New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-18
PEACE CONFERENCE TO-DAY


has been pleased to, order me to propose to all
me- Governments whose representatives are &C
credited TO the Imperial Court the meeting OF
,Sis grave problem. This conference would be. by
The help Of God a happy presssss Tor the century
wnmsrfil focus the efforts of all the States which
sincerely seese rUmph veT the eemens OF
sSr.osble and discord. II would at the same time
cement h nel prnsipes Of equity and right on Which
,sst the security OF States. and the welfare Of
peoples
SUGGESTED SCOPE OF THE CONFERENCE.
On December 80. 1895. Count Muraveff. Russian
Minister Of Foreign Affairs. addressed the follow
me circular to the representatives OF the foreign
powers at ST. Petersburg. outlining the general
.cope OF the proposed conference follows:
When. in the month OF August last. my august
master instructed me to propose TO the Govern ,
s1s the S holding Of conference With the OBJ
tsct Of seeking more eficacious means for assur-
Ing to All Sore all n OF to put q
he progressive development Of the present arma,
sTs % no S Ssn a Of
manitarian scheme The cordial manner In which ,,!c
Dy nearly y s h e foSer ssud not
70 strengthen this view. While highly appreSiat-
ms ,ne II the Powers We're drafted the imperial
Cabinet also feels lively satisfaction at the test.
ISne addressed to it. and continue to be received
rom all classes Of society In various parts or the
s lSOe which set in in favor OF the ideas of gen
erRa pacfcaon. the political horizon has under-
s sTaI Powers have undertaken fresh ornaments.
STRIVING nd the he OF this uncertain situation i
night be asked whether the Powers CONSIDERED
the Pssen, % the pRSeas set forth in the cir
eular Of october p (old Style, lSsS =, ,,orn,.
ss1tstins the political spheres will soon give place
70 camer disposition Of nature to favor sr tne
81 '9s Of opinion that It would be posi-
bic 10 proceed forthwith to prenn ,h ny eh
si gs9 Of seeking without delay for putting
!! sion 10 the progressive increase OF military ana
Ssc9mss evidently more and more urgent in view
~ the fresh extension given 10 these armamen's
ana SV1 reatng TO the possibility of prevent
Ing armed conflicts by the paclnc means a' '"e
dispose se EVENT eI Of the Powers considering the pres
emit moment favorable for the meeting OF conaeer
.nsa an these bases II would certainly be useful
or the Cabinets TO come TO an Sn
The subject Of the fnT Gl discus
sson at the conference could in general terms De
summarized as follows: ,.o.. <
Fixed period the present effective Of t th9 fme
NO, to Increase the budgets pertaining thereto
Preliminary examination Of the means by wn p, IA d
reducton might even be effected IN future III the
forces and budgets above mentioned ,. IA
ScoondTo prohibit the use In the atan.s r anu anu
~ Nv eTplosives or any powders more powerful
han those now in use either for rifles or cannon.
TnlrdrI0 o,dsb,o explosives already existing and
10 prohibit the throwing or pro1ectles OF
~ anv kind from balloons or by any sn"'i"'
Fourth-To prohibit the use in naval WARFARE OIL
.uhn1srine torpedo boats or plungers, OF othe'
s;riiar engines OF destruction; 10 give an uhoer-
taking not TO construct vessels with rams III '"e
future , ..,o,o ,ho s.,nula tions
of Inc Geneva Convention of 1861, on me pasls OIL
tyhe ar,ices added to the Convention OF 1868. ,
Slxth-To neutralize ships ana noats eihpIo!su
,n saving those overheard during or AFTER an en-
Seyenih-To revise the declaration concerrnhg .he
laws and customs Of war elaborated in lSA by tne
Conference Of Brussels; which has rema"ieu u"
ratified TO the present day. 49,, ,o,.,,or. of
Fighth-To accept in principle the employment OF
The good Offices of mediation and facuitall.e ,L
tration in cases lending themselves thereio, Nltn
,ba ohiert OF preventing armed conhicts between
ns,ions. an understanding with respect 10 the
nod ~ applying these good offices ana me
nsgeblishment of a uniform practice In using them
the nolitcal relations of States and the order OF
things established by treaties: as gencraHy az
Questions which do not directly fall WITHIN tne
arnroe adopted by the Cabinets, must De an
soIItelv excluded from the deliberations OF the
conference. :, -, uo,,oh
10 apply 10 your Government for instructions on
the subject OF my present communication, i peg
Won at the same time inform II that, in the IN
ferest Of the great cause which my august master
has so much at heart. His Imperial Majesty con.
sidars n advsab that the conference should not
Sit in the capital Of one of the Great Powers @heIe
ca many political interests are centred whicrh
nigh perhaps impede the progress or a WORK IN
which all the countries or the universe are equal!
rter cd