The record-union., 1899-05-23
That Practical Results VIII Be Reached by
the Congress Held at The hague.
Believes That After the Conference
nize That They Have at Their
Disposal Means of Regulating
Their Differences Otherwise
Than by War.

THE HAGUE, May 22.--The Disarm-
ament Committee of the peace confer
ence meets at 10 o'clock on Tuesday
morning, the Committee on the Laws
of Warfare meets during the afternoon
of the same day and the Committee
on Arbitration meets on Wednesday.
The first session of each committee will
be devoted to the election of officers.
The chiefs of the delegations have
had frequent conferences, with the
view of arriving at an agreement in
regard, to the choice of officers of the
committees. Apparently many difficult
ties have arisen, as nothing has been
finally settled. Many false and exsg-
gerated reports have been circulated
regarding these bitches. For instance.
1t has been said that Count Won Mum
ster, the German Esmbassador at Paris,
the head of the German delegation,
would withdraw from the conference.
Such stories must be received with
caution, as persons hostile to the aims
of the conference have been busily en-
gagged in spreading distrust
The story about Count Won Munster
probably arose from the fact that mis-
name does not appear as a member OF
any of the committees, while the other
chiefs of delegations have joined one or
more committees. But, it is pointed
out, delegates, although not members
of a committee, are privileged to at
tend It's sessions and 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 1Asso-
ciated Press, said he regarded the sit
uation as promising, and that the first
work of organization will be well done.
He added:
Il am hopeful that it will be possible
to reach practical conclusions The
skepticism of the first few days must
yield to serious hopes without at the
same time indulging in exaggerated
expectations. The words of Emperor
William have contributed to improve
the situation. / think we may arrive
at some result on the subject of media
ton and arbitration. Although 1t is
undoubtedly impossible to make such
subject obligatory, it can be rendered
at least optional and I believe that
after the conference the Powers will
recognize that they have at their dis
posal a means of regulating their diff
ferences otherwise than at war That
will be an immense advantage
Il am confident that important i'm
provements are achievable in the laws
and usages of war, to humanize war.
or extending to the naval battles the
Geneva Convention of 1864, and in in
creasing the protection of private prop
erty in naval wars.
Relative to the reduction of armaf-
ments, I am not in a position to speak
on the subject"
Other Elm baSSadorS who are dele
gates to the conference We're also in
terviewed, and expressed similar views.
They said they were most hopeful that
the deliberations of the conference
would result in the adoption of prae-
tical recommendation tending toward
peace and rendering war more hu-
name. All were dominated by a sense
of responsibility to- achieve something,
especially in the direction of arbitra-
tion.
The delegates were una nimously CT
the opinion that the question of the
reduction of armament should be the
most difficult to meet and it is be-
heved that it will be relegated to the
rear of the other two features. espc-
cially since the special objection of the
congress is now acknowledged to be in
an endeavor to establish means for the
solving of international difficulties
without recourse to law, thus increas-
ing the reality of wars, and as a nat
ural consequence leading tc a reduction
of ornaments. They seemed con-
WINGED, however, that numerous diff
culties of detail would arise in the
various committees, and that the con-
ference would be protracted.
After an active exchange of views
during the last twenty four hours.
the chiefs of the various dele
cations arrived this evening at an
agreement regarding the selection of
the Presidents of the various commit
tees. This agreement will be communi-
Gated to the delegates, who have been
summoned to meet in plenary session in
the Huis Ten Bosch at noon to-mor-
row, for the sole purpose of formally
confirming the agreement.
The meeting of the Disarmament
Committee has been postponed until 4
o'clock tomorrow afternoon