The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-05-23
THE PEACE CONFERENCE.
The Committees VIII Meet for Organization
This Morning.
VERY MANY DIFFICULTIES HAVE ARISEN
Ana Nothing Hns Yet Been Definitely
settIed--Tbosc Hostile to the'Meet-
ing Creating Distrust.

The Hague, May 22--The disarmament
committee OF the peace conference meets
at 10 o'clock on Tuesday morning. The
committee on laws Of warfare meets dur
ing the afternoon OF the same day and the
committee on arbitration meets on We'd
nesdav.
The first session OF each committee will
be devoted to the election Of officers.
Tho chiefs of the delegations have had
FREQUENT conferences with the view of
arriving at an agreement in regard to
the chief officers OF the commission But
apparently many difficulties have arisen,
as nothing has been finally settled
Many false and exaggerated reports
have been circulated regarding these
bitches. For instance IL has been said
that Count Won Munster. the German am
bassador at Paris and head of the Ger
man delegation. would withdraw from the
conference. Such stories must be re-
ceived with cautloni as persons hostile to
the aims of the conference have been en-
gagged in spreading distrust The story
about Count Won Munster probably arose
from the fact that the count does not APP
pear as a member OF any of the commit
tees. while all the other chiefs OF dele
cations have Joined one or more commits
tees But 1t Is pointed out that delegates
although not members OF committee
are privileged to attend It's sessions aud
participate in the discussions.
Andrew d. White. the United States
ambassador at Berlin and head of the
American delegation, in an interview here
with representative of the Associated
Press, said he regarded the situation as
promising and that the first work of Or
ganizaton Will be well done He added:
1 am hopeful that 1t will be possible
10 reach practical conclusions. The skep-
llclsm OF the FIRST few DAYS must yield 10
serious hopes without at the same time
indulging In exaggerated aspirations.
The words OF Emperor William hav.
contributed to improve the situation
think we may arrive at some result on
the subject of mediation and arbitration
aithough II is understood to be impossi-
Die TO make such actions obligatory That
VIII be an immense advantage am also
confident that important improvements arr.
aohieVable in the laws and usuages of war
10 humanize war and by increasing the
protection OF private property In naval
wars Relative to the reduction of artua-
menus | am not in position to sneak
on the subject p'N
other ambassadors who are delegates Ia
the conference were also Interviewed ana
expressed similaf views They said they
were most hopeful that the deliberations of
the conference would result in the adonfion
oil practical recommendations tending to-
ward peace and rendering war more hui
name. All were dominated by Il. sense nf
lmment responsibility to achieve s0us-
tning, especially in the direction OF arbl-
tration. The delegates were unanimously
OF tho opinion that the question of the
rejection OF armament should be the isaet
difhcull TO meet and IL "a believed that a.
VIII be relegated to tho rear for other
features, especially since the spaeiaI-obieot
OF the conference is now Acknowledged 10
be an endeaYor TO establish means for the
solving of International difficulties Without
recourse to war. thus increasing the rarity
Of wars and as a natural consequence
leaoins To the reduction of armamen' s.
They seemed convinced, however that
numerous difficulties of detail would arise
in the various committees and that the
conference would he protrncted
After an active exchange Of views dur
Ing the last twenty four hours, the chi Is
OF the various delegations arrived this
evening at IN agreement regarding the
selection of the proposals OF the various
committees. This agreement will be com
municated TO the delegates who have been
summoned to meet in plenary session in
the Huis Ten Bosch at noon tomorrow for
the sole purpose OF formally confirming the
agreement.
The meeting OF the disarmament COM
mittee has been postponed to | O'Clock to-
morrow afternoon.