest and dignity may
lictate. Presumably the conference
will not try to define the disputes that
re proper subjects for arbitration.