The Mena star., 1899-06-01

lermanent Tribunal to Be Urged-The
 American Proposition to Exempt Pri-
 ivate Property from Seizure at Sea to Be
 Debated, with Strong Probability of
 It's Being Adopted.
 The Hague, May 31.-The drafting committee, or subcommittee, of the arbitration committee met yesterday and discussed the Russian scheme, adopting with slight notifications the first six articles. Count Nigra, chief of the Italian delegation, submitted a proposal of mediation and arbitration, consisting of six articles in the form of an amendment to the Russian prof. ect. The Americans also submitted an amendment, demanding that, in the event of dispute between two na- tions, each should choose another na- ton to act together as arbitrators to settle the difference without bloodshed This must not be confounded with the proposal for permanent arbitration tribunal which the Americans will in- troduce during the week. The Italian proposal includes d clause providing that mediation and arbitration shall not stop mobilization or preparation for war. Neither the American nor Italian amendment has yet been dis cussed.
 The naval and military sections of the disarmament committee both met yesterday and exchanged ideas in d desultory manner. The impression gains ground that the outcome of this committee will be practically nil. A brief official record of the doings of the peace conference during the last week says: Provisional proposals for mediation and arbitration have been submitted by the representatives of Russia, Great Britain, Italy and the United States. The correspondent here of the Associated press learns that the statement that the Americans have submitted an arbitration proposal is incorrect. Their proposals for aper- manent tribunal are not ready, as a French translation is necessary. They will probably be submitted on Wednes- day. The British minister to the Netherlands. Henry Howard, gave a grand reception last night at which all the delegates and the leaders of Dutch society were present.
 The United States Peace Plan.
 Washington, May 31.-The president and Secretary Hay are gratified at the precedence given by The Hague con- ference to the subject of arbitration, which is regarded as mainly American in conception. The detailed scheme of arbitration which is to be proposed by the United States delegates was care fully brought out at the state depart ment before the commissioners sailed from New York. The details of the American project cannot be divulged, as matter of courtesy to the conference, but it can be stated that the American project is remarl1a- ble at once for it's simplicity and com prehensiveness. It differs considerably from what is known as the Olney- Pauncefote proposition, as set out in the arbitration treaty which failed of ratification. 1t provides for perma- nent tribunal of arbitration, an impar- tial arbitration being thought more probable thereby than if arbitrators were chosen in the heat of controversy.
 The news from The Hague that the British and Russian representatives are conferring with view to reconcil- ing the points of difference in their two schemes of arbitration gives satisfac- tion here, for the reason that it prom lses we'll for an easy amalgamation of opposing schemes with the American project, the latter being very similar in principle to the British plan. The re- ported decision of the conference to ad- nit as a subject for deliberation and action the American proposition to ex- empt private property from seizure at sea is also gratifying. The assurance that England, which has long held aioof, will give her support to this American proposition is believed all most to insure its adoption, and if this should be the case the state depart ment would regard that one result as more than repaying the nations con cerned for the cost and trouble of as sembling the conference.