The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-05-27
.IT WAS SQUARELY MET
COMMITTEES TO CONSIDER VA
RIOUS MATTERS APPOINTED.
TO MAKE REC COMMENTATORS TO POW. r.
Outcome of the Conference Will be Much Wha'
Andrew D. White, Minister 10 Ge'ma-
ny, Fortcas'ed Some
Weeks Ago.

The Hague, May 26.-lt can now De
stated with some degree of confidence
that the delegates to the Peace Con-
ference are gradually arriving at the
belief that it's outcome will be very
much what Andrew ID. White, United
States Ambassador at Berlin, and head
of the American delegation here, fore
casted to the correspondent of the
Associated Press in the interview
cabled to the United States last Mon
day.
So far as armamentS are concerned
the utmost that it is expected to ac-
complish is some slight recolLiaenda-
tions to the governments participant
ing.
The various committees have now
settled to work and the delegates have
begun formal exchange of views.
The Arbitration Committee met this
| afternoon, under the presidency of the
chief of the French delegation, Leon
Bourgeois, who was fianked by the
honorary presidents of the committee,
Sir Julian Pauncefote, chief Of the
British delegation. and Count Nigra,
chief of the Italian delegation. NJ.
Bourgeois presented the questions of
mediation and arbitration, and sug-
gested a program the committee
might follow, urging recourse to all
| pacific means to settle international
questions before recourse to war.
| Sir Julian Pauncefote proposed that
| the committee should Immediately
proceed, before all else, to consider the
| question of a permanent tribunal of
| arbitration. He did not, however, SUD-
nit any plan, and eventually Withdrew
| his motion, in view of the suggestions
offered by count Nigra and others.
| who urged the wisdom of the Presi-
dent in which the question of a per
manent tribunal follows the general
subject of arbitration.
NJ. Bourgeois observed that the
committee, by not opposing it, gave
adhesion to the principle favoring Il
peaceful solution of international
questions before recourse to arms.
Recognizing that the committee was
too large to consider the Russian pro-
posals, M. Bourgeois appointed the
following subcommittee:
Chevalier Descamps-David, of the
Belgium delegation: Professor Asser,
Privy Councillor of the Netherlands
delegations; Baron Estournelles de
Constant, of the French delegations:
Frederick Hollis, Secretary of the
United States delegations; M. Lam
massch, of the Austro-Iiungarian
delegation: Professor Martens. of
the Russian delegation; NJ. e. Oder,
of the Swiss delegation, and DR.. Iorn,
of the University of Konigsberg, rep
resenting the German delegation.
V.,1f fnfn
Nigra were appointed honorary presi-
dents of the subcommittee and M.
Bourgeois and ID. DeStael was empow-
cred to attend it's meetings.
Great Importance is attached to the
meetings held today and to the unani-
nous acceptance of the general prin
ciple of arbitration and mediation.
SIR JULIAN'S STROKE.
London, May 27.-The correspondent
of the Daily Telegraph at The Hague
says:
''Peace prospects touched high water
mark today when the conference
found itself face TO face with arbitra
ton in a practicable and acceptable
form, and as a permanent interna-
tional achievement. This honor is
mainly due to Sir Julian Pauncefote
NHen the members OF tle AfDltraIlOn
section had finished reading the Rus
sian proposals on this subject. Sir
Julian expressed his complete approx
al of them. but said it would be a
great pity if the conference failed to
embody the principle of arbitration in
some permanent shape.
II now beg to propose he said,
the formal establishment of per-
manent arbitration tribunal, empow-
cred to deal with all matters in dis
pute capable of reference to the Judg-
ment of an umpire. | do not intend
to trouble you with details as to its
mechanism today. nor until you ac-
cept the principle of my proposal.
Therefore | ask you to accept the
principle now
m. DeStael at once declared Sir
Julian Pauncefote having presented
his proposal, we are prepared to sup
plement and to complete the printed
suggestions just distributed by others.
dealing with permanent arbitration
board.
'Thereupon the Russian President
of the Conference drew a paper from
his pocket and laid it upon the table
then and there. The paper contained
the foundation of a permanent tri-
bunal, suggesting the substitution nf
new clause and referring to an APP
pendix not yet drawn up. The amaz-
ed delegates crowded around Sir Jul