The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-06-27
GAR LOSES GROUND.
His Influence In Peace Congress
Amounts to Little.

London, June 27.-The correspondent
of the Daily News at The Hague says:
1.-The German delegates have privately
informed their colleagues that they had
received instructions to accept the prin-
ciple of a permanent tribunal or arbi-
tration as outlined in the Anglo-Amer-
lean plans.
This and the speech of Colonel Gross
Won Schwarzhof plainly intimating that
Germany mad made up her mind
against the Russianidea of disarmament
and had reached the conclusion that
the time had arrived to tell the world
so. are the two great events of the
whole conference. Neither has been
published as an official act of the Ger
man government, but everybody knows
that Germany will not recede from the
position thus taken up.
To-day interviewed many delegates,
some friendly to Germany, others hos
tile. They were unanimous in declar-
ing the Schwarzhoff speech a smashing
blow, pulverizing the arguments of
General Den Beer PoOrtugae1 and Col
Onel Jilinski. The effect was tremend-
Gus within the conference when
Schwarzhoff pointedly exclaimed Ger
many is not ruined. On the contrary
her wealth, contentedness and standard
of life are daily increasing.
altogether his speech was the great
est sensation of the conference hitherto
nobody expecting Germany to reject the
Russian proposals in SO brusque and
when the disarmament proposals
came on, the first feeling of most of
the members was to reject everything
forthwith. NJ. DeStaal, seeing this, went
up to the chairman and asked him to
propose a substitute committee. on the
division all the delegates voted for the
postponement OF the consideration Of
military disarmament until after the re-
port of the subcommittee, except those
of Germany and Austria, who voted for
its immediate consideration, which
would have meant immediate rejection.
The Swiss delegate abstained from vot-
ing and the United States at first sided
with Germany, but Captain CroZier was
finally talked over and he voted with
the majority.
Colonel Gross Won Schwarzhof spoke
for over half an hour with OVerpowering
frankness. His speech was considered
admiral BILE and the members of the con-
ference predict that he has future.
He said the reduction of peace forces in
no way implied a corresponding reduc-
ton of offensive power. These forces
might be kept stationary and a country
still be increasing its offensive power.
Length of military service. service by
deputy, railways, rapidity of moblliza-
ton and economical conditions will all
be factors in making up the military
of the country; and to make
one term only of the problem and to ar
que that reducing forces all around
would leave the various countries on
the same relative footing toward one
another as before, however plausible it
might appear to an outsider, was to
the military expert so manifest an alb
surdity that he (the speakeD wondered
it had been put forward, presumably
in earnest.
1.-The Russians he said, call Siberia
a colony but in a European war they
would bring every Siberian regiment to
Europe by rail- When the German dele |
gate sat down everybody thought what |
Will the poor Russians say and the |
reply of Colonel Jilinski showed that |
they were lamer than ever. Indeed, |
one noticeable feature of the conference !
is the utter inferiority of the Russians |
in debate. Perhaps it is only an acct |
dent; but not a single member of the !
Russian delegation Prof. DeMartens |
not excepted, seems able to fight con- |
troversy before a couple of dozen per- |
sons.
THE Russian case may be strong OF |
weak, but they do not appear to know |
their brief. This has struck even the |
neutral delegates.
IF the military disarmament halts |
naval disarmament is lame.
1.-The arbitrage committee sat for |
three hours today. Germany will accept |
the permanent court. subject perhaps |
to some notifications. Interalia she |
wants the privilege for the great pow
ars of naming more than two on the list |
IF judges, the smaller powers nominal
ng only two"