The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-05-27
Yesterdays Meeting
Most Important.
Little Likely To Be Done About
Disarmament.


stated with some degrees Of confidence
that the delegates to the peace conference
are gradually arriving at the belief that
its outcome will be very much what MIR.
Andrew ID. White, United States ambas-
sador at Berlin and head of the American
delegation here, forecasted to the oorre-
spondent of the Associated Press in the
interview osbled to the United States
last Monday.
SO far as armaments are concerned the
utmost that it is expected to accomplish
is some slight recommendations to the
governments participating. The various
committees have now settled down to
work, and the delegates have begun q
formal exchange of views. IL was decided
today to appoint committees 10 receive all
suggestions, proposals and petitions ema-
mating from outsiders; but, so far as Is
yet ascsrtaiDable, these will be pigeon
hoIed without consideration unless they
come within the purylew of the questions
enumerated in the circular OF Count
Muravieff, the Russian minister of for
eign affairs, in outlining the subjects for
consideration.
The disarmament committee met this
morning and Nj. Bernaert, chief of the
Belsia delegation, who presided set
forth the points submitted for .considera.
tion. The two sections Immediately
divided and proceeded to a discussion of
the question of firearms and explosives
which continued until the hour for ad-
journment.
The arbitration committee met this
afternoon, under the presidency OF the
chief OF the French delegation, NJ. Leon
Bourgeois, who was ianked by the
honorary pre- esidents of the conmittee, sir
Julian Paunoefote, chief of the British
delegation, and Count Nigra, chief OF the
Italian delegation. Nj. Bourgeois pre-
sented the questions Of mediation and
ar bitration and suggested q programme
the committee might follow. urging Ie
course to all pacific means to settle inter
national questions before recourse to
war. de admitted long list Of possible
su bjects of dispute which might arise be-
tween nations and yet might find soln-
ton in arbitration, closing with the more
difficult problems. He then presented a
scheme already introduced TO tue full con-
ference by Russian delegate, scheme
consisting of forty articles. The state
meut of NJ. Bourgeois was clear and CON-
else. commanding the closest attention.
Sir Julian Pauncefote proposed that
the committee should Immediately pro-
ceed before all else to consider the ques-
tion of permanent tribunal of arbitra-
| ton. He did not however, submit any
| plan, and eventually withdrew his motion
| In view OF the suggestions offered by
Count Nigra and Others, who urged the
wisdom Of following the programme of
the President in which the question of a
permanent tribunal follows the general
| su bject of arbitration.
| M. Bourgeois observed that the com
| inittee, by not opposing 1t, gave ad heslon
to the principle favoring peaceful solu-
ton of International questions before a
| recourse to arms.
| Recognizing that the committee was
| too large to consider the Russian pro-
posals, NJ. Bourgeois appointed the fol-
lowing sub-c ommittee: Chevalier Deg
camps David, of the Belgian delegation
| Prof. Asser, privy councillor of the Meth
| erlands delegation; Baron Estournelles
| de Constant of the French delegation
Mr.. Frederick Hollis. secretary OF the
| United States delegation; M. Lamasoh OF
| the Austro- hungarian delegation; Prof.
| Muarlens of the Russian dele cation. NJ.
K. Odier of the Swiss delegation and DIR.
| Zorn of the University OF konigsburg,
representing the German delegation.
| Sir Julian Pauncefote and Count Nigra
| were appointed honorary presidents OF the
sub-comInittee, while NJ. Bourgeois and
! NJ. De Staal We're empowered to attend
It's meetings. This arrangement gives a
representation to all the great powers as
well as to:Aolland, Belgium and Switzer'
land.
| Cheyalier Dss Camps David was ap-
| pointed chairman of the subcommittee.
Great Importance Is attached to the
meetings hsod today and to the unan1
nous acceptance of the general principle
| of arbitration and mediation.