The age-herald., 1899-06-06
TIE SCHEME
 OF MEDIATION
The Russian Armament Propo- saIS Turned Down by
 the Committee.

The Hague, June 5.-The arbitration committee of the peace conference held a meeting today undr the chairmanship of M. Leon Bourgeoia. Andrew D. White, head of the United States delegation, Sir Julian Pauncefote, head of the British delegation, and M. De Staal, head of the Russian delegation. with all the members of the committee, were present.
 After M. Bourgeois had made a sympa- thetic reference to the death of Miss Roth, daughter of pr. Roth, head of the Swiss delegation who was killed in railway accident last Thursday, at Flushing, the secretary of the drafting committee read the draft scheme of mediation it had had under consideration.
 Articles one and two are declaratory-to the effect that the signatory powers, in order to prevent a recourse to force, have agreed to effect pacific solutions of differ ences and will except in exceptional cir cumstances before an appeal to force, have resources to the mediation of one or more friendly powers.
 Article 3-Independently of a recourse to such amicable means, the signatories deem it eXpedient that one or more powers not concerned in the conflict should offer, on its own initiative far as circumstances will permit, it's or their good offices of mediation to the states at variance. The right to offer good offices of mediation be- longs to powers not concerned in the con- fict, even during the course of actual hos tilities, and the exercise of this right can never be considered by the parties at variance as an unfriendly act.
 Article 4-Provides that the role of me- diator shall consist in the conconeiliation of claims q terness between state at variance.
 Article 5-Defining the limitation of the functions of a mediator says these shall cease on the moment when it is stated by one of the parties to the dispute or by the mediator that the arrangements or the basis of friendly understanding proposed by him is not accepted.
 Article 6-Says that the good offices con templated, either at the instance of the parties at variance, or on the initiative of uninvolved powers, are exclusively of the character of friendly counsel.
 Article 7-Asserts Acceptance of media tion cannot have the effect except by virtue of a convention to be contrary to in- terrupting or retarding or hampering the mobilization of the powers for war"
 If mediation intervenes after hostilities 1t shall not interrupt except by virtue of a convention to the contrary military op- erations in course of execution.
 Article eight: '"The signatories are in &C., cord to recommend in ell circumstances permitting it special mediation in the for- eign form; in the form of grave differences threatening political states at variance shall choose respectively power to which each shall confide the mission of entering into deliberation with the power chosen by the other side, in order to prevent rupture of friendly relations. During the currency of their mandate which except in the event of a stipulation to the con- trary, shall not exceed thirty days, the question in dispute shall be considered as referred exclusively to these powers They shall make all their efforts to settle the dispute, and in the actual severance of friendly relation shall stand ready to take advantage of every occasion to restore peace"
 The draft was adopted without modifca- tion, although the committee stipulated that it should be subject to notifications at the second reading.
 The naval secretary of the armaments committee has unanimously rejected the Russian proposals.